"Comprehensive Quality Management System Standards for Magical Teaching Equipment and Facilities"

Hermione came to a stop at the front of the group.

She took a deep breath.

Then she did something no one had expected.

"The deputy director is right."

Hermione's words carried through the cold wind to everyone's ears.

"We must respect the Ministry of Magic's compliance investigation procedures."

"This is for everyone's safety."

Harry's eyes went wide.

Ron's mouth formed a circle.

Umbridge froze too.

She stared at Hermione for a full three seconds.

This girl was a core member of Douglas's camp.

Harry Potter's best friend.

In her expectations, Miss Granger should have been the one who resisted most fiercely.

But she had bowed her head.

Umbridge's heart pounded with overwhelming satisfaction.

An exhilarating sense of victory surged from the soles of her feet to the crown of her head.

Even Douglas's people had to submit to her.

This felt better than signing a hundred pumpkin juice purchase orders.

"An excellent awareness of the rules, Miss Granger!"

Umbridge praised her loudly, the sugary sweetness in her voice reaching an all-time high.

"Ten points to Gryffindor!"

Hermione inclined her upper body slightly, her face expressionless.

Beneath her robes, her right hand was clenched tight, her nails digging into her palm.

Umbridge turned to Lupin.

She straightened her back and raised her chin to an obnoxious angle.

"In light of the facts verified above."

Umbridge straightened the stack of pink forms with her short, stubby fingers and slapped them down in front of Lupin, one by one.

"Due to the lack of a geological assessment report, equipment safety certification, and approval documents filed with the Academic Affairs Office, weighted morning run training on the western shore of the Black Lake is temporarily suspended, effective immediately."

She deliberately emphasized the word "temporarily."

"Furthermore, Mr. Lupin."

Umbridge looked up, fixing her gaze