As the Christmas holidays ended, students who had gone home for the break returned to Hogwarts.
The Great Hall, once again bustling, now had an uninvited guest at the teachers' table.
"Who's that toad-like guy, a new Professor?" Draco asked Tom in a low voice from the Slytherin long table, his curiosity piqued.
Tom looked at the person at the teachers' table and frowned in displeasure.
Her short, plump figure, thick neck, wide round face, and an entirely pink outfit made it hard not to recognize Dolores Umbridge at first glance, giving off an uncomfortable feeling.
"Dolores Umbridge, a Ministry of Magic official."
"A Ministry of Magic official? Then what is she doing at Hogwarts?" Draco was greatly confused upon hearing this.
"She's probably here for Professor Dumbledore. Didn't you read Rita Skeeter's report a while ago?"
"In the report, didn't Professor Dumbledore become the new master of the Death Eaters? Given Minister Fudge's wariness of Dumbledore, it would be abnormal for him not to send a trusted subordinate to investigate."
Tom looked at Cassandra approvingly. As expected of someone who had been thoroughly trained by him through the loops; she was much more reliable than Draco, who currently only knew how to shout 'I'll tell my dad.'
After Dumbledore introduced Umbridge to the students and announced that she would be residing at Hogwarts as the Hogwarts High Inquisitor for the remainder of the school year, Cassandra quietly asked Tom, "What should we do next?"
"Wait and see. Tell Hermione and Harry to try and avoid conflict with her. If questioned, just tell the truth. Heh heh, with her restless nature, she'll soon offend people she shouldn't."
"Are you saying..." Cassandra inexplicably looked towards Gilderoy Lockhart, who was portraying Grindelwald at the teachers' table. "I think I understand what you mean."
...
For the next few days, Umbridge was like an annoying fly buzzing around the Castle.
She went around asking students for information, and if the answers displeased her, it would lead to a scolding.
She also constantly criticized and belittled the Professors teaching classes while auditing Hogwarts courses.
There were also rumors that Umbridge was preparing to implement a so-called "Educational Decree" in the Ministry of Magic, and the few details revealed were chilling.
Umbridge's series of actions instantly made her the most unpopular person at Hogwarts; not a single teacher or student in the entire school liked her.
And at this time, she focused her attention on the Defense Against the Dark Arts Class, or rather, on Gilderoy Lockhart, who had a close relationship with Dumbledore during this period.
...
"What content did you mainly study in Defense Against the Dark Arts Class?"
"Mainly Dark Arts."
"Be more specific, which Dark Arts did you study?"
"Currently, we've mainly finished learning the three Unforgivable Curses. Some excellent students have started learning Fiendfyre, and others have a general understanding of the rest."
"Did Gilderoy Lockhart teach you?"
"Yes, Professor Lockhart mainly taught us. In first year, Tom Riddle of Slytherin also taught us some."
"Why did Tom Riddle teach you?"
"Professor Dumbledore made him a Defense Against the Dark Arts Class assistant for a period."
"How is their relationship with Professor Dumbledore?"
"It seems their relationship with Professor Dumbledore is very good. I've seen Professor Dumbledore often come to find them."
After using a little trick on one student, Umbridge finally got the answer she wanted from him.
Dumbledore had indeed made Hogwarts his private armed training center. Look, the Young Wizards had already learned the Unforgivable Curses and even Fiendfyre. Once they grew up a bit, they would become a huge threat to the Ministry of Magic.
And among them, Gilderoy Lockhart and Tom Riddle were the two biggest accomplices.
...
"Lockhart, I advise you to think carefully. What you are doing now, I can absolutely find a reason to send you to Azkaban. Now I'm giving you a chance: as long as you stand with the Ministry of Magic, stand with Minister Fudge, and expose Professor Dumbledore's series of crimes, I, on behalf of the Ministry of Magic, can stop pursuing your actions."
"There's only one chance. Think it over carefully. My patience is limited."
With that, Umbridge left in anger, clearly indicating that her conversation with 'Lockhart' had ended badly.
Grindelwald watched Umbridge's retreating back, his eyes icy, as if he were looking at a dead person.
"This is too much; I didn't expect her to actually provoke you, Professor. So, what are you going to do, Professor Grindelwald?"
Tom, who had appeared out of nowhere, sniffing out the drama, asked Grindelwald.
He felt a hint of 'pity' for Umbridge in his heart. Of all people to provoke, she provoked Grindelwald, and it was about Dumbledore. Heh heh, old woman, toad, you have found your path to death.
"Tom, trust me, I will make her disappear from this world completely, without a trace of existence."
So, you're not even bothering with a verbal confrontation; you're just planning to burn her to ashes with Fiendfyre, at most, maybe a Killing Curse before the Fiendfyre.
What an unoriginal idea. Umbridge might even die too quickly to feel any pain. Professor Grindelwald, are you sure this is a punishment and not a reward?
However, for a centenarian, it would be hard to expect Grindelwald to come up with any new tricks.
Seeing Tom staring at him, Grindelwald's heart skipped a beat. What was it now? He felt like what he said was fine.
...
Just as Umbridge's life entered a death countdown, she sought out Tom.
The night after her conversation with Grindelwald, Umbridge summoned Tom to her office.
Tom immediately went with great interest; he really wanted to see how much more trouble this toad, Umbridge, could stir up.
After Tom and Umbridge sat down face to face, she spoke directly: "I heard from other students that you are Dumbledore's favorite student, and he even arranged for you to be a Defense Against the Dark Arts Class assistant. Is that true?"
"It's all Professor Dumbledore's kindness," Tom said with a shy smile.
"Then are you aware of Dumbledore becoming the new master of the Death Eaters?"
"I've heard a little, why?" Tom quietly waited for her to continue.
"Then, if you don't want to go to Azkaban, how about you come forward and accuse Dumbledore?"
Sigh, the same old spiel as with Grindelwald. I really overestimated her; so unoriginal.
Seeing that Tom didn't speak immediately, Umbridge took out a set of torture tools, and he even saw the famous Quill of Punishment among them.
Is she planning to coerce a confession by torture?
Tom's eyes narrowed. Old woman, toad, you truly have found your path to death. Grindelwald is still too kind.