"Professor Quirrell's disappearance is something the Ministry of Magic takes very seriously. We must give an account to all the parents and the Board of Governors."
Looking at the old man beside him, whose serious expression did little to hide his indifference, Cornelius Fudge was both anxious and helpless, only able to repeat the same words he had said many times.
The disappearance of a Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was a major event. The pressure from the Hogwarts Board of Governors alone forced him to come and handle this matter personally.
But Dumbledore seemed to be constantly putting him off. Although he had agreed to let the Ministry bring people to the school to investigate, he hadn't provided any useful clues.
"Dolores, you also..."
Just as Fudge was about to turn and ask his Senior Undersecretary to also persuade Dumbledore, he suddenly discovered that Umbridge beside him had at some point run off to the side and was walking toward a young man.
Seeing the young man's face, Fudge recalled an incident from many years ago.
An incident whose investigation had been forcibly terminated due to diplomatic pressure.
Swinging her bucket-like waist, Umbridge strode up to Evans.
"Are you the professor for Care of Magical Creatures? I am the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic, Dolores Umbridge. I wonder, may I participate in this lesson?"
After speaking, she looked at the unicorn not far away, her eyes filled with a greedy desire.
A unicorn... if she could make a set of clothes from its pelt, it would surely be very beautiful.
Looking at this woman who had suddenly appeared before him, Evans felt inexplicably uncomfortable.
Her voice made him feel sick; that forced, sugary-sweet tone was like swallowing a spoonful of honey laced with phlegm, making him feel nauseous just thinking about it.
And her face was also ridiculous, like a toad preparing to hunt.
But Evans was very respectful of women and wouldn't label them based on their voice or appearance, nor would he objectify or insult them in any form.
Perhaps because she hadn't received a reply for a while, Umbridge assumed she had been given tacit permission and walked toward the little unicorn.
Then, Evans, who was mentally putting up his shields, saw that the Senior Undersecretary had just taken two steps toward Kelly when the little unicorn jumped to the side and flicked its tail unhappily.
Alright, no need for shields now. A unicorn's behavior doesn't lie.
Perhaps thinking the little unicorn's behavior was just a coincidence, Umbridge squeezed out a smile on her face and once again stepped toward Kelly.
"Don't worry, little cutie, I won't hurt..."
Kelly fled again, running behind a Hufflepuff girl and peeking out at the woman standing there, its eyes full of vigilance.
Being rejected twice in a row, Umbridge was somewhat embarrassed, and a voice that suddenly sounded nearby made her become annoyed.
"Professor Kahn said before that unicorns will reject those who are narrow-minded and malicious!"
Two extremely similar voices sounded one after another. Umbridge looked angrily at the two boys who had spoken, her already scary face becoming even more frightening.
"What are your names?"
Daring to speak like that. She decided she had to teach these two red-haired boys a lesson!
But the Weasley brothers nearby weren't scared at all and even made a face together.
"What did we do?"
"We just repeated what Professor Kahn said in class. We're good students!"
After speaking, the two brothers high-fived and didn't forget to pull on the corner of the cloak behind George.
"You! I'm going to find your parents!"
Umbridge's face grew completely cold. She wanted to step forward but was blocked by the professor from before.
"I'm sorry, Madam Undersecretary, but those words they just said were indeed from my previous lesson."
Looking at the woman who had flown into a rage at the slightest provocation, Evans put on a polite, professional smile.
But the words from his mouth were not polite at all.
"Unicorns are probably not suitable for people like you to interact with."
"Besides, I don't believe I agreed to let you join this lesson?"
"You!"
Umbridge felt like her lungs were about to explode. She didn't actually like magical creatures; those filthy beasts never understood what true nobility was.
But she hadn't expected even the famous unicorn to be so detestable!
And this Care of Magical Creatures professor, truly worthy of someone who often mixes with those filthy animals, was just as lacking in manners!
Looking at Evans, Umbridge's eyes darted around, and her face took on a heavily theatrical seriousness as she spoke in that affected, sweet voice.
"Professor Kahn, are you aware that I am here to investigate the disappearance of Professor Quirrell?"
"Excuse me, but can you provide any clues regarding this matter?"
"Don't know, and don't want to get involved."
"Then what is your impression of Professor Quirrell? What kind of person was he usually?"
"No impression. Just a colleague."
Hearing Evans's perfunctory answers, the expression on Umbridge's face turned cold.
"With your uncooperative attitude, as the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic, I can reasonably suspect you are involved in this matter."
Nearby, hearing this, a cold sweat broke out on Fudge's forehead.
Reasonable in what way?
He quickly shot her a frantic look from the side, trying to silence her with his eyes.
Putting aside the fact that she was being unreasonable, even if there was real evidence, she couldn't casually accuse the person before them.
This Professor Kahn had established close ties with the French Ministry of Magic five years ago. The incident with the Selwyn family that year had even led the French Undersecretary of Magic to personally write a letter, hoping they would suppress the matter.
It was important to know that that Undersecretary was different from Umbridge. Since the French Minister of Magic barely managed affairs, all matters there were handled by this Undersecretary.
His power was even greater than his own as the British Minister for Magic.
And in recent years, this Professor Kahn had also established deep connections with the American and Egyptian Ministries of Magic and had gained considerable fame in the research of magical creatures.
He didn't want to make an enemy of this professor with a boundless future over such a small matter.
But his Senior Undersecretary seemed not to have seen his hints and continued to maintain a business-like attitude.
Looking at the toad-like woman, a trace of coldness flashed in Evans's eyes.
Although her accusation had actually hit the mark by chance, Evans was confident he had left no physical evidence, and Quirrell wouldn't possibly run to the Ministry of Magic to report him.
An accusation under these circumstances was purely using her position to bully someone.
Coincidentally, Evans was least afraid of this kind of person who wielded a little power and caused trouble everywhere.
"Excuse me, do you have any evidence?"
"I believe the Ministry of Magic does not have the authority to interrogate a wizard merely on suspicion."
"No, Professor Kahn, an ordinary Ministry employee certainly does not have this authority, but you may not know that in addition to being the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic, I am also a member of the Wizengamot."
Speaking of the identity that made her proudest, Umbridge lifted her head, making her large face look even more like a crouching toad.
"I can completely make you cooperate..."
"Dolores, I think Professor Kahn has nothing to do with this matter."
Wiping his sweat, Fudge stepped forward and grabbed Umbridge, half-dragging her behind him.
He couldn't let her say any more.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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