the Gambler

The cold wind from the depths of the Forbidden Forest poured into Harry's pajamas, and the continuous rustling trees around only made the boy feel even colder. He didn't dare to take his eyes off Tom for even a moment. No one will come to a good place to dump the body.Harry swallowed the foreign object in his throat with difficulty. Since Dumbledore left, Tom has become less and less concerned about exposing his cruel nature, probably because he knows that Harry cannot contact the old man, or because he knows that Harry is right. The real person he knew all too well.Unfortunately, Harry didn't intend to catch him without a fight. He clenched his wand tightly, ready to stun the opponent at any time.

"Stop that useless bullshit, you know I'm not going to take compliments that come out of your mouth."

"I need you to appear as if you have been cast with the Imperius Curse, and you," Tom grabbed Harry's wand and pointed it in Umbridge's direction, softly read a Latin word, and the white light hit the other's right arm, The whole one was shattered, and the ground was full of meat scraps and blood.Harry's legs were so frightened by the sight in front of him that he yanked out the wrist that was held by Tom, and the latter continued, "I had to attack her in self-defense and used the Shattering Charm."

"You're a lunatic! No one will believe this story! I won't tell anyone else!" Harry angrily pushed Tom away, keeping a safe distance of three meters. Charges thrown into Azkaban!"

"You don't need to tell them the story. I guess Veritaserum or Legilimency would be more effective, but that doesn't make people who have admitted the established facts tell lies, does it?" Tom's eyes flashed With all the calculations, Harry felt as if his head had been torn apart. Strange memories were forced in, while his own memories disappeared completely. He suddenly found that his mind was so fragile. Tom obviously wanted to modify his memory. , this must be a very high-level magic, even if the other party is a genius, he shouldn't learn it-wait, this is not the point, he can't just give in so easily, he needs to-

Harry blinked, and he looked suspiciously at Tom, who appeared next to him, with an anxious look on his face.

"I thought you were going to be killed, Harry! How did you stay in the Forbidden Forest? If I hadn't followed Umbridge, I can't even imagine her casting the Imperius Curse on you! It's too bad " Tom gestured to the witch whose chest was still heaving in a pool of blood, with a flash of disgust on his face, "I need to take both of you back to the castle, and Professor McGonagall will want to know what happened. Who can imagine For a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor to use the Unforgivable Curse on a student, the Ministry of Magic is absolutely corrupt to the bone."

Meg stood aside in her toe-length shirt-style pajamas.The witch's hair was disheveled on her shoulders, and she had a very serious expression. Harry sat uncomfortably on the armchair facing her, holding a cup of steaming tea in his hand.Harry took a sip. He knew that the dean had put a calming potion in it, and he was grateful for the thoughtfulness of the other party, which eased his nervousness a lot.The fireplace next to it was suddenly lit, and Fudge walked out of the green flames with two Aurors, their faces very ugly.Fudge looked at Harry as if he wanted to stuff him into the fireplace, and Harry glared back.

"I don't think that's possible," Fudge said. "Dolores isn't the type to cast jinxes on students."

"I think so too. She's a kind witch, isn't she?" McGonagall's words were full of sarcasm. She pulled Harry's arm and lifted the sleeve up to reveal a row of writing on it, "I can't lie. The special quill is definitely a non-prohibited item.” Facing the shocked expressions of the group of wizards, the witch smiled mockingly, “In fact, I plan to fully investigate the situation of the students, especially those who have been locked up with her. , who knows how many people have also enjoyed this kind of treatment."

"I think Potter faked that," said Fudge firmly. "He's faked Return of You-Know-Who, and I don't know what else he could have faked."

"No matter how much you deny it, I will stick to my word, Voldemort is back!" Harry stood up abruptly, and the mention of the Dark Lord's name caused everyone present to flinch.

Fudge turned pale: "You're a liar!"

"Use Veritaserum on me!" Harry roared.

"Okay, that's what you said yourself." Fudge signaled the dark-skinned Auror to take a step forward, who took out a bottle of colorless liquid from his arms, Harry stuck out his tongue, and the other party dripped three drops of magic Medicine up.When it worked, Fudge pushed the Auror aside and stood in front of Harry.He still looked smug.

"Say! Did you deliberately fake the return of You-Know-Who? Was that ordered by Dumbledore? Are you trying to oust me from the position of Minister of Magic?"

"Voldemort is really back. No, that was not ordered by the headmaster. We are not interested in you." Harry's tongue moved naturally, and he felt that part of him no longer belonged to him, and Fudge's palm pinched him alive It hurt, and the nails were digging into the flesh, but he couldn't say anything, not even scream.

"Stay away from him! Fudge!" McGonagall pushed the little wizard away and blocked Harry behind her. Her eyes were piercing, and Harry had never seen him so angry before. "How dare you Pressing my students like this! I have the right to defend their rights! Kingsley!"

The dark-skinned Auror looked up.

"You must have heard the question and answer just now?"

Kingsley nodded, and Fudge gave him a hard look.Fudge raised his voice: "What Potter said are all lies, the effect of this Veritaserum is not strong enough! I suggest taking his memory out! He must have a special way to deal with Veritaserum!"

"No one can resist Veritaserum, even the most powerful wizard." Mag narrowed his eyes.

"Nobody survived the Avada Kedavra!" roared Fudge, who looked like a flushed hamster now.

"You just don't want to admit that Mr. Potter is telling the truth!"

"Of course it's fake!" Fudge turned to look at Kingsley, "Is the veritaserum not effective enough? We should use more."

"You can only use three drops of Veritaserum! For Merlin's sake, you are unreasonable!" McGonagall also raised her voice, and the tense atmosphere between her and Fudge made Kingsley couldn't help but interject: "Veritaserum There is absolutely no problem with the effect, we should seize the time to interrogate Mr. Potter. Can I come?"

Fudge nodded reluctantly.Kingsley walked up to Harry and said in a business-like tone, "What's your name, what's your date of birth? Who are your parents?"

"Harry James Potter. July 1980, 7. Parents are James Potter and Lily Potter."

"Very good, would you like to tell me what happened tonight?" Kingsley continued.

"I stayed in my lounge, and suddenly the portrait reminded me that Professor Umbridge was waiting for me at the door. It was late at that time, and I thought the professor had something urgent to do, and she cast the Imperius Curse on me as soon as the door opened I became dazed and had been resisting the effects of the Imperius Curse. I suspected her spell wasn't strong enough, and when I got deep into the Forbidden Forest I broke free and she attacked me, and I lifted The wand defended itself and hit her right arm." Harry frowned, he had a strange feeling.

"I think these are all the facts." Kingsley straightened his body, the first sentence pointed to Fudge, and the second sentence asked Harry, "Do you know why she did this to you?"

"She has never liked me, sir." Harry replied quickly, "She said I was a liar and would affect the prestige of the Minister of Magic. She wanted to leave me in the Forbidden Forest to fend for myself."

"This is horrible!" McGonagall said angrily. "A headmaster trying to kill his own students!"

"He's a liar!" Fudge seemed to be dying.

"He's not!" McGonagall handed the antidote to the truth potion to Harry, who obediently took it and swallowed it. Harry blinked and watched the two quarreling. He noticed that the portraits in the room were crowded with people. He had seen many of them in the corridor, and he must have heard about the interrogation and came here to join in the fun.

"I don't know what to think, this is the worst thing I've ever heard since I became a teacher." McGonagall's voice was cold, "I can't let this kind of person stay in the school anymore, I strongly urge her to leave immediately after being cured ’” The witch waved her wand into the air, and a silver-white tabby cat emerged from the tip of the wand, “Tell Bobby that Umbridge will come to me as soon as he wakes up.”

"You can't order my men!" Fudge retorted.

"Then I can only use the power of the Hogwarts vice-headmaster to directly ask the castle to expel her." The witch continued, "And I will not accept any decisions from the Ministry of Magic. It is time for the board of directors to intervene."

"McG—"

"Perhaps you'd prefer that I run this story in the Daily Prophet? You know how eager Skeeter is for stories that get people's attention, and I don't think she'd mind interviewing me," interrupted Harry. According to Fudge, this man is almost irrational, and now his mind is full of his position as the Minister of Magic.

"You dare to threaten me!" Fudge wanted to rush in front of Harry again, but was blocked by McGonagall.

"I didn't intend to threaten you, if you didn't threaten my life first." Harry said indifferently, "What do you think people will think? A Ministry of Magic official wants to get your favor. Killing innocent students, I believe Even after the outside world portrays me as a liar, there are still many people who are willing to believe in the efficacy of Veritaserum, and maybe I can provide them with the memory they need."

"Oh, by the way, not to mention the fact that she ordered the dementors to attack me. It's really horrible," Harry sneered.

Fudge suddenly looked like a deflated ball, and he gave Harry a vicious look: "As you wish, Dolores will leave Hogwarts, and the Ministry of Magic will not interfere any more," he turned his gaze to McGonagall. On the body, "No, I will not agree to Dumbledore's return, you can manage the school as the acting principal."

"I hope you will remember today's words, sir," Harry said. "If I am provoked, I may accidentally tell this story to reporters. They are very interested in my private life."

Fudge gave Harry one last look, and joined the Aurors into the fireplace.McGonagall turned around and smiled at Harry: "I must give Gryffindor fifty points for your bravery and agility."

When Harry came out of Professor McGonagall's office, the portraits along the way congratulated the boy. They warmly praised Harry's performance, which made him a little happy. The news of Umbridge's departure will be announced in the auditorium tomorrow morning. Announcing that he was looking forward to the reaction of others, it was probably the happiest thing for Harry this year.Before leaving, McGonagall told Harry that he and Umbridge seemed to hit their heads during the fight and had no memory of what happened, which is why only Harry had to be interrogated. ('It's abominable to let her get away with it.' McGonagall complains.) Harry thinks Fudge probably doesn't want to lose a right-hand man, having seen how much Umbridge treated Fudge the last time he was in court at the Wizengamot. Worship, it made him sick.

Harry's joy vanished the moment he saw Tom, and the strange feeling that had been bothering him had an accurate explanation, and he quickly uttered the Binding Curse, catching him off guard.Tom's angry expression was replaced by surprise the moment he heard Harry speak.

"You modified my memory."