Chapter 257 - Umbridges Destiny (2/2)
Ginny, Colin and Ron chuckled.
”In any case, I like the article written by Chris,” said Luna looking up from the magazine.
”Thanks,” smiled Chris.
Chris had written two articles for The Quibbler (of course, Madam Pomfrey wasn't happy), one about the night in Graveyard and other about the night in Department of Mystery, carefully omitting about the keys. The idea was Hermione's and when Harry insisted too, Chris gave up. Within weeks, Quibbler was reprinting and they were famous. Even Rita Skeeter wrote good things about Harry, Chris and Dumbledore.
”You know, I was wondering,” said Ginny absently turning the pages of Chris' Daily Prophet (Chris hasn't opened even 9ne prophet newspaper after Friday. All were piled on the table beside her bed. Ginny had pulled one from the top.) ”Why Malgino didn't use even one spell to do anything!”
”Really? Not even one?” said Hermione surprised, closing her newspaper.
”No,” said Luna, closing her Quibbler as well.
”He didn't even help Voldemort to defeat Dumbledore,” said Harry.
”That woman — what's her name?” asked Neville.
”Stormy,” said Chris.
”Yeah, that Stormy was the one doing all the magic to her, wasn't she?” said Neville then shivered. ”She was very powerful though.”
”Well, I thought Malgino used a spell when he was doing that creepy thing to Chris,” said Colin.
”You mean that manipulating thing?” said Luna.
”It wasn't any kind of spell,” said Chris. ”It was something else, like an ability. I felt it.”
There was a tense silence broken by Hermione.
”So anyway,” she said, sitting up a little straighter and wincing again, ”what's going on in school?”
”Well, Flitwick's got rid of Fred and George's swamp,” said Ginny. ”He did it in about three seconds. But he left a tiny patch under the window and he's roped it off —”
”Why?” said Hermione, looking startled.
”Oh, he just says it was a really good bit of magic,” said Ginny, grinning.
”I think he left it as a monument to Fred and George,” said Ron through a mouthful of chocolate. ”They sent me all these, you know,” he told others, pointing at the small mountain of Frogs beside him. ”Must be doing all right out of that joke shop, eh?”
Hermione tried not to smile but at last gave up, ”Yeah, I got them too,” she said pointing at another pile of chocolates on her bedside table.
”Yes, Chris got loads too but didn't eat, so I had to eat them,” said Colin in a way which made Luna laugh. Colin then turned to Neville, ”So has all the trouble stopped now Dumbledore's back?”
”Yes,” said Neville, ”everything's settled right back down again.”
”I s'pose Filch is happy, is he?” asked Ron, propping a Chocolate Frog card featuring Dumbledore against his water jug.
”Not at all,” said Ginny. ”He's really, really miserable. He keeps saying Umbridge was the best thing that ever happened to Hogwarts . . .”
”Speaking of Umbridge,” said Chris casually. ”Any news about her whereabouts?”
”No idea,” said Ron shrugging. ”I asked Dad when he came last time. He said there was no news about her and he also said,” Ron chuckled, ”He said, the new Minister isn't very interested to find her, especially when there are things like You-Know-Who and Malgino to worry about.”
”Good,” muttered Chris.
”Huh?” Ginny looked at Chris curiously.
”I mean I hope the new Minister is good,” said Chris quickly.
”Yeah, I hope so too,” said Hermione nodding.
______________________________
To be continued. . .