Struggling to survive at Hogwarts

Chapter 210 Negotiations in Progress

The study group acted quickly; the day after Thea mentioned needing an application for the study group's continued existence, a thick parchment document arrived in Thea's hands.

“There’s no need to wait here. Umbridge might not approve our continued participation in the study group.”

Seeing the eager expressions on everyone's faces, Thea couldn't make any promises, so she could only give them a heads-up beforehand.

"With Thea involved, there's nothing she can't handle!"

"Exactly! Thea is the best!"

Hearing the praise from everyone, Thea comforted them with a few more words and successfully persuaded them to leave temporarily.

"Are we going now?"

When only Daphne and a few others remained in the conference room, Draco finally spoke up.

“Yes,” Thea replied while flipping through the documents, “This matter should be handled sooner rather than later, the faster the better—this list…”

Thea's abrupt question immediately drew the attention of the group.

Is there something wrong with it?

Daphne was completely baffled, and to prevent Umbridge from using this as an excuse, she even removed a few names from the list!

"I think I need to add a few more names to this list..."

As she spoke, Thea took the quill pen that Theodore handed her and wrote several more names with a single stroke.

"...Wouldn't that be a little inappropriate?"

Daphne's eyelids twitched as she looked at the deliberately staggered names on the list.

“There’s nothing wrong with it,” Thea continued browsing through the document. “Anyway, I founded ODDG, so let’s just handle it all together now, it’ll save us trouble later.”

Is it really just because it's convenient?

Not only Daphne didn't believe it, but even Draco's eyes were full of doubt.

Thea tried to ignore their gazes, calmly gave them instructions on their next tasks, and then headed towards Umbridge's office with the documents in hand.

------

"knock knock"

Thea politely knocked on Umbridge's office door.

"Come in." A sickeningly sweet voice made Thea unconsciously frown, but as she walked into the office, she had already resumed her usual gentle smile.

Compared to the offices of previous Defense Against the Dark Arts professors, Umbridge's changes were undoubtedly the most significant.

Everything was covered with lace-trimmed cloths and tablecloths, and there were several vases filled with steel flowers, each placed on a separate small cushion. On one wall hung a set of decorative plates, each with a brightly colored large cat wearing a different style of bow around its neck.

What a nightmare.

Looking at the middle-aged woman dressed in pink, Thea greeted her politely, "Good morning, Professor Umbridge."

Umbridge was clearly surprised by Thea's arrival, but she remained seated firmly on her stool, a nasty smile on her face, and said in a high-pitched voice, "Good morning, Miss Black."

"Sit down and let's talk."

Thea obediently sat down opposite Umbridge.

She seemed to suddenly remember the etiquette of hospitality, and with a wave of her wand, a steaming cup of coffee appeared in front of Thea.

“We need to clear our heads,” Umbridge said with a laugh. “Try it!”

Looking at the cup of coffee in front of her, Thea's expression was unreadable, but she finally picked it up and took a small sip.

The abnormally high temperature at the entrance caused a burning pain on Thea's tongue, which then traveled down her throat to her stomach.

She was punishing me for interrupting her actions against Potter that day.

"It tastes good, doesn't it?" Seeing Thea obediently drink the coffee, Umbridge's eyes revealed a surprising malice.

She just "accidentally" handed over a cup of freshly brewed coffee. What did she do wrong?

“…Very good.” Thea’s voice was slightly hoarse, and even her tongue was starting to feel numb.

"Is there a problem?"

After venting his frustrations, Umbridge finally got down to business.

"I'm here to submit an application for the continuation of our study group, and I hope you will approve it."

Thea's "pragmatism" pleased Umbridge greatly. She used her chubby fingers to pick up the plan and casually flipped through it, continuing to spout her same old opinions.

"As the only and oldest magic school in Britain, Hogwarts must be examined with the utmost care regarding the changes it has made throughout its history; and the decision to disband the student organization was made only after obtaining the consent of many outstanding individuals within the Ministry of Magic..."

"Therefore, approving the reconstruction of student organizations is not a power that belongs solely to me..."

Umbridge spoke at length and in a tedious manner, but Thea discerned his intentions from his words.

She wanted to use this incident to control me.

Thea had already anticipated the ensuing verbal sparring, and a hint of weariness flashed in her eyes, but she quickly perked up and got into the zone.

"The professor bears the heavy responsibility of both the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts, and also has to consider the opinions of the students' parents. It's really tough for him."

"Logically, I shouldn't bother you, but this study group is one I started in my first year. Not only the professors, but even Uncle Lucius knows about it..."

"Speaking of which, I received a letter from my uncle yesterday asking about the study group. He works at the Ministry of Magic, so he naturally knows about this educational order."

Umbridge was leisurely plotting how to extract what she wanted from Thea, but upon hearing Lucius's name, she immediately became extremely alert.

The Malfoy family is the minister's money bag; they absolutely cannot be lost!

“…Mr. Malfoy seems to care about you quite a bit,” Umbridge said stiffly.

"It's alright, after all, I'm his niece."

Seeing that Thea was unmoved, Umbridge gritted his teeth inwardly.

Are we really going to let her succeed so easily?

Umbridge reluctantly began flipping through the thick document, making small talk while his hands flew across the page, searching for a way out of the predicament.

Suddenly, Umbridge's gaze paused as it swept over a few names, but it quickly ignited with intense light.

"Ahem!" She cleared her throat dramatically, then said righteously, "Miss Black, it seems there are a few names on your list that shouldn't be there..."