Scenes flickered through Harry's mind in rapid succession.
At five, he watched Dudley riding a brand-new red bicycle, his heart full of jealousy...
...At nine, he was chased up a tree by a dog named Rippy while the Dursleys laughed on the lawn...
...He wore the Sorting Hat and heard it say he could go to Slytherin...
...Hermione lying in the hospital wing, her face covered in black hair...
...A hundred Dementors closing in on him by the dark lake...
...In the graveyard at Little Hangleton, clutching Jon's corpse...
A flash of red light swept across his vision—and everything went black.
"Stupefy!"
With that loud shout, he lost consciousness.
...
"Harry—!" Hermione Granger broke free from her restraints and screamed.
But Pansy Parkinson quickly forced her back to the ground.
"Why did you stun him?" Headmistress Dolores Umbridge asked in surprise.
"To keep him out of the way," Jon said calmly. "I've seen Potter's memories and know exactly who he was speaking to just now…"
"Tell me, tell me!" the pink toad croaked with excitement.
But Jon hesitated deliberately, glancing around at the dozen people present.
"Professor Umbridge," he whispered, "this involves extremely important information. Too many people shouldn't hear it…"
Umbridge immediately understood. Just like at the opening ceremony, she forced out a few deliberate coughs—
then switched to her girlish voice and said to Draco Malfoy, "Draco, take them outside for a moment…"
"Draco, take Potter's friends to Mr. Filch's office," Jon added kindly. "Let Mr. Filch give them a proper lesson."
"Yes, yes! Exactly!" Umbridge echoed quickly.
"No problem!" Draco Malfoy answered at once. He walked forward with Goyle, and together they lifted the petrified Ron Weasley.
Crabbe, Montague, and Selwyn each dragged Neville, Ginny, and Luna, hauling them toward the door.
"Crabbe, ease up a little; if Longbottom suffocates, you'll have to write a long, boring report," Jon reminded with a smile, then turned to Pansy Parkinson, who still had Hermione pinned down.
"Pansy, leave her here. We still need her."
Pansy Parkinson gave Jon a surprised look, but nodded.
Before leaving, she conjured a pile of ropes, bound Hermione tightly, and handed Hermione's wand to Jon.
"Christopher, her wand."
"Thanks." Jon took it and slipped it into his pocket.
...
Now only Jon, Umbridge, and Hermione remained in the office—aside from the unconscious Harry Potter.
"Christopher… quickly… tell me!" Umbridge urged breathlessly.
"Potter was speaking with Sirius Black," Jon replied evenly.
"I knew it… Last time I nearly caught Black contacting Potter!" Umbridge roared.
"Mm—mm—" Hermione whimpered, but Pansy Parkinson had stuffed her mouth before leaving, so she couldn't make a sound.
"Miss Granger, if you interrupt our conversation again, I will use the Cruciatus Curse on you," Umbridge said coldly.
Hermione flinched and lowered her head in fear.
"Black told Potter he's in the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic—and he's not alone," Jon continued. "His cousin Lestrange is with him, along with Dolohov, Rookwood…"
Jon listed all ten Death Eaters who had escaped recently.
"So you're saying the second Azkaban breakout was orchestrated by Black?" Umbridge shrieked.
"I'm afraid so," Jon nodded. "And Black isn't acting alone—he answers to Dumbledore. That's why, two years ago, Dumbledore opposed letting Dementors into Hogwarts to catch him. But now things have changed—Dumbledore and the Dementors seem to have struck some sort of agreement…"
"Exactly!" Umbridge cut him off, screaming hysterically. "That's why the Dementors betrayed the Ministry… Continue, Christopher, continue…"
Her tone swung abruptly back into a sweet, girlish pitch.
Beside her, Hermione Granger looked utterly stunned, but wisely kept silent.
"Wait…" Umbridge suddenly realized something; her voice hardened. "So a dozen of Dumbledore's lackeys are hiding in the Ministry… What are they planning?"
"Not only his lackeys—most likely Dumbledore himself is involved," Jon said gravely. "According to Black, they're preparing to assassinate Minister Cornelius Fudge."
"Good heavens!" Umbridge cried. "I must write immediately—warn Cornelius—"
"Wait, Headmistress Umbridge!" Jon stepped in quickly. "If you warn the Minister and he leaves, Dumbledore will sense something and escape. And with how cunning he is, we may never get another chance to catch him…"
Jon's voice dropped to a whisper.
"So what do you suggest, Christopher?" Umbridge asked hesitantly.
"First, alert the Department of Magical Transportation to be ready to shut down the Floo Network and Apparition network surrounding the Ministry," Jon said with a soft smile. "Then assemble the Aurors—at least twenty, preferably thirty—and keep them ready in the Auror Office. When Dumbledore and his lackeys appear, you can shut down the networks and lead the Aurors to capture all of them alive!"
"But Minister Fudge would be in danger…" Umbridge said uncertainly.
"Headmistress Umbridge…" Jon's voice took on a dangerously persuasive tone. "If the Minister suffers even a minor injury tonight, and you descend like a savior to lead the Aurors in capturing Dumbledore, Black, and the Azkaban escapees… then who do you think will become the next master of the Ministry of Magic?"
Umbridge's breathing instantly grew rapid and hungry.