Struggling to survive at Hogwarts

Chapter 209 The Gods Hear Prayers

Thea realized she had overestimated Umbridge.

She was initially worried that Trelawney would become Umbridge's breakthrough point at Hogwarts, but she didn't expect Umbridge to be so useless that he couldn't even handle a professor.

"laugh………"

Thea listened lazily to Zabini's vivid account of the battle between Professor McGonagall and Umbridge, and finally just gave a light snort.

"Just like her master, all bark and no bite."

Thea coldly commented in her mind.

"I heard that Umbridge issued an educational decree?"

“Yes,” Zabini said gravely, “the higher-ups said to disband all student organizations, and that no regular gatherings of more than three people may be formed without Umbridge’s permission—”

Before Zabini could finish speaking, the door was pushed open.

“I’m sorry, Thea,” Daphne said apologetically, but her eyes were filled with anxiety. “The members of the study group saw the educational order… and they want to see Thea.”

Thea looked at Daphne's sweat-dampened temples and slightly disheveled robe, picked up a cup of hot tea from the table and handed it to Daphne, comforting her, "Relax, I'm here."

She tilted her head slightly and said casually, "Zabini, come with me to see them."

Zabini withdrew his gaze from Daphne and nodded respectfully.

------

The two walked down a long corridor, where the noise of the young wizards grew louder and louder.

"What exactly is she trying to do?! She's just an investigator, my dad's position is much higher than hers!"

An excited little wizard had already climbed onto the table, shouting and looking... He really didn't seem like a Slytherin.

“That’s right! Joyce’s father, Mr. Norris, is a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Magic! Even Umbridge has to listen to his father!” The support of a young wizard made Joyce even more proud. He held his head high and was about to continue his speech.

But he suddenly stopped, as if attacked by some powerful dark magic, and almost fell off the table.

The young wizards surrounding him weren't much better off. Seeing Thea's ambiguous smile at the door, they immediately suppressed their indignation and tried their best to put on a formal expression.

"A high-ranking official from the Ministry of Magic?"

"Umbridge's superior?"

"Mr. Norris?"

Thea asked questions as she slowly walked toward Joyce, stopping only when Joyce's head was lowered and his face was redder.

"...I'm sorry..." The once arrogant little wizard immediately became as timid as a quail, speaking in a barely audible voice.

“It’s alright,” Thea said, trying to ignore the teasing look Zabini gave her. “Walls have ears, be careful what you say.”

“Mmm!” Joyce nodded vigorously.

Thea then looked around at everyone. Apart from this small group of overly excited young wizards, most of them were still quite calm. They wanted a definite answer, a guarantee that the study group could continue to exist.

"Tell me, what are your thoughts?" Thea stopped her teasing and walked straight toward the head seat.

“Thea,” a fellow fifth-year witch stepped forward. Thea recognized her name as Caris, a top student who consistently ranked in the top ten of Slytherin.

"I joined the study group when I was in first grade. I learned a lot here. Whether it's spells, potions, or anything else, I can find the answers here. I love it here! But now..."

Kerr choked up a little, and the other young wizards' spirits also sank.

"Will the study group... really disband?"

Kerr looked up at Thea, who was the same age as her, with what could be considered offensive, and bravely asked the question.

Thea did not answer the other party immediately; her meager conscience ached faintly at that moment.

What could she say? That she originally set up the study group to win people over, and that disbanding it now was the best option from any perspective?

After the group disbanded, she had an explanation to give to Umbridge.

From then on, she could watch from the sidelines, no longer needing to worry about that pink toad, and could devote all her energy to magical research.

Although she looked down on the pink toad, it was a hassle for Thea, who couldn't afford to break ties with it right now.

She wanted to coldly and ruthlessly tell the other party that she couldn't save the study group, or at least that saving the study group's interests was far less important than disbanding it.

Thea's prolonged silence seemed to make Keris realize something; her tall body trembled, and her face lost all color.

"Is there really... no other way?"

The girl's voice was barely audible, but she waited steadfastly for the answer.

Thea seemed to be burned by the light in the girl's eyes and quickly looked away, but the young wizards around her all saw that same burning light.

They gave up their already meager rest time and gathered here unanimously, all in an effort to secure a possibility—a possibility—for the study group to continue.

They never doubted Thea's abilities, because her repeated victories proved to them that she was absolutely reliable!

They worshipped Thea as if she were a god.

Time passed second by second, but the people in the classroom stood frozen in place, like the most devout believers praying to their gods.

"This matter... is very troublesome..."

After an unknown amount of time, Thea's voice, filled with deep helplessness, rang out, like the first glimmer of hope that swept across the world when Pangu separated heaven and earth, reaching every devout believer.

"No problem, we can help!"

"Exactly! I'm not afraid of trouble at all!"

"I'll go write to my father right now; he works at the Ministry of Magic too!"

"I'm going to write a complaint letter too! How could Dumbledore possibly stand by and do nothing!"

"I...I'll go find the dean!"

The young wizard who spoke last received gazes of reverence from almost everyone. Under those intense stares, the young wizard forced himself to speak, "The headmaster... he... he's not afraid of Umbridge, I... I'll go and ask him for help..."

The scene was very quiet for a moment.

until--

"Well done, bro!"

A young wizard's praise seemed to have opened the curtain on this grand feast. Countless people racked their brains, chattering away, and more and more imaginative ideas came out of their mouths. Along with those ideas came their courage.

Thea finally managed to break free from the overly enthusiastic group of young wizards thanks to Zabini's efforts.

Thea was somewhat stunned as she looked at the classroom, which was chaotic yet orderly.

"Actually, all we want is an answer."

"As long as you don't give up, you've blocked the last reason for us to give up."

Thea turned to look at Zabini, who had suddenly become serious, and let out a long breath, as if sighing and relieved.

As Zabini watched Thea's departing figure, his gaze was intense, like a gambler looking at the last chip he had placed on the table.