Upon hearing Umbridge's words, Pabi furrowed her brows.
Seriously, is this so-called Senior Investigator really that oblivious to boundaries?
"I don't think such matters need your permission, Lady Senior Investigator." Pabi, usually a good-natured person, now looked serious for the first time, "Hogwarts is the Hogwarts of its students, and they have the right to organize any clubs or groups that don't violate school rules."
"Including organizations opposing the Ministry of Magic?" Umbridge maintained her fake smile.
"Do you really think sweating it out in a game of Quidditch could threaten the Ministry of Magic's rule?" Pabi laughed, "The Ministry must be quite fragile then?"
"This is about authority! The Ministry's authority!" Umbridge was somewhat persuasive, hoping this school director lady would be sensible, "As a director of Hogwarts, surely you wouldn't want the Ministry's authority to be undermined, right?"
"You know I'm only the director of Hogwarts, Lady Senior Investigator." Pabi chuckled, "The Ministry's authority holds no significance to me, madam, and I don't believe Hogwarts is a place where any lowly wizard can come show off their power! Let me remind you again, Lady Senior Investigator, Hogwarts is for its students and professors!"
"So, you're planning to oppose the Ministry of Magic?" Umbridge asked, smiling.
"It's you choosing to oppose me, Lady Senior Investigator." Pabi slyly deflected.
Umbridge sighed.
She spoke again in a persuasive tone, "I think you might not be aware, having just returned to Hogwarts—the Ministry of Magic has evidence that certain students are secretly colluding in activities detrimental to the Ministry. They are guided by Headmaster Dumbledore, hoping to attack the Ministry under his leadership and seize its authority. Do you think this is appropriate?"
"I'll state it one last time." Pabi's expression turned cold, "Hogwarts is a school, not an arena for dirty politicking and scheming by you politicians. If you want to stir trouble at Hogwarts, as the director, I certainly won't stand by idly! Please leave, Lady Senior Investigator!"
Umbridge's smile vanished, and she glanced icily at Pabi before turning around, "You'll regret this, Lady Swedding!"
"Lady Umbridge, I am the director!" Pabi replied coldly.
Umbridge glared at Pabi and stormed off.
As she left, she made sure to slam the door behind her.
The door thudded loudly from her strength.
Watching the closed door, Pabi smirked disdainfully.
She took out the Crystal Ball, planning to talk to Vivi.
Meanwhile, Angelina just stepped out from the captain's office.
"Alright, everyone listen up," Angelina stood in front of her teammates, hands on her hips, "I know the weather isn't great, but we're likely to play against the Slytherin Team in these conditions, so it's best we train how to battle in rainy weather—Harry, during that downpour against Hufflepuff, didn't you use a trick to keep the rain off your glasses?"
"Yeah, it was this waterproof spell." Harry took out his Magic Wand, "I can apply it to everyone, so we don't have to worry about getting soaked by wind and rain."
"That would be wonderful!" Angelina beamed.
Harry walked up to his classmates and started enhancing their waterproof protection.
"This spell is really great, I mean, very practical." Fred jumped up and down cheerily, "At least I feel less damp, the wind and rain can't penetrate my clothes—"
"But the Senior Investigator can." George added with a sarcastic joke.
"What do you mean?" Fred raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, it's something Muggles say." George responded, "Wind can enter, rain can enter, but the king cannot enter—but we all know it's a joke. Now the wind and rain can't enter Hogwarts, but the Senior Investigator can."
"Absolutely no problem." George grinned.
"Since everyone is ready," Angelina rallied her spirit, "let's head out and start training—I know sleeping in the dorm during such heavy rain or chatting by the fireplace might seem like a better choice, but we are Quidditch players, we can't slack off like that!"
"If you hadn't said that, Captain!" Alicia Spinnet called out, "I wouldn't even have thought about such a comfortable place, now I regret a bit."
"Regret is futile!" Angelina lazily said, "Let's go!"
They grabbed their brooms and followed Angelina out of the changing room.
The group sloshed through increasingly thick mud to the center of the field, though they had waterproof spells, visibility was still very low, light quickly dimmed, and the curtain of rain swept across the grounds.
"Alright, listen to my whistle." Angelina shouted, "Three—two—one—fwip fwip!"
Harry kicked off the ground into the air, mud splattering, the wind pushing him slightly off course, but his eyesight was good, allowing him to spot the Golden Snitch.
"Mate!" Ron shouted, "I've no clue how you even see the Golden Snitch—just keeping track of their Wandering Ball hits is enough trouble."
A loud thud echoed next.
Ron narrowly avoided getting hit by a Wandering Ball—it had thudded against a hoop beside him.