Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

13

Chapter 13-The Muggle-born Registration Commission

Summary

Umbridge assumes that someone named Travers sent Mafalda (the woman Hermione is currently disguised as) to her. She's meant to be the record keeper for the day's proceedings in the Muggle-born Registration Commission. Umbridge suggests that Albert Runcorn (who Harry is disguised as) should be getting out on this floor, separating Harry and Hermione. He comes in contact with the new Minister of Magic, who asks what he's there for. Harry tells him that he's to have a word with Arthur Weasley, prompting the Minister to ask if Arthur's had contact with an Undesirable. Harry says no, and Thicknesse says that he believes "blood traitors" are as bad as Mudbloods before bidding him good day. Once he's gone, Harry puts on his Invisibility Cloak and sets off. As he walks, he feels more and more uneasy-they had not planned what they would do if they were separated on their mission. Thinking that Umbridge's office has to be on his floor, he decides to search it just in case.

Harry enters an area where he finds workers assembling pamphlets on the dangers of Mudbloods. He's fairly sure that Umbridge wrote the thing, and the talk amongst the workers seems to confirm it-one refers to her as "the old hag." (Another encourages her to keep silent unless they're heard.) Harry looks up and finds Moody's old magical eye fixed to the door of Umbridge's office, and also learns that Umbridge is Senior Undersecretary to the Minister and Head of the Muggle-born Registration Commission. Knowing that he will be noticed opening her door, even invisible, Harry sets off one of the Decoy Detonators to distract the office workers. Once inside, Harry finds an office just like the one that Umbridge had back at Hogwarts. Moody's eye is in place so that Umbridge can spy on her workers. Finding everyone still looking at the detonator, Harry steals Moody's eye back, then tries to call for the locket using Accio, which doesn't work. He begins a search of Umbridge's office, finding Arthur's file when he goes through the file cabinets. It reads that Arthur is being tracked due to his pro-Muggle leanings, and that "Undesirable No. 1" is likely to contact his family. It's clear that the "No. 1" is Harry, and further confirmed when he finds a poster of his face with those words on it. (Umbridge has also added a pink note to the corner that reads "To be punished.")

In looking around the office, he spies a copy of Rita Skeeter's book on Dumbledore. He flips to a page that shows a picture of a young Dumbledore laughing with his arm around a friend. Before he has time to check the caption, Pius Thicknesse enters the office and Harry has to scramble to throw the Cloak on. Harry slowly backs out of the office as Pius leaves a note for Umbridge on her desk. Harry decides that after failing to find the locket, his next move has to be to gather Ron and Hermione and leave without detection so they can try another day. Ron enters the lift right after he does, followed by a witch and Arthur Weasley (who obviously does not realize who they are). He glares at Harry and gives Ron advice for how to solve the rain problem in Yaxley's office. Ron thanks him, almost making the mistake of calling him "dad." The lift opens and Ron gets out. Harry makes to follow him, but is blocked by Percy Weasley entering. Percy doesn't notice that his father is there until he looks up, then leaves as soon as the doors open again. Harry tries to exit again, but is blocked by Arthur, who takes him to task for what he's done to Dirk Cresswell. Harry tells Arthur he's being watched, but Arthur interprets that as a threat, thinking that Harry is Runcorn. He leaves, and Harry decides to put his Invisibility Cloak back on.

He heads to the courtrooms, thinking of how he'll get Hermione out, and belatedly realizes that the corridor leading there is packed with dementors. They surround the Muggle-borns who are waiting to be questioned. Harry presses on, and a door opens as a man is dragged out by dementors, insisting he is a half-blood. Umbridge's voice sounds, informing him that he'll be subjected to the Dementor's Kiss is he doesn't stop struggling. Mary Cattermole is called next, and Harry follows her into the courtroom, which is different from the one he had his hearing in. There are more dementors in there, and Umbridge sits with Yaxley on one side and Hermione on the other. There is a cat Patronus at their feet to help fend off the effects of the dementors. Harry slinks around the room to get behind Hermione while Umbridge and Yaxley attack Cattermole, who begins to sob and talks of her family. Harry tells Hermione he's behind her. Umbridge insists that the wand Mary Cattermole turned over was stolen from a true witch or wizard. When she asks Hermione for the questionnaire Mary filled out, Hermione makes a point of talking about her necklace. Umbridge claims it's a family heirloom and the "S" on it stands for Selwyn, a pureblood family, then proceeds to call out Mary Cattermole's ancestry.