The Reticulation

"Well, it was nice being headmistress while it lasted," Umbridge said rather sulkily as the Ministry guard abandoned Harry.

"Wait, so this whole thing with Harry killing you was all some kind of setup?" Ginny asked McGonagall.

"That is correct, Miss Weasley," McGonagall said as though Ginny had just answered a question correctly in class. "Mr. Potter informed us that You-Know-Who would only allow you released if he, that is to say Mr. Potter, killed me. Therefore, we conspired to have Potter and Umbridge return to the school, pretending he had killed me, while I fled and informed the Ministry of the situation."

"But You-Know-Who said he would know whether or not Harry told anyone," Neville said timidly.

"Since Hermione said the Reticulation controls the school," Harry replied, "I figured he was bluffing when he said that."

"You risked our lives on a bloody theory!" Ron shouted angrily.

"Well, it was perfectly logical," Hermione said briskly.

"But how would he be able to see what we're doing while we're inside the school, but not outside?" Ginny asked. Harry shrugged, but Hermione looked liked a scientist on the brink of making a great discovery.

"Mirrors," she said suddenly, "that's it! Pictures and mirrors! He can see through them--that's why he put one in the chamber! They're like cameras to him."

"We agreed that Umbridge would temporarily take over Hogwarts, as that's probably what she would have done if Mr. Potter really had killed me," McGonagall continued. "I told her that it wasn't necessary for her to begin changing all the rules, as I would be changing them back anyway, but she insisted it was necessary to prevent You-Know-Who from getting suspicious."

"I think she was just enjoying her part a little too much," Harry muttered under his breath. Hermione smiled wryly and Ginny giggled.

Most of the students were now beaming at McGonagall, but Umbridge did not look happy about being forced to relinquish her control over the school so soon. Eventually, Hermione spoke up.

"You know, Voldemort is still in control of the Reticulation," she said quietly.

"Yes, he is!" said Umbridge, who had apparently been waiting for someone to point this out. "And this time we're going to handle him in a perfectly Ministry-approved fashion!" Harry couldn't help but noticing that McGonagall seemed to have a this-should-be-amusing kind of look on her face.

Umbridge walked right up to the edge of the grounds with everyone watching her intently. As Harry whispered to Ron how nice it would be if she and Voldemort finished each other off, Umbridge said "Sonorus" and raised her stubby wand to her mouth.

"Lord Voldemort," she shouted, her voice magnified, "I am Dolores Umbridge, senior undersecretary to the Minister! Don't you think can mess with me!" Umbridge ignored the laughter this comment produced.

"Oh, that's priceless!" a giggling Ron managed to say. Even Hermione couldn't resist grinning, but Umbridge was still looking intently at the school.

"I am all-powerful, Umbridge!"

"You are not!" Umbridge replied. "I happen to know you control the Reticulation and, therefore, your powers only extend to the edge of the school grounds."

"Would you bet your life on that presumption?"

Everyone turned to look tensely at Umbridge, but she only paused momentarily before raising up her wand to magnify her voice again.

"Yes, I would."