Muggle-Born Registration Commission

           Ah,Mafalda!"saidUmbridge,lookingatHermione."Traverssentyou,didhe?"

           "Y-yes,"squeakedHermione.

           "Good,you’lldoperfectlywell."Umbridgespoketothewizardinblackandgold."That’sthatproblemsolved,Minister,ifMafaldacanbesparedforrecord-keepingweshallbeabletostartstraightaway."Sheconsultedherclipboard."TenpeopletodayandoneofthemthewifeofaMinistryemployee!Tut,tut...evenhere,intheheartoftheMinistry!"ShesteppedintotheliftbesideHermione,asdidthetwowizardswhohadbeenlisteningtoUmbridge’sconversationwiththeMinister."We’llgostraightdown,Mafalda,you’llfindeverythingyouneedinthecourtroom.Goodmorning,Albert,aren’tyougettingout?"

           "Yes,ofcourse,"saidHarryinRuncorn’sdeepvoice.

           Harrysteppedoutofthelift.Thegoldengrillesclangedshutbehindhim.Glancingoverhisshoulder,HarrysawHermione’sanxiousfacesinkingbackoutofsight,atallwizardoneithersideofher,Umbridge’svelvethair-bowlevelwithhershoulder.

           "Whatbringsyouuphere,Runcorn?"askedthenewMinisterofMagic.Hislongblackhairandbeardwerestreakedwithsilver,andagreatoverhangingforeheadshadowedhisglintingeyes,puttingHarryinmindofacrablookingoutfrombeneatharock.

           "Neededaquickwordwith,"Harryhesitatedforafractionofasecond,"ArthurWeasley.Someonesaidhewasuponlevelone."

           "Ah,"saidPiusThicknesse.