CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Separated after entering the Ministry, Hermione is taken by Umbridge to the courtrooms, while Harry, disguised as Runcorn, stays above and decides to search Umbridge’s office. He discovers anti–Muggle-born pamphlets in production, Moody’s magical eye fixed in her door, and files marking Arthur Weasley as tracked. He also notes Rita Skeeter’s exposé on Dumbledore before narrowly avoiding Thicknesse and withdrawing.

Harry reunites briefly with a drenched Ron in a lift, then encounters Arthur and Percy Weasley, maintaining his Runcorn cover. Realizing Hermione is trapped below, Harry descends to the court level, where Dementors crowd terrified Muggle-borns awaiting interrogation. He slips into Umbridge’s courtroom, where Umbridge, with Yaxley beside her and a silver cat Patronus, begins questioning Mary Cattermole.

When Umbridge boasts that her golden locket is a pure-blood heirloom, Hermione spots it and Harry recognizes the Horcrux. Enraged, Harry stuns Umbridge, then Yaxley; Umbridge’s Patronus vanishes, the Dementors advance, and Harry drives them back with his stag Patronus. Hermione duplicates the locket to avoid immediate detection, releases Mary from her chains, and the trio decide to evacuate the Muggle-borns.

Guided by Harry’s and Hermione’s Patronuses, they lead the detainees toward the Atrium. Using Runcorn’s authority, Harry bluffs the fireplace guards into letting people depart by Floo, but the real Reg Cattermole appears, raising alarm. As Yaxley arrives and chaos erupts, Ron pulls Mary through a fireplace, and Harry and Hermione follow under fire.

In the Ministry toilets, Yaxley pursues them into the cubicles. Harry grabs Ron and Hermione and turns on the spot to Disapparate. Amid wrenching compression and a brief glimpse of Grimmauld Place’s door, Hermione clamps down on Harry’s hand and they vanish again with Yaxley in pursuit.