Hermione had not expected the journalist to spring to her defence, but there was only cruel indifference on display as the impromptu tea party continued, both witches trading ideas of how to discredit Dumbledore and Harry in the book Hermione considered once to be a hallowed tome. When Umbridge had finished her third cup of tea she rounded out her self-satisfied monologue about the evil degenerate nature of Dumbledore’s previous regime. Despite the wild accusations she bandied about, she was emboldened as her audience made no attempt to reign in the clear falsehoods weaved from thin air, ignoring the the fact the squat Ministry official knitted a web of lies with a few half-truths. Rita deployed some well placed nods and thoughtful silences to egg the Ministry Official on in her endless series of tirades, trying to glean some insights into where this proposed collaborations was going. Hermione dared not speak from her boneless position on the floor.