The Muggle-Born Registration Commission

Dolores Umbridge is on her way to a hearing of the Muggle-Born Registration Commission and insists that the disguised Hermione come along. Harry (also still disguised) begins chatting with the new Minister of Magic, Pius Thicknesse, who is under Voldemort's control.

Finally, Harry is left alone to search for Dolores Umbridge’s office. After finding it, Harry is repulsed by Mad-Eye Moody’s magical eye staring at Harry from the door. Upon entering, Harry is even further repulsed by the décor of the office, which echoes the décor of her office when she infiltrated Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry: it’s full of commemorative plates decorated with meowing cats.

Regaining his composure, Harry notes that Dolores Umbridge’s office contents reveal how far she has moved up within the Ministry of Magic. Umbridge is now the Senior Undersecretary to the Minister and head of the aforementioned Muggle-Born Registration Commission. Harry can not find the Horcrux locket, but he does find Arthur Weasley’s private file. The file reveals that the ministry is following Arthur Weasley and considers him suspect in consorting with Harry. After almost being caught inside Umbridge’s office by the Minister of Magic himself, Harry escapes.

Harry and Ron (both still disguised) run into each other as well as some other interesting members of the Ministry in the elevator: Arthur Weasley and Percy Weasley. When Ron exits the elevator, Arthur Weasley turns on Harry (thinking that he is Runcorn) and accuses him of betrayal. Harry, knowing that Arthur Weasley is being closely monitored by the Ministry, tries to warn his best friend’s dad.

Harry finally makes it down to the the Muggle-Born Registration Commission hearing. Wearing his Invisibility Cloak again and surrounded by dementors, Harry watches as the Registration Commission sentences many to imprisonment. Hermione, who is also there disguised at the record keeper, realizes that Dolores Umbridge actually is wearing the Horcrux locket around her neck (she claims that it is something handed down by her family).

Suddenly, Harry leaps into action and puts his own life at risk. After casting off his Invisibility Cloak, Harry stuns Dolores Umbridge, has Hermione grab the Horcrux locket, duplicates it so that Umbridge won’t notice, uses his Patronus to deflect the dementors, rescues the prisoners, and then escapes. Harry gets a glimpse of Grimmauld Place, vaguely aware that Ron and Hermione are accompanying him, but at the last minute “there was a scream and a flash of purple light; Hermione’s hand was suddenly vicelike upon his and everything went dark again.”