Chapter 461 The useless Academy Cup

Dumbledore knew that Harry's future would be more difficult than others. He carries his own expectations and the future of the entire wizarding world on his shoulders.

So, he raised his voice and conveyed a profound belief to everyone in an impassioned tone: "Life at Hogwarts only accounts for a small part of your long life, but I believe it will be of great significance to you." The impact is unparalleled.”

"Here, you can make friends, rivals, and maybe even enemies. I still hope that you will stay kind and accept each other's differences. Try to understand each other." Dumbledore continued, with eyes full of expectation. Looking at everyone, "Maybe you already know that Voldemort is back. This is not a rumor, but a fact."

As soon as he finished speaking, there were murmurs of panic in the auditorium, and many people looked at Dumbledore in disbelief. If Rita's report was still controversial, Dumbledore's announcement was a surefire blow.

"Cedric's departure has something to do with Voldemort. However, I believe that he is not afraid of death." Dumbledore's tone became sad, and his eyes couldn't help but turn to Snape.

Harry and Cedric's antagonism reminded him of the conflict between Snape and James. Even their motivations are so similar, both because of the witches. However, in this struggle, Qiu Zhang is undoubtedly more innocent than Lily.

Of course Dumbledore knew that the two were completely different in nature. Cedric didn't choose to become a Death Eater simply because of Harry's attempts to steal Cho Chang, or because of their Quidditch rivalry. The deeper reason was that he thought Harry had taken away everything he deserved.

On this point, Cedric and Snape were so consistent.

"When talking about Cedric's departure, there is another person who must be mentioned." Dumbledore continued, "Of course, I am talking about Harry Potter."

There was a ripple in the auditorium, and many people in Slytherin had an ominous premonition in their hearts, as if the extra-point event three years ago was about to return like lightning.

Even without Dumbledore opening his mouth, they had already thought of a reason to give Gryffindor extra points: Harry Potter, who bravely faced life and death, escaped from the clutches of Voldemort, and showed his unique ability to compete with the Dark Lord. The fearless courage to fight against the devil. Such behavior undoubtedly deserves the respect of all of them. Therefore, I decided to give Harry 100 points.

"Harry Potter was transported to Voldemort. He fully demonstrated the spirit of Hogwarts and Gryffindor. He was brave, strong, and dared to fight!" Dumbledore praised loudly, and his voice echoed throughout the auditorium, "He He escaped from Voldemort's clutches and brought back the news of Voldemort's resurrection. Few wizards can still show such fearlessness in the face of Voldemort."

"For this, I would like to express my deepest respect to him." Dumbledore's voice was full of sincerity and affection, and his respect for Harry was beyond words.

All eyes were on Harry, anticipating the moment when the extra point would be announced. However, something unexpected happened. Dumbledore did not announce any extra points for Harry.

This unexpected turn stunned the Slytherin students, and the entire auditorium fell into an incredible silence.

Although Rogge was surprised, he could also understand the wisdom of the principal's approach.

If Harry is given extra points, he can certainly help Gryffindor defeat Slytherin and win the Academy Cup. There will be no complaints from either myself or anyone else. Because this year's Harry really deserves it.

But under the cloud of Voldemort's return, the competition for the House Cup seemed trivial, like a children's game, inconsequential compared to the real battle.

On the contrary, not giving extra points to Harry not only complied with the credit regulations, but also did not reduce the praise Harry received. Such a decision made people think more highly of Harry.

Everyone even sincerely felt that Harry deserved extra points and should win the Academy Cup. It wasn't Harry's honor, it was the House Cup's honor.

As Dumbledore's wand tapped the preaching table, a long table reappeared in the auditorium, filled with food and drinks. Dumbledore raised his glass, and other teachers and students also raised their own glasses to salute Harry.

Although Malfoy and others were somewhat reluctant, under the leadership of Rogge, they picked up the matter hastily. At this moment, the Academy Cup completely lost its meaning. Harry Potter has become the uncrowned king of this school year.

Dumbledore motioned for everyone to take a seat, regretting that Beauxbatons had already left early. He originally hoped to strengthen ties with the other two colleges through this Triwizard Tournament, but now this plan has obviously come to nothing.

Perhaps Amelia's warning to close the Floo was not directed at the guests, but at him. There was a wry smile on Dumbledore's lips. No matter who sat in the minister's position, he would be extremely wary of this old wizard.

Whether it was Fudge, Amelia, or Tom, they were all worried that they would interfere with their power. Could it be that no one understood him, an old wizard who was worried about the future of the magic world?

Dumbledore's eyes flashed with sadness as he looked at the empty seat on the teacher's bench. Perhaps in this magical world, the only one who can understand him is Grindelwald.

He waved his wand again, and the decoration of the Great Hall immediately changed, with silver-green flags and decorations reflecting the glory of Slytherin. He quickly announced the scores of the four colleges without making any unnecessary comments.

Finally, his voice rang throughout the entire auditorium: "...Congratulations to Slytherin House for winning the House Cup..."

Although the atmosphere was a bit dull, Rogge still took the lead in applauding. Could it be that just because Voldemort reappeared, their year of hard work should be negated? It makes no sense!

Besides, fighting Voldemort is a matter for the Ministry of Magic, and Hogwarts is essentially a place of teaching and educating people. Dumbledore should not have made students the first line of defense against Death Eaters.

The applause was sparse and far less enthusiastic than in previous years. Rogge looked at the Academy Cup in front of him and felt that it was like a worthless piece of food that was tasteless and was a pity to throw away. He had a premonition that not only this year, but also for a long time to come, the Academy Cup would lose its original meaning.

"It seems that it is necessary to make the principal realize that students are not Aurors. If they want to go to the battlefield, let them experience a truly cruel magic showdown." Rogge clutched the college cup and left a deep thumb mark. .

He kept a smile on his face, but cast his eyes in the direction of the Atlantic Ocean, thinking silently in his heart: "When will the source virus be activated?"

When Professor Baldwin releases the snake virus is not under his control. All he can do is prepare the right amount of antidote and sell it at the right time at the right price.

Everyone enjoyed their dinner in silence, and Roger ate very seriously. Such peaceful gatherings would become increasingly rare.

Early the next morning, Roger took his luggage and prepared to return. This summer, he has a lot to do. For example, determining the position of pure-blood families such as Malfoy; shrinking the Travis family's business, hoarding potion materials... to prepare for the coming dark period.

Other students were like him, silently thinking about the future. Neville wanted to say something several times, but in the end he didn't. At this moment, everyone is immersed in their own worries and plans.

Bang bang bang! Suddenly, a rapid knock on the window broke the silence.

Everyone looked curiously and saw an owl tapping on the train window. Roger opened the window, and the owl chirped dissatisfiedly, leaving a letter and then flew away.

The envelope was written "To Roger" and exuded the fragrance of deep sea ambergris. Hermione and Daphne stared at him, thinking it was a love letter from some witch.

Roger opened the seal and quickly scanned the contents of the letter. A message was conveyed between the lines in the letter: there was a villa from the last century waiting for him to receive it.

He pouted, Grindelwald really wanted to change history when he took the time turner away. It is better to believe in the promises of dark wizards than to believe that dementors like happiness.

Neville felt someone's eyes and asked bravely: "President, what happened?"

"Professor Green is going to give me a villa." He sneered and took out the key from the Slytherin pendant from his pocket.

"Really or not?" Theodore quickly took the letter and sighed while checking it, "Wow, the villa from the last century looks so big."

Others gathered around to admire the daguerreotype attached to the letter. The photo shows a garden villa, with a sea of ​​roses swaying gently in the breeze, looking both elegant and mysterious.

"However, there is no address on the letter." Hermione turned over the photo and said doubtfully, "Isn't this a prank by the professor?"

"Speaking of which, we haven't seen Professor Green for a long time."

"I know this." Draco quickly interjected, "He has been working in the Department of Mysteries of the Ministry of Magic since last year."

After hearing about this mysterious department, everyone started discussing excitedly, and everyone was immersed in their imagination about the future. Malfoy dreams of becoming a professional Quidditch player, and he is excitedly planning to go to Europe for trials this summer.

Neville has no clear goal. He only hopes to cure his parents and then study herbs in peace in the greenhouse. Hermione is eager to work in the Ministry of Magic, and she has even started preparing for next year's OWLs exam...

While listening to everyone describe the future, Rogge supported his head on his hands and carefully scanned everything on the photos. From the phoenix logo on the door, he had already guessed the possible location of the villa.

"Maybe he really saved Obscurus." A thought flashed in Rogge's mind, and he used his eyes to signal Hermione to wait for him when the train arrived at the station. He had something to discuss with her.

Hermione thought that Roger was plotting something against her, and an unnatural blush suddenly appeared on her face. She gave Roger a hard look, and then fled out of the car in panic.

"What's wrong with Hermione?" Rogge scratched his head, not understanding why her reaction was so big.

Daphne noticed the subtle interaction between the two, which made her curious and nervous. She asked softly: "Do you have any plans to find Hermione?"

Rogge pointed to the photo and answered candidly: "I already know the location of the villa, but I don't know how to get there."

Daphne looked at him in surprise, her mouth wide open, obviously confused by Rogge's words: "Huh?"

Rogge smiled helplessly and further explained: "I know the name of the place, and Muggles live there, so I guess Hermione may have heard of it."

"Perhaps, we can help you." After Daphne said, others nodded, expressing their willingness to help.

Rogge smiled and thanked everyone for their kindness, but ultimately refused everyone's help: "Sorry, the situation of this villa is very special. It may involve some wizards, and they definitely don't want this matter to be spread widely."

When the train arrived at the station, Hermione still didn't come back. Roger had to help her carry her luggage out of the car and wait on the platform. When it got dark and everyone else left, Hermione lowered her head and walked over secretly.

"I...I want to go home first." She whispered, twitching the corners of her clothes uneasily with both hands.

Rogge nodded slightly and comforted her: "You can visit the manor at any time." When he said this, Hermione's cheeks became even redder, full of shyness and nervousness.

Rogge coughed twice and tried to draw Hermione's attention back to the topic: "Have you ever heard of this place? Fertile Soil Plains."

Hermione raised her head and thought seriously for a while: "I seem to have seen this place name in a book. Is it the location of that villa?"

Rogge didn't answer, just remained silent, but this reaction made Hermione even more sure that her guess was correct.

She was thinking in her mind: "Why did Professor Green give Roger a villa? What is hidden in it?"

Hermione knew that Rogge would not take her with him, so she rolled her eyes and decided to tell Rogge the location of Fertile Soil.

"Miss Granger." Rogge nodded and whispered in her ear, "Don't forget our agreement."

"I don't remember what the agreement was!" Hermione said stubbornly, picking up her luggage and hurriedly escaping from the platform.

Rogge looked at her disappearing back and didn't move for a long time. Then, he whispered: "Come out."

A rough palm emerged from the air and lifted off the silvery invisibility cloak. Buck smiled awkwardly and threw Daphne, who had been knocked unconscious by him, to his nephew.

"Are all students today so powerful? They are only in the fourth grade, and they can actually use the invisibility spell." Buck looked at the empty platform and the deserted express train, as if reminiscing about his student days.

He sighed deeply, and then told Rogge seriously: "Rogge, that girl just now must not be a pure blood, right? You know, the Travis family will not..."

"This is not something you need to care about." Rogge interrupted him forcefully, with a firm tone, "What do you want from me? If he finds out..."

"You're so heartless, you can't even listen to what your uncle said." Buck sarcastically said, and then looked around the platform, "This place has been cursed many times by the Ministry of Magic, and he couldn't even notice it. Let me tell you, he Be prepared to punish those who betrayed you first.”

"Malfoy and the others?" Rogge couldn't help but frown. In his plan, the pure-blood family could not suffer a large number of casualties in the war.

"He will not forgive the betrayer." Buck shrugged and sighed helplessly, "He is even willing to cooperate with despicable races such as giants and goblins in order to overthrow the magic world."

Many pure-blood wizards followed Voldemort in order to enhance the power of pure-blood wizards, rather than to lure wolves into the house and share the magical world with the defeated group.

However, once they became Death Eaters, they had to succumb to Voldemort's powerful power. For them, the only way to escape is death.

"The Ministry of Magic should be on guard. The Malfoy family must be..."

"It's not Malfoy, it's Goyle and Crabbe." Buck revealed the specific target of the attack. "Although he is crazy, at least he is not a fool."

Rogge nodded slightly, and after a brief thought, he said, "What about Azkaban? There are also those dementors under supervision. Has he given up?"

"I don't know," Buck answered frankly. "No one can read his mind."

"Then give him an idea." Rogge immediately put forward a plan, "A two-pronged approach, on the one hand openly encircling the Goyle and Crabbe families, on the other hand secretly attacking Azkaban."

Buck's eyes lit up and he praised: "This is really a wonderful plan."

"It's getting late. If I don't go back, that kid named Cedric will wake up." Buck casually threw the invisibility cloak to Rogge. "This thing is very practical and can help you avoid a lot of trouble."

Rogge shook his head and threw the invisibility cloak back to Buck, "Just take it, no one can guarantee that the principal hasn't tampered with it."

"Do you have to be so careful? Denbu..."

"Hush!" Rogge shook his head again and signaled Buck not to mention Dumbledore's name. "What he can do, there is no way the principal can't do it."

"Believe me, the Headmaster would never let the Potter family heirloom get away. It might help you survive."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, what a disgusting concern." Buck shuddered, wrapped in an invisibility cloak and disappeared into the air. Only the lingering sound echoed in the air: "By the way, little Barty went to Spider Alley..."

"Spider Alley?" Roger thought, wondering what the purpose of Barty's visit to Snape's house was.

With Buck leaving, Roger began to have a bigger plan brewing in his mind. The war becomes more complicated with his participation, and he must manage every step carefully.

He looked at Daphne, who was unconscious in his arms, and sighed softly. Too much curiosity can really kill a cat. Fortunately, Buck was very cautious and did not let Daphne get involved.

"Recover quickly." Rogge waved his wand, and after a burst of light, Daphne slowly woke up.

Looking at Rogge's face so close to her, she couldn't help but scream.

"Yes, I'm sorry, I fell asleep just now." Daphne explained in a low voice, looking a little embarrassed and confused.