Chapter 223 The end of the school year
"You...how could you do this?!"
Early in the morning, Fudge came from the Ministry of Magic to the Hogwarts principal's office to vent his anger and dissatisfaction to Dumbledore.
"You definitely did it on purpose, otherwise how could there suddenly be so many students who can use the Patronus Charm!" Fudge said angrily, and his spit almost hit Dumbledore's face, but he cleverly pushed him aside.
"Minister Fudge, the Patronus Charm is just a normal defensive spell against dark arts. It is normal for Hogwarts students to learn this kind of spell." Dumbledore said with a smile.
"You tell me this is normal?!" Fudge yelled to Dumbledore, "I have never seen so many wizards who can use the Patronus Charm in my life, let alone most of the students in Hogsmeade are no more than Seventeen……"
"The most incredible thing to me is that the report brought by my subordinates told me that there is even a thirteen-year-old wizard here, who can cast a Patronus that many Aurors cannot do!"
He took out a written report from his pocket and slapped it on Dumbledore's desk. "Look, I thought they were joking at first. It wasn't until those dementors came to complain to me that I found out. It’s actually true!”
"Dumbledore, don't you know that the dementors are here to help you find wanted criminals? Don't you know that they are also employees of the Ministry of Magic?!"
Fudge was furious.
He had never seen the Dementors, who had always been obedient, protest so strongly to the Ministry of Magic. They told the Ministry that if the problem of the Patronus Curse at Hogwarts was not solved, all the Dementors would go on strike. !
If this kind of free labor went on strike, Fudge couldn't imagine where he would find so many employees to fill the vacant mess.
Not to mention, if the dementors lose control, they are likely to cause major harm to the entire magical world.
By that time, let alone keeping his position as Minister of Magic, Fudge will be lucky if he doesn't become the sinner of the entire magical world!
"Minister Fudge, I remember I formally mentioned to you that there is another hidden secret in Sirius Black's case, and Peter Pedro was the culprit who blew up the Muggle streets at that time." Dumbledore had no expression on his face. Change, he said calmly.
"But we are far from finding out the truth about this matter!" Fudge retorted without hesitation. "Until we find out the truth, we cannot let a potentially dangerous person like Sirius Black wander around, let alone It is impossible to let you drive away the dementors on your own!"
"What's more, regardless of whether Sirius Black was innocent in that incident, he stayed in Azkaban unscathed for twelve years! Who can guarantee that such a madman will not do anything to him? Cause harm to society?”
Fudge said angrily, "Even if his spirit is really fine, he should not have escaped from prison. This is trampling on the dignity of the Ministry of Magic and undermining the credibility of the security of Azkaban Prison! I will never allow anyone to cover up Such a criminal!"
Dumbledore's eyes finally turned completely cold.
"Is that what you think, Fudge?" He said in a cold tone, "In that case, there is nothing more to say. I will help Sirius Black win his trial."
"Okay, you're fine, Dumbledore." Fudge's face turned red with anger, "Don't forget there is another trial related to your Hogwarts, we'll see you then!"
Then, he strode into the fireplace nearby and left the principal's office.
Dumbledore stared blankly at Fudge's back engulfed in green flames, with deep eyes.
"This Minister of Magic should also have graduated from Hogwarts, right?"
Just then, a voice rang from the window.
"Of course, the vast majority of wizards in the British wizarding world came from Hogwarts." Dumbledore turned around and looked at the window of the office. "Professor Dracula, people like you who have not been in Hogwarts There are very few people who have read books."
On the high window sill of the Hogwarts principal's office, Dracula's figure quietly appeared at some point.
He leaned lazily against the window frame on one side, with his arms folded across his chest, and his long legs crossed casually. The long cloak behind him hung under the window sill, swaying slightly in the breeze. The faint morning light in the distance hit his body, reflecting a layer of fragmented light.
"I studied at Hogwarts a thousand years ago, but no professor dared to teach me." Dracula jumped down from the window sill and chuckled, "That Fudge actually said that By saying 'you are Hogwarts', do you really not regard yourself as a graduate of Hogwarts?"
"Theoretically speaking, students after graduation do not have much to do with the school." Dumbledore sighed softly, "There are too many people graduating from Hogwarts, and it is inevitable that some of them will be bad students. Or my mind has changed..."
"...We, the professors who taught them, feel sad when we look at them, but there is nothing we can do."
"Indeed, Azkaban alone has been filled for several rounds." Dracula shrugged.
"Let's not talk about it for now. Christmas is coming soon, so let's talk about something happy." Dumbledore shook his head and said, "Why did Professor Dracula suddenly think of coming to see me, an old man today?"
"It's nothing serious. I just learned about what happened in Hogsmeade yesterday, so I came over to see what you think. I just happened to bump into the Minister of Magic coming to complain to you." Dracula said, "Say I was actually quite surprised when I woke up, I really didn’t expect that it was Potter who took the lead at that time.”
"Yeah, it's really surprising." When he mentioned Harry, Dumbledore couldn't help but smile. "Harry's Patronus Charm should already have a rudiment of the Patronus. It only took three uses before and after. Months, this progress is indeed beyond ordinary people.”
"The other little wizards are also doing well." Dracula nodded in agreement, "Many third- and fourth-grade little wizards can summon the Mist Patronus, which is enough to deal with one or two Dementors."
"It is indeed a good thing that the students are making progress in learning the Patronus Charm, but I'm afraid it will be difficult for Sirius." Dumbledore sighed, "Fudge seems determined not to rehabilitate him."
"Why? Clearing Blake's name won't do any harm to him, right?" Dracula asked with a frown.
"It may be that Sirius's escape from prison caused Fudge to lose credibility and he still holds a grudge." Dumbledore said. "It may also be that he is too timid and unwilling to see any stain that may affect his career."
"If students all know that Sirius is innocent, then Fudge's behavior of sending dementors to Hogwarts Castle is likely to be criticized a lot from the social level. Of course he is not willing to vindicate Sirius."
"Listening to your tone just now, it seems like there is another way?" Dracula asked.
"It's not that there is any other way." Dumbledore shook his head slightly, his eyes gradually becoming sharper, "But even though I am old, I still have some connections left in the Wizengamot."
"I will never let another innocent person be convicted."
"As long as you're confident, I'm too lazy to take care of such troublesome things." Dracula shrugged casually and asked casually, "By the way, Hagrid's Hippogriff also wants Judgment, why don’t you also use your connections?”
He now regretted agreeing to Harry and the three of them to help Hagrid.
The joke Ron made was obviously not very funny, but the thing he wanted to help was unexpectedly damaged and attracted the attention of the Minister of Magic, which unknowingly turned into trouble.
Dracula felt that the prices were not quite equal.
Be sure to ask them to tell a funnier joke next time.
"Oh, you don't have to worry about Buckbeak." Dumbledore smiled confidently, "Newt naturally has his unique connections when it comes to magical beasts. You know, he protects magical animals. The real first person in the animal kingdom.”
"The question is, did Fudge just mention that he wanted to cause trouble for Buckbeak?" Dracula frowned slightly, "I know Newt can handle the matter of protecting magical animals, but he can't handle the troubles in politics. ?”
"You are underestimating Newt, Professor Dracula." Dumbledore smiled happily, "You may not know that Newt's brother, Theseus Scamander, was once a member of the Ministry of Magic. Director of the Legal Enforcement Department, he helped Newt deal with a lot of trouble back then."
"Today, the Ministry of Magic still has many apprentices that Theseus once brought out or the apprentices of his apprentices. Newt's connections in the Ministry of Magic are much stronger than you think, Professor Dracula!"
"Oh? I didn't expect this." Dracula also smiled, "This is best."
…
The Christmas vacation is quickly over, and Buckbeak faces his first court hearing before the Committee on the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures.
As Dumbledore expected, although Fudge secretly sent a few words to the director of the committee, asking them to find more trouble with the Hippogriff, Newt still settled the matter without any danger. .
When Theseus Scamander, an old man over a hundred years old, sat on the jury, many wizards who wanted to make small moves froze on the spot.
Theseus Scamander is a true veteran of the Ministry of Magic. In the early 20th century, he joined the Ministry of Magic and became an Auror just after graduating from Hogwarts Hufflepuff School.
Later, during World War I, he secretly participated in that war that shocked the world and saved many innocent people on the battlefield. He gained a reputation as a war hero in both Muggle and wizarding circles.
In addition, during the Global Wizarding War, Theseus became the official of the Ministry of Magic who contributed most to the war because he was the director of the Auror Office and took a clear stand with Dumbledore against Grindelwald, and everything went smoothly. He became the Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
For many years, the deeds of Theseus Scamander have been spread like a textbook in Auror training manuals.
When these "young people" from the Ministry of Magic saw such a textbook character appearing, everyone subconsciously gave up the idea of making small moves, for fear that they would be remembered by all the Aurors who admired Theseus.
If it was just Theseus' relationship, the trial might not go so smoothly. After all, there are still many jury members who are not affiliated with the Ministry of Magic sitting in their respective seats.
But the accuser, Lucius Malfoy, received a "kindly" reminder from an unknown Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
The originally aggressive head of the Malfoy family suddenly withered like an eggplant beaten by frost, and decisively broke up all the good relations that had been established.
If the trial time hadn't been set long ago, he might even have canceled his appeal!
Fudge lost quite completely...
When the decision of the Dangerous Creatures Committee came down and the hippogriff was finally acquitted, Hagrid Buckbeak burst into tears. Newt, who was standing at the client's seat, also showed a knowing smile.
After returning to Hogwarts, Hagrid seemed to have regained his confidence. In the Care of Magical Creatures class, he no longer allowed students to feed Flobber caterpillars, but instead showed the young wizards many rare and distinctive animals again. magical animals.
However, Malfoy's injury experience last semester also reminded him, so he would take protective measures before each class before bringing magical animals to the little wizard.
Professor Lupine stayed at Hogwarts until Easter Eve, and did not formally say goodbye to the professors and students of Hogwarts until it was confirmed that Sirius' life was on track.
He still has his lofty career unfinished, countless werewolves are still waiting for him in Romania, and more werewolves in dire straits are waiting for this "Hope of Werewolves" to rescue them.
Dumbledore held a simple farewell party for Lupine, and he and other professors practiced in his honor.
It is worth mentioning that although Snape was reluctant, he finally attended the farewell party.
Before leaving, he seemingly casually threw a piece of parchment to Lupine, on which was the wolfsbane potion formula he had personally improved in the past few months.
This formula is slightly less effective based on Damocles Belby's improved wolfsbane potion, but it further reduces the price and difficulty of refining, making it more suitable for promotion among the vast group of poor werewolves.
…
In the second half of the school year after Christmas, the Gryffindor Quidditch team was invincible.
Their genius seeker Harry, equipped with the world's fastest broomstick and firebolt, can't find any opponent on the court.
Basically by the time of the semi-finals, Gryffindor had already locked in the Quidditch Cup for this school year!
The students' progress in practicing the Patronus Charm is also gradually accelerating.
He learned how to cast the Patronus Charm from "The Invincible Andros", who is famous for his Patronus Charm. He also often used the real dementors captured by Dracula to practice. No magic school has ever had such unique learning opportunities. condition.
By the end of the school year, basically all little wizards in third grade and above can cast silver-white light mist.
Among them, particularly talented little wizards such as Harry have learned to unleash their true patron saints!
All in all, everything went very smoothly in the second half of the school year. Even though the dementors were still lingering around the castle, it did not affect the happy mood of the little wizards at all.
In this atmosphere, the second trial mentioned by Fudge arrived.
…
…
