Hogwarts: Starting with full Unforgivable Curses

Nomination Procedure Explanation: All nominees' letters of recommendation have been formally submitted to the Order of Merlin's Honors Committee. After review by all members of the committee, your eligibility for the "Order of Merlin First Class" was unanimously approved without any objections.

We sincerely thank all the nominators for their visionary insights into the future development of the wizarding world, and for their discovery and support of outstanding young wizards.

At the same time, we also hope that, encouraged by this supreme honor, you will continue to uphold your original aspirations, play an exemplary role, and make greater contributions to the peace and development of the magical world.

From the Merlin Order Honours Committee.

The students read the contents of the paper word by word, and the entire common room fell into a brief silence. Everyone was still immersed in the shock. After a while, someone slowly spoke, their voice filled with disbelief: "This...this is too amazing! So many big names in the magical world nominated them at the same time, and they were all approved by a unanimous vote! I can't believe my eyes!"

The surrounding students erupted in excitement once again, their eyes filled with admiration and pride as they looked at Dylan. The Gryffindor common room was once again filled with enthusiastic discussions and cheers.

In the past, any firsthand news from Hogwarts was usually spread by the well-informed Hufflepuff students. This time, however, it was rare for Gryffindor to have such important news, so everyone naturally wanted to "show off" and let more people know about this glory that belonged to Gryffindor.

They first contacted their friends at Hufflepuff, vividly describing the important figures on the list and sharing their pride. Hufflepuff students were already keen on spreading news, and the event itself was quite sensational. The two forces intertwined, creating a wonderful chemical reaction. The news spread like dandelion seeds blown by the wind, with unstoppable momentum, quickly throughout the Hogwarts campus.

In just one morning, from the castle corridors to the common rooms of the various houses, from the Great Hall to the library, the vast majority of students were talking about the same thing—Dylan Hawkwood received the Order of Merlin First Class, and the list of nominees that could be described as a "dream lineup." Dylan, who was already attracting much attention, now became the undisputed focus of Hogwarts.

Dylan once again experienced the troubles that come with "fame." Wherever he went, he could hear students whispering among themselves, and the conversation always revolved around his medals and the nominees.

He didn't linger in the castle, heading towards Hogsmeade Village. Following the familiar path, the two avoided the bustling main street and skillfully turned into a quiet alley—the Hog's Head pub was hidden deep within this alley. The alley was very quiet, with only the occasional birdsong, a stark contrast to the liveliness of the main street outside, making it perfect for him to temporarily escape the noise of the outside world.

The wooden door of the Pig's Head pub was gently pushed open, letting in the cool air from the alley and a few crisp birdsongs. Aberforth Dumbledore heard the noise outside but didn't look up. He continued wiping the glass in his hand with practiced ease. As was his habit over the years, without waiting for the customer to speak, he turned around and took a clean glass from the shelf inside the bar, ladled in fresh pomegranate juice, and the bright red juice flowed slowly down the side of the glass, emitting a sweet fruity aroma. He placed the glass of pomegranate juice steadily on the bar before looking up at the person at the door.

“Isn’t this the renowned Mr. Dylan Hawkwood, recipient of the Order of Merlin, First Class?” Aberforth’s tone carried a hint of deliberate teasing, but a barely perceptible smile lingered at the corners of his mouth. He put down the rag in his hand and crossed his arms. “You’re quite the celebrity in the wizarding world now. Could you give this old man an autograph? I’d like to bask in your glory.”

"You little rascal, you just received your award from the Order of Merlin this morning, and you've come to this remote place of mine by noon. You can't just be here for a glass of pomegranate juice, can you? You probably just want to find a quiet place to escape the students and reporters surrounding you, right?"

"Aberforth, you are so smart."

"Haha! Don't worry, no one will bother you here. Just rest well."

The awarding ceremony was scheduled for the next morning. After breakfast, he returned to his dormitory and changed into a formal robe. The robe was made of smooth and crisp fabric and was well-tailored, making his figure appear even more upright.

As Professor Flitwick had informed him yesterday, the Ministry of Magic would arrange for an official to come to Hogwarts on time this morning to pick him up and take him to the Ministry of Magic for the investiture ceremony.

Just then, a loud and familiar voice came from the entrance of the hall, with a hint of hearty laughter: "Ah! Isn't this the youngest recipient of the 'Order of Merlin, First Class' in the history of our magical world?"

Dylan looked up and followed the sound, only to see Ludobagman, dressed in a crisp Ministry of Magic uniform, striding toward them with his signature warm smile.

“I think someone has already told you that I will be your guide today and take you to the Ministry of Magic for the awarding ceremony.”

“Yes, Mr. Bagman, thank you very much for making the trip.” Dylan nodded politely.

Ludobagman walked Dylan around, scrutinizing him closely from his hairstyle to his shoes. "Hmm, he looks very energetic, and his manners are quite proper."

He nodded in satisfaction. "Alright! Now that everything is ready, we can set off!"

Ludobagman clapped his hands and said in a light tone, "The awarding ceremony is still a while away. If we go early, we can familiarize ourselves with the venue beforehand and avoid the crowds that may appear on the way."

Starting from Hogwarts Castle and walking along the path leading to Hogsmeade Village, Ludo Bagman was like a chatterbox, talking non-stop.

He was an excessively talkative person. Even though Dylan only nodded occasionally and rarely took the initiative to speak, he was able to chat about everything from the daily work of the Department of Magical Sports to the highlights of previous Quidditch World Cups and the techniques of commentating on various events. He switched topics freely and there was no awkward silence.

Dylan thought to himself that perhaps it was precisely because of Ludo Bagman's eloquence and ability to create a lively atmosphere that he was able to serve as a commentator for various magical events for so many years, always managing to make the dry rules of the games vivid and interesting, keeping the audience entertained. Ludo Bagman strode ahead, his steps light and quick, occasionally turning back to add a few words. He led Dylan through the main street of Hogsmeade Village and turned into a relatively quiet alley. The houses on both sides of the alley were somewhat old, with vines climbing all over the walls. Occasionally, a few sparrows would land on the walls, curiously observing the two of them.

“We’re almost at the entrance to the Ministry of Magic. How about it, Dylan? Aren’t you already itching to step onto the stage for the investiture ceremony?” Ludo Bagman rubbed his hands together, a smile of excitement on his face, and turned to look at Dylan behind him, his tone full of anticipation.

Dylan frowned slightly, raised his hand to rub his slightly swollen temples, and did not answer his question. His ears were indeed a little tired from listening to the continuous conversation, but Ludo Bagman obviously did not care about his silence at all, and continued to talk to himself, leading him through the somewhat desolate streets while enthusiastically sharing his experiences of participating in activities related to the Sir Merlin's Order, his words full of pride.

Just then, a dilapidated red telephone booth appeared not far ahead. It stood alone on the corner of the street, its red paint peeling off to reveal the rusty metal underneath. The windows were covered with dust, making it seem out of place with its surroundings, yet it exuded a mysterious aura.

Ludo Bagman's tone instantly brightened with delight as he pointed to the telephone booth: "Look, that's it! We've arrived at the Ministry of Magic's entrance!"

He strode forward, reached out and pulled open the door of the phone booth, the hinges making a creaking, old sound.

“To be honest, I’ve never understood what those people up there are thinking.” He glanced back at Dylan, his tone tinged with confusion. “Whether it’s a VIP attending a ceremony or a wizard on official business, they can only enter the Ministry of Magic through this inconspicuous telephone booth now. It’s really beneath them.”

Dylan's mouth twitched.

The phone booth wasn't spacious, just enough for two people. Ludo Bagman skillfully picked up the receiver and dialed a series of numbers. As soon as he finished, a cold, emotionless female voice rang out from inside the booth, clearly reaching their ears: "Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name, occupation, and the service you require."

"I am Ludo Bagman! The current Director of the Department of Magical Sports and Athletics!" Ludo Bagman said loudly into the microphone, his tone carrying a hint of pride as a Ministry of Magic official. "This is Dylan Hawkwood beside me. I brought him here specifically because he is attending the awarding ceremony of the Order of Merlin, First Class."

"Thank you for your cooperation." The cold female voice sounded again. "Please take your exclusive badge and pin it in a conspicuous place to avoid any unnecessary trouble. Thank you for your cooperation."

As soon as he finished speaking, a gleaming, square-shaped silver badge slid out of the coin slot below the phone booth with a "click".

The front of the badge is clearly engraved with two lines: Dylan Hawkwood, Award Ceremony.

The lettering was neat and had a faint magical glow. Dylan reached out and picked up the badge, examined it carefully, and then pinned it to the front of his formal robe, in a conspicuous position.

Just then, the cold female voice sounded again, reminding, "Please undergo a security check and register your wand information."

Dylan did as instructed, extending his hand and placing the wand at the designated spot. A soft blue light swept across his entire body and then over the wand. A few seconds later, a notification sounded indicating that the check was complete. Immediately afterward, the phone booth suddenly trembled slightly, and the surrounding walls began to slowly change, transforming the original phone booth into a closed elevator.

With a slight magical fluctuation, the elevator smoothly descended into the ground. Dylan could clearly feel that the Confusion Charm that had been maintaining him was quietly dispelled at this moment. This must be a protective spell added by the Ministry of Magic to ensure internal security, which can automatically identify and dispel any hidden spells that may be on the person entering, thus avoiding potential dangers.

After the elevator descended for about ten seconds, a soft "ding" sounded, and the door slowly opened, revealing the scene of the Ministry of Magic's hall. The hall was as magnificent as ever, with smooth, mirror-like marble floors reflecting the light from the ceiling.

The ceiling remained unchanged, still like a nebula churning in the night sky, colorful and ever-changing, making one feel as if they were in a vast universe. Dylan was quite familiar with all the procedures of the Ministry of Magic.

After passing through security, Ludobagman led Dylan into the elevator leading to the upper level, pressed the button marked "Wizengamo Administration," and said with a smile, "Dylan, we're going to the Wizengamo Administration on the second floor. The award ceremony will be held in the private hall there."

Several Ministry of Magic employees were already standing in the elevator. Most of them were wearing uniforms and talking in hushed tones. When they heard Ludobagman’s words and saw the badge pinned to Dylan’s chest, they all stopped talking, turned around, and their eyes fell on the clear lettering on the badge. Their eyes instantly turned to surprise and eagerness.

"You must be Mr. Dylan Hawkwood?" A young-looking Ministry of Magic employee was the first to react, quickly extending his hand with barely suppressed excitement. "I never expected to meet you here in person, it's truly an honor!"

Dylan politely extended his hand and shook it lightly, saying in a gentle tone, "Hello, it's nice to meet you."

"I'm your biggest admirer!" the young employee said excitedly, his words tumbling out in rapid succession. "I'm also one of your alumni! The magic you conjured during the Azkaban incident was absolutely astounding! When I saw the pictures in the newspaper, I was completely stunned! That was truly powerful magic, it was incredible!"

As soon as he spoke, the elevator became lively. Other Ministry of Magic staff members also gathered around. Some shook hands with Dylan warmly and greeted him, while others took out paper and pens from their pockets and asked Dylan for autographs with expectant faces. Their eyes were full of admiration and their words were full of sincere praise. They were all obviously full of curiosity and admiration for this young Merlin Medal recipient.

In just a few dozen seconds, Dylan fully felt the overwhelming enthusiasm of the people around him. (End of Chapter)