The Return to Hogwarts

However, the storm this incident stirred up in the magical world only intensified.

Whether in Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, St. Catchpol Village, or Godric's Hollow, wizards were discussing the exterminated Greyback werewolf pack and the Ministry of Magic's rare achievement. Even the Muggle government announced on the morning news that the heinous 'terrorist' Fenrir Greyback had been shot dead by the police.

For three whole days, neither Hogwarts nor the Ministry of Magic gave any interviews on the matter. This was actually at Amos Tower's suggestion, who believed that people's curiosity needed some time to 'ferment'.

On Thursday, as dawn broke, the earth was still shrouded in darkness.

In the student safety office on the third floor, Amosta, who had gotten up early, was adjusting his clothes in front of a water mirror floating in mid-air. Considering that he was going to be on the news headlines today, he rarely took the time to tidy himself up.

"Professor Blaine!"

As Amosta stepped out of the castle and down the marble steps, he saw Hagrid standing by the path leading to the school gate, waving excitedly at him.

Just yesterday evening, the Ministry of Magic officially extended an invitation to Hogwarts, inviting Hogwarts teachers and students who made outstanding contributions to the mission to eliminate Greyback to be awarded medals. Apart from Remus Lupin, who was in the intensive care unit, Hagrid and Snape were on the list of invitees. Faced with the olive branch extended by the Ministry of Magic, Snape left with a cold face. To him, saving Sirius's life was nothing but a disgrace.

Hagrid hadn't originally planned to get involved, fearing that a half-giant showing his face would bring controversy to Dumbledore, but Amosta persuaded him with an irresistible reason.

Since Harry and his friends are just underage wizards, their awards will be given directly by Hogwarts. Their performance will likely earn them 50 points, but 30 points will be deducted for trespassing into the Forbidden Forest late at night.

"How do I look, Professor?"

The two walked side by side through the deserted campus, and Hagrid stroked his beard as he spoke nervously.

Today, Hagrid finally took off his usual sloppy overcoat and put on a suit that was so stiff it could almost be used as a sail. Amosta could faintly smell a cologne on it, which Hagrid probably used to cover up the musty smell of the suit.

“Very good, Hagrid--”

Amosta had known Hagrid for quite a few years, but this was the first time he'd seen him dressed like this. His lips twisted slightly.

"I bet you'd look amazing in this."

Chapter 327 Ministry of Magic

2023-06-14

"vomit!"

A slight explosion dispersed the dust floating in the air. At six in the morning, the bustling city center was at the boundary between day and night. Energetic young people finished their exciting nightlife and went home to rest, while middle-aged people who had been busy making a living had just left their warm and comfortable beds, yawning and tidying up their appearance.

"Looks like we're lucky, Hagrid, we didn't run into those crazy reporters—"

Amosta's gaze left the towering office buildings on either side, landing on the desolate little street where he stood, with only a few companies that looked like they had been closed for a long time and a run-down tavern. Finally, it settled on Hagrid, who was vomiting on the ground.

"What's wrong, Hagrid? Not used to being visible?"

Amosta raised an eyebrow in slight surprise.

"Please forgive me, Professor--"

Hagrid wiped the snot and tears from his face and said weakly,

"My most frequent modes of transportation are trains and my own legs. Apparition—to be honest, the last time I experienced that was when I was expelled from Hogwarts, and Professor Dumbledore took me to the Ministry of Magic for questioning."

Amostall couldn't help but laugh. He took out his wand and helped Hagrid clean the vomit off his clothes, while also covering up the smell emanating from him.

"Next-"

Amosta's bewildered gaze swept around as he searched his memory for anything related to the Ministry of Magic. To be honest, it had been two years since he had last visited the Ministry.

The last time he visited this place was right after graduation, when he first entered the underground world of Diagon Alley. He needed to go abroad for a mission, and back then he was quite law-abiding, so he came here specifically to complete the wizard's entry and exit procedures.

"This way, Professor—"

Hagrid, who often ran errands for Dumbledore all over the country, was obviously more experienced. He led Amostella to a dilapidated red telephone booth—the paint was peeling off in large chunks, the glass on three sides was almost completely shattered, and the only microphone in the booth was dangling in mid-air, as if some vandal was trying to tear it off.

"Still the same as always--"

Amosta looked like he had a toothache.

Why doesn't anyone think of fixing it?

"Perhaps it's because wizards like me exist."

Hagrid laughed shyly.

"I'll let you in on a secret, Professor Blaine, those few pieces of broken glass on the ground were caused by me—"

Very good, a very strong reason.

Amosta had thought the phone booth wouldn't be big enough for both him and Hagrid, but to his surprise, the walls of the booth squeezed their bodies, yet they still managed to squeeze in.

"Um, excuse me, Hagrid, put your hand up and make some room for me to dial—"

Amosta's face was distorted as he pressed it against the innermost sheet metal, and he muttered something.

"Oh, sorry, Professor!"

Hagrid swayed, and the phone booth immediately creaked as a shard of glass embedded in the window frame shattered and fell outside with a clatter.

"Hopefully the Ministry of Magic won't come after me for compensation. Let me think about it... Hmm, 62442?"

A cold, icy female voice then came from inside the phone booth.

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and the purpose of your visit."

Amosta struggled to get his face away from the cold metal.

"Yes, Amosta Blaine and Rupert Hagrid have been invited to the press conference and award ceremony."

"Thanks--"

The woman's cold voice rang out again, "Guests, please take out your badges and pin them to your clothes."

Two square silver badges slid out of the metal slots, and it took Amosta and Hagrid some effort to successfully attach them to their clothes.

Wizards seem to have a particular fondness for placing important institutions underground, whether it's the Ministry of Magic, the goblin bank, or the underworld, all of which are buried deep underground. The key point is that the way to enter them is equally terrible.

A minute later, they stood at one end of a long, magnificent hall. The floor was made of polished, gleaming dark wood, and the peacock blue ceiling was inlaid with shimmering gold symbols that kept moving and changing, like a giant high-altitude bulletin board.

The walls on all four sides were covered with glossy black floors, and many gilded fireplaces were embedded in the wooden planks. The official employees of the Ministry of Magic basically used these fireplaces to go to and from get off work, or to travel around the country on official business or on official visits.

The press conference was scheduled for 10:00 AM, while the Ministry of Magic's normal working hours were 8:00 AM. The Ministry of Magic's hall was empty at this time, with hardly anyone in sight. Only next to the famous Fountain of the Magic Brothers was a person dozing off at a table.

"call--"

Upon entering the magnificent underground hall of the Ministry of Magic, Hagrid visibly tensed up, even though he knew he was there to receive an award, not to be interrogated.

"No need to worry, Hagrid—"

Amosta smiled and comforted her.

“Your request is simple, Fudge will help.”

Hagrid swallowed hard, nodded nervously, and followed Amosta forward.

The two approached the Magic Brothers Fountain one after the other. The young wizard with the 'Security Check' sign above his head was more alert than expected. Amosta hadn't intended to disturb his rest, but Hagrid's heavy footsteps woke him up.

Hey, wait a minute--

Eric, the gatekeeper Fudge had mentioned, blinked his sleepy eyes and shakily stood up.

"Don't forget to follow the rules, gentlemen—"

Eric yawned as he spoke to Amosta.

"Oh, sorry, I just didn't want to disturb your rest."

Amosta smiled and stepped back.

"Oh, it's Hagrid. You don't need to bother. I remember you don't have a wand."

Although there were still many figures in front of him, the huge figure in front of him immediately made Eric realize who it was. He reached out and took the wand that Amosta handed him.

He tossed his wand onto the brass scales, and the machine began to vibrate slightly. While waiting, Eric yawned several times and muttered complaints like, "Why do I always have to work the night shift?"

"Oh, let me see--"

Eric rubbed his eyes, trying hard to make out what was being seen.

"Ebony, twelve inches long, the core of the staff is the heart nerve of a dragon. Hmm, it has been used for twelve years."

Eric muttered weakly as he pressed the parchment containing the test results onto a brass nail and slowly handed the wand back. When his gaze followed his hand to Amostella's smiling face, Eric Munch shuddered, his sleepy eyes widening in disbelief.

"Oh my God!"

Eric exclaimed and rubbed his eyes again.

"Amosta, it's you?"

"Yes, it's been a while, Munch. How have you been?"

Amosta's smile deepened, and he nodded in acknowledgment.

"What, do you know each other?"

Hagrid stroked his beard, puzzled, and asked.

“Of course I know Amosta, Hagrid. Have you forgotten? Bill and I were in the same year!”

Eric suppressed his excitement, but his voice trembled.

"You single-handedly took down nearly a hundred werewolves, including Graybury, right? That's what everyone in the department is saying. Wow. That's really impressive. Of all the graduates from that year, you're the only one who's become a big shot now!"

Eric Munch was indeed in the same year as Amos Tower, but one was Gryffindor and the other was Slytherin. The two didn't interact much in school, except that they often took Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts classes together, so they were just familiar with each other.

"The destruction of Greyback's werewolf tribe was not my achievement alone; the Ministry of Magic played a significant role in it."