The Return to Hogwarts

“He’s plotting to kill Harry, and he’s already taken action. Although you thwarted this attempt, the next one might be tomorrow. In short, he’ll do everything he can to kill Harry and continue his cruel reign. I can’t know all this and do nothing. Staying in Hogsmeade at least allows me to keep an eye out for what’s going on.”

Remus has his own ideas, and he is perfectly capable of acting according to his own will; however, Amosta still hopes that his actions can be more valuable.

"You plan to start a house in Hogsmeade using the joke products developed by those two mischievous kids, keeping an eye on things around Hogwarts while providing support and taking care of your own life. No problem at all, Remus. I can help you put in a good word with some people in the Ministry of Magic to get the shop on track as soon as possible. However, this passive waiting can only do so much. I have some ideas that need someone to carry them out, and I've thought about them carefully. You're a suitable candidate."

Amosta said calmly.

"Of course, you can refuse, Remus. I have no right to give orders to anyone except Filch."

"If you want me to join any department of the Ministry of Magic, I think the chances are slim--"

Similar to Amosta or Albus, their wisdom and power are beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. Remus could tell that what Amosta was about to say might be very important and could play a pivotal role in the future. After hesitating for a moment, Remus spoke softly.

"Of course it won't be this—"

Amosta pursed her lips slightly.

“This matter is quite complicated and needs to be implemented in many stages. This is the first step. I hope you can spend some time helping me with market research.”

"Market research?"

Remus immediately raised his eyebrows and asked in surprise, while Sirius, who was pondering whether to join the Ministry of Magic, also looked up at the opportune moment, staring wide-eyed at Amostella.

“You heard right, it’s market research—” Amosta nodded, no longer beating around the bush, and said directly.

"I hope you can spend some time conducting a thorough market survey on the daily necessities that all residents of the magical world rely on. After that, you will need to find out which companies and workshops are producing these products, and who are actually in control of them."

Sirius and Remus exchanged bewildered glances, neither knowing what Amostella was planning.

"But what does this have to do with dealing with Voldemort?"

Remus was still pondering the deeper meaning behind Amostella's suggestion when the impatient Sirius asked directly. However, this time Amostella didn't give a clear answer, only saying calmly...

"You lived through the war years, Sirius, I think you must understand that war and duel are completely different. A duel is just a battle between two people, while war is a full-scale confrontation. It exists in many forms, and armed confrontation is just one of them."

Not only was Sirius completely bewildered, but even Remus couldn't understand what Amosta was trying to say.

The social system in the wizarding world is relatively primitive. Amosta doesn't expect Remus and Sirius, who have grown up in the wizarding world and are indifferent to Muggle society, to understand his intentions. But this step is necessary. If Remus is unwilling to do it, he will have to take matters into his own hands.

"Investigating the actual controllers behind companies and workshops that produce daily necessities for the people of the magical world is not too dangerous, but it requires well-informed information and flexible methods. Remus, I believe you have the ability to do so."

Remus opened his mouth, but didn't say anything.

Indeed, as a werewolf, he had spent over a decade navigating the magical world, encountering all sorts of people in his quest for survival. He was certainly more suited for this task than Sirius Black, who had spent ten years in Azkaban. However...

"You think this is important, Amosta?"

Remus's brow was furrowed.

"Dumbledore has his own plan to deal with Voldemort, and so do I. What I just told you is a very important part of my plan."

Amosta said calmly.

As mentioned before, his plan needs to be implemented in many stages. What he wants Remus to implement now is only the most basic part. What follows will be more complicated, and it is no exaggeration to say that it will shake the stability and foundation of the wizarding world. This is also part of the reason why Amosta, even though he knew from Cacus Foley that the chaos on the night of the Quidditch final was caused by the masked wizards hired by Lucius Malfoy, still chose to forgive him. He needs to rely on the Malfoy family for this plan.

The dull raindrops pattered against the windowpane, and a chill gradually seeped up from the rain-soaked mud.

While deep in thought, Remus, who was in a weakened state after his transformation, felt a little uncomfortable. He stopped thinking, wrapped his robe tighter, and poured himself a cup of hot water from the teapot on the table.

pat-

Amosta stood up and snapped his fingers, and a roaring fire suddenly burst into flames in the extinguished fireplace. The flames quickly dried the dampness in the air, instantly making everyone feel warm and cozy.

"You two can think about it carefully; you don't need to give me an immediate reply."

Amosta didn't sit down again. He went straight to the fireplace, grabbed a handful of Floo Powder from an open bag on the shelf above, and examined it in his palm.

In the magical world, wizards who can Apparate make up only a small percentage of the population. Most wizarding families travel together, and they don't have many options. Using Floo Powder is undoubtedly an important way for wizards to get around.

Amostella tossed the Floo Powder into the fireplace, and only after the flames turned a vibrant green did he turn around and say...

"I won't have lunch here. I need to get to London and then take the train back to Hogwarts. There are a lot of things waiting for me there. If you make a decision, send me a letter by owl, and I will arrange the next steps."

As he spoke, Amosta stepped into the fireplace and disappeared in a rapidly spinning flame.

"It feels like I'm working for the Order of the Phoenix—"

Sirius muttered as he watched the flames quickly return to normal.

“That’s probably what Amosta is planning—” Remus said slowly, rubbing his hair. “He’s probably planning to create a new organization.”

Chapter 497 My Colleagues at Hogwarts

2023-09-24

squeak-

The sharp, piercing sound of the door hinges turning echoed through the mountains and rivers. At the end of the road, Hogwarts stood silently on the high ground by the cliff, letting the drizzling rain wash over its weathered body. The air was filled with the coolness of late summer and early autumn. Amostella walked along the damp cobblestone path through the campus, his gaze sweeping around the school he hadn't seen for two months.

"Hey! Professor Blaine, you're back!"

At the edge of the Forbidden Forest, washed a dull, dark green by the rain, a tall, exaggerated figure emerged from the house. He immediately spotted Amosta standing in the center of the yard, gazing at the towering Quidditch hoop, and waved his large hand excitedly.

Amostella turned around at the sound of her voice, a smile playing on her lips. "How are you, Hagrid? How was your summer vacation?"

"Wonderful, very fulfilling!"

Hagrid jogged across the uneven, neglected lawn to stand before Amosta, shielding him from the wind and rain blowing in from the Black Lake.

"I spent the whole summer creating a fascinating little creature, and I can't wait to let the little guys see it. Oh, would you like to see it, Professor Blaine? Dumbledore raves about those adorable little creatures!"

Hagrid's rugged face was filled with anticipation, and his bright, beetle-like eyes shone with excitement.

“I’d love to meet your new friend, Hagrid—”

Amosta's lips twitched, and he resumed his journey towards the castle as if fleeing a disaster.

"But not now. I've traveled a long way today, and now I'd rather fill my stomach with some delicious food."

"Ah, I was just about to go to the auditorium for lunch too--"

Hagrid said somewhat dejectedly, but then his spirits lifted again.

“I saw what happened in the Quidditch finals in the Daily Prophet, Professor Blaine, it was truly amazing. When I went to Hogsmeade, the villagers were all talking about it. Everyone was saying that if you hadn’t saved so many people from that dark witch, the Ministry of Magic would definitely have collapsed!”

In Hagrid's eyes, the importance of Amosta's quelling of a riot was secondary to the new hybrid organism he had created.

"I only drove those dark wizards away from the Quidditch arena. It was the Ministry of Magic that found these audacious fellows and brought them back to Azkaban—"

Amosta smiled modestly, took three steps at a time, and ascended the marble steps into the cave-like foyer.

In the absence of the young wizard, the Great Hall was not as grand as usual. The magic reflecting the night sky on the ceiling was not activated, and there were no thousand bright candles floating in the air. However, the floor and the long tables against the walls were wiped spotless, as if they had been cleaned in preparation for the new school year.

To avoid slipping, Amosta walked carefully into the Great Hall. When he saw his Hogwarts colleagues gathered around a sixteen-person table in the center of the spacious hall, he raised an eyebrow slightly and chuckled.

Why didn't anyone tell me there would be a lavish dinner tonight?

Most of the Hogwarts faculty and staff were gathered at the dining table, including Headmaster Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall (Transfiguration), Professor Flitwick (Charms), Professor Sprout (Herbalism), Professor Snape (Amosta), Sinestadt (Astronomy), Trelawney (Divination), Professor Victor, Professor Boubbage, and Professor Babling.

Mrs. Pince, who managed the library, and Mrs. Pomfrey, who worked at the school hospital, were also there, and even Filch, dressed impeccably, managed to get a seat.

“Perhaps someone notified you, but you’ve forgotten about it, Amosta—” Dumbledore, sitting facing the Great Hall entrance, chuckled as he pulled a wisp of his beard from a bowl of mushroom soup.

Most people smiled kindly, which was exactly what Amosta wanted to see.

Of course, there are exceptions. For example, there was a middle-aged man with greasy hair and a nasolabial fold who taught Potions, and he looked at me with a sidelong glance and a mocking smile.

"Perhaps you forgot to pay, Headmaster Dumbledore. Having a meal with the most powerful wizard of our time isn't something that can be done with just a letter."

"Oh, shut up—"

Amosta said with a chuckle.

"A failure who has applied for a Defense Against the Dark Arts professorship for fourteen consecutive years has no right to point fingers at me—"

This time, the laughter that erupted at the dinner table was much more cheerful.

There were three seats left at the table, but given Hagrid's size, he would need at least one seat on each side. To accommodate the two newcomers, everyone, including Dumbledore, moved their chairs. Amostella put down his suitcase, took off his robe and hung it on the back of his chair, and sat between Professor Snape and Headmaster Dumbledore.

A delicate and enormous candlestick in the center of the table emitted a soft candlelight. The table, made up of two tables joined together, was laden with a variety of delicious foods. At Dumbledore's invitation, Amosta poured a little golden mead.

As the rich, smooth liquor slid down his throat, the fatigue accumulated over the past two months seemed to vanish in an instant. Amosta let out a long sigh and asked in a light tone,

What interesting topics have I missed?

“We were just discussing the Fiendfyre you used on the night of the Quidditch World Cup final, Amosta!” Professor Flitwick seemed eager to bring up the topic, standing on a bench and calling out in a sly voice.

“You mispronounced the name of that spell, Philius, it’s the Spiritfire Spell—” Severus’s lips still held a faint sneer. “Using the Fiendfire Spell will get you imprisoned in Azkaban, and smart people have already considered this loophole.”

What's going on? Has the Ministry of Magic cordoned off Potter's old house in Godric's Hollow and stopped people from entering?

Amosta glared at Snape with annoyance.

"That magic is very different from the one you used in the Forbidden Forest many years ago, Amosta—"

Perhaps it was because the two-month summer vacation had finally given her some time to rest, but Professor McGonagall looked quite well; even her gaunt cheeks seemed fuller. She spoke with great enthusiasm.

"I didn't have time to watch the match, but the Daily Prophet published a lot of photos of your magic. The academic community has done a detailed analysis of those photos. The editorial team of 'Today's Transfiguration' and I discussed it through correspondence. We both believe that this magic has the shadow of transfiguration. Only precise control of magical power can restrain Fiendfire. Oh, sorry, Amosta, it's the powerful fire magic of Fiendfire that forms such a stable form and exhibits a strange dual nature, harming the enemy with high temperature while showing a gentle side to itself!"

The faculty and staff of Hogwarts are all top students in the magical academic world. They were all academic superstars during their school years, and none of them would be uninterested in powerful magic, including Dumbledore.

"Exquisite magic, Amosta--"

Dumbledore also spoke with great interest,

“I’ve seen wizards who have maximized the damage of Fiendfire, but you’ve chosen a completely different path in creating this magic. You value its stability and manipulability more, which requires very bold innovation in the theoretical structure of this magic. Most importantly, it requires extremely strong mental power—”