The Return to Hogwarts

However, Amosta quickly made a decision. Dumbledore had shown him sincerity, so he had to show his sincerity in return. Mutual trust was the prerequisite for facing the crisis together.

"This is a complex plan—"

Amosta spoke in a calm tone, but the coldness in his eyes made Dumbledore frown inwardly.

"--First of all, our initial goal is to free Hogwarts from external constraints, and for this we must allow Hogwarts to have its own businesses."

I sent Remus to investigate the producers of some supplies closely related to the lives of ordinary wizards. I don't know who they are, but I foresee that the investigation will eventually implicate some families within the Board of Governors. I don't intend to eradicate these families, but there is one insurmountable condition: they cannot side with Voldemort. If anyone violates this condition, that family and its businesses must go bankrupt, and Hogwarts will immediately take over the market after they leave, thus establishing Hogwarts' own financial chain.

"Capital chain"

Dumbledore pondered the word for a moment, his voice growing heavy.

“How can you ensure, Amosta, that no one else will watch Hogwarts take this empty profit?”

"We need the Ministry of Magic's support--"

Amosta appeared calm.

"We don't have the right to announce to the public that a family is involved in Voldemort's terrorist activities. Only the Ministry of Magic has the right to make such an announcement to the public, seize all the family's assets, bankrupt them, and at the same time, protect the Hogwarts representative to enter. By the way, I think Remus is very suitable as the representative. After living in poverty for so many years, it's time for him to enjoy the taste of wealth—"

"Remus will be very pleased with the arrangements you made for him."

Dumbledore said calmly, completely unconcerned about Amostra's private arrangements for Remus. Their current discussion was about winning a war—a war concerning the lives of everyone and the future of the British wizarding world—for the greater good.

"But expecting your help to the Ministry in both Greyback and Quidditch final night to get Cornelius to obey is unrealistic—"

Dumbledore astutely pointed out the problems with the Amosta Project.

"I understand, and I am prepared—"

Amosta said simply and directly.

Dumbledore's azure gaze fell upon Amosta's calm, expressionless face, his brow furrowed. He understood what Amosta was preparing, and at the same time, he knew very well that Amosta had made up his mind to do so.

Seeing Dumbledore's tacit approval, Amosta breathed a sigh of relief and continued,

"The Ministry of Magic's cooperation is crucial, Headmaster Dumbledore. You surely know that when Voldemort first rallied his supporters, he used the banner of restoring the glory of pure-blood families, but only after gaining power did he reveal his true nature."

This is another method to deal with Voldemort. Anyone who dares to support Voldemort will have all their family's businesses shut down. It's a choice between a mad dream and the family; I'd like to see how many of Voldemort's Death Eaters are truly staunch supporters.

This approach is a double-edged sword, which will undoubtedly affect the work and lives of ordinary people in the wizarding world. Hogwarts can take over, but it cannot take over completely. Some people will inevitably lose their livelihoods. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, Amosta will not frantically expand the scope of its attack.

"What a wonderful plan, little one—"

A smooth voice suddenly broke the somber atmosphere of the office. Sirius Black's great-great-grandfather, Phineas Black, stroked his goatee and said with great appreciation,

"But I'm afraid there's one problem you haven't considered—"

Amosta turned his head and bowed politely to the portrait of Phineas, as if listening to his instructions.

"According to the ancient covenant signed between Hogwarts and the families on the Board of Governors, Hogwarts is not allowed to make its own money. Hogwarts' unilateral declaration to abolish the Board of Governors is also invalid unless Hogwarts can repay all the financial support it has received since the signing of the covenant for hundreds of years. This is an unimaginable debt!"

Amosta frowned and looked at the aged figure across the desk, while Dumbledore nodded at him with a furrowed brow.

Come to think of it, pure-blood wizarding families aren't stupid. How could they not keep a way to control Hogwarts?

A rhythmic, crisp tapping sound echoed in the office; it was Amosta tapping his fingers on the armrest as he leaned back in his chair, gazing quietly at the artistic reliefs on the office dome.

If such a contract exists, Hogwarts' unilateral declaration to dissolve the Board of Governors is invalid. This means that some of the Headmaster's actions and statements are restricted, and there is no way to repay the financial support Hogwarts has received over the centuries.

A moment later, Amosta's brow relaxed.

"I think the pure-blood families who signed this contract must have considered one thing: what should they do if they wanted to get rid of Hogwarts?"

"They can stop allocating educational funds at any time, which means they have essentially severed their relationship with Hogwarts."

Phineas Black said cheerfully.

"Oh, thank you, Principal Blake--"

Amosta smiled pleasantly as well, looking into Dumbledore's deep blue eyes, and said lightly,

"It's a matter of who fires first, and which of the two wizards uses their spell first. If Voldemort can't figure out how to use the Board of Governors' withholding of funding to force you to commit the crime, Headmaster Dumbledore, we'll send someone to remind him—"

Chapter 502 A More Secure Plan

2023-09-27

Send someone to remind Voldemort that he can use the Board of Governors to put pressure on him, then use this opportunity to separate Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from the Board of Governors. Finally, reveal your true intentions: use official power and public opinion to thoroughly investigate the businesses of the pure-blood wizarding families that side with Voldemort, causing internal strife within the Death Eaters.

Dumbledore's silvery eyebrows furrowed higher and higher as he suddenly realized that he still had room for improvement in terms of intrigue and scheming.

"Meeting you was really bad luck for Tom, Amosta—"

After quickly going through Amosta's plan in his mind, Dumbledore shook his head slightly.

"After regaining his magic, Tom will undoubtedly be eager to find his former followers and win over dark creatures to expand his power. Unveiling this plan at the right time will bring him considerable trouble, but, Amosta—"

Dumbledore's tone suddenly shifted, becoming serious.

"You should understand that if we do this, it will affect many more innocent people, their lives will inevitably be impacted, and it will also disrupt the current structure of the magic world."

Amosta's eyelids twitched slightly, surprised by Dumbledore's keen perception.

Indeed, this was not only a plan targeting Voldemort, but also an opportunity to radically reform the social order and production structure of the wizarding world, which had become so entrenched as to be corrupt.

"Change is necessary—"

Amosta didn't offer much explanation, stating it simply.

The cool rain and mist hit his cheeks, instantly clearing Amosta's somewhat drowsy mind. The world outside the castle was still dark, with streaks of lightning occasionally flashing across the night sky shrouded in dark clouds. However, the distance was too great, and the rumbling thunder, after crossing thousands of miles, was not even as loud as the noise made by the little elves who were secretly cleaning the castle in the shadows.

Tonight, he and Dumbledore had a frank conversation.

Dumbledore did not resist the series of measures he took to free Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from the control of the Board of Governors, but it was clear that he did not want Amosta to become too deeply involved in the Ministry of Magic, or to use the impending war to shake up the existing order of the wizarding world.

In other words, he did not want Amostra to launch a large-scale attack on pure-blood wizard families.

This is to be expected.

Dumbledore's thinking was not backward. He could see the danger of pure-blood wizarding families monopolizing the wizarding world, and his solution was to stay at Hogwarts and continuously introduce Muggle-born wizards into the wizarding world, thereby subtly changing things.

This approach can indeed be effective, but it will cease to work after a certain point, because the best and most valuable resources in the magical world remain in the hands of pure-blood families. Dumbledore himself probably saw this, but due to various factors, he never had the resolve to push for change, because that would give rise to another bloody war.

But this war was bound to happen sooner or later, so it would be better to combine the two battlefields into one and solve the problem once and for all—that was Amosta's view.

click-

In the far distance, like a fleeting moment, a fierce and dazzling bolt of lightning illuminated the night before vanishing. This summer was bidding farewell to everyone in this incredibly tragic way. Amosta gazed at the end of the lightning for a long time. Looking back, in the stillness of the night, the window of Dumbledore's office still emitted a steady glow, like an ever-burning lamp that would never go out.

"sleep--"

Amosta pursed his lips, put his hands in his pockets, showing a rare youthful spirit, and walked slowly across the covered bridge in the rain towards his dormitory.

The dazzling thunder ended, but the roar of the explosion and the blast wave that pushed against the courtyard wall, even with the cover of thunder, still woke up the nearby neighbors. The lights in the second-floor bedrooms of several houses flickered on frantically. The heavy rain obscured their vision, preventing them from seeing what was happening in the house of the mad old man. However, the strange silver light that flickered intermittently in the rain and the chill hidden within it still made these Muggles feel uneasy.

The Muggles all rushed to the landlines on their bedside tables and dialed the police.

"Oh God--"

When four policemen jumped out of their patrol car in the rain, kicked open the dilapidated subway door, and stormed into the courtyard with their guns drawn, they all gasped in shock when they saw the courtyard clearly by the light of their flashlights.

"You planted explosives in the garden, didn't you, sir? Answer my question!"

A portly policeman pointed his gun at an old man with limp who was sitting on the floor of the entrance hall, leaning against the wall and panting, and demanded an explanation.

"Get out of here, you bunch of stupid Muggles!" The disheveled, insane old man jabbed the air with his cane as if that would drive away the Muggle policemen who had barged into his yard.

"Look at me! My God, I must be dreaming!"

Another policeman grabbed the sleeve of the officer who was questioning the old man, forcing him to look at a corner of the yard. Then, the officers froze as if petrified, while the heavy rain continued to pour down.

"Damn it!"

He glanced at the trash can, its lid blown off and now spraying garbage in all directions like a machine gun, and the old man's scarred face twitched a few times in dissatisfaction.

"The Ministry of Magic has something to say again!"

The heavy rain blurred the lines between night and day, and in short, it wasn't until noon the next day that the wizards who had been coming and going in the courtyard finally disappeared completely.

After repairing the overturned lawn and collapsed wall, Arthur, with two huge dark circles under his eyes, stood in front of the iron gate and weakly waved to Mad-Eye Moody.

“Thanks, Arthur!” Moody roared gruffly, still standing in the foyer. “I’ll keep an eye on your little ones!”

Mr. Weasley said nothing, only gave Mad-Eye Moody a weak smile, and then Apparated away from Mad-Eye's territory. Moody, in the foyer, didn't immediately close the door; he stared in the direction Mr. Weasley had gone, his blue, lightning-fast magic eye swirling wildly in its socket.

clang-

The door slammed shut, plunging the room into darkness. Moody limped back to his kitchen, stood before the extinguished fireplace, and pulled out his wand.

After fiddling with his wand for a while, Moody twisted his wrist, pointing the tip at the fireplace. A burst of intense heat ignited the wood stacked in the hearth. Then, he grabbed a handful of Floo Powder from the mantel and tossed it in, waving his wand—

"The trouble has been dealt with—"

Whoosh! A phantom image of a giant python's head appeared from the swirling flames.

A high-pitched, cold voice came from the fireplace, "What confusion or fear do you have about the plan that is about to be carried out?"

"I just want to confirm with you that you've still decided to use this plan, right?"

Moody's face was grim, and his other, normal eye showed clear resistance.

"Even if you've already witnessed it, Amosta Blaine is no ordinary person as you think. The difficulty of taking Harry Potter out of Hogwarts under the watchful eyes of both Dumbledore and Blaine is—"

“Amostrath Blaine has indeed surprised me. I must admit that killing him is not something I can do without my physical body. But I have explained to you repeatedly that my plan is flawless and neither Dumbledore nor Blaine could see through it!”