The Return to Hogwarts

"You assigned her a task?"

Selena and Eriel exchanged a glance, and Eriel said with a wry smile,

“We did invite Amelia to join the farewell team, but she said, well, she doesn’t like farewell scenes, so she declined the invitation.”

Amosta fell silent for a moment, then a smile returned to his lips. He nodded slightly to the group from the security department.

"Well then, everyone, farewell. I believe it won't be long before we meet again at Hogwarts!"

Chapter 963 Furious

2024-06-08

Amos Tower is already a household name in the British wizarding world, and to this day, unless he deliberately hides himself, his whereabouts can always be found out by those who are interested.

Before he and Remus even boarded the plane, the higher-ups at the British Ministry of Magic already knew that he was returning to London that day.

After a weekend, Monday morning is usually the busiest time of the week, with many serious issues requiring the Minister of Magic's personal attention. However, Cornelius Fudge's office remained closed for several hours, and any unauthorized visitors were met with stern rebukes.

“Black asked Ms. Burns for leave, Minister Fudge, Ms. Umbridge—”

Dexter grabbed a stamped red paper airplane from the fireplace in the Minister of Magic's office, and after a quick glance, his sweaty face changed slightly, and he blurted out...

Turning his head, he was met with two gloomy gazes that made Delilah's brow twitch, but he still managed to speak with difficulty, despite the heavy pressure.

"The news came from Black's informant. Just twenty minutes ago, Black handed Ms. Burns a note saying he was going to the Muggle airport to pick up Blaine and the werewolf."

The atmosphere in the office was as somber as lead and mercury. The paper airplanes hovering in the air seemed to sense the heaviness and, like Delilah, kept their distance, not daring to approach the two high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Magic sitting opposite each other on either side of the desk.

"Just as I told you, Minister!"

Umbridge stared anxiously at Fudge's round, gloomy face, which seemed to drip with moisture, and called out in a shrill voice amidst the annoying ticking of the clock.

"We can no longer afford to have illusions."

“I have no unrealistic fantasies, Dolores.”

Fudge clenched his fists tightly and said,

“I’m just wondering if this is the right time. You know, Blaine has made a splash in New York again. You can hear the public’s voice. If we bring that up now and cause trouble for Hogwarts, will it cause public resentment?”

"Oh, how could I not know, Minister!"

Umbridge looked disgusted.

“In the department, I hear employees talking about Amosta Blaine at least twenty times a day. Many people are calling out Amosta Blaine’s name as if he were a saint!”

But we all know he's almost no longer hiding his ambition. Look at the agreement he reached with the president of the Magical Congress of the United States—the minister sent Aurors to Hogwarts to discuss 'security' issues. Oh, how ridiculous! It's as if we can't see he's planning to gather an army and secretly overthrow the Ministry of Magic!

boom!

Umbridge successfully ignited Fudge's rage. His fist slammed heavily on the table, and the ink spilled from the overturned ink bottle stained many documents black. But Fudge didn't even glance at it. He was like an old lion, facing the provocation of a young lion, only able to vent his fear with roars and howls.

"I told you, Dolores, this would never happen!"

Fudge's round face turned bright red, and he gasped for breath.

"This is against the rules. Without the permission of the Ministry of Magic, no Auror from the Magical Congress can set foot on British wizarding soil!"

Fudge's rage did not frighten Umbridge; instead, it brought a glimmer of joy to her slightly bulging eyes.

“But he already did it, didn’t he, Minister? He granted the request of the Magical Congress of the United States without permission. If I may be so bold, it would be a disgrace for us if we were the ones who kept American Aurors out of the country, Minister. And you need to consider what would happen if Blaine secretly allowed those Aurors to enter the country.”

boom!

Fudge slammed his hand down on the table again, causing the overturned ink bottle to roll to the floor and shatter into pieces.

"If he really dares to do that, Dolores!"

Fudge, unable to contain his anger, blurted out...

“I swear I will send every Dementor to arrest Blaine and make him rot in Azkaban!”

It's hard to say how effective Dementors, which are considered nightmares by ordinary wizards, will be against Amostrath Blaine. After all, Blaine has already easily captured many Dementors in front of the world once.

"If Amosta really does that, Minister, then we're in a very passive position. We must take the initiative and stop letting Amosta Blaine gain a good reputation."

"By spreading the word about that attention-seeking little wizard, Dumbledore and Blaine will have to compromise with the Ministry of Magic to save him. They have no other choice; otherwise, they'll just have to watch that kid get imprisoned in Azkaban with Dementors!"

Upon hearing this, the enraged Fudge hesitated again. He left his desk and paced anxiously back and forth in his office.

“I understand your thinking, Dolores. It is indeed a good idea. To save Harry Potter, they have no choice but to bow to the Ministry of Magic, but that is still…”

Fudge suddenly became hesitant and his speech became unclear.

"What is it, Minister?" Umbridge asked anxiously.

"After all, it is."

Fudge took a deep breath, his clenched fists digging his nails into his palms.

"It's Harry Potter."

After all, it's Harry Potter?

Umbridge paused, then realized what Fudge was hesitating about. She stood up from her chair and went to Fudge's side, her high-pitched voice filled with disbelief.

"So what, Minister? Oh, unless... do you actually believe what that senile old man Dumbledore said, that the Man of Void has really been resurrected?"

"Of course not, Dolores, Dumbledore's words are complete nonsense!"

Fudge jumped up as if he'd been stepped on, glaring at Umbridge with a mixture of annoyance and guilt.

"I just feel, well, I feel like this is one of our trump cards, and we need to make better use of its value. But before that, ah, of course, I agree that strengthening control over Dumbledore and Blaine is something we must do."

"Excuse my bluntness, Minister—"

Umbridge's loose skin twitched.

"How should we strengthen our control over them? I'm sure you agree that they won't easily obey the Ministry of Magic's orders. Otherwise, Dumbledore wouldn't be spreading his theory of the resurrection of the Mysterious Man everywhere, and Blaine wouldn't have agreed to allow a large number of Aurors from the Magical Congress of the United States to enter the country without authorization!"

“I have an idea, Dolores. In fact, I had it in mind the moment Blaine agreed to Kouhaug’s request!”

Fudge stared intently at Umbridge.

"Just like I said, to strengthen our control over Dumbledore and Blaine, we must know at all times what they are doing and what they are planning. If they intend to seize the Ministry of Magic, what are their detailed plans? We need this intelligence, so--"

"so?"

"So we can infiltrate their headquarters, right?"

Fudge said in an impassioned voice,

“Someone needs to stay by Dumbledore and Blaine’s side, keeping a close eye on them and figuring out what they’re doing. Hogwarts is their headquarters, isn’t it? There must be people from the Ministry of Magic there to gather intelligence for the Ministry and prevent them from spreading dangerous ideas to the students. Blaine’s physical education classes have to be stopped first. The Ministry of Magic has been too lenient with him, letting him train an army at the school!”

Sending people to Hogwarts to keep a close watch on Albus Dumbledore and Amostra Brane Umbridge. Umbridge frowned in deep thought.

This plan sounds feasible, not so far-fetched, and it's rare to find someone with such wisdom like Fudge.

"So, under what pretext do you intend to send personnel to Hogwarts? I must remind you, Minister, that without a proper reason, Dumbledore will surely stop you!"

"Umbridge stared wide-eyed as she spoke."

"I've already come up with a reason, a perfect reason, one that Dumbledore has no reason to stop, but the key now is—"

Fudge proudly curled his nose and cast an expectant look at Umbridge.

"I need someone absolutely loyal to the Ministry of Magic, someone who can withstand pressure and targeting, and someone who would never collude with Albus Dumbledore and Amos Stark Blaine. There aren't many people this loyal in the Ministry these days. Of course, if this person completes the mission successfully, she will receive unexpected rewards."

Chapter 964 Surprise! (Seeking votes at the beginning of the month!)

2024-06-08

When Amosta and Remus's plane landed, London was experiencing a rare thunderstorm. The gloomy sky was flashed with dazzling blue lightning, and the rumbling sound struck people's hearts like a giant hammer, making them feel cold and apprehensive.

The waiting platform was crowded with Muggles whose flights were delayed. The airport, which had been in disrepair for years, was revealed in its true form before the torrential rain. A lot of rainwater had accumulated on the marble floor, and the passengers who arrived were all cursing and swearing because they had slipped on the wet ground.

The two of them lined up to get off the plane and struggled to move through the crowded throng toward the arrivals gate.

Despite the terrible weather and the numerous tasks ahead, Remus remained in a good mood.

The outcome of this trip to New York was completely different from his initial goals, but it was still better than expected. It is foreseeable that their workshop will experience rapid development in the coming period.

"It's a mess, isn't it?"

Remus looked at the chaotic scene before him and said with a smile,

"Sirius wrote to me earlier saying he would pick us up at the airport. I think you don't need to rush back to Hogwarts, Amoesta. We can spend one last pleasant night in Grimmauld Place, recharge our energy, and then face even more difficult challenges."

"This isn't like you anymore, Remus—"

Amosta pulled his foot out of a Muggle's shoe sole and shook his wet trouser leg.

"I thought you'd rush back to the workshop as soon as you landed. But I don't plan to go back to Hogwarts right away. I'm planning to go to Diagon Alley again tomorrow. Maybe tonight. Oh, I think I've found Sirius."

Among the Muggles waiting to pick up passengers at the exit, Sirius Black beamed a bright smile and waved enthusiastically at them.

Sirius Black had, after all, smuggled himself into New York. Although the Department of Homeland Security was willing to let the matter drop out of consideration for Amostall, Sirius himself couldn't be absent from the British Ministry of Magic for too long, lest Fudge and the others find an excuse to fire him. So, after staying there for a few days, he took Fawkes and flew back to England first.

"That must have been a bumpy ride. I almost threw up in the sky last time I used this horrible Muggle mode of transportation!"

Sirius shouted loudly, and his strange words attracted the attention of many Muggles around him.

"It's much better than the Knight Bus."