The Return to Hogwarts

Even so, it doesn't change the fact that that unfortunate guy is an idiot.

Ron continued his sarcastic remarks.

"A school year is almost over, isn't it? Harry and I never fell for it when we were first year."

Harry pursed his lips, feeling a little guilty as he avoided Hermione's teasing gaze.

"Hey, Ron--"

Lavender, who was ahead of them in line, seemed to have found out exactly what was causing the congestion. She turned around and waved excitedly at Ron.

"It's your brother, Ron!"

"My brother?"

Ron still couldn't shake the urge to be affectionate with Lavender in public. He glanced at Hermione and Harry, and frowned as he called out.

"You mean, something happened to Fred and George? That's unlikely; they could avoid any traps with their eyes closed."

"Not them!"

Lavender's eyelashes fluttered as she shouted in an excited voice that Harry and Hermione couldn't understand.

"It's Percy, he's back, Professor Blaine is talking to him!"

The slow-moving line finally began to move, and the students flowed slowly downwards like a torrent.

Harry, his two friends, and their companions exchanged glances, all seeing the confusion in each other's eyes.

"Percy?"

Ron frowned.

"He definitely didn't come back to reminisce about his school days. You all know his style; he doesn't want to leave his job for even a second."

"Could it be related to the championship tournament?"

Harry looked at Hermione and guessed.

"Isn't it time to represent the Ministry of Magic and Professor Blaine to discuss the details of the next match?"

"But as far as I know—"

Hermione pondered for a few seconds,

"Percy was transferred away from the International Magical Cooperation Division after Barty Crouch's death. Oh, where is he now, Ron?"

"I haven't inquired about it."

Ron shrugged innocently.

After a moment of silence, the three of them quickened their pace, squeezing through the crowded people. Once they reached the third floor, instead of continuing down the stairs, they turned and entered the third-floor corridor.

"We'll have a good reason, won't we, Hermione?"

Harry asked nervously,

"I mean, if Professor Blaine asks us what we need him for—"

“We have a ready-made reason, Harry—”

Although she was running, Hermione's breathing remained steady.

"It was the night Hagrid came back—"

"Oh!"

Ron raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Are you planning to get Harry to talk about how he saw the Man of Void when his scar hurt?"

"Perhaps the opposite is true; it's the sight of the mysterious man's scar that caused the pain. Anyway—"

Hermione slowed her pace, her eyes fixed intently on the hesitant Harry.

“I can’t think of any reason not to let Professor Blaine and Professor Dumbledore know about this, can I, Harry?”

Chapter 992 Misunderstanding?

2024-06-23

"Please come in--"

The steady voice coming from behind the tightly closed wooden door made the three young wizards, who were feeling guilty, take a deep breath in unison. Hermione turned her head and gave Harry and Ron a warning look, reminding them not to forget the statements they had just made, before placing her fair hand on the doorknob.

"Oh, it's you guys!"

The person who made the surprised sound was not Professor Blaine, but Percy, who was sitting opposite Professor Blaine on the sofa. But then, for some reason, Percy's face flushed slightly.

Why did you come here?

"That's the question we should be asking you—"

Ron's long-standing relationship with his brothers triggered an instinctive reaction, but a fleeting glance from Hermione, who was squinting, immediately changed his expression. He feigned surprise.

“Oh, Percy, cough cough, I’m really surprised. Shouldn’t you be working at the Ministry of Magic? Why are you at Hogwarts?”

Even Harry could tell that Professor Blaine, with a knowing smile on his lips, had already guessed what the three of them wanted to find out when they ran into his office.

Percy really didn't want to be interrupted by other people while he was talking to Professor Blaine, especially since his brother was among them, but Ron's question really left him speechless.

"This is none of your business, Ron!"

After stammering for a while, Percy finally spoke, his tone quite stern.

“You should treat your brothers a little better, Percy.”

Amosta spoke gently, halting the escalating tension between the brothers, and looked at Hermione, who was leading the group and nervously clenching her fists.

"I believe you came to see me instead of having a delicious lunch because there must be something important going on, right?"

“Oh, is that so, Professor Blaine—”

Hermione pursed her lips and nodded.

“Harry has something we think you might need to know, but Percy, we can wait outside for a bit—”

Hercules looked at Percy, his expression hesitant.

What do you think, Percy?

Amosta also looked at Percy.

"It seems my lunch is doomed. If what you're about to tell me involves classified information, then let Harry, Ron, and Hermione go have lunch first. You can't start your afternoon studies on an empty stomach."

Percy would certainly prefer a quiet setting for the conversation, but just as he was about to nod in agreement with Professor Blaine's suggestion, he suddenly stopped, as if remembering something. Hesitantly, Percy glanced at Harry and then abruptly changed his mind.

“Oh, what I’m about to say isn’t anything particularly important or confidential, Professor. The three of them can stay here.”

"Please have a seat, all three of you—"

Amosta drew his wand and pulled three soft chairs out of thin air. He smiled at the three delighted little ones, then waved his wand again, causing the kettle on the mantel to tilt its round body and begin brewing tea. A drawer at the bottom of the bookshelf opened automatically, and a box of pastries flew out.

"We'd better not talk on an empty stomach; hunger will cloud our thinking. Come on, ladies and gentlemen, don't be shy, try my favorite snack, a gift from a kind fan. It's sugar-free and won't hurt your teeth—"

Hermione was momentarily stunned, but when she came to her senses, she noticed that Harry and Ron were secretly watching her. So she glared at them both fiercely, indicating that the snack had nothing to do with her.

Of course, apart from Amosta, neither Percy nor Harry had any interest in enjoying his treasures. After eating a biscuit and taking a sip of hot tea, Amosta let out a satisfied sigh.

"So, Percy, you didn't come to Hogwarts to see me just for a simple chat or to reminisce about our teacher-student relationship, did you? What is it that made you come all this way?"

Amosta asked with a smile.

Harry, Percy, and the others couldn't help but smile slightly when they heard Professor Blaine's witty remark, but then they all perked up their ears and stared intently at Percy, especially Harry, whose bright green eyes shone brightly.

He was extremely interested in everything, whether it was the Triwizard Tournament or anything related to Voldemort, especially anything related to Voldemort.

With the Daily Prophet following the Ministry of Magic's orders to whitewash the situation, and Sirius Black and Hagrid suddenly becoming mysterious, he heard almost nothing about Voldemort.

"Oh, actually I'm not that busy--"

Percy gritted his teeth and muttered something.

For some reason, Percy couldn't recall the excuses he had prepared at home after a sleepless night, no matter how hard he tried, as he faced Professor Blaine's gentle gaze. But since he was already in Professor Blaine's office, he had no choice but to bite the bullet.

"Yes, that's how it is, Professor—"

He tried desperately to encourage himself internally, but his voice came out barely a whisper. Percy's eyes flickered as he spoke.

"I met him at the department—I met him. Yes, I'm sure you know, so I volunteered. If—if you could agree—"

“If you don’t explain things clearly, Percy—”

Amosta chuckled.

"Then I'm afraid I can't promise you anything."

Percy's embarrassing appearance made Harry, Ron, and Hermione, who had successfully 'eavesdropped', laugh and cry at the same time. Especially Ron, who used to be regarded as a role model by his parents at home, and who would speak to him or his other siblings with an arrogant attitude.

Regardless of what Percy was trying to say, Ron was secretly pleased by his timid and hesitant demeanor.

"All right--"

Percy himself knew he looked ridiculous, but with a desperate attitude, he finally revealed his purpose.

"It's related to Ms. Umbridge, Professor Blaine—"