The Return to Hogwarts

"He usually goes to the Hog's Head. I'm sure you've met him, Harry."

Harry blinked, immediately recognizing the old man. But the implication was clear: his name was Aberforth Dumbledore!

Harry was so surprised to learn that Dumbledore had a brother that he forgot to ask Sirius why he had come to Hogwarts so late at night for an interview with Professor Dumbledore.

The second person to arrive at the foyer was the Potions professor whom Harry disliked.

He rushed from the Slytherin basement, his vigorous run leaving Snape drenched in sweat. But what Harry greatly admired was that, even in this unexpected situation, Snape was still wearing his tightly wrapped black robe.

The moment their eyes met, both of their expressions immediately turned cold.

Reassuringly, the two did not immediately engage in a verbal conflict. Professor Snape simply looked away and strode over to Dumbledore's side.

"Is it Amosta?"

Although it was a question, Severus spoke with certainty, gazing intently at the Forbidden Forest shrouded in fiery clouds, his expression grave.

"Obviously--"

Dumbledore glanced at Severus and said calmly,

"Don't worry, Severus, Amosta is no longer the little wizard he used to be. Nothing can endanger his life. He's back."

Harry saw an oil lamp emerge from Hagrid's hut, stop at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, and seem to be talking to someone.

Clang!

On either side of the foyer, the doors leading to the basement were rudely kicked open from the inside. Almost simultaneously, Malfoy and his Slytherin group, along with Cedric and his Hufflepuff students, rushed up from the basement.

Harry also saw his Gryffindor classmates on the second-floor platform. He noticed the surprised expressions on Ron and Hermione's faces when they saw him standing next to Sirius.

"What's going on, Albus? What happened? Who is Amosta fighting? Could it be...!"

Professor McGonagall's flustered and shrill voice drowned out the buzzing chatter of the young wizards. She pushed aside the students in front of her and struggled down the steps.

“Don’t worry, Minerva, nothing happened. I think Professor Blaine was just trying to eliminate some security risks for us, and we were only disturbed by accident.”

Dumbledore's booming voice echoed through the foyer and the Great Hall.

"Oh, eliminating safety hazards and preventing unexpected disturbances."

Fred whispered,

Do you believe me, brother?

“I don’t believe it—” George replied, “Do you believe it?”

“I don’t believe it either—” Fred said, sniffing. “Who in their right mind would believe that?”

The two brothers looked at each other and then gave each other a high five.

Apart from Hermione rolling her eyes at Fred and George, the other students who overheard their conversation chuckled. However, when Professor Dumbledore's calm and sharp gaze swept over them, everyone fell silent.

"What happened, Albus?"

The same question came from Beauxbatons' headmistress, who ran swiftly across the damp grounds and called out from a distance. To Harry's surprise, Fleur, dressed in a sky-blue silk nightgown, also looked anxious as she ran over with Madam Maxime.

Meanwhile, Durmstrang's ship on the shore of the Black Lake lit up its lights, and a large group of people gathered as they approached Hogwarts.

"All is well, Madam—"

Dumbledore spoke in that calming, steady voice,

"Amosta will explain the specifics to us later. Now—"

Dumbledore turned and looked at the students who were almost all gathered in the Great Hall.

“Minerva, Severus, please have all the students go back to their dormitories to rest. They need to get plenty of rest to prepare for tomorrow’s classes.”

Without hesitation, Professor McGonagall immediately called out the student council presidents and prefects of each house, and amidst a chorus of unsatisfied complaints, sent the young wizards back upstairs.

Severus merely glanced at Malfoy and the other Slytherin students, who then obediently retreated.

The crowd receded like a tide, and the professors who arrived later took the initiative to maintain order and ensure that there would be no stampede.

"Aberforth--"

Dumbledore then turned his gaze to his brother.

“I believe the villagers of Hogsmeade are currently in a state of confusion and unease. Could you please go back and help calm them down?”

Aberforth merely glanced at Professor Dumbledore with displeasure, and under that calm yet resolute gaze, he said nothing and strode toward the school gate.

"Dumbledore!"

Sirius waved his hand and said with a smile,

"You already know the situation. I'll be leaving soon. Before I do, may I say a few words to Harry without disturbing his rest?"

A loud cough suddenly came from upstairs, and Harry recognized it as Hermione's voice.

"Oh, and Ron and Hermione too, I don't think you'll mind, Minerva?"

Sirius Black looked at Professor McGonagall with a smile.

Professor McGonagall glared sternly at Sirius Black, then went to direct the students to evacuate in an orderly manner.

"Come on, let's go over there and talk—"

Sirius Black put one arm around Harry's shoulder and waved to Ron and Hermione, who were walking against the current, leading the three of them to the corridor on the first floor of the Great Hall.

Meanwhile, Amosta bid farewell to the flustered Hagrid and headed towards the castle.

Chapter 1013 The whole story

2024-07-05

Amosta strode across the damp grass toward the castle, and paused at the foot of the marble steps.

On the steps, Dumbledore and Mrs. Maxim stood side by side, their eyes fixed intently on him. Fleur, wearing a camisole nightgown, ran out, her hands clasped to her chest, looking at him with a worried expression. After sending all the students back, Severus and Minerva also hurried out of the hall.

"Oh, sorry, it seems I've caused a bit of a disturbance--"

Amosta seemed to be in a good mood, and he spoke with a smile.

Dumbledore's silvery-white beard, tinged gold by the bright torchlight, fluttered slightly in the wind. His sharp gaze was fixed on Amostella's face without a word, and seeing his expression, Professor McGonagall also remained silent, her face filled with worry.

As for Madam Maxim and Fleur, they are not Hogwarts staff members and would not speak recklessly on this occasion.

"Who are you fighting with?"

Severus, however, had no inhibitions. He stepped forward, his pale face revealing anger in his dark, hollow eyes.

"You know, a large group of eight-eyed spiders inhabit the Forbidden Forest—"

Amosta's unmoved smile

“These evil dark creatures roamed the Forbidden Forest, encroaching on the living space of other creatures. Moreover, they eat everything, including human flesh, so I took some action to limit them.”

"How did you suddenly come up with the idea to do this, Amosta?"

"Dumbledore asked softly."

"Oh, this is in preparation for the upcoming Triwizard Tournament. I don't want these dark creatures to cause trouble for me during the third match."

Amosta calmly met Dumbledore's gaze.

Silence descended, and everyone felt a tense atmosphere permeating the gentle breeze.

"That old spider, I mean Aragog, it's Hagrid's friend—"

After a long silence, Dumbledore let out a sigh.

“You’ve thought this through very well, Amosta. For the safety of the students, it’s necessary to impose appropriate restrictions on it and its offspring. But Amosta, you know that Hagrid has deep feelings for Aragog. If you hurt it, you will also hurt Hagrid’s feelings.”

"Ah, that's precisely why I made such a commotion—"

Amos shrugged, looking relaxed.

“You know, that old spider is incredibly stubborn. Its defeat in the war with the centaurs has made it even more temperamental and aggressive. It won't listen to any of my advice. It's precisely to avoid further conflict and casualties that I had to make a big commotion to scare it off—”

"Is it?"

Dumbledore frowned slightly, then his breathing eased.

"No casualties?"

"Perhaps a few small spiders were frightened and lost their lives, but Aragog is fine. They have already agreed to migrate to the depths of the Forbidden Forest."

Amosta said frankly.

Dumbledore fell silent again, but his expression softened considerably.

"I'm sorry, madam—"

Amosta turned his gaze to Mrs. Maxim and gave a slight bow.

"I have disturbed your and your students' rest."

"It's alright, Amosta—"

Maxim said cautiously,

"You're planning to hold the third match in the Forbidden Forest?"

Fleur, standing next to Maxim, suddenly brightened up with a sparkle in her eyes. Viktor, who had led the Durmstrang students to investigate, also perked up upon hearing this. He immediately turned to look at the dark, primeval jungle, his thin shoulders trembling slightly.