The Silent Witch of Hogwarts

Chapter 579 Something Big Has Happened

"Clatter".

As Loila's boots clicked on the office floor, she let out a slight sigh of relief.

It seems this adventure is completely over.

Miss Hilo, who was next to her, also let go of her shoulder.

To get back to Hogwarts faster, Loira used Apparition to return to her office, even though it might reveal that she had broken Hogwarts' Anti-Apparition Charm—but it didn't seem to matter to Miss Shiloh.

Besides, there's no way anyone will be in my office right now—it's already late at night.

By the time Loila and Hilo entered the cave, it was already past dusk. After breaking the magic array, engaging in a battle, and finally leaving the cave, it naturally became night.

Now that it's late at night at Hogwarts, there's no one else wandering around except for those disobedient little wizards.

"Could Dumbledore have already gone to bed?" Shiloh asked slowly after glancing at the clock in the office.

"Probably not." In Loila's memory, he always slept quite late—and even if he was asleep, all she had to do was drag him out of bed.

This is a big deal concerning Horcruxes, so I think he can understand if I bother him a little, right?

Loila and Shiloh walked out of the office and down the corridors of Hogwarts.

But—whether it was Loila's imagination or not, she felt that the corridor was strange today—the corridor leading past the auditorium was full of broken glass shards, as well as overturned armor racks and broken picture frames.

Was this specially arranged for Halloween?

Loila touched the scars on the picture frame with great interest—they're quite realistic—can Hogwarts really do such changes?

I'll have to try it myself when I turn back —

The principal's office wasn't far from Loila's office, and soon she and Miss Shiloh arrived at the familiar eagle-headed statue.

Ah—what was the password again?—Loila really couldn't remember the password—she had to bend down slightly to look at the magic circle under the stone statue and then coughed.

"A pile of cockroaches."

"Clatter".

With a raised eyebrow from Shiloh, a staircase leading to the principal's office slowly appeared.

Loila glanced up and saw a faint light.

As the office door opened, Loila and Shiloh were greeted by Dumbledore, who was sitting upright in his chair with a furrowed brow.

"Hmm?" Dumbledore looked up and was visibly taken aback when he saw Loyla. He raised an eyebrow and then smiled.

"Miss Hamilton—I didn't expect to see you first tonight."

"Huh?" Loila paused for a moment, not understanding what he meant.

"Ah—and Miss Rosier, it's been a long time." Dumbledore nodded slightly to Hero as well. "I heard you and Miss Hamilton went on a trip, and I thought you wouldn't be back for a few days."

"That was the original plan," Hilo said with a shrug.

"Originally?" Dumbledore nodded knowingly. "So—something happened?"

"Ah—Dumbledore, it's like this—like this—" Loila said, about to take the box out of her arms to show Dumbledore, but she had only taken a few steps forward when she heard a noise behind her.

"Bang!"

The principal's office door was suddenly blasted open, and both Roy and Shiloh instinctively drew their wands.

What... what's going on?!

Although Roy pulled out her wand very quickly, she had no idea what was happening.

Has Voldemort attacked?

But it wasn't Voldemort who emerged from the smoke and dust, but rather Fudge, whose face was grim.

eh?

Not only Loila, but Shiloh was also stunned.

The two wizards holding wands stared in disbelief at Fudge and the other wizards around him who had also drawn their wands.

No—Fudge, what are you doing here? Isn't this Dumbledore's office? What are you doing here?

If you're here, why are you so late? — And if it's so late, why break in like that?

Looking at the wooden door fragments trampled under Fudge's boots, Loila opened her mouth as if to say something, but didn't know how to begin.

Everything before my eyes is too strange—has the Ministry of Magic gone mad?

"Put down your wands, Miss Hamilton—and Miss Rosier." In this somewhat eerie situation, Dumbledore spoke first, calmly sitting in his chair and saying slowly, "Don't frighten our guests."

"Ah————" Loila pursed her lips and lowered her wand slightly, while Shiloh held her wand still.

"This is none of your business," Fudge said slowly, looking at Heero and Royla. "We're here to see Dumbledore."

You actually called Dumbledore by his first name! Only I would dare to do that!

Loila gleaned something from Fudge's words, and she pursed her lips slightly as she looked at Dumbledore.

"It's alright, Miss Hamilton." Dumbledore remained seated, waving his hand and saying, "Cornell is right."

"This has nothing to do with you."

"...

'

Loila looked at Miss Shiloh, and the two exchanged a glance before taking a few steps back and standing next to the principal's office.

Although they still didn't put down their wands, they made way for Fudge, allowing the Minister of Magic to walk up to Dumbledore.

Of course, there were also seven or eight Aurors following behind him.

Loila even saw Mr. Kingsley Shackles—who was winking at her?

What's wrong?

Amidst the bewildered looks of Loila and Heero, Fudge slowly uttered, "Albus Dumbledore—"

"Are you aware of what happened last night?"

"I know," Dumbledore said slowly. "I know everything."

"So that means—you were aware of the situation—and did nothing?"

"I only found out afterward," Dumbledore said calmly. "And—when it happened, I was speaking with Undersecretary Umbridge of the Ministry of Magic."

"Dumbledore—that's enough." Fudge shouted abruptly, interrupting Dumbledore. His sudden action startled Royla.

Hey! Aren't you afraid Dumbledore will just kill you? He's terrifying!

But Dumbledore didn't do anything; he just sat quietly and watched Fudge.

Then, after a long silence, he said, "Is it worth it, Connelly?"

"There's no question of whether it's worth it or not." Fudge pursed his lips, seemingly a little guilty. "Is this—is this just an excuse you're making up for breaking the law?"

"Those captured dark wizards have confessed—they were sent by you to attack the Aurors and staff of the Ministry of Magic."

"Huh?" Fudge's words made Loila's eyes widen. She pursed her lips, subconsciously wanting to say something, but Shiloh grabbed her arm.

"Don't speak," Shiloh whispered, her violet eyes gleaming as she looked at Dumbledore and Fudge with a thoughtful expression.

Neither Dumbledore nor Fudge noticed Royla's actions; they simply looked at each other.

One sat, the other stood; one was calm, the other was furious.

"Is that your plan?" Dumbledore asked, shaking his head.

"There's no plan in this!" Fudge retorted.

"I'm not talking to you." Dumbledore shrugged, looked at Fudge, and shook his head. The emotion in his eyes was gone, replaced by numbness and indifference.

More than anything, it's pitiful.

Seemingly feeling even more guilty under Dumbledore's gaze, Fudge pursed his lips and took a few steps back: "Enough."

"

"Albus Dumbledore, I hereby announce your arrest on charges of conspiring with dark wizards in an attempt to overthrow the Ministry of Magic!"