Hogwarts' Golden Glory

"Observe, guide, and protect if necessary." Dumbledore's tone turned serious. "Kane Malfoy could be a significant force against Tom, or he could become a new threat. It is our responsibility to ensure he has the opportunity to see all the possibilities before he makes his choice."

"What if his choice isn't what we want?"

"Then we must accept it," Dumbledore said calmly. "Everyone has their own path, Alastor. All we can do is make sure the beginning of the path is bright, but the end... can only be decided by the walker himself."

Moody stared at the principal for a long time, then finally sighed: "You're always like this, Albus. Giving people freedom, even if that freedom might bring danger."

"Because good intentions without freedom will eventually turn into another kind of evil." Dumbledore returned to his desk, took a letter from a drawer, and said, "Speaking of which... there's been some activity at the Ministry of Magic."

Moody took the letter and quickly glanced at it. His expression gradually darkened: "Scrimgeour has indeed acted swiftly since taking office. The Department of Magical Creatures Control discovered the unusual fluctuations in Misty Valley and requested an investigation team. Kingsley suppressed it, but Scrimgeour is stubborn; he demands a second investigation."

Rufus Scrimgeour, the new Minister for Magic.

The former Director of the Law Enforcement Division was known for his tough, pragmatic, and ruthless approach.

He succeeded Cornelius Fudge—whose downfall was, in some ways, related to Kane Malfoy.

Last year, Fudge attempted to undermine Dumbledore's influence by smearing Kane Malfoy.

However, Kane, through his own means, exposed several scandals during Fudge's tenure, including the illegal misappropriation of Ministry of Magic funds, the protection of pure-blood families, and hiring murderers.

Public opinion was in uproar, and Fudge was forced to resign, even going directly to Azkaban!

After Scrimgeour took over, he outwardly showed more respect for Dumbledore, but in reality became more assertive.

He could not tolerate any power outside his control, whether it was Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix, Voldemort's Death Eaters, or... a thirteen-year-old boy establishing a secret community in the Scottish Highlands.

"What will Scrimgeour find out?" Moody asked.

"It depends on how far Kingsley can maneuver," Dumbledore said. "But we must be prepared. If the Ministry of Magic does discover the Moonshadow Alliance, Kane's plans will be seriously threatened. The werewolves could be recaptured, registered, or even imprisoned."

"That kid won't allow that to happen."

"Yes," Dumbledore nodded. "And if Kane and the Ministry of Magic clash head-on... the situation will become very complicated. So we need to prepare in advance."

He took a small crystal bottle from another drawer, containing silver memory threads: "These are some of my early ideas for the Werewolf Rights Act, as well as some legal precedents from ancient magical protected areas. Perhaps Kane can use them—if he's willing to go through the legal channels."

Moody took the crystal bottle, his expression complex. "Are you paving the way for him? Even if it might create a future rival?"

"I'm giving directions to a lost child," Dumbledore said gently. "As for where he goes... that's his choice. And what we, Alastor, we old folks, can do is make sure the younger generation has the right to choose."

Outside the window, the lights of Hogwarts flickered in the night. The castle slept peacefully, but beneath this tranquility, a new storm was brewing.

In the principal's office, the two elderly people reached a silent consensus:

Observe, but do not interfere.

Guide, but do not control.

Protect, but do not restrict.

Kane Malfoy's path will be walked by himself.

But they would stand guard by the roadside to make sure the road didn't end up in darkness too soon.

Ministry of Magic, Department of Magical Creatures Control

Three days later, in London.

The atmosphere was tense in the offices of the Department of Magical Creatures Control on the seventh basement level of the Ministry of Magic.

Rufus Scrimgeour stood before the enormous magical map, his fingers tapping a shimmering red dot in the northern Scottish Highlands. He was in his fifties, with neatly trimmed gray hair, deep laugh lines on his face, and eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

"Explain, Shakel," Scrimgeour's voice was as hard as iron, "Why have the magical fluctuations in this area been abnormal for three consecutive weeks, yet your report only calls it a 'natural phenomenon'?"

Kingsley Shackler stood to the side, his tall frame appearing steady and powerful beneath the Ministry of Magic uniform. His expression was calm: “Minister, I have already explained this in detail in my report. The northern Scottish Highlands are perpetually shrouded in magical mist, a natural magical field left behind by ancient Druidic rituals. The magical fluctuations are cyclical, and our monitoring instruments have captured the peak period.”

"Peak period?" Scrimgeour turned and stared at Kingsley. "Peak period would cause three monitoring crystals to explode? Would it render all detection magic within a fifty-mile radius ineffective? Would it cause three scouts sent out to return hospitalized with magical imbalances?"

The other officials in the office all lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

Kingsley remained unfazed: "The backlash from the ancient magic field. Minister, you know how unstable those ancient spells are. As for the scouts… I warned them not to venture into the core area, but they didn't heed my advice."

“They say they were led away by a ‘gentle but irresistible’ force.” Scrimgeour stepped closer and lowered his voice. “Kingsley, I know you were brought up by Moody. I also know you’re close to Dumbledore. But you’re an Auror in the Ministry of Magic now. Your duty is to uphold the law, not to cover up secrets for someone.”

Kingsley's gaze remained calm: "Minister, all my actions have been in accordance with the Auror Code. If you have any questions about my report, you may send a second investigation team. But I must warn you—over-stimulating the Ancient Magic Field could have unpredictable consequences. Last year's 'Forbidden Forest Riot' is a prime example."

Mentioning the Forbidden Forest riots, Scrimgeour's expression stiffened. It was the first major crisis he dealt with after taking office, nearly severing the relationship between Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic.

"Alright," Scrimgeour finally conceded, but his eyes remained sharp. "I'll send a second investigation team, but this time you'll lead it. Kingsley, I'm giving you two weeks. I want a detailed report, with nothing hidden. If it really is just a natural phenomenon, no problem. But if someone's behind this..."

He didn't finish speaking, but his meaning was clear.

"Yes, Minister." Kingsley nodded. "But I need access to the Department of Mysteries' 'Environmental Magic Analyzer,' the only device capable of safely detecting ancient magical fields."