Hogwarts: Dumbledore reigned over the wizarding world.

Chapter 72 Awarding Day

Lupin didn't know how he got out of the three brooms.

In fact, he never imagined that he was facing a 12-year-old wizard and thought he had the situation under control, but it was just that the wizard was willing to talk to him more and ignored his threats.

Before this, he had never seen anyone use the flying spell like that.

Furthermore, its immense magical power rivals that of an adult wizard!

He found the Screaming Shack in a daze, washed his face with snow water to clear his head, and then, together with James Brown, the two wizard werewolves, along with the two Muggle werewolves, Apparated several times in relay, finally returning to London.

When we arrived, it was already noon. A fire had been lit at the campsite, and dozens of women were squatting by the park lake washing clothes.

They dared not stray too far, lest they fall outside the range of spells that protected them from harm and banished Muggles.

As the four figures came into view at the edge of the woods, a woman shouted, "Barnal and William are back! They're back!"

Soon, more than a dozen werewolves, though thin, emerged from the largest tent in the center of the camp.

Young Barnal smiled happily, holding up the money bag Vaughn had given him: "We saw the gentleman, and he gave us tens of thousands of pounds again..."

Everyone who heard it cheered.

The werewolves who came out to greet him asked repeatedly, "Is there anything else you need, Mr. Weasley?"

"When do we start?"

"Don't worry, everyone, we'll talk about it when we get back!"

So the crowd swarmed around Barnard, William, and James and went back into their tents. Lupin didn't follow; he felt his mind was still a bit foggy.

He walked to the lakeside and scooped up a handful of cool water, splashing it on his face.

The biting cold finally quieted his buzzing head a little, and just as he was about to go back, a little girl's voice beside him made him stop in his tracks:

"Mom, what's a pound sterling?"

The little girl looked to be about ten years old. She was wearing clothes made from a blanket and shoes roughly sewn from rabbit skin.

Her mother, a woman in her thirties with a face full of wrinkles, said: "Pounds are money, and money can buy food and clothes."

"Like when we traded potatoes with Uncle Abad for animal hides?"

"Yes, it's even better than potatoes. It can be exchanged for so many things. Little Aya will be full today," Mom said with a smile.

The little girl looked on with longing, her big eyes seeming to already see plenty of food.

She can eat until her belly is bulging!

"Mom, Mr. Weasley is such a good man."

"Yes, he can cure our illnesses. In the future, little Aya can go out to play and make many friends. Every month, we won't have to stay locked in the cave and scratch ourselves all over because of the full moon..."

As the little girl listened to her mother's words, her eyes gradually became glazed over, revealing a light within them.

Lu Ping, who was secretly listening nearby, suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

He covered his face, almost unable to look directly at himself, afraid that he might accidentally burst into tears—

He recognized the light in the little girl's eyes.

That is hope...

He walked away hastily, but the girl's eyes lingered in his mind.

He couldn't help but recall what Vaughn had said earlier.

Put aside your prejudices and go to the camp to take a look!

For some reason, he did as he was told. He slowly strolled around the camp, watching as someone ran off into the distance and soon returned in a beat-up pickup truck, loaded with food.

Some men and some women dragged and carried the food off the table, sweating profusely but with smiles on their faces.

Some people brought out their own cured meat jerky, while others brought out their dried fruit.

A plump witch with gruesome bite marks on her neck laughs happily as she waves her worn-out wand, kitchen knives flying around her, showing that she is enjoying the pleasure of doing housework, something she has been away from for a long time.

The tent opened, and the children stumbled and ran past his feet.

Holding toys made of straw or wood, they dashed to the "kitchen" where a dozen or so bonfires were lit, sucking their fingers and staring intently. Every time a pot was set up, they would sniff and drool.

Lupin was unaware of when this change had occurred.

It seems that as these wanderers leave the mountains and forests, they are gradually shedding their numbness.

Silently, they came back to life.

A mother and child brushed past him.

"What a wonderful day..."

"Mom, is tomorrow another auspicious day?"

"Yes, it must be!"

"And the day after tomorrow?"

"That's right! It must be!"

Lu Ping didn't want to turn around to check what expression the mother who said those words had. He could already hear the determination in her tone!

He had always thought that these people responded to Vaughn's call because of their ignorance, which was why he joined them with the intention of saving them, even at the cost of exposing his identity—he hated his werewolf identity the most.

Now he knew that they weren't foolish, but rather...

No one has ever given them hope like this before!

……

When Vaughn returned from Hogsmeade, it was still snowing.

The fierce winds of the Scottish Highlands seem to blow incessantly whenever snowflakes fall.

With his cloak billowing, Vaughn waded through the snow, walked along the winding path, and saw the majestic silhouette of Hogwarts Castle in the wind and snow.

The expanse of white, contrasting with the deep blue of the distant forbidden forest and mountains, stretches far into the distance.

When he reached the gates of Hogwarts, he saw Dumbledore standing there, the wind ruffling his long beard, with the still-growing Fawkes perched quietly on his shoulder.

When Vaughn approached, Dumbledore opened the door for him:

"After Fudge returned to the Ministry of Magic, he immediately convened a meeting to discuss inviting journalists from other European countries to attend your award ceremony. He called it a press conference... You really saw right through him."

Vaughn didn't care what kind of person Fudge was: "And then?"

Dumbledore smiled and winked at him: "Barty Crouch tried to stop it, arguing that the Order of Merlin Second Class didn't need to be so elaborate, but this only strengthened Fudge's resolve. A senior investigator named Dolores Umbridge took the opportunity to attack Barty Crouch for obstructing the principles of international exchange..."

"Ha, politics..."

"Yes, politics makes ambitious people greedy, and greedy people crazy. Fudge summoned Wizengamo. Of course, he deliberately notified me a few minutes late. In any case, he eventually bypassed the International Department of Magical Exchange and Cooperation and sent invitations to media outlets in more than ten countries."

As he spoke, he looked down at Vaughn: "Everything is as you wished."

Vaughn shrugged: "It wasn't me who pushed for it, I just suggested it, you understand?"

"Hmph..."

Dumbledore said nothing more, and the two entered the castle. He waved his hand, and the heavy castle doors closed, keeping the wind and snow behind them.

Fudge worked very hard.

He announced that the ownership of the wolfsbane medicine had been finalized, and its inventor, Vaughn Weasley, would announce the transfer of ownership at the award ceremony, at which time the export of the wolfsbane medicine could be discussed.

Over the next two days, at his urging, France, Germany, Greece, Denmark, Bulgaria and other countries successively confirmed that they would send liaisons and journalists to the event.

Even the closed North American Magical Congress has stated that it will not be absent.

After all, other countries also need wolfsbane medicine, and the spread of wolfism knows no borders or racial distinctions.

The international unrest, once it reached England, sparked even wider discussion, with The Daily Prophet recently publishing numerous articles on the subject.

"A spokesperson for the French Ministry of Magic said that the discovery of the wolfsbane potion has given France a glimmer of hope in alleviating the threat of wolfification, and sincerely congratulates Mr. Vaughn Weasley on receiving the Order of Merlin, Second Class."

"The German Ministry of Magic's liaison and reporter have departed..."

"The Ministry of Magic is building a new structure in Diagon Alley to serve as the Great Hall and accommodation for guests attending ceremonies. Gringotts has reportedly been temporarily moved 10 feet as a result, which has greatly displeased the goblins. Meanwhile, Madam Malkin next door is overjoyed, claiming that after running her shop for so many years, she has finally seen the sky this morning..."

Yesterday, magazines such as *The Quibbler* reported that Cornelius Fudge was attempting to build his own werewolf army by controlling the wolfsbane potion. *The Quibbler* editor-in-chief, Lovegood, accused Fudge of abusing his power, which Fudge vehemently denied!

"A wizard named Damocles Belby claimed that he was also developing a wolfsbane potion and was close to success. He told reporters that he was feeling frustrated because he had been working on it for five years, experimenting with a large number of materials, but was a step behind in progress... However, when asked by reporters whether his research might have been leaked, Belby denied this, believing that Vaughn Weasley's research was far ahead of his, possibly due to the superiority of his magic extraction method..."

In the Hogwarts dining hall, Ron put down his newspaper, looking incredulous: "Did you hear that? That woman Rita Skeeter, she didn't stir up trouble in the report. If it were before, she would have been scathingly accusing Vaughn of plagiarizing this Bellby thing."

Harry, munching on his bread, mumbled, "Rita Skeeter? Who's that?"

"A woman who's a liar," Ron said with disgust and a hint of frustration. "But adults believe her. My mother especially loves reading her reports."

Harry glanced at the newspaper: "I didn't realize she wasn't reporting fairly."

"Hmph, wasn't she the one who came to interview Vaughn last time? Maybe she offended Vaughn back then and got cursed by him!"

Ron made a sarcastic remark about his brother, as was his habit.

Then he received a glare from Hermione, who had returned to school the night before. "You have time to be jealous of Vaughn, why don't you do your homework? I can't believe you two didn't write a single word during the Christmas break—"

Ron muttered, "Who would be jealous of him..."

But since he still had to copy Hermione's homework, he only dared to grunt a couple of times. Harry, on the other hand, buried his head in his plate, pretending that he was engrossed in eating and hadn't heard anything.

Ron said he wasn't jealous, but when he saw Vaughn standing next to Dumbledore in a formal suit at the restaurant, he was practically drooling with envy.

The moment Vaughn appeared, people all around him started talking about it.

"Is today Medal Day?"

"Hmm, it seems Dumbledore took him. That's great! Merlin Second Class—I bet he's the youngest Merlin recipient ever!"

"Hey Ron, aren't you going to your brother's medal ceremony?"

Ron stammered. Of course he wanted to go, but Vaughn hadn't invited him at all.

This fact suddenly made him lose his appetite. After a moment of frustration, he couldn't help but say to Harry, "Harry, you should also get a Merlin Medal. You killed Voldemort when you were only one year old. If you got the medal, I dare say there wouldn't be anyone younger than you!"

This time it was Harry's turn to stammer. Sometimes he really wanted to crack open Ron's skull and see what was inside.

Vaughn ignored the whispers around him.

He finished his breakfast slowly and deliberately, and when he saw Dumbledore raise his hand, he reached out and grabbed it.

Fox, which was just a chick a couple of days ago, has grown feathers again, which means it has regained its magic and can Apparate.

After a moment of spatial distortion, the two arrived at Diagon Alley. Vaughn, who was gradually getting used to his follower's presence and no longer felt nauseous, glanced at Fawkes.

The phoenix was so frightened that its feathers stood on end, and it vanished in a flash.

Dumbledore blinked. "Who told you to use it to block the Killing Curse? You'd better watch out, Fawkes holds a grudge!"

Unfazed by not getting a phoenix feather, Vaughn retorted with a smile, "Like master, like pet. Looks like it's as petty as some old man!"

Dumbledore wasn't offended at all, and stroked his beard, laughing heartily.

The award ceremony and press conference were held in Diagon Alley, so of course they couldn't be outdoors. Fudge was hoping today would be the highlight of his tenure.

Two days ago, from the moment the press conference specifications were confirmed, Fudge gave the order to temporarily add a building next to Gringotts in Diagon Alley.

This request, which seems absurd to Muggles, is not uncommon in the magical world.

The wizards of the Ministry of Magic only needed to stretch the passageway between Gringotts and the adjacent building, creating a 10-foot-wide open space, and then use magic to move the soil to establish the foundation. After that, the problem was simple.

They placed a miniature, model-like building on the foundation, cast a few amplification spells, and a magnificent auditorium rose from the ground!

As for Gringotts shifting 10 feet as a result, which displeased the goblins, Mr. Fudge didn't care.

He is now standing in front of the auditorium with a big smile, welcoming each guest, shaking hands with them, and posing for photos.

"Ah, Mr. Quirkley, welcome! How is your grandfather? Yes, yes, he was a great man..."

"Ms. Jenkins, please come in. It's so cold, and you still have to make the trip... Yes, we're very busy, but we all enjoy it, don't we?"

"Mr. Ollivander, you're here too. What a delightful day, isn't it? Oh, the wand? Of course..."

Fudge finally met his match, as the elderly Ollivander firmly grasped his arm and uttered nonsensical ramblings about wand personalities in a dazed voice.

So much so that when Fudge saw Vaughn and Dumbledore coming over, he looked at them as if they were angels and quickly brushed away Ollivander's skinny claws.

He warmly embraced Dumbledore, then put his arm around Vaughn's shoulder and turned to the media: "Look, gentlemen, the star of the day has arrived!"

The flashbulbs of the cameras went off one after another.

Flashlights! Flashlights!

Vaughn was being pulled along by Fudge, and wherever they went, all they could see were flashes of light.

Dumbledore has disappeared, and Fudge and the media he brought in are deliberately ignoring old Dumbledore. The minister, now deeply entrenched in the allure of power, is eager to diminish the influence of his former most supporter.

He simply wanted to bring Vaughn to every guest, introduce them to this English potions prodigy, and be happy to show off their "friendship."

"Vaughn, this is Mr. Francis, the liaison officer from France. Dear Francis, this is Vaughn Weasley... Hey, Ael, is it you who came this time...?"

"...Haha, don't be so surprised, gentlemen. I guarantee there's no exaggeration in the newspapers. A 12-year-old Potions Master!"

"In fact, I find it just as hard to believe as you do. I only met him once before, when he was very young... Oh, you probably don't know, but his father and I are colleagues and best friends. I bet Arthur was overjoyed to have such a successful son. What a lucky bastard!"

Vaughn felt his face was about to freeze from smiling. He was surrounded by well-dressed officials who looked at him with friendly eyes, listened attentively to Fudge's praise and boasting, and applauded in agreement.

Among them were liaisons from various countries, as well as some powerful figures in the English magical world, such as members of pure-blood families who had once produced a Minister of Magic.

Fudge treated this press conference as a stage to expand his network and demonstrate his value—he wanted those pure-bloods in power to see that he was about to possess a vast force, and that the cornerstone of this force, the wolfsbane drug, would be handed to him by its inventor today.

Vaughn cooperated with him, but actually remained a detached observer.

Those foreign liaisons were also part of Fudge's value; the newspapers were not exaggerating, the spread of wolfism is a thorny problem in every country.

The reason why it hasn't been discussed openly is because everyone's efforts in the past have all ended in failure.

Until a decisive solution is found, countries, like England before, retain a few dispensable departments within their ministries (such as the werewolf registry and the werewolf capture program) to show that they have made an effort, but the werewolves are not cooperating.

It must be said that Fudge is actually a very smart person. He keenly grasped the needs of various countries and immediately shifted to an international perspective after listening to Vaughn's concept of a press conference.

By using the reputation of wolfsbane medicine to attract international attention, they then used that attention to promote the diversity of their values ​​to purebloods.

In reality, however, his stage ultimately benefited Vaughn.

But that was only because Vaughn was too young, and in Fudge's eyes he was a naive to the point of being foolish, which is why Fudge believed Vaughn's promise. Otherwise, given the abilities he had shown, he could probably have really made a brilliant comeback with today's opportunity.

"Thinking about it, I feel a little embarrassed..."

Vaughn's conscience clenched for 0.1 seconds.

The auditorium is a magical artifact, its age unknown, but judging from its magnificent Baroque style, it may have originated in the 16th century.

Today, this building, with its intricate geometric patterns, crystal chandeliers, and opulent gold that seems to exude luxury in every brick, is likely an antique, and is now packed with people.

The oval hall was divided into two levels. The members of the Wizengamot and Merlin's Order sat on the second floor, overlooking the main stage, where a solemn witch sat at the head of the table.

Amelia Burns, Head of the Department of Law Enforcement at the Ministry of Magic and Chief Judge of Wizengamo, is responsible for leading the members of Wizengamo to witness the birth of the new Order of Merlin.

The ownership of the wolfsbane medicine was notarized.

The Order of Merlin was primarily responsible for awarding medals and recognizing Vaughn as a member of the Order of Merlin. However, given that many members of the Order of Merlin had joined Wizengamo, the distinction between the two was not significant.

As everyone took their seats and the investiture ceremony was about to begin, Vaughn looked up and could only see rows of purple robes.

Then he saw Amelia Burns.

The stern witch nodded to him, and Vaughn returned the gesture.

On the stage to the side, Mr. Fudge had already stepped onto the main stage. He put his wand to his throat and, in a passionate and high-spirited voice, delivered a string of nonsense.

The content was nothing more than the significance of the wolfsbane potion to the magical world and what problems it could solve. The speech was very long, and only in the middle did he play a bit of British humor, saying that with the wolfsbane potion, countries would no longer have to worry about which department to assign the werewolf problem to, because it could be set up as a separate department, which drew a burst of laughter.

After speaking for more than twenty minutes, he finally extended his hand to Vaughn in the audience, his face flushed and bathed in the flashing lights:

"Let us welcome Mr. Vaughn Weasley, the inventor of the Wolfsbane Potion and the newly crowned Potions Master!"

Thunderous applause!

The camera flashes blurred Vaughn's vision, and Fudge warmly shook hands and hugged him before standing down from the stage with a smile. A plump woman in a pink woolen dress leaned close to him and whispered compliments, making Fudge feel smug.

Vaughn withdrew his gaze, his eyes calm and indifferent.

On the second floor, Amelia Burns stood up, unrolled the scroll in her hand, and magic made her voice loud and authoritative:

"Wessengamo bears witness here: werewolves and wolf disease have plagued the world. Many exceptionally talented wizards have tried to solve this problem, but their magic and wisdom ultimately failed in the face of this disease. For thousands of years, it has accompanied every wizard's growth, becoming an inescapable pain for us, to the point that some people have despairingly asserted that wolf disease is the world's curse on wizards."

"December 26, 1991, is a moment to be remembered in history. Mr. Vaughn Weasley's invention of the Wolfsbane Potion ended this millennium-long suffering, bringing the chaos and savagery of the werewolves to a complete end. Therefore, the Order of Merlin has decided to award Mr. Vaughn Weasley the Order of Merlin, Second Class, and invite him to become a member of the Order and the Wizengamot!"

She closed the reel, looked down at Vaughn, and asked in a resounding voice:

"Mr. Vaughn Weasley, do you have any objections?"

"No objections!"

Upon hearing this, in a solemn silence, Amelia Burns threw out the reel.

The scroll was an alchemical artifact; it transformed in mid-air into a golden medal with a purple ribbon, which landed on Vaughn's chest.

Amelia Burns smiled slightly. "Welcome, Mr. Vaughn Weasley!"

As she spoke, thunderous applause erupted.

The applause lasted for a while, but not for long, because next came the routine time for the medal recipients to give their acceptance speeches.

Many people know that the inventor of the wolfsbane medicine was preparing to announce the transfer of his ownership of the medicine at this event.

Fudge's chubby face was radiant, and some people were watching his back and exchanging whispers.

Vaughn glanced at everything and nodded to Fudge, who returned a warm and cheerful smile, which made the murmurs below even louder.

Vaughn smiled slightly: "It seems everyone already knows what my remarks are."

The audience chuckled.

"but……"

But as Fudge was whispering to Umbridge beside him, his heart skipped a beat when he heard that word.

He looked up at the child on the main stage who needed to stand on a footstool to be taller than the stage.

The child who always wore an innocent smile in front of him had become indifferent without him noticing.

"However, before I make the announcement, I have a few more things to say."

(End of this chapter)