Hogwarts: Who uses a crowbar in wizard duels?

After Umbridge finished speaking, Dumbledore led the applause, and then a few scattered claps rang out from the audience.

Dumbledore continued to give instructions to the new students, and after he finished, everyone started eating.

"Professor Moody hasn't made a move yet? I thought he would before the opening banquet."

After the hall returned to its usual noise, Harry quietly asked a few people around him.

Looking at this affected Umbridge, they knew that Umbridge had definitely not been switched yet.

"She's a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Magic, after all. It won't be so easy to intercept her on her way to Hogwarts," Hermione analyzed.

"So Professor Moody is inferior to her?"

Ron chuckled as he munched on a chicken leg.

He was alluding to the incident last year where Moody was switched at school before he even arrived.

But no sooner had he said that than Ron felt a "thud" as he was hit on the back of the head with a stick.

"Ouch!" Ron immediately cried out in pain.

"Harry, why did you hit me?" Ron asked Harry, clutching the back of his head.

"I didn't hit you," Harry replied innocently, not knowing what had happened.

He was holding a fork in one hand and a plate in the other, so he couldn't free up a hand to hit Ron.

"Who hit me?"

Ron turned around in confusion. The table behind him was full of unfamiliar Badgerhouse students. There was no reason for them to hit him for no reason.

Harry then realized that Ron had been beaten for secretly saying something bad about Moody. Could it be that Professor Moody was standing invisibly among them right now?

Harry knew that there were other types of invisibility cloaks besides his invisibility cloak.

They had seen Moody pass through before, and at least none of them could see any flaws in his appearance.

However, with so many people around, Harry pretended not to know anything, afraid of affecting Moody and the others' plans.

He also advised Ron not to overthink it, saying it was probably just a freshman causing trouble, something that happens every year.

Hermione, who was keeping an eye on Kevin's location, noticed Umbridge walking towards him and gestured for Harry and the others to look.

This diverted Ron's attention.

......

On the long table above the stage, Kevin and Professor McGonagall were having a pleasant conversation.

Professor McGonagall was overjoyed that her bright and lovely student could become a teacher at Hogwarts and sit with her.

So she chatted with Kevin about her early days as a professor, and offered Kevin some advice on being a teacher.

The two chatted enthusiastically, as intimately as a true master and apprentice.

Professor Snape, standing to the side, wore a deadpan expression.

He was already annoyed enough that a pink toad had taken his position as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and now he was even more annoyed.

Suddenly, a high-pitched girl's voice rang out, and Umbridge appeared behind Kevin.

"Oh, I've heard that Hogwarts has produced a young professor. You must be it, Mr. Kevin."

Umbridge gave Kevin a friendly smile.

"Oh yes, Professor Umbridge, it's a pleasure to meet you. I hope to work with you happily in the coming year."

When Kevin saw that Umbridge had actually come over to him, he wasn't intimidated at all. He naturally stood up and shook hands with Umbridge, a very sunny smile on his face.

"Of course, of course, what a wonderful child! The Ministry of Magic needs capable young people like you. I really hope we can continue to work together at the Ministry of Magic in the future."

Seeing Kevin's respectful attitude, Umbridge's smile widened, and he spoke warmly.

"If you have any difficulties, you can come to me anytime to discuss the child."

After saying that, he patted Kevin on the shoulder, as if to say, "I have high hopes for you."

"Of course, I have long admired the Ministry of Magic."

"My office is on the 8th floor. If the professor would be so kind as to come, I can prepare some fine tea and snacks for you."

Kevin smiled, like an obedient little lamb, and extended an invitation to Umbridge.

Umbridge felt something was off; her first conversation with Kevin had gone a little too smoothly.

However, being arrogant and narcissistic, she didn't care and only thought that Kevin was conquered by her charm, so she nodded happily.

This is good, it will make subsequent plans easier.

If Kevin is sensible and understanding, she wouldn't mind keeping a gigolo, that's what Umbridge thinks.

Umbridge chatted with Kevin for a few more minutes, then returned to his seat with a big smile.

After Umbridge walked away, Kevin glanced at the empty space beside him.

Then they sat down and continued eating.

Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape were not surprised by Kevin's words; they merely exchanged a slight glance.

After the banquet, everyone left in an orderly manner.

Kevin then approached Hermione and the others, said a few words, and told them to go back to the lounge first.

He said he had to go to the workroom, and then winked at the others.

Hermione could tell from the pleasant conversation between Kevin and Umbridge that Kevin might be planning to start making a move.

Harry and the others roughly understood what he meant, and without saying anything more, they said they would wait for him to come back.

Kevin then returned to his workspace alone.

The inside is still the same as before I left last semester; no one has come in.

Kevin simply used a magic spell to clean away the dust.

Just as Kevin was cleaning the dust, the door to his workspace opened by itself and then immediately closed automatically.

Kevin saw everything, but said nothing.

Instead, they strengthened the isolation spell on the room.

A moment later, there was a knock on the door.

Kevin immediately came to open the door and saw Umbridge smiling outside.

"Good evening, Professor Umbridge. It's a pleasure to have you here."

Kevin gave a harmless smile and reached out to shake hands with Umbridge.

Umbridge was still smiling, but she instinctively felt that Kevin was being a little too enthusiastic.

Even if he wanted to betray Dumbledore, he shouldn't have been so obviously trying to curry favor with me.

But before she could think any further, a sudden, strong pull came from the hand she was holding with Kevin.

Before Umbridge could react, she was pulled into the room.

The office door slammed shut, and the corridor fell silent once more.

An hour has passed...

Kevin and Umbridge came out together.

Both of them looked very natural, except that Umbridge walked strangely at first, as if he had twisted his ankle.

However, his steps soon became more and more natural, and there was nothing strange about them.

"Professor, I won't see you off. I wish you all the best in your future teaching."

The two reached the spiral staircase, and Kevin spoke to Umbridge.

Umbridge nodded, forcing an unnatural smile, but left without saying anything.

Compound decoctions are truly magical potions; they can make healthy people disabled, and disabled people healthy again.

Praise the magic potion.

Kevin watched Umbridge's departing figure and thought to himself.

......

Kevin soon returned to their Gryffindor common room.

I plan to tell a few people about how the plan succeeded.

However, as soon as he entered, he noticed that the atmosphere in the common room seemed a bit tense.

Hermione and the others were sitting in a corner of the common room, talking quietly, seemingly trying to persuade Harry.

Meanwhile, many other people in the lounge were looking at them with various expressions.

"Kevin, you're back."

Hermione saw Kevin and immediately stood up and went to Kevin's side.

Harry and his friends were no exception.

"How is it?"

"no problem."

The two exchanged a few words and learned what the other wanted, and Harry finally smiled.

"Stop talking about me, what's wrong with you guys? You look like you're about to fight."

Kevin looked strangely toward Seamus, as if there was some great malice coming from there.

The lounge fell silent as soon as he said that, and everyone looked at Kevin. Harry also paused for a moment, clearly still angry and unwilling to speak.

"It was Seamus. He didn't believe Voldemort's return and questioned Harry, and the two started arguing."

Hermione answered for Harry when she saw that he didn't want to speak.

"What's there to argue about?"

"He said we were all attention-seeking liars, and that Dumbledore was senile. I was furious..."

Harry said unhappily.

Kevin turned to look at Seamus, who glared back defiantly.

"Isn't that right!" Simon exclaimed.

"Seymour! I..." Harry immediately wanted to curse again.

However, the two men on both sides quickly pulled back the two who were about to fight.

Kevin looked at the two angry boys and shook his head helplessly.

"Seamus, aren't you and Harry friends?"

Kevin suddenly posed a soul-searching question to Simon.

"I, that's..."

Simo thought Kevin also wanted to argue, but he was suddenly speechless at the question.

"You've known each other for four years, don't you know what kind of person Harry is?"

"Whether Voldemort's return is true or false is completely irrelevant to the two of you."

"If you trust Harry, you shouldn't argue with him, but rather patiently ask him what happened."

"If you don't trust Harry, then there's no need to argue. It's fake anyway, so what's the point of arguing?"

"No matter what, you are friends, you should stick together."

Kevin spoke slowly to Seamus, and also addressed the rest of the Gryffindor group.

Their relationship within Gryffindor has always been good; there's really no need to argue about this.

"And then there's Harry. A villain who had been dead for over a decade suddenly came back to life. No one could accept that right away. It's normal for Seamus and the others to care."

"During this special period, we should unite as one."

"As a friend, you should be more patient in explaining to Simo."

"You must do everything you can to gain people's trust and raise their awareness, instead of engaging in reckless arguments and letting them fend for themselves."

"This is a war, and people could be killed at any moment. You wouldn't want your last words with a friend to be an argument, would you?"

After Kevin finished speaking about Seamus, he turned to Harry and continued.

"Or are you saying that you weren't friends from the beginning? And that your relationship over the past four years was just a joke?"

After saying that, Kevin looked back and forth between Harry and Seamus, and said something amusing.

Both Seamus and Harry felt ashamed after Kevin's words.

Harry couldn't imagine what would happen if, years later, someone actually died because of Voldemort.

How much he would regret not explaining things properly to everyone back then, letting them fend for themselves and causing their deaths.

Kevin's words silenced everyone present; they had only wanted to know whether Voldemort had actually been resurrected.

These words suddenly escalated the discussion to their position and the unity within Gryffindor.

If it's true, they should unite.

If it's fake, they don't need to argue about it.

Just as everyone was silent, Neville spoke up.

"Kevin is right."

"Whether this is true or false, we shouldn't fight amongst ourselves."

"My grandmother believed in Dumbledore, and I'm willing to believe in Harry and the others."

"But even if it turns out to be fake in the end, I won't lose anything."

Neville came out and stood beside Kevin and Harry, giving them a firm nod.

With Neville taking the lead, the others also began to express their willingness to believe him and to call on him if they needed any help.

Seeing that everyone in Gryffindor was looking in Harry's direction, they noticed that the Gryffindors were all leaning towards him.

Simo was actually wavering, but being a teenager is the age when one is most concerned about saving face.

He couldn't bring himself to soften his stance for the time being, and he lowered his head, struggling with his inner conflict.

Kevin nudged Harry, suggesting that Harry should take the initiative at this point.

Harry felt everyone's gaze, took a deep breath, and slowly walked towards Seamus.

"Symmo, whether you believe me or not, let's make up."

Harry reached out his hand to Seamus and said slowly.

Seamus looked up at Harry's serious gaze and pursed his lips.

Then he took Harry's hand and gave him a big hug.

"I'm sorry, Harry."

"I am. Whatever you want to know next, I can tell you."

Harry hugged Seamus and patted him on the back.

Seeing this harmonious scene, Neville led the applause, and everyone else followed suit.

At this moment, Gryffindor will be more united than ever before.

Kevin smiled with satisfaction. As expected of me, I easily resolved an internal conflict.

Hermione then leaned over and took Kevin's arm.

"Kevin, you looked really cool just now!"

Hermione whispered praise to Kevin.

After saying that, Hermione tiptoed and gently kissed Kevin's cheek.