HP: Wizards at Hogwarts

Saturday night, Hogwarts Castle, eighth floor of the main tower, the headmaster's office.

"Mr. Yakut, it's really not easy to find you!"

"You're just a first-year wizard, how come you seem busier than me, the headmaster?"

Dumbledore sat behind his desk, chewing on his favorite treat—a pile of cockroaches—his eyes fixed on Elaine, filled with resentment.

Elaine sat opposite him, showing no sign of nervousness at being called here.

"That's probably because I care more about the education at Hogwarts than you do, Professor Dumbledore."

"I have to attend classes, study, observe the shortcomings of each professor's lectures, help tutor other students after class, pay attention to the daily food safety and physical and mental health of the young wizards, and coordinate the issues of prejudice among the four houses..."

"I have so much to do! And you..."

"As the headmaster, you are neither worried about the employment of Hogwarts graduates nor concerned about the ideological education of young wizards. Your most arduous task every day is to digest the sweets in your stomach."

"I really can't think of any reason why I would have more free time than you."

An awkward expression appeared on Dumbledore's face, and he subconsciously pushed the pile of cockroaches next to him away.

This little wizard's eloquence is truly amazing!

No wonder Snape had to suffer a setback in front of him.

No wonder Minerva trusted him so much with just a "forming a club" plan;

No wonder he moved Flitwick to the point of considering him his personal disciple and wishing he could impart all his knowledge to him in just one morning!

If he had been born a few decades earlier, Gellert might have had to give way to him.

Come to think of it, so many days have passed, why hasn't he replied to me yet?

Dumbledore was lost in thought when he suddenly snapped out of it as if waking from a dream.

"In fact, that's not the case."

"For the past week, my most demanding task has been dealing with the frozen Black Lake at Hogwarts, as well as the frozen corridor on the right side of the fourth floor of the castle and the guardhouse there."

"Mr. Yakut, do you have anything to say about this?"

Elivin: "..."

"I'm so sorry, Professor, I know nothing about this!"

Still won't admit it, huh?!

"Come on, look me in the eyes and say it again."

"Oh no, absolutely not!"

Elaine quickly turned his head away, avoiding Dumbledore's gaze. "If you want someone to share a deep, loving gaze with, you should have better options!"

Dumbledore: "..."

Sometimes I wonder if this kid knows something.

"Alright, stop pretending."

"You're the one who made those two places freeze over, aren't I right!"

Dumbledore gave him an expression that said, "I've seen it all along."

"I'm telling you this not to assign blame, nor to ask how you did it, but simply because I hope you can restore these two places."

"I've been kept awake every night by the residents living on that layer of ice over Black Lake."

Residents of Black Lake?

Elaine remembered that the Black Lake seemed to be inhabited by mermaids, Grindelwalds, and some other creatures, as well as a giant squid.

"Also, I'll have a very important use for that area on the right side of the fourth floor corridor later on."

The corridor on the right side of the fourth floor was reserved for Harry's trials, so it's only natural that Dumbledore wanted to restore it.

"Can't even you melt that ice?" Elaine asked.

"I tried using the fire charm, but it didn't work."

"Have you tried the Fiendfyre spell?"

"I wouldn't dare to try something so large."

Dumbledore glanced at Elaine as he spoke, "If things get out of control and we accidentally hurt the magical creatures living in the Black Lake, or the young wizards in the castle, then we're in big trouble. So I think it's better to let the professionals handle it."

Elaine thought that the old man's fear of affecting the animals was a pretense; his real intention was to test his magic.

After all, this type of ice magic is indeed somewhat 'special'.

"Speaking of which, ever since he found out his pet was frozen into an ice sculpture, Hagrid has been completely devastated and is still grieving!"

Elijah was taken aback: "Hagrid? How did he know... Oh, I know, Harry must have told him!"

Before school started, Elaine had planned to become friends with Hagrid and get some good stuff from him.

It's been a week already, and I still haven't gone to visit him. That's really not right.

Dumbledore suddenly sighed: "Because of what happened on the night of enrollment, Hagrid has been subjected to difficulties by the Board of Governors ever since. If I hadn't done my best to protect him, he might have lost his job and be wandering the streets by now."

"Who knew that misfortunes would come in pairs? The difficulties caused by the school board had not yet completely subsided when his pet dog got into this mess. It must have been a significant blow to him."

"What a pitiful fellow..."

That old man, I'm pretty much right here!

Elaine's eye twitched, and he didn't mince words: "This poor guy, I wonder if his boss has compensated him for emotional distress and lost wages?"

"After all, Hagrid and his dog both met their demise while on the job!"

"If not, then he must be an extremely unscrupulous and heartless boss! A henchman of capitalism! An evil demon king!..."

Dumbledore quickly interrupted, "Enough! Enough! This will never end!"

He dared not listen any longer; who knew if Elaine would say something even more outrageous?

"In short, you're the one who caused this, so you're the one who has to resolve it."

"Keeping Black Lake and the fourth-floor corridor frozen indefinitely isn't good for you, is it?"

Elaine nodded.

Just as Dumbledore was relieved, he changed the subject again.

"But lifting the freeze wouldn't benefit me either."

Dumbledore remained silent for several seconds.

"Hmm...didn't you recently plan to start a club at school, and even applied for funding and equipment for it?"

"If the school board keeps stalling the process and refusing to approve it, you must be very troubled, right?"

"How about this, you remove those ice crystals, and I'll go and urge them for you."

OK!

That old bastard actually used this trick on me!

Elaine clenched his fist: "That's a good idea, but just urging me isn't enough. I need a more concrete guarantee."

"so……??"

"So, I'll remove the ice as soon as I get the money and the goods."

Dumbledore pondered for half a minute, then reached into the drawer, pulled out a money bag, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Elaine.

"Here's 1000 Galleons, the activity funds approved by the school board. As for the equipment you requested, I've already had someone buy it separately."

"You should thaw Black Lake first!"

Sorry, Hagrid.

You'll just have to suffer a bit more with your big dog!