The mastermind behind Hogwarts

Chapter 545 The Basilisk Returns

Ramdy Lestrange retrieved the Goblet of Fire from a magic box.

The Goblet of Fire looks like a large, roughly carved wooden goblet filled with dancing blue-white flames.

"After the minister's transformation," Ramdy said loudly. Moriarty knew that the minister he was referring to was Gamp, not Fudge. He continued, "the Goblet of Fire is no longer limited to the ability to distinguish ages."

"Instead, they have the ability to calculate scores," Ramsay glanced at Dumbledore, "The three schools will score their students, and the Goblet of Fire will select the champions from the three schools based on those scores."

Immediately, students started whispering among themselves: "What does this mean? The Warriors are no longer a trio?"

"It seems to be somewhat similar to the scoring method used in last year's five-school league."

"Look at the flames in the Goblet of Fire!"

Someone suddenly shouted.

Everyone's attention was drawn to it.

A jet of dark, demonic fire flew out from the mouth of the cup and transformed into a lion, a snake, a badger, and a raven.

The symbols of the four major academies!

Umbridge clapped her hands to draw attention and said in a sweet, cloying voice, "These... adorable little animals will remain here until the end of the term. They are the symbol of Hogwarts and your guardian spirits."

"What?" Lilith frowned, a little angry. "That kind of thing doesn't look like a good thing at all, does it?"

"I sensed the magic of the dark element from there," Moriarty said, his expression slightly grave. "Those things felt as uncomfortable to me as a camera."

"What is a camera?" Soldaya asked immediately.

This time it was Jericho's turn to tell him, and it took Jericho a long time to explain before the little snakes understood.

Are you really sure they are guardian spirits?

A cold voice rang out from the professor's seat.

It's Polly.

She stared coldly at Umbridge. "As a professor who has studied divine symbols for 50 years, I see no divine element in them."

Umbridge's smile froze on her face. She didn't understand anything about divinity; she was just following orders.

Moreover, Umbridge is also carrying out a mission for the Ministry of Magic to intervene in Hogwarts.

She put on a fake smile again and said to Polly, "I think I need to remind you that I'm not only the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts..."

"...Also a Hogwarts Senior Investigator under the Ministry of Magic's orders."

"I have the right to examine every professor at Hogwarts and see if they are up to standard."

Umbridge's face was full of smugness, while he looked at the professors on the professors' bench with ill intent.

The students below whispered among themselves, only the older students could understand the meaning of these words, and they frowned slightly.

Hermione, one of the few younger students who understood, looked at Moriarty with concern.

Polly wasn't intimidated by Umbridge. She stood up arrogantly and said condescendingly, "Let me tell you: you'd better get your master's business sorted out before you come here to brag!"

She raised her hands upwards, and two divine symbols appeared in her palms.

The symbols flashed and flew into the animal that the black fire had transformed into, and then there were two more.

The four animals formed from black fire suddenly became shiny, and a holy light flashed in their eyes.

Moriarty sensed once again that the dark elemental magic had been cleared away.

The four animals became holy, emitting soft red, green, yellow, and blue light, with the light and shadow shifting and changing within the figures of the four giants.

The students cheered, this time looking quite professional, like the Patrons of Hogwarts.

Umbridge clearly hadn't expected Polly to be so capable, and harbored a deep resentment towards her, deciding to cause her trouble.

"Professor Umbridge, is there anything else you'd like to say?" Dumbledore asked politely, but it was clear to everyone that he was very happy.

"That's all," Umbridge replied curtly, then walked to the professors' bench and sat down, with the other professors keeping their distance from her.

The Goblet of Fire was placed in the center of the hall, and Ramdi stood beside it like a guard.

Dumbledore then began: "Now, let us welcome once again a professor, succeeding Professor Binns as Professor of the History of Magic—Bashida Bagshot."

A round of applause, neither too loud nor too soft, broke out among the students, mostly from the top students.

Soon, Bathilda Bagshot, the author of The History of Magic, and her life story became known among the students.

Professor Bathilda looked very old. She walked step by step to the professor's seat, nodded slightly, and said nothing.

Dumbledore, on the other hand, eagerly chatted with her aunt.

Time flew by, and seeing this, Professor McGonagall had no choice but to take over Dumbledore's job, instructing the prefects to lead the new students back to the common room.

On the Snake Headmaster's table, Larpo stood up, and then Lilith reluctantly stood up as well.

"First-year students, come with me," Lilith called out authoritatively.

Larpo ignored everything and followed the new students as if taking a stroll.

"Sir?" Jericho glanced at Moriarty, his eyes seeming to say, "Should we teach that guy a lesson?"

"Let's follow them and hear what Larpo has to say," Moriarty said with a mocking look in his eyes.

He was eager to hear how Larpo evaluated Slytherin when the prefect introduced the college to the freshmen.

Moriarty and his group walked slowly, brushing past the new students of Gryphon College along the way.

Jericho's eyes darted to Pendragon the Lionheart, and he said with amusement, "That kid has a sword at his waist! Did you guys see it?"

The little snakes laughed heartily, while Moriarty seemed lost in thought.

A few minutes later, in the Slytherin dungeon.

Lilith solemnly introduced the college to the new students.

When the topic turned to the basilisk that once existed in the secret chamber, Larpo, who had been standing at the back, suddenly spoke up.

"That basilisk monster still exists!"

All eyes immediately focused on Larpo.

"The Slytherin basilisk has returned to Hogwarts, and this time she will devour any impure-blooded young wizards!"

Larpo grinned mischievously, and some of the freshmen already had tears welling up in their eyes.

"What did you say!" Lilith growled sternly.

After Moriarty's five years of rebuilding, Slytherin's image has finally returned to normal, but Lapor has once again tarnished Slytherin's reputation!

Lilith pointed her wand at Lalpo and said to the new students, "Don't listen to him. You should all go back to sleep."

The new students left, but Lilith found that her wand had flown out of her hand!

Then, to Lilith's horrified gaze, the wand silently flew into Lalpo's hand!

"Lilith Pilivik," Larpo twirled his wand in his hand like a quill, "one of Moriarty's most important friends. Don't think your grandfather can protect you."

"Is that so!" Moriarty's voice rang out behind Larpo as he walked over. "And what about me?"

"I want to protect Lilith as easily as removing the wand from your hand."

As soon as he finished speaking, Larpo's wand flew away silently once again and landed in Lilith's hand.

Meanwhile, Jericho, Marcus, and others blocked Larpo's path.

Larpo didn't seem to care, shaking his head as two strands of green hair floated up from his temples. He said to Moriarty, "Did you hear what I just said? The basilisk is back."

"Go ahead and save these students, Moriarty," Larpo said, waving as he walked toward his dormitory. "And while you're at it, salvage Slytherin's reputation! I'm not a descendant of Slytherin, so what does this house have to do with me?"

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(End of this chapter)