My Hogwarts has a serious problem.

Chapter 76, Section 075: The Church (Seeking Recommendations)

"...I am now being poured out as a libation, and the time for my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day. And not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. Amen."

In the solemn church, the elderly pastor finished reading the long eulogy, and a dozen or so elderly people dressed in black below the stage solemnly raised their heads, which had been slightly bowed.

Sitting at the front was an elderly nun. Although her face was full of wrinkles and spots, her back was still straight. Her face did not have the kindness that an old woman should have. Instead, it was serious and cold, making people feel intimidated.

"Making you a pastor was a real mistake. You've turned a simple eulogy into something like this. If Green could hear this from beyond the grave, he'd be cursing you again."

Hearing the nun's mockery, the pastor on the platform put down his Bible and shrugged.

"I told you long ago I wasn't cut out for this, so isn't it perfect for you to read the eulogy?"

The nun shook her head.

"I am a nun in the church, and I cannot do the work of a pastor."

The pastor smirked, wanting to laugh but lacking the courage, and could only silently murmur to himself.

I, a fake pastor for a day, am not as good as you, a fake nun who has been a nun for over forty years.

"Alright, we can sing a hymn to send Grimm off," the nun directed.

The elderly people present stood up shakily from their seats. Some of them were so old that they could not straighten their backs and had lost all their teeth.

But even the oldest person stood up, leaning on their cane.

They sang hymns together, their aged voices echoing in the small chapel, adding to the already desolate atmosphere.

The song ended, but no one sat down.

The silence lasted for a full minute before the nun slowly spoke.

"Today, another old friend has left us forever. In the forty-five years we have lived here, Green was the twenty-third to pass away. But his achievements, like those of the twenty-two colleagues who left us before him, will be forever remembered in the hearts of each and every one of us until the last of us grows old."

She held her head high and solemnly recited the belief she had never forgotten for forty-five years.

"For the greater good!"

The elderly people said in unison.

"For the greater good!"

The aged voice was still loud, but like the tolling of a twilight bell, it would eventually fade into silence with time.

They lined up and walked one by one to the platform to offer farewell gifts to their old friend lying in the coffin.

The coffin was eventually carried away by the deceased elderly people's family members. Some of the elderly people were married and were taken away by their families. Others were unmarried and had difficulty walking, so they were helped home by those who were still relatively healthy.

The nun stood there silently watching them leave one by one, until she finally called out to three of them.

"Smith, Simon, Leon, you stay."

Upon hearing her voice, a lame man leaning on a cane, a fat man with a full beard, and a gaunt old man who had just taken off his priest's robes on the platform stopped what they were doing and gathered around the nun.

"What's wrong, Rozier? The cows on my ranch haven't been fed yet tonight, so we can't stay here too long," grumbled Simon, a fat man with a full beard.

"A wizard has arrived here," Sister Rozier said calmly.

The sudden revelation, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, stunned the three old men present.

It took them quite a while to come to their senses.

The fake priest, Leon, was a little nervous, and he stammered.

"There are still wizards who dare to come here?"

"A wizard dares to come here!"

The person who repeated his words was the old cripple named Smith.

Unlike Leon, who was tense, he had strong senses, a loud voice, and seemed like a rather tough guy.

Rozier sat back down in her chair and glanced at the cross on the platform.

"Two days ago, a wizard entered this place. He was a powerful adult wizard. This afternoon, another wizard arrived. He was less powerful but energetic. He should be a minor wizard around fifteen or sixteen years old."

"What else would they dare to do here?" Simon said incredulously.

Rozier glanced at the fool, pulled out a pack of women's cigarettes, lit one for himself, and puffed away in the church, showing no reverence whatsoever for the Lord that clergymen should have.

Although Leon was a bit timid, he was the most clever person here. His face was a little pale as he muttered to himself.

"What we need to be concerned about now is not why they dared to come here, but whether their purpose is for us."

Simon glared at him, seemingly disliking him.

"We're already here, we're all just ordinary people, what are you afraid of!"

Leon, his face flushed, defended himself.

"I'm just worried about my old friends who are already married! The Ministry of Magic has connections with the Muggle government in Britain. If they send people to have the local Muggle police cause trouble for us, how are those married people supposed to live their lives!"

Rozier flicked his cigarette ash, frowned at the two of them, and said coldly.

"If you want to argue, go outside and argue. Don't disturb the Lord's peace."

The two old men shrank back in fright and shut their mouths, though they were probably muttering something to themselves.

"As long as we don't leave this city, the Ministry of Magic won't bother us anymore, as Dumbledore promised us."

Rozier characterized the matter by saying that although they were enemies, he had to admit that Dumbledore was impeccable in terms of credibility.

"So we're just going to ignore everything now?" The old men looked at the nun expectantly, waiting for her to make a decision.

Rozier stared at the cross for a moment, as if in a daze, or perhaps looking at something.

"One of you should go and see what they're planning to do before we discuss what to do next."

The three old men exchanged glances.

"You need to take care of the cows on your farm. Smith is lame and has difficulty moving around, so I'll go instead," said Leon, who seemed the most timid.

Simon shook his head.

"It's alright if those cows go hungry for a meal. You used to be our ace, and too many wizards knew you before. If you go and get recognized, it will alert them, which would be bad. I'll go instead."

Smith, who hadn't participated in their conversation, tapped the floor with his cane to stop their politeness.

"Shut up!" he shouted irritably. "What's there to argue about! I'm a cripple; that makes it easier for people to lower their guard. Nothing's wrong at home, I'll go!"

With that, he put on his hat, leaned on his cane, and limped out of the church.

Rozier stubbed out his cigarette and chuckled.

"You're just going to go like that? Do you even know where they are?"

Smith froze on the spot, then turned around with a dark expression.

Where are they?

"They're all around the bars on Marton Road. Wizards have a different vibe than Muggles, so be careful to tell them apart."

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Why aren't you guys voting for me anymore? There are so many fewer votes today, a reduction of three times! I'm not asking for donations; you all work hard for your money. If you enjoyed the show, a dollar or two is fine as a token gesture. But please vote for me! Every vote you cast is a source of encouragement for me during this free period! (^3^)╱~~

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(End of this chapter)