Hogwarts: My name is the Unforgivable Curse...

Chapter 130 The Book of Admission?

"Are you all crazy?!"

One student jumped up, pointed at Snape's nose, and shouted angrily, "You have no right to do this!"

"Expel all Muggle-borns?! Abandon the Law of Secrecy? Disregard the stability of the magical society?!"

"Don't think we don't know your despicable schemes! You're just suppressing those who disagree, all while spouting 'honor' and 'mission'! How despicable!!"

More and more students stood up. They were not only Muggle-born—on the contrary, Muggle-born students were even a minority: many half-bloods and even pure-bloods looked at Snape with angry eyes. Their voices gradually converged into a mighty wave containing boundless rage.

In this wave, there was Baron, Harry, Hermione, and all the red-haired Weasleys; there was Cedric, Shabby, Cho, Neville, and many others at every long table—those standing offered shouts, those seated offered support with agreement and glances…

Severus Snape stood there motionless, like a lighthouse in a storm or a duckweed in a whirlpool, letting the students whip him with passionate or rude words. His deep eyes were devoid of any emotion, like a statue, or perhaps already dead.

He stood there quietly for nearly ten minutes, until the students below had finished their tirade and their voices had gradually subsided. Only then did that face, which seemed unlikely to move again, finally speak:

"Of course, considering the secrecy laws and the stability of the magical society, we certainly wouldn't just abandon hundreds or thousands of wizards in Muggle society, creating unnecessary chaos and hidden dangers. The Board of Governors and the Ministry of Magic would also not allow such an extreme policy."

His face was expressionless, his tone flat, as if unaffected by the earlier outburst: "We will resolve the issue as quickly as possible to guarantee the education rights of Muggle-born students. But unfortunately, Hogwarts now..."

"This is no longer a suitable place for you to settle down."

Just as the students, who had just caught their breath, were about to erupt again, Snape interrupted them with a single action—he took a huge book out of his robes.

It was a large, unremarkable book, even somewhat shabby-looking. The cover, likely made of black dragon skin, was slightly peeling, revealing patches of pale yellow blemishes. Aside from that, there wasn't a single superfluous pattern or decoration, not even a title. Yet, the moment it appeared, this book attracted everyone's attention. Many older students stared wide-eyed, already having a vague guess in their minds—

"Besides petrifying those Muggle-born students, the wrathful will of the castle also did another regrettable thing."

Snape held the old, black book high in his hand: "The Book of Admission."

"It no longer records the names of Muggle-born wizards."

The fluctuating sounds suddenly disappeared.

In the deathly silence, Snape's devilish words still echoed softly in everyone's ears: "This means that even if we are still willing to force the admission of Muggle-born wizards, it can only last for a maximum of ten years. After ten years, we will no longer be able to obtain any list of wizards born in Muggle society from the Admission Book."

"Both that terrifying petrification magic and this Book of Admission clearly demonstrate that Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is fiercely resisting Muggle-born wizards. As a member of the school, I cannot go against its will."

He glanced at the hall, now resembling a cemetery, his mechanical voice echoing the deathly silence: "I admit, this is certainly not a good thing for anyone, but it has happened. Albus Dumbledore's folly has yielded bitter consequences that everyone must bear. We will have to pay a heavy price to restore stability to the school and society."

"For example, the gentlemen of the board of trustees have already decided,"

He raised his hand and pointed to several somber-faced wizards beside him: "They will raise funds to build a brand new school for Muggle-born students. The task of finding wizards from Muggle society will have to be temporarily left to the Ministry of Magic. After all, creating another book of admissions is far too difficult."

"The relevant matters will be put on the agenda this Christmas, and it will probably take several years to complete... During this most difficult period, I also hope that all Muggle-born students will strictly abide by the secrecy law and not put more pressure on the already precarious magical society."

"Of course, your names will remain on the student list, and you won't be expelled outright. I know some of you will not obey the school's wishes and will return to Hogwarts after Christmas. To those students, I can only regretfully say..."

"I cannot protect your safety."

Snape stopped speaking again, but this time he was not met with a raging outcry, but with a silence that seemed to freeze the air.

His lips curled up slightly, as if trying to force a smile, but his stiff muscles made his expression look rather strange: "Although Sprout has discovered that newly matured mandrake can effectively cure petrification caused by the castle's will attack, the mandrake in the school will take another six months to mature... In other words, if you really intend to risk coming back, you should be prepared to wait until summer vacation to open your eyes."

"That's better than doing nothing."

Someone seemed to be talking to themselves, but in the deathly silence everyone could hear them clearly: "Since I can't study or cast spells anyway, what's the difference between lying at home and lying in the school hospital?"

"That's right!"

His voice was immediately answered: "I will not allow my rights to be violated by some inexplicable castle will!"

"It can arbitrarily expel Muggle-borns today, and it can arbitrarily expel mixed-race individuals tomorrow!"

"It can chase us away today, but it can capture us and turn us into house-elves tomorrow!"

"So what if I'm petrified? Go ahead and let this castle take my life!"

"If the castle itself really wants to expel Muggles, then I'm not staying at this lousy school anymore! Nobody's safe in this ridiculous environment!"

"right!"

"No! Why should we be the ones leaving? We should work together to eradicate that violent will and restore Hogwarts to its familiar home!"

"What castle will? I think it's just a performance by those pure-blooded lunatics!"

The students' anger surged once more, countless voices sharing the same sentiment. The Gryffindors rallied their courage, determined to fight injustice to the end; the Hufflepuffs discussed where relatively safe places could offer refuge to the persecuted; the Ravenclaws analyzed whether everything was truly as Snape had said; and the few Slytherins secretly pondered how the Board of Governors and the Ministry of Magic were colluding, or how to completely eradicate that violent will of the castle…

Snape remained motionless on the headmaster's bench. Hidden beneath his black hair, a subtle, almost imperceptible smile played at the corners of his lips.

(End of this chapter)