From Azkaban to Hogwarts.

Minister for Magic Fudge announced today that Dumbledore and several Aurors ambushed and killed the Dark Lord in an unnamed valley. All checks at the scene have been completed, and no trace of resurrection has been found. It can be confirmed that…

despair…

The intelligence suddenly became so blurry that it was impossible to see clearly.

"It's fake! It's fake..."

She felt a little short of breath and it took her a while to catch her breath after lying on the table.

What do I need to do? How do I do it?

After a long period of mental confusion, she finally mustered a little strength and forced herself to stand up—only then did she realize that her left arm was in severe pain. Just now, without realizing it, she had left bloody marks on her left hand with her right fingernails.

She hastily waved her wand, quickly treated her injury, put the damned intelligence report back into her bag, and hurriedly left.

-

boom!boom!boom!boom!

One after another, the sound of Apparitions echoed, and Death Eaters appeared in the house that Bella had just turned into an empty house.

"Bella?"

How dare you?

When the Death Eaters discovered who had summoned them, they, who were already somewhat panicked, seemed to be venting their inner pressure and turned their anger towards Bella, the summoner.

When Bella's eyes, filled with madness and destruction, swept over them, everyone fell silent.

"Do you have any new news, Bella?"

In the end, it was Bella's husband who mustered up the courage to ask his wife.

Some of them worked at the Magic Congress, some at Iphamoni, and others were secretly purging those who tried to resist. Although they had different sources, they had all learned of that terrible information from various channels.

“I’m going to lead everyone on a big heist,” Bella said, her eyes filled with madness as she looked around at the Death Eaters present. “I’m going to kill someone.”

"Now? You're insane, the Dark Lord—"

A Death Eater tried to protest, but a flash of green light abruptly ended all his subsequent words.

“I’m going to kill someone. After I’m done, I’ll give you all one of Iphamoni’s secret vaults. Then, like the Purifiers, let’s all go into hiding…”

Her tone was icy, but her eyes held a self-destructive madness.

"But what about those purgers?"

"Let them stay and buy us time; they weren't originally one of us."

“Well, Miss Bertha.”

“If she’s not here, the Purifiers will wonder, since she has gained the Dark Lord’s favor, she should be loyal to him.”

...

There was no doubt about it anymore. Although no one had mentioned it, everyone was now certain that the Dark Lord had died as a result of the Ministry of Magic and Dumbledore's schemes.

"So... what we need to deal with is..."

Although everyone had some guesses, the question was still asked.

"Harry Potter—Hogwarts is almost on holiday..."

Side Story 1: The Demise of the Purgers (Part 2)

The Magical Congress, the Auror's office, was as heavily guarded as ever.

However, aside from the seriousness, many people today had an unconscious tension on their faces.

We were naturally aware of the news released by the British Ministry of Magic—and we panicked.

Some people knew the script, but only later—in order to escape the Dark Lord's perception, apart from a few people who were good at using Occlumency, the others were unaware.

According to the original script, the plan was to first stabilize the Dark Lord, and then have the escapees recruit outside help. Once the Dark Lord, who had been hiding all along, was truly exposed and there was convincing evidence, a powerful force to subdue him would be formed.

When that time comes and the great war officially breaks out, they can gradually become traitors, even opening up the defenses and backstabbing the Black King's men.

Honestly, they've even figured out the patrol routes and homes of some of the Dark Lord's most trusted subordinates, and they're just waiting for the various magical worlds to hear the news and organize their armies to launch a campaign against him.

Of course—there are two plans. If the Dark Lord remains hidden, or even if he is exposed but doesn't provoke much resistance, then this is the only way things will go…

But what kind of situation is this now!

First, the Dark Lord was unearthed before they were even prepared, and then news of his death came from England—it was all so easy…

But that's the problem. The Dark Lord is willing to risk his own life, but they have no such intention!

...

"So, that's how it is now. What should we do...? Is there any news from the old principal?"

"Not yet, things happened so suddenly. According to the agreement, it was the principal who came to see me..."

Gilbert sighed—who could have predicted things would turn out this way? He still couldn't understand why Dumbledore had managed to outmaneuver and kill that Dark Lord so easily.

“We can’t just wait like this… After the Dark Lord died, not only did the British Ministry of Magic declare war, but Durmstrang also got involved—that bastard Karkaroff actually publicly declared that he would contribute funds to support the war against the Death Eaters!”

"Mr. Karkaroff?"

Gilbert was unaware of this news—if he remembered correctly, Karkaroff wasn't known for being so generous.

"Yes, isn't it him? When the Black Demon was still around, we couldn't hear a sound, but as soon as we heard the Black Demon was dead, he jumped out!"

The office director scoffed, "He's certainly trying to make a name for himself, but now that there are suckers willing to pay, who knows how many others are trying to boost their reputations? I don't intend to support those purgers, but I'm afraid those guys might try to use us to ruin their own reputations..."

With too many wolves and too little meat, some people might use their seniority as a selling point, and then boast about how they killed a Death Eater...

“It’s not just this problem… Professor Gilbert,” the Auror’s office director lowered his voice, “Although we let the government-in-exile off the hook back then, I don’t intend to rely on their kindness for the reckoning afterwards… Don’t forget how the old headmaster went down back then, when the Dark Lord didn’t have the Magical Congress under his control.”

"So, you mean..."

Gilbert moved closer and sat down, his tone becoming slightly lower.

“A coup… We’ve elected the old headmaster as the president of the Magic Congress to prevent the exiled government from returning.”

Before foreign forces take action, clean up your own house first—especially since the old principal is highly respected, has many international connections, can command respect, and can protect these people.

"The former headmaster won't accept this position..."

Just as Gilbert was about to retort, he was stopped by the Auror's office director, "Don't we have someone more suitable?"

"But…"

"There's no 'but' about it, my professor... You must contact the former principal immediately. We need to act quickly... I'm waiting for your news. Please hurry, or it will be too late."

"it is good."

-

“You’ve finally arrived, Professor Gilbert.”

When Gilbert returned to the Auror's office, the situation was far more complicated than before—more magical nations had begun to voice their support for the British Ministry of Magic, and some Ministers of Magic had even made a formal visit to Britain to prepare for negotiations.

"The former headmaster asked me to bring his requirements..."

Gilbert's expression was somewhat strange. "He demands that you drag these families into the ranks of the Death Eaters or the Purifiers, or do so in their name—"

As he spoke, he handed over a list pieced together from text cut out of a newspaper.

...

You're kidding!

"This is the former principal's intention..."

“…Okay, I’ll make the arrangements.”

"Also, add some people to the list of insurgents, but of course, they won't come..."

Gilbert felt his face burning, but he still showed the other list.

"Fuck!"

After uttering a very classic swear word, the Auror's Chief of Staff nodded. "It seems the old principal spoke with that Minister Fudge..."

"In addition, the old headmaster requested that several people whose crimes were not serious be given lenient sentences and that a special prison be set up to hold them, especially Ms. Bertha—they should absolutely not be sentenced to death after a public trial."

“That’s feasible. Ms. Bertha’s distribution of relief food didn’t cause much public backlash… but is it meaningful?”

“Yes…though I don’t quite agree,” Egilbert gave a wry smile, “the headmaster said we’ve suffered a terrible loss of talent, and our northern neighbors are watching us from there…”

Britain is far away, but Canada is just a stone's throw away—they've never had enough resources to build a magic school, but here in Evamony, everything is readily available.

We must leave behind someone of sufficient stature who has no history of murder, so that we can convince those who were spared that they will not be severely punished. After careful consideration, Bertha is the best candidate.

Moreover—Egilbert glanced at the Auror office director in front of him and remembered what his own principal had said.

'He's still nervous. When we offered to protect Ms. Bertha, he wouldn't worry that we, in conjunction with international forces, would abandon him as well—we can't afford any more turmoil.'

"So—it's settled?"

"It's settled, let's get ready to do it..."

Side Story 1: The Demise of the Purifiers (Part 3)

"Over here, Harry!"

At King's Cross Station, Sirius waved from afar, and Lupin stood beside him, smiling as he held his suitcase—the two of them had been waiting there for a while.

Harry blushed slightly and quickly ran over.

Fortunately, he didn't hear the teasing remarks, but was greeted with a warm hug from Sirius.

"Come on, go home!"

Sirius took Harry's suitcase and then led them toward the station exit.

"Over here, over here!"

Once outside the station, Sirius pointed to a Ford car, opened the trunk, and stuffed their luggage inside—clearly, the car had been enchanted with a seamless expansion spell.

Harry sat in the back out of curiosity, only to realize that the driver was someone he recognized—Gold Coin.

"Hi, long time no see, Gold Coin."