Hogwarts: This professor is too Muggle

The sudden visit before leaving Ilvermorny was mainly led by Principal Fontana. After all, the Graves family was one of his old friends.

After a brief greeting and a few minutes of chatting and reminiscing, the group moved to the restaurant and talked about business while enjoying dinner.

"Mr. Levent."

Seraphina sat at the head of the long table and spoke slowly, "I've heard of your name a long time ago. You were recognized by four statues upon admission. You have excellent grades and are very capable. We all thought you might be like me, joining the Magic Congress after graduation, or even becoming the next president. I never thought..."

“Life is like magic. Even the same spells and actions can produce completely different results.”

Melvin slowly cut the steak on his plate. "My ambition isn't to be in Congress. Compared to power and politics, the mystery of magic is more attractive."

Seraphina observed him carefully, her movements slow and reserved for an elderly person. After a long pause, she nodded thoughtfully, "Truly admirable..."

She withdrew her gaze and looked at the headmaster beside her. "We started investigating the Scourers and New Salem decades ago. The Barebone family name can be traced back to a Scourer wizard in the 17th century. He disguised himself, married several No-Maj families, and had more than a dozen children..."

Graves was one of Barebone's victims. The family's overall decline, Seraphina's short tenure, and her replacement at the prime of her life were all due to the influence of Mary Barebone of the New Salem Charity Society.

When he was in office, he used the resources of the Magic Congress to investigate, and he did not relax after retiring. He used the power of his family to track down the case, and he has achieved some results over the years.

It was not known whether it was fate or a curse he received for murdering a wizard in his early years, but the bloodline of the Scourer Barebone was entirely composed of No-Maj's and Squibs.

Those second-generation Barebones saw the fantastic and magnificent magical world but were unable to touch it. The strong gap led to psychological distortion, and coupled with Barebone's deliberate guidance, they hated wizards and the Magic Congress.

No matter how much they hated it, the Magical Congress was just established during that period and they were purging dark wizards with a very tough attitude and methods, so these people had no choice but to lie dormant.

After the death of the first wizard Barebone, the Statute of Secrecy was gradually improved. The third and fourth generations of Barebones had never seen magic, and only a few inherited the twisted and extreme hatred of the second generation.

If all goes well, the descendants of the Barebone family will gradually forget magic, viewing it as a fantasy story left by their ancestors. However, at this time, Bartholomew Barebone met the witches Twelve Trees and obtained all the information about the wizarding world at that time, resulting in the largest leak in the Magical Congress.

The Magic Congress sent staff to cleanse the place with the Forgetfulness Spell. When erasing Bartholomew's memory, they encountered fierce resistance and even attempted to kill the memory cancellation staff. In the end, they were imprisoned for shooting in public.

Mary is Bartholomew's descendant and one of the omissions in the memory. She believes that Bartholomew's tragic death after imprisonment was murdered by a wizard, so she established the New Salem Charitable Association, which led to the subsequent events.

"Barebone, who stole the dragon egg, could be a descendant of Mary's hidden family, or a child she adopted. He's a No-Maj. Currently, all we know is that he's hiding in Mexico, adopting a group of children with magical powers. He also used the records left by his ancestors to trick an Ilvermorny graduate into teaching the children magic, while he secretly brainwashed and controlled them..."

Seraphina shook her head and sighed. "The No-Maj's methods of warfare, the twisted ideas instilled in them since childhood, are more powerful than the Imperius Curse."

No wonder it can make wizards guard unbreakable oaths at the cost of their lives. This level of mind control is even more powerful than Voldemort and Grindelwald.

Melvin's emotions were also complicated. He said softly, "To make wizards face Muggles and understand modern science, this is the meaning of Muggle Studies."

Principal Fontana lamented, "Ilvermorny lacks a Book of Admission and a Pen of Acceptance, making it impossible to accurately admit every wizarding child on this continent. This is why Barebone took advantage of this loophole."

There was a moment of silence at the table.

Pickley and Butt listened to their elders and big men talking about this topic, but they couldn't get a word in. They could only eat in silence, for fear of disturbing the conversation, and tried their best to avoid making any noise with the cutlery.

"Has MACUSA found out their location?" Melvin asked.

Seraphina shook her head. "In Mexico, the No-Maj community is even more chaotic than the wizarding world. Dark wizards can hide their wands and hide in residential areas, and even if all the Aurors were sent out, they wouldn't be able to track them down."

Melvin frowned. "So, we can only wait for them to show up later and then find a way to track them down?"

"They must regularly purchase magical materials. As long as we set up defenses at the wizard market near Mexico, we'll be able to pinpoint their location sooner or later." Seraphina's tone revealed a hint of ruthlessness. "As long as we can pinpoint their location..."

Pickley and Nancy, who were sitting at the end of the table, shivered, lowered their heads into their plates, and looked at each other.

Is this news we can hear?

The long table fell silent again. The truth had been investigated, but the arrest was at a standstill. Melvin had no good solution, and as a key target of surveillance by the Magic Congress, it was not easy for him to interfere in such matters.

I can only wish a certain deputy director good luck in his promotion.

The matter of Barrybon came to an end for the time being. The aperitifs and appetizers of the dinner came to an end, and the main course was next.

"Let's not talk about these scumbag things anymore."

Seraphina put away her fierceness, looked at the young professor, and said with a gentle smile, "Mr. Levent, I heard that you founded the Magic Mirror Club, and it's doing very well in Britain and Romania. Are you interested in expanding here?"

Melvin smiled immediately: "The Magic Mirror Club welcomes new partners."

The wider the coverage of the shadow mirror, the greater the benefits and the more far-reaching the influence.

Graves is a native American wizard family. Although it has weakened somewhat in recent decades, its foundation is still there and its financial resources are abundant. The man in front of him is the former Speaker of Congress. He has extensive connections and is well-informed. He is simply an excellent partner.

Of course, there are drawbacks. Compared with the loose alliance of tavern owners in Britain, it is difficult for the Graves family to negotiate terms.

Melvin took a sip of red wine, pondered, and then laid out the conditions for the Magic Mirror Club: "...If necessary, all Mirrors must cooperate with the club to promote and screen specific content... Anyone can produce a program, but the final review of the Mirror content must be my sole responsibility."

Seraphina frowned and looked at the young professor. According to the information she had collected so far, the benefits of Shadow Mirror were indeed lucrative. As the owner of the club, Mr. Levent was indeed qualified to make the conditions, but the Graves family, or rather, she, Picquery, was more accustomed to having complete control.

The club's conditions are a bit too strict.

After careful consideration, the old witch had come to a conclusion. Compared to short-term profits, dominant control was more important. "Mr. Lewinter, I hope you can reconsider. Graves is involved in tavern operations in 34 states. We can quickly promote Shadow Mirror to wizard settlements across the country. If the club's conditions are more relaxed, we are willing to cede a portion of the profits."

Melvin barely paused for a few seconds before smiling and shaking his head. "The club is a whole. The conditions are the same in Britain and Romania. If we back down in the face of Graves, we'd be betraying our former partners."

He actually doesn't care about wealth gains or anything like that.

No matter how you look at it, you'll make money, and content is the path to the ultimate secret of magic.

Seraphina lowered her eyes in displeasure, her old voice a little hoarse: "The help Graves brings to the club must be far greater than that of other wizards. Perhaps you can go back and reconsider this."

This is what a breakdown in negotiations means.

"I will." Melvin nodded slightly, but didn't say anything that didn't require consideration.

The candlelight flickered on the dining table, and Principal Fontana tasted the veal with a smile on his face.

Chapter 116: Return! Back to school season!

In the early morning of mid-August, the lights of Ilvermorny Castle gradually came on, and the Pukchi servants began to clean the castle, trim the lawns and branches, occasionally communicating in the Pukchi language, but more often they were silent.

Mount Greylock slowly regained consciousness.

Melvin worked in the garden for half an hour, using the Splitting Spell to trim the lush branches of the snake tree. Unlike the Pukchis who pruned them with measured precision, he broke off the branches one by one. He held the removed branches in his hand and examined them for a moment, confirming that only some of the leaves had slightly yellowed edges. These branches had the most magic and vitality and the best effect.

The pruned branches were stuffed into a linen bag, compacted firmly until it was bulging, and then tied tightly with a simple rope made from torn bark, and then pressed into a suitcase that was completely mismatched in appearance.

Principal Fontana looked at his busy figure, then at the pitted branches of the snake tree, which looked like they had been gnawed by a dog, and was silent for a moment: "Or why don't you just dig up the snake tree?"

Ignoring the principal's dark complexion, Melvin chuckled softly, "Don't feel bad, Principal. These are just some outer branches. Even if I don't prune them now, they will fall off in the winter. Consider this a parting gift for me."

"..."

Who sent the gift?

Ilvermorny or the Horned Serpent?

Principal Fontana fell silent for a moment, not caring about these few...hundreds of branches. He looked away with a distressed look on his face. "Is the information about the Goblet of Fire Tournament reliable?"

"It won't go wrong." Melvin was very confident. "If Ilvermorny wants to get involved, it can't just start from the school side. It also needs to work with the Magical Congress to communicate with the Ministry of Magic's Department of International Affairs, where the other three schools are located.

"I don't know much about the French Ministry of Magic. The head of the British Department of International Affairs is Barty Crouch, and he's quite responsible in his job. As for Durmstrang, the Romanian Ministry of Magic should have some influence. Mentioning my name would be very helpful..."

As Principal Fontana listened to the students' suggestions and arrangements, he gradually felt less distressed and even felt that these snake tree branches were quite worthwhile.

"I'll keep an eye on it." Principal Fontana paused and turned to talk about the dinner two days ago. "Your business with the Graves family..."

"Let's just not reach an agreement. Even without the Graves family's help, the situation in Budapest will gradually spread over." Melvin has his own plans. Compared to the gold coin income, content control is more important.

Principal Fontana nodded and smiled kindly: "Then I wish you a pleasant journey."

"See you in the Goblet of Fire!"

……

First rushing from Mount Greylock to New York, then from the Woolworth Building to the British Ministry of Magic, Apparition and Portkeys were two completely different experiences, but neither was very comfortable.

Two hours later, we arrived at Charing Cross Road.

Pushing open the brick wall behind the patio of the Leaky Cauldron, Melvin felt a little strange. He had traveled thousands of miles from Hogwarts to Budapest, then from Romania to Ilvermorny, and finally returned here. Two months had passed and the summer vacation was coming to an end.

After becoming a wizard, my perception of time and space has changed unconsciously. Occasionally, when I recall those distant memories, I always feel a sense of unreality.

Diagon Alley is more lively than before. As the school term approaches, Flourish and Blotts Bookshop and Madam Malkin's Robe Shop are always crowded with students and parents. The scene in the nearby Knockturn Alley is completely different.

Walking through the narrow alley covered with mud and moss, Melvin knocked on the door of Borgin and Burke's shop.

The brass doorbell rang crisply, in stark contrast to Borgin's still slick tone: "Welcome, how can I help you... Professor Lewynter! It's a pleasure to see you again!"

The mechanical and lifeless glib tone quickly turned into a light and cheerful one. The hunched-over Bogin pushed up his glasses, and the mirror reflected a glossy luster similar to that of his hair.

Melvin also had a smile on his face. "I'm not buying or selling anything today, Mr. Borgin."

"So who are you looking for?"

"I want you to introduce me to someone."

……

"Diagonal cough cough... Knockturn Alley."

Harry climbed out of the fireplace dizzy, his skin a little black and blue, his body covered in soot. He straightened his broken glasses and barely saw his surroundings clearly -

A dark and eerie wizard shop.

The shelves were filled with all sorts of strange and twisted objects: bloodstained playing cards, glass eyeballs, and daggers made of spliced ​​human bones. From the ceiling hung hideous masks and rusty yet sharp spikes.

Harry was certain that nothing here would be on a Hogwarts shopping list, and the narrow, dank alleyway outside the glass window was certainly not Diagon Alley.

Just as he tiptoed towards the door and was about to slip out, two figures appeared in front of the door. One of them was the annoying Draco Malfoy, and the other was a middle-aged wizard with an unfamiliar face who looked like Malfoy's father.

Harry was trapped inside, his mind racing, and he hurriedly hid in a black wooden cabinet. He closed the door from the inside, leaving only a tiny gap to peek through.

"If your hands still want it, don't touch anything, Draco." The middle-aged wizard looked at the shelves lazily, pressed the doorbell, and a slight sound came from the inner room.

"I thought you were going to buy me a gift." Draco withdrew his hand in disappointment. He was about to touch the dark magic items on the shelf.

"..."

The conversation between the two confirmed Harry's guess. He focused his attention and eavesdropped on their conversation more carefully.

At this moment, a hunched man appeared behind the counter. His voice was as greasy as his hair. He looked very surprised. "Mr. Malfoy, and Master Malfoy, are you really here?"

Mr. Malfoy frowned slightly and pulled out a roll of parchment from the inside of his clothes. It looked like some kind of list. "I'm not buying anything today, Mr. Borgin. I'm here to sell something."

“Very welcome.”

Mr. Borgin took the list respectfully, but did not look at it immediately. Instead, he said carefully: "Mr. Malfoy, these business matters can be discussed later. There is a gentleman who wants to talk to you. Look..."

Mr. Malfoy had a blank expression on his face and a somewhat cold look in his eyes.

Draco was confused and asked unawares, "Sir? Which sir?"

Mr. Borgin's smile was a little forced. He turned slightly to the back and pointed to the inner room, indicating that Lucius should go and see for himself.