Homecoming from Hogwarts

A breeze blew, and the oil lamp hanging under a wooden beam swayed slightly. The flickering light and shadow were reflected on the faces of Dumbledore and Amosta, who were sitting on either side of the wooden table in Hagrid's hut, making the two faces that embodied tolerance and majesty look a little more fierce.

"So to say--"

Dumbledore's silver beard swayed slightly. He looked at Amosta and said calmly, "Are you going to refuse?"

"I have no reason to accept the Ministry of Magic blatantly planting spies in Hogwarts, right?"

Amosta spoke his mind.

“Rather than letting people in and causing us trouble, it’s better to just turn them away.”

"But you know that Cornelius has made up his mind to interfere in the affairs of Hogwarts. Whether it is you or me, our refusal will not be able to stop him."

Dumbledore went on to say that although he was pouring cold water on the situation, Amos could tell that he actually also disliked the Ministry of Magic interfering in the affairs of Hogwarts.

Amosta knew that this did not mean that Dumbledore had any sectarian prejudice and did not want the Ministry of Magic to interfere with his authority as the headmaster. If Dumbledore really thought so, then he would not be Dumbledore.

More importantly, Dumbledore did not want political struggles to interfere with the normal teaching activities at Hogwarts.

Anyone can understand that Fudge recommended Umbridge to come to Hogwarts as the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts not because she really wanted to teach.

Du, du, du—
Amosta tapped the table rhythmically with his fingers, lost in thought. It was easy to reject the Ministry of Magic's request, but the political confrontation behind this matter could not be brought to the surface.

"According to the charter, the Ministry of Magic has no right to interfere in the teaching affairs of Hogwarts, and the right to appoint professors belongs to the headmaster, unless..."

"Unless the Ministry of Magic issues relevant laws and writes this authority into the law."

Dumbledore had obviously thought about these questions a long time ago. His eyes were slightly cold.

"But we all know, Amos Tower, that this is not a problem. If I tell Cornelius that his Senior Deputy Minister is not suitable for the position of professor, then Cornelius will push for the introduction of corresponding laws. He can do all this. This is his right as the Minister of Magic. We compete with him in this regard, and once he really does this, we will undoubtedly be passive."

Amosta nodded slightly. Dumbledore's view was correct. Moreover, he also believed that Fudge had been prepared before sending the letter to the Ministry of Magic. If he was rejected by Hogwarts, he would use the Legislative Council to promote new laws.

Fudge holds greater political power, and the Daily Prophet is in the hands of the Ministry of Magic. If Amosta wants to prevent the introduction of a new law, he can only threaten the wizards in the Legislative Council.

Threats are not a bad idea, but this despicable method will ultimately undermine Amosta's own dignity.

Silence fell, and Hagrid stopped sobbing sadly, afraid to disturb Professor Dumbledore and Professor Braine from discussing this serious issue.

"Perhaps it's time—"

Amosta broke the silence. He met Dumbledore's curious gaze, a faint light flickering in his lavender eyes.

"you mean?"

"Remember the conversation we had before the start of last term, Headmaster Dumbledore, about how to maintain the autonomy of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry—"

Amosta smiled strangely. "Since the trip to New York, the biggest obstacle to achieving this goal has been solved. I think, maybe we can take advantage of this opportunity--"

Jumping from the current urgent issue of the Ministry of Magic's interference in Hogwarts' personnel appointments to how to ensure Hogwarts' autonomy, even with Dumbledore's sharp mind was stunned for a few seconds. But even after coming to his senses, Dumbledore still couldn't figure out what the meaningful smile on Amostas's lips across the table meant. But it didn't prevent him from understanding that Amostas might escalate the situation.

"What are you going to do, Amosta?"

Dumbledore asked cautiously.

"I must remind you that the enemy we and the Ministry of Magic need to face together is Tom. Under the current circumstances, it is unwise to intensify the internal struggle."

"Oh, I'm afraid Voldemort will be on our side this time--"

Amosta smiled, but what he said made Dumbledore frown and become alert.
"What do you want to do, Amosta?"

Amosta did not answer his question, but picked up the letter and looked at it again.
"The official letter does not stipulate a time for you to respond, Headmaster Dumbledore. I hope you will not give your response to the Ministry of Magic for the time being. Before that, I have to go see Lucius Malfoy."

Lucius Malfoy has pledged his loyalty to Amosstar, and his letter of allegiance is still in Amosstar's hands.

"Then?"

Dumbledore glanced towards the castle casually and spoke a little faster.

"Then you can tell the Ministry of Magic, tell Cornelius Fudge that the Ministry of Magic has no right to interfere with the personnel appointment power that belongs only to the headmaster. And you must tell Fudge that only the Board of Directors has the right to give orders to the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

Hagrid, who was sitting beside the bed, clutched his dirty handkerchief and listened in a daze, while Dumbledore's blue eyes suddenly became bright after a brief period of turbidity.
"You are planning to do this. Amosta, this can indeed achieve your goal, but it seems——"

"I'll let Lucius Malfoy set a trap for Fudge." Amosstar smiled mysteriously. He also glanced out the window in the direction of the castle. Then, he stood up and stretched. His expression became cheerful. He looked at Hagrid, who was blinking his clear yet blurry eyes.

"Well, goodbye, Hagrid. I've had a tiring journey, and I'd better get a good night's sleep before starting my new job. The same goes for you, of course."

"Oh!"

The topic ended abruptly. Hagrid stood up in confusion.
"Are you planning on going back? Professor Brain. Um, well, do you want some more tea?"

"Thanks for your kindness, Hagrid, but drinking too much tea before bed is not a wise choice."

Amosta walked out the door carrying the suitcase.

"Amosta is right, you really need a good rest for a few days, Hagrid--"

Dumbledore also stood up and said gently,
"I can allow you to start your course next Monday so that you don't have to deal with the potentially embarrassing concerns of curious students."

Dumbledore looked at the bruises on Hagrid's eyes and smiled playfully.

"Besides, you will also need a few days to help your brother adapt to the new environment."

"Oh, thank you so much, Professor Dumbledore!"

' said Hagrid in a muffled voice.

The two of them walked side by side across the lawn that was dimly lit by the moonlight. The sound of the light breeze carried them towards the castle. The two of them walked straight up the marble steps without looking around.

"what--"

Suddenly, a short cry filled with pain tore through the harmony of the night, and Dumbledore and Amosta stopped immediately.

Dumbledore's eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and he squinted his eyes and looked around the vast venue. After he seemed to find nothing, he looked at Amos Tower, who had a blank expression on his face.
"What do you think that noise was, Amosta?"

"Maybe an owl—"

Amosta shrugged.

"You know, Headmaster Dumbledore, owls are nocturnal animals. They like to move around at night."

"A very wise inference—"

Dumbledore's silvery breath floated, his expression solemn.
"I hope this owl can return to the owl shed to rest as soon as possible. After all, they still need to deliver mail for us during the day."

After saying that, the two of them took another step, stepped onto the stairs, and disappeared into the hallway.

The whimpering sound of mosquitoes and flies is hidden in the whistling sound of the wind, and all things sleep with the sound of the wind.

Whoops!

Half a minute later, on the lush lawn a few dozen feet away from where Amos and Dumbledore had just stood, Hermione suddenly lifted her invisibility cloak and jumped off Ron's back, while Ron also left Harry's back.

"call--"

Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Ron panted and said,
"Luckily they mistook us for owls!"

"Your IQ is probably only comparable to that of an owl!"

Hermione said angrily.

Professor Dumbledore and Professor Braine failed to hear the obvious hints that they had tacitly allowed the three of them to visit Hagrid, but hoped that they could return to their four-poster beds as soon as possible.

Ron said this to the confused Hermione, and she quickly looked at Harry, who was lying on the ground with a pale face and lifeless green eyes.

Harry's appearance made Hermione dazed for a moment, but she quickly came to her senses and asked worriedly,

"Your scar is hurting again, isn't it, Harry?"

(End of this chapter)