Homecoming from Hogwarts

"Please come in--"

The steady voice coming from behind the tightly closed wooden door made the three little wizards, who were feeling guilty, take a deep breath at the same time. Hermione turned her head and gave Harry and Ron a warning look, reminding them not to forget their statements just now, and then her fair hand pressed the door handle.

"Oh, it's you!"

The person who made the surprised sound was not Professor Braine, but Percy who was sitting opposite Professor Braine on the sofa. But then, for some reason, Percy's face turned slightly red.
"Why are you here?"

"We should be asking you this question--"

Ron subconsciously fought back because of the way he had been getting along with his brother for so long. However, when he caught a glimpse of Hermione's narrowed eyes, Ron's face immediately changed, and he pretended to be surprised.

"Oh Percy, ahem, I'm really surprised, shouldn't you be working at the Ministry of Magic, why are you in Hogwarts?"

Even Harry could see that Professor Brain, with an uncertain smile on his face, must have guessed that the three of them ran into his office to find out something.

Percy really didn't want to be interrupted when he was talking to Professor Braine, especially when his brother was among them, but Ron's question did leave him speechless.

"This is none of your business, Ron!"

After grunting for a long time, Percy stammered and spoke in a very stern attitude.

"You should be nicer to your brothers, Percy."

Amosta said gently, he put an end to the gradually tit-for-tat situation between the brothers, looked at the leader, Hermione, who clenched her fist nervously,
"I'm sure you guys came to see me instead of enjoying a nice lunch, there must be something important, right?"

"Oh, that's the thing, Professor Blaine—"

Hermione pursed her lips and nodded.

"It's Harry, there's something we thought you might need to know, but Percy, we can wait outside for a while -"

He looked at Percy, his face hesitant.

"What do you think, Percy?"

Amosta also looked at Percy,
"My lunch seems to be doomed. If what you want to tell me involves confidentiality, then let Harry, Ron and Hermione go to lunch first. You can't start your afternoon study on an empty stomach."

Of course, Percy would prefer a quiet conversation environment, but just as he was about to nod in approval of Professor Braine's suggestion, he suddenly thought of something and stopped. Hesitantly, Percy glanced at Harry and suddenly changed his mind.

"Oh, what I'm going to say is not an important secret, Professor. The three of them can stay here."

"Then please take a seat, three of you--"

Amosta pulled out his wand, pulled out three soft chairs from thin air, and smiled at the three happy little guys. Then, he waved his wand again, and the kettle on the mantelpiece tilted its bulging body and began to brew tea. At the same time, a drawer at the bottom of the bookshelf in the room opened automatically, and a box of snacks flew out.
"It's better not to talk on an empty stomach. Hunger will interfere with our sensitive thoughts. Come on, ladies and gentlemen, you're welcome. Try my favorite snack, which was given to me by a kind fan. It's sugar-free and won't hurt our teeth—"

Hermione was in a trance for a moment, and when she came to her senses, she found that Harry and Ron were watching her secretly, so she glared at them both fiercely, indicating that this snack had nothing to do with her.

Of course, except for Amosstar, neither Percy nor Harry had any intention of enjoying his collection. After eating a biscuit and taking a sip of hot tea, Amosstar let out a comfortable sigh.

"Then, Percy, you put aside your busy work and came to Hogwarts to see me, it must not be just for a simple greeting or to reminisce about our teacher-student relationship, right? What exactly brought you here from afar?"

Amosta asked with a smile.

Harry and the other two couldn't help but smile when they heard Professor Brain's humorous remarks, but then they all pricked up their ears and looked at Percy intently, especially Harry, whose green eyes sparkled.

Whether it was the Triwizard Tournament or anything related to Voldemort, he was very interested, especially anything related to Voldemort -
With the Daily Prophet covering up the truth at the Ministry's behest, and Sirius and Hagrid suddenly acting mysterious, he heard almost nothing about Voldemort.

"Oh, not really busy--"

Percy grunted through gritted teeth.

For some reason, facing Professor Brian's gentle gaze, Percy couldn't remember the excuses he had thought of after staying up all night at home. But since he was already in Professor Brian's office, he had no choice but to go ahead.

"Well, Professor—"

He tried to encourage himself in his heart, but the words he spoke out were so soft that they were barely audible. Percy said with a twinkling look in his eyes,
"The Ministry met--met. Well, I thought you must know, so I volunteered. If you--if you can promise--" "If you don't make things clear, Percy--"

Amosta laughed.
"Then I'm afraid I can't promise you anything."

Percy's embarrassing look made Harry, Ron and Hermione, who had accomplished their 'eavesdropping' attempt, laugh and cry. Especially Ron. In the past, when Percy was at home, his parents regarded him as a role model, and he always looked arrogant when talking to him or other brothers and sisters.

No matter what Percy wanted to say, Ron felt secretly happy just by looking so timid.

"All right--"

Percy himself knew that he looked very ridiculous, so with the idea of ​​risking his life, he finally told his purpose.

"It's about Madam Umbridge, Professor Braine -"

Percy's nails dug into his flesh from his clenched fists.

"The Ministry - the Minister, hopes that Ms. Dolores Umbridge will be able to serve at Hogwarts. I learned about this by accident, so, because you persuaded Professor Dumbledore to refuse the Ministry's order, I mean, the Minister's friendly suggestion."

Ministry of Magic - The Minister of Magic is going to allow Dolores Umbridge to serve at Hogwarts?!
Wow!

Hermione stood up with a bang and cast an angry look at Percy. It was almost an instinctive action, but after a few seconds, she finally understood why she felt so angry and surprised.

Hermione's sudden nervousness startled Ron, who was standing beside her. He looked at Hermione in astonishment, wondering why she had suddenly gone crazy.
Harry was also surprised by Hermione's behavior, but then he realized that Hermione must have seen through why Fudge let that disgusting fat witch into Hogwarts. However, on this occasion, he couldn't ask, and could only stare at Professor Braine in a daze--
"Sit down, Hermione—"

Professor Brain said calmly.

Hermione's expression was still full of anger, but facing Professor Brain's unclear gaze, Hermione bit her lip, took a deep breath, and slowly sat down.

“You just said.”

Amosta didn't seem to be very angry, but he was slightly disappointed with the son of the Weasley family.
Having ambition and the desire to climb up are actually advantages. However, being blinded by the desire for power and even being unable to maintain a clear mind and even giving up one's position is a very foolish act.

"You learned about this by accident and volunteered?"

Amosta's expression showed no joy or anger, but his eyes were a little deeper.

"Oh--"

Percy lowered his head in shame, he knew that this clumsy lie would not be able to fool Professor Brian, he just wanted to try his luck.

"Actually - well, the fact is, you know I was punished by the Ministry for Mr. Crouch's death, and I couldn't stand going to the Centaur office, so - so I begged Dad to help me go to the Minister to ask for justice."

Percy recounted the entire incident in a choked voice.

"What do you think of yourself, Percy?"

After Percy explained the details of how he came to Hogwarts, the office fell into silence.

Hermione looked even angrier, while Harry and Ron still didn't understand the crux of the matter. In their opinion, the matter was that Fudge wanted to find a professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts, but Professor Dumbledore and Professor Braine were not satisfied with the candidate, so they refused. But from the expressions of Hermione, Percy and Professor Braine, this matter didn't seem as simple as they had imagined. It seemed.

"Myself"

Percy looked at Professor Braine blankly, but the moment his eyes met that penetrating gaze, his mental defenses were destroyed.

"I think this is actually a good idea--"

Percy whispered, panting rapidly. After a moment, he mustered up his courage and looked up at Harry.
"I know there have been some misunderstandings between the Ministry and Hogwarts—"

(End of this chapter)