The Return to Hogwarts

"Stop Lockhart's medication, Dumbledore."

Amos Tower tossed the glass bottle that sealed the basilisk to Dumbledore, ignoring the bitterness on the old man's face, and turned to walk toward the castle.

"Wait, Amosta—"

Dumbledore wasn't an omniscient saint; he didn't know what kind of person Amosta's choice would turn him into in the future. However, he knew that if he forcibly interfered now, he would only push this young man with immense potential into the abyss.

"This is what you deserve, Amosta."

Dumbledore handed the money pouch over again, suppressing all his unease and worry, and smiled gently.

"To be honest, Amosta, although the school board offered me a decent salary, the expenses of a wizard like me are equally staggering, so I can't offer any more Galleons to express my gratitude!"

"What kind of person do you think I am, Dumbledore? Someone who only cares about money?"

Amosta glanced at the money pouch but didn't reach for it. "You're not young anymore. Keep this money for your retirement."

"Let's just say that..."

Dumbledore persisted, "for the sake of the children in the orphanage."

Amosta's breathing quickened, and a few black lines appeared on his forehead. It seemed that this old guy had investigated him thoroughly. If he continued to stay at Hogwarts, Amosta suspected that Dumbledore would one day know the exact color of his underwear!

“We’re even now, Headmaster Dumbledore.”

Amosta took the money pouch, reached into his pocket again, pulled something out and tossed it to Dumbledore, then turned and strode away.

Gazing at the shattered, charred crown in his palm, Dumbledore, standing by the lake against the wind, opened his mouth in silent shock.

P.S.: Wishing everyone a prosperous Year of the Rabbit! May your life, work, and studies all go smoothly in the new year!

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Chapter 93 The End

Amosta was awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door. He rubbed his sore eyes, opened his head and looked out the window. He found that the dazzling sun was already high in the sky, the office floor was bathed in golden sunlight, and dust floated in the air, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

He straightened himself up a bit, muttered something to himself, and walked toward the door.

“Professor Blaine, everything is clear now. It was Lucius Malfoy. Dobby is free. Lucius put the diary in Ginny’s bag. Headmaster Dumbledore has been reinstated as Headmaster by the Board of Trustees. Lucius has been expelled from the Board of Trustees!”

Looking at Harry outside the door, who was excitedly rambling on and on, Amosta rubbed his messy hair, yawning, and couldn't help but marvel at the boundless energy of these young wizards.

"That's wonderful news, Potter. Has Hagrid returned?"

Amosta blinked his sleepy eyes and said nonchalantly.

Harry, who had just received a "political education" on love and courage in Dumbledore's office early in the morning and was so eager to fight the Basilisk again that he suddenly froze, because he noticed that Professor Blaine's tone didn't seem particularly happy.

"The Ministry of Magic has released Hagrid, Professor Blaine. They are watching the basilisk in the courtyard. Headmaster Dumbledore sent me to tell you that the Minister for Magic wishes to speak with you in person."

Harry said hesitantly.

Amosta let out a helpless groan, closed his eyes, and rubbed his temples.

"I understand. Go report back now, Potter. I need to tidy myself up first. I don't look quite right for meeting such an important person as the minister."

As Harry left, his eyes still held a puzzled look. Why did Professor Blaine seem so unenthusiastic, even though he had ended the last shadow that had hung over the young wizards all year?

It was around lunchtime, but the school's main hall was empty. No one paid any attention to the delicious food on the tables. Almost everyone in the school was crowded in the courtyard, and even the trees and the tops of the corridors were covered with little wizards watching the spectacle.

When Amosta appeared at the door, the sudden burst of applause and cheers almost lifted the entire castle off its feet. People looked at Amosta with awe, their expressions a little bewildered, as if they were watching a rising star!

Guru

With the help of the saliva secreted in his mouth, Amosta swallowed the bread he had casually stuffed into his mouth from the long table in the auditorium, his eyebrows raised high.

"Come here quickly, Amosta!"

Professor McGonagall, standing in the center of the crowd, stood on tiptoe, waving her arms and calling out loudly to Amosta, who was standing on the steps. Her eyes were filled with tears, and she blew her nose hard with emotion.

The crowd automatically parted in two. Amosta saw Dumbledore and the school professors standing in front of a cage containing the basilisk that Dumbledore had personally subdued. As Amosta walked through the crowd, the Weasley twins loudly thanked him.

"You saved Ginny and Ron, Professor, we are extremely grateful to you!"

To be honest, Fred and George had never spoken to anyone so seriously before.

Amosta smiled and nodded at the twins. He strode through the crowd toward Dumbledore, who was smiling broadly and had his hands folded over his stomach.

"What have you told everyone?"

"I'm just stating the truth, Amosta."

Dumbledore responded to Amosta's questioning gaze with a similar look.

Cornelius Fudge was still wearing the same oddly coordinated outfit from the night before, but his attitude towards Amosta was completely different. He laughed and strode over to greet Amosta from thirty feet away, and as he got closer, he affectionately put his arm around Amosta's.

"It seems we've welcomed another exceptionally talented young man, haven't we?"

Fudge winked playfully at Amosta, as if they were close friends, when in fact this was only their second meeting, during which they hadn't exchanged a single word.

"All of this is inseparable from the Ministry of Magic's wise decision, Minister. After all, the Board of Governors followed the Ministry's advice and sent me back to Hogwarts to handle the Chamber of Secrets incident—"

"Oh, cough cough, of course, no, I mean, it's all thanks to you in the end, Amosta!"

Fudge's chubby face froze for a moment with a broad smile, but then the light in his eyes was beyond fervent. He patted Amosta's shoulder vigorously, his smile as radiant as a blooming chrysanthemum.

"The Ministry of Magic only played a negligible role!"

"Tsk tsk, dirty politics--"

As the crowd gradually quieted down, George Weasley glared disdainfully at Cornelius Fudge and muttered something under his breath. But Percy, standing in front of him, glared at him fiercely and ordered him to shut up. Then, he looked at Professor Blaine and Minister Fudge with admiration and strained his ears to learn the 'art of politics'!

"No doubt about it, Amosta!"

Fudge seemed to be under a happiness spell, laughing incessantly.

"A 3rd or 2nd Class Order of Merlin is worthy of your merit. You saved the lives of several young wizards, ended a threat that had loomed over Muggle-born children for a thousand years, and even donated this incredibly precious basilisk to the Ministry of Magic. The Ministry will have no objections to this, and the procedures can be simplified. I'll arrange for someone to deliver the badge tomorrow, cough cough."

Fudge lowered his voice slightly, speaking in a volume only Amosta could hear.

"Just mention it casually in the next interview."

Noticing Amostella's unusual expression, Fudge quickly explained,

"Don't worry, young man, I'll make the arrangements beforehand. Oh, I'm so glad I stopped that nasty woman Rita Skeeter; she somehow found out what happened at school!"

Donation?

Amosta glanced at Dumbledore subtly, but gleaned no information from Dumbledore's amused gaze.

“If you’d like, I’ll go talk to Rufus,”

Fudge's arm seemed glued to Amosta's arm; he refused to let go no matter what.

“I think you would be an excellent Auror, Amosta. You could be Rufus’s right-hand man. Oh, and let me tell you a secret: Rufus isn’t young anymore, and he might not last much longer. If you excel as an Auror, perhaps I could…”

Many professors secretly looked at Fudge with disdain after hearing his words, but they didn't say anything due to the occasion.

“I will seriously consider your suggestion, Mr. Minister—”

Amosta spoke politely, glancing at Hagrid, who was huddled on the cage, seemingly trying to squeeze through the gaps in the bars, and asked curiously,

"Why do you look so unhappy about regaining your freedom, Hagrid?"

"You shouldn't have used such force, Professor Blaine!"

Hagrid wiped away his tears, turned around, and glared at him with a mournful expression. "Look at this poor little thing. It looks like it's suffered quite a bit. And,"

Hagrid then looked at Dumbledore and a somewhat apologetic Fudge.

"Can't you really leave this poor little guy in my care? Forgive my bluntness, Minister, but since Mr. Scamander retired, there aren't many knowledgeable people left in the Department of Magical Creatures Control."

Chapter 94 Eve

A grand celebration banquet was in full swing in the auditorium. The four long tables that were originally placed side by side had been arranged into a square. The little elves in the kitchen were doing their best to fill the long tables with all kinds of mouthwatering food.

The professors didn't maintain their status either; they mingled happily with the young wizards, chatting away.

Professor McGonagall pretended not to see that the Weasley brothers had secretly replaced the young wizards' juice with butterbeer. Snape seemed to be comforting the gloomy Draco. When the mood struck, Professors Flitwick and Sprout even performed a waltz amidst the commotion.

"Actually, I noticed something was off about that restroom a while ago—"

Lockhart, who hadn't appeared before anyone for two months, showed up despite Madam Pomfrey's warnings. He was pale and could only stand by leaning against the table, but he still tried his best to match his smile with the dazzling starry sky on the ceiling.

"But I don't think barging into a women's restroom is a gentlemanly act!"

"How dare he say that!"

Hearing Lockhart's self-praising words, Harry turned pale with anger, while Dean beside him made a vomiting face.

Where did Professor Blaine go?

Hermione, somewhat saddened by Professor Lockhart's performance, looked around for that young, slender figure.

“He and Headmaster Dumbledore left midway,” Neville answered the question.

Harry and Hermione exchanged a glance, both looking somewhat dejected. After a brief conversation, they grabbed some food and left the Great Hall to head to the school hospital to find Ron.

On the eighth floor of the castle, Amostella led Dumbledore through a smooth door embedded in the wall, opposite a tapestry depicting a troll beating Barnabas.