Hogwarts: I graduated before the system came

Lupin could sense the scrutiny and distrust hidden in that gaze, even a hint of disgust that was difficult to conceal.

He was already used to this kind of look.

He simply looked back calmly and nodded slightly: "Yes, I am Remus Lupin."

The corners of Piero's mouth seemed to turn downwards, but the movement was so fast that it seemed like an illusion.

"Very good," he said businesslike. "Then please follow me and don't keep the Minister waiting."

He turned and led the way, his thin back looking a little rigid under the magic light.

Lorenzo glanced at Douglas secretly, his expression becoming even more worried.

Douglas remained calm and composed.

He even had the mood to whisper a joke to Lupin:

"It seems that our Mr. Lupin has become a celebrity in the Italian Ministry of Magic."

Lupin gave a wry smile and didn't respond.

Chapter 379 Mr. Holmes is always so direct!

The three followed Piero through several corridors decorated with ancient tapestries and magical portraits.

The people in those portraits were mostly famous figures in Italian magical history, and their eyes seemed to move as they moved, with scrutiny and curiosity.

Piero remained silent along the way, but when he passed a plaque commemorating the historical contribution of the Werewolf Control Act.

He deliberately slowed down his pace, glanced at Lupin with his small but sharp eyes, a cold arc at the corners of his mouth, and his eyes were full of undisguised suspicion and contempt.

The Minister's office is located in a secluded corner of the heart of the Ministry of Magic.

Piero Piero stopped in front of a heavy oak door, inlaid with the emblem of the Italian Ministry of Magic - a phoenix with an olive branch in its mouth.

The interior of the office was much more spacious and luxurious than Lorenzo's "disaster scene".

Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows is a magical panoramic view of the city of Rome, and sunlight shines through the windows onto the shiny marble on the floor.

Several oil paintings depicting ancient magical battle scenes hung on the walls, emitting a faint magical fluctuation.

A huge mahogany desk was placed in the middle of the room, and behind the desk sat a man in his fifties.

He is the Italian Minister for Magic, Massimo Alberti.

He has carefully groomed silver-gray hair, a thin face, deep eyes, and wears a well-tailored dark green wizard robe with the emblem of his ancient family embroidered on the corner of the robe.

Although there was a politician's usual warm smile on his face, Douglas could sense the shrewdness and prudence hidden behind his smile.

Minister Alberti slowly stood up, his face showing the proper enthusiasm that is unique to politicians, and offered his hand:

"Professor Holmes, I have long heard of your great name and the little stirs you have caused in the British wizarding world.

Even though I'm far away in Rome, I've heard of it.

Minister Connelly praised you highly at the last joint meeting."

Alberti turned to Lupin, his eyes lingering on him for a few seconds, with a barely perceptible scrutiny:

"Mr. Lupin, your existence itself is a legend. As the first 'former werewolf' in history, is this title a blessing to the entire wizarding world, or... a new variable?"

He paused slightly, his smile unchanged, but the deeper meaning in his words was intriguing.

"Mr. Minister, you are too kind."

Lupin responded politely, but was secretly wary in his heart.

The minister's attitude was friendlier than he had expected, but this only made him more uneasy.

"Please take a seat."

Alberti motioned them to sit down in the armchairs nearby, while Piero stood by the door like a statue.

“Lorenzo has already informed me of the purpose of your visit.

The Ministry of Magic has heard about the Ash Claws' request for help, and...some of the Vatican's actions in the Apennine Mountains."

Douglas got straight to the point:

"So, what is your attitude towards this, Mr. Minister?

Are you planning to arrest all members of the Ember Claw tribe according to the Werewolf Quarantine Act, or are you turning a blind eye to the Church's petty actions?"

Minister Alberti held the cup of espresso with an elegant posture, as if they were not discussing a potential storm in the wizarding world, but an ordinary afternoon tea party.

He put down the coffee cup, and the cup and saucer collided with each other, making a crisp sound.

“Mr. Holmes, your directness is sometimes enviable.

The Werewolf Quarantine Act is one of the cornerstones of the Italian Ministry of Magic's maintenance of social order. In theory, any violator should be punished.

As for the Vatican... some of their... research is indeed beyond the scope of our usual understanding.

There has always been a clear boundary between the Ministry of Magic and the Holy See.

We respect their beliefs, and they should respect the rules of the wizarding world."

Douglas raised the corner of his mouth in an almost imperceptible arc.

"Isolation? Mr. Minister, with all due respect, when one side holds holy water and silver bullets while the other side struggles for its next meal and low-quality wolfsbane potion, this kind of isolation sounds more like... tacit oppression."

Minister Alberti's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes sharpened.

"Mr. Holmes, the Italian Ministry of Magic has its own laws and codes of conduct.

The Werewolf Quarantine Act was enacted to protect the safety of both the wider wizarding community and the Muggle world.

As for the Vatican... their influence is deeply entrenched, especially in this land.

The relationship between us and them is not so much one of alliance, but rather one of coexistence that is a legacy of history and must be maintained.”

He picked up the coffee cup and shook it gently, and the dark brown liquid swirled in the cup.

"We certainly don't want to see any innocent people come to harm, whether wizards or... other magical beings.

But we also don’t want to see anyone using the banner of justice to cause unmanageable chaos in Italy, especially now that the International Statute of Secrecy is increasingly being challenged.”

Douglas leaned forward slightly, looking directly at Alberti.

"So, Mr. Minister, what you mean is that as long as our actions are secretive enough and do not cause additional trouble to the Ministry of Magic, you can turn a blind eye to what is about to happen in the Apennine Mountains?"

Alberti put down his coffee cup with a sharp sound.

"I prefer to understand it as Mr. Holmes and Mr. Lupin, as independent magical researchers, going to the Apennine Mountains for a private investigation out of their interest in ancient magical phenomena and... humanitarian concerns for werewolves.

The Ministry of Magic is not aware of this, so it is naturally in no position to approve or disapprove of it."

At this point, he took out a copy of the Daily Prophet - "Mr. Lupin, the first person to cure wolfsbane, will leave for Italy today..."

He had a half-smile on his face and glanced at each of them, the meaning of which was self-evident.

"In fact, you were invited by the public with the help of the Ministry of Magic... Well, to be exact, it was Mr. Lupin...

Of course, if during the process, one accidentally discovers something... that violates the basic ethics of the wizarding world, or even threatens the stability of the Italian wizarding world, and can provide conclusive evidence...

The Ministry of Magic may consider taking appropriate action in the aftermath."

Douglas sneered:

"Just like last time? If the werewolves of the Ash Claw tribe are forced to rebel because of the excessive behavior of the Church, will the Ministry of Magic first investigate the werewolves' illegal behavior, or will it first investigate the Church's transgression?"

Alberti's mouth curled up in an almost invisible arc:

"Mr. Holmes, you are giving me a difficult problem. The Ministry of Magic naturally has to rely on evidence when it comes to its actions.

Currently, the reports we've received are mostly about unusual movements within the werewolf tribe, as well as... some unconfirmed rumors about the Vatican's activities in the mountains."

Chapter 380: Professor Sprout's Care

Just then, there was another knock on the office door.

"Come in."

The door opened and in walked an old man wearing a plain grey robe, with a gaunt face but unusually bright eyes.

In his hand he held a wand of olive wood, the head of which was inlaid with a piece of unpolished amber.

"Ah, Master Antonio."

When Minister Alberti saw the visitor, he immediately stood up with a sincere smile on his face.

"Why did you come here in person?"

Minister Alberti said:

"Professor Holmes, Mr. Lupin, this is Master Antonio Vivaldi. He is a renowned expert in potions and herbology in Italy and throughout the wizarding world. He is also one of the original advocates of the Mountain Pact."

He paused and added,

"Master enjoys a very high reputation among the many werewolf tribes and Muggle herders in the Apennine Mountains.

By the way, Professor Sprout wrote to you a few days ago, mentioning that Mr. Holmes might come to Rome, and you asked me about your situation.

Master Antonio nodded slightly, his eyes swept over Douglas and Lupin, and finally stopped at Douglas, with a hint of admiration in his eyes.

“It turned out to be the young man whom Pomona mentioned in the letter. I thought it would be some time before I could see him, but I didn’t expect Mr. Holmes to arrive in Rome so soon.

Since you are someone Pomona values, and since you are going to the Apennines, I will naturally do my best to help you."

Douglas raised his eyebrows slightly, and a hint of surprise flashed across his eyes.

He didn't expect to meet such a legendary figure here.

I never expected that my old dean would privately write a letter of trust to this person for me, and my heart suddenly felt warm.

"Professor Sprout is very thoughtful," Douglas said sincerely to Master Antonio. "She is always like this, quietly paving the way for her students."

"Master Vivaldi, I heard Professor Sprout of Hogwarts mention your outstanding contributions to Herbology a long time ago."

Master Antonio laughed, then changed the subject:

"I heard that you are here to help the Ash Claw Tribe in the Apennine Mountains?

The Apennine Mountains have a complex environment. I have a few maps of herbal distribution in the mountains that I drew years ago. They may be helpful in improving your medicine."

As he spoke, he took out a small but heavy leather bag from his wide robe sleeve and handed it to Douglas.

"In addition to those, there are some specially made animal repellent incense and several common antidotes. They are somewhat effective against poisonous insects in the mountains and some low-level magical curses."

After a pause, he took out a letter sealed with wax from his arms.

"I've met Marco, the current leader of the Ash Claw tribe, several times, so we have some friendship.

This is a letter from me, take it with you, maybe it will help them trust you faster."

Douglas took the leather bag and the letter. They felt heavy in his hands and he could feel their weight.

He understood what the other party meant. There might be some people in the Ash Claw who did not trust him, and this invitation was only a personal invitation from the clan leader.

According to Antonio's prestige, this letter can save him a lot of trouble.

"Thank you for your generous help, Master."

Master Antonio waved his hand, glanced at Isalabe, who had remained silent, and said with a slight sway of his sleeves:

"Werewolves are also part of the magical world and should not be treated like this. What the Church has done has crossed the bottom line."

He looked at Douglas and Lupin and said sincerely:

"If you encounter any difficult problems in the mountains, or if you need my help, please feel free to ask."

Lupin listened quietly on the side. The appearance of this legendary potion master and his undisguised and clear statement finally relaxed his nerves, which had been tense for many days.

At least they are not alone.

Minister Alberti stood by, observing the scene with a smile on his face.

A trace of elusive complex fluctuations flashed across his deep eyes.

Antonio's public statement undoubtedly added great weight to Holmes's trip and made the direction of events more difficult to predict.

He stroked his chin gently. It seemed that it was time to start some arrangements.

Whether it's to gain control of the situation or to get a piece of the pie if necessary.