Hogwarts: I graduated before the system came

Finally, the light-forged monster stopped.

It also seemed to be a little... confused by the absurd scene before it.

Douglas raised his head and gave the monster a gentle, even friendly smile.

Then he raised his hand.

With a very casual gesture, like throwing a softball.

Throw the transparent elastic ball towards the sacred and terrifying monster that stood tall and straight.

It's like teasing a puppy.

The monster's head made of light tilted slightly, as if expressing its confusion and anger.

It raised one hand and contemptuously and effortlessly caught the bouncy ball that was flying slowly towards it.

Chapter 431 God becomes a toy, pink toad provokes

Just at the moment its fingertips touched the bouncy ball.

Time seemed to have frozen.

The surface of that cheap elastic ball suddenly lit up with countless golden runes thinner than a hair, forming a three-dimensional magic circle that was so complex that it made people dizzy.

"Om-"

A low hum, as if coming from the depths of the universe, replaced all the sounds in the valley.

The monster's hand holding the ball suddenly froze.

Its body made of light began to twist and stretch uncontrollably, like a ball of cotton candy sucked by a vacuum cleaner, rushing madly towards the small bouncy ball.

Under everyone's horrified gaze, the huge and majestic creature of light was forcibly stuffed into a palm-sized sphere amidst a silent scream.

Douglas snapped his fingers.

The bouncy ball drew a graceful arc in the air and flew back into his hand.

At this moment, the ball has completely changed its appearance.

The invincible creature of light was perfectly trapped in the center of the sphere, maintaining the astonished posture it had before being sucked in, looking lifelike.

The light on its body no longer overflowed, but was compressed into pure gold, flowing slowly inside the sphere, making the entire sphere shine with golden light, like a masterpiece of art.

Lupin's hand holding the wand was shaking slightly, and he put down the wand, not because the threat was over, but because his brain could no longer process what was happening before him.

He opened his mouth and let out a dry murmur in his throat. "What...what is that? Like...like the one used against Peeves...the Peeves cage ball?"

Douglas carefully examined the artwork in his hand and said casually:

"It's similar in principle, but more advanced than that one. It seems to work quite well. I'll take it home and give it to Wangcai to play with. I think he'll like it."

Lupin couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth.

Well, indeed.

No one can resist such a golden thing that shines and glows by itself.

The werewolves behind Douglas were dead silent.

Marco's eyes, which had just been bloodshot with hatred, were now as big as copper bells, staring at the golden ball in Douglas's hand. His mouth opened and closed unconsciously, but no sound came out.

Several young werewolf children simply collapsed on the ground. The look they gave Douglas was no longer one of worship, but filled with the most primitive awe and fear, like mortals looking up at a god walking on the earth.

The terrifying aura that was enough to evaporate their souls had not yet dissipated, and that god-like monster turned into a... pet toy?

They thought that the battle that they could only barely resist at the cost of everyone's lives was over just like that?

Valerius collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath, and his relief at surviving the disaster was quickly replaced by deeper fear.

He was afraid that the energy of the strange sacred monster would suppress him, and he was even more afraid that Douglas actually had such an incredible magic prop in his hands.

He once again realized that the man he surrendered to had methods and cards far more profound than he could have imagined.

With the disappearance of the monster, the suffocating holy atmosphere in the valley also disappeared.

The Apennine Mountains ushered in an unprecedented tranquility.

The wind began to blow again, the birds resumed their singing, and the mountains and forests in the distance seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

Those prying eyes hidden in the dark, whether from the Ministry of Magic or the Vatican, all retreated quietly at the same time.

No one dared to easily extend their tentacles into this valley guarded by a monster.

Two days later.

Inside the cave, a small bonfire crackled.

Douglas was discussing the follow-up arrangements with Lupin when a thick letter had already flown towards the English Channel under the claws of an owl.

"Marcus knows how to handle the wolf pack's affairs better than we do. You just need to be their spiritual symbol and military guarantee. As for business matters, you just need to cooperate with Sirius."

Douglas poked a branch into the fire. "There won't be any trouble in Italy for now. I'm going to Egypt."

Just then, a werewolf on guard walked in quickly.

"Professor, someone is coming."

Douglas and Marco looked at each other and walked out of the cave together.

At the entrance of the valley, in front of the tombstone that read "Hogwarts Friendly Sponsor", stood a figure wrapped tightly in a black hooded robe.

The figure looked a little thin, staring blankly at the words on the tombstone.

"Isa?"

Marco recognized the outline of his sister and walked over quickly.

The man took off his hood, revealing Isabella Rossi's weathered and tired face.

"elder brother."

When she saw Marco, the tension in her eyes relaxed a little, but was quickly replaced by a heavy worry.

"I just got back from Albania."

Isabella's voice was hoarse and could not be concealed. She looked at Douglas with a complicated look in her eyes, which included scrutiny, fear, and a subtle request.

Her hand groped in her robe for a long time before she pulled out a sweat-stained newspaper, and she handed it over with a hint of hesitation.

"I just got back to the Ministry and haven't had time to catch my breath."

She smiled wryly.

"Director Lorenzo said there's an urgent item here, and I'm the only one... best suited to deliver it personally."

Douglas took it.

It's the latest issue of the Daily Prophet.

On the front page, the unpleasant face of Dolores Umbridge, giving him a false, teeth-gritting smile.

The photo moved, making her look like a pink toad.

[Deputy Minister of Magic calls for the return of the traditional position of Defence Against the Dark Arts professor to Hogwarts]

[The Daily Prophet reported that recently, Ms. Dolores Umbridge, Senior Under-Minister of Magic, published a signed article in this newspaper, expressing important views on the appointment of the Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

She pointed out that Professor Douglas Holmes had been re-elected to the position for two consecutive terms, which was contrary to the long-standing tradition of Hogwarts, and called for "returning Hogwarts' traditions to Hogwarts" and restoring the practice of appointing a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor every year.

In her article, Ms. Umbridge emphasized that every tradition at Hogwarts has been accumulated over hundreds of years and is the crystallization of wisdom and norms. The tradition of changing the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts every year is an indispensable part of it.

“This tradition is not arbitrary; it carries with it the profound purpose of exposing students to diverse teaching styles and maintaining academic vitality,” she wrote. “Breaking tradition could lead to academic rigidity and be detrimental to the all-round development of young wizards.”

Although Ms. Umbridge did not directly criticize Professor Douglas's re-election, her words revealed her concern about the breaking of tradition.

She believes that no individual's position should override school traditions, and upholding traditions is the responsibility of every member of the wizarding community.

This view was actively echoed by Percy Weasley, an outstanding Hogwarts graduate and current employee of the Department of International Magical Cooperation.

Percy told the newspaper he fully supported Deputy Minister Umbridge's call.

"Hogwarts' tradition is our precious treasure. Respecting tradition is a reverence for the school's history and a responsibility to future generations of wizards," Percy said firmly. He emphasized that changing the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor every year can bring different knowledge perspectives and teaching methods to students, which is crucial for cultivating wizards who can adapt to the complex magical world.

At present, Hogwarts has not responded to this matter.

Many people in the wizarding community said they will closely follow the development of the incident and look forward to seeing Hogwarts traditions properly maintained.

Lupin also came over to take a look, his brows furrowed tightly.

"She always finds the most plausible excuses to do the most disgusting things."

Douglas shrugged indifferently.

"Don't worry, she can't change anything!"

Both of them tacitly did not mention Percy's remarks. Lupin knew that before graduation, Percy had secretly talked to Douglas for a long time.

PS:

Fantastic Beast Catcher

Also known as "Douglas's Bouncy Ball", it was created by Douglas Holmes and is extremely dangerous (due to its concept and purpose).

It is a transparent, palm-sized, elastic soft ball that looks similar to a Muggle bouncy ball and has a strong camouflage effect.

Designed for hunting and capturing magical creatures alive, its core function is "containment." Upon contact with a target creature, regardless of its size or magical strength, it will be forcibly sealed into an independent dimension, isolated from reality.

The user inputs a small amount of magic power to allow the captured creature to permanently maintain the vitality and physical state at the moment of capture, like "time amber".

Unleashing it requires a complex and special spell, known only to the creator.

Note: Not useful for full humanoid form, only for magical creature bloodlines.

Chapter 432 Dumbledore is not too old to lift his wand

Douglas flipped through the newspaper.

Finally, in an inconspicuous corner on the fourth page, there was a piece of news the size of a tofu block.

Dumbledore's ambitions revealed? Rumor has it his confidant, Professor Holmes, is raising a werewolf army in Italy.

According to reports, an unnamed source pointed out that Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore is trying to recruit and integrate werewolf tribes in Italy through his close associate Douglas Holmes, and is suspected of forming a private armed force that is completely under his personal command.

The source expressed serious concern about this, believing that this move would seriously undermine the stability of the wizarding community.

Lupin took the newspaper suspiciously, flipped through it again, and said, "No news about Greyback?"

Douglas folded the newspaper in half, then in half again, and held it in his hand, the force causing the paper to groan under the weight.

"They didn't see the body."

His voice was very flat and dissipated by the wind, but it carried a chill with it.

Lupin stood beside the rough stone tablet, the inscription like a shadow carved on his face.

His brows were twisted into a knot.

"That's too... casual, Douglas."

"If Fenrir is dead, the entire British Ministry of Magic will be in an uproar. They should at least send someone to take a look!"

Douglas's mouth curled up into an almost invisible arc.

"Why should we let them see it?"

A small flame appeared at the tip of his finger and silently licked the corner of the newspaper.

The pink toad struggled in the flames for a moment, and along with the ink and lead characters, it turned into a floating black butterfly.

"Greyback, we have him."

"It won't be too late to throw him to the Ministry of Magic after his last bit of usefulness has been squeezed out."

Isabella remained silent, her eyes jumping between Douglas, Lupin, and the lonely tombstone.

The fatigue was pierced by something sharper.

"so……"

She took a breath, and the smell of freshly turned soil in the valley mixed with the burnt smell of sulfur made her throat dry.

"I just got back to the department and heard something was amiss. I went to see Director Lorenzo, but he didn't say anything and just handed this to me."