Ammosta was woken up by a series of urgent knocks on the door. He rubbed his sore eyes, straightened his head to look out the window, and saw the blinding sun high in the sky, casting golden sunlight on the office floor. Dust particles floated in the air, creating a serene atmosphere of peaceful times.
He slightly arranged his appearance, grumbling dissatisfaction as he walked to the door.
"Professor Brian, everything is clear now. It's Lucius Malfoy; Dobby has been freed, that diary was placed in Ginny's bag by Lucius, Headmaster Dumbledore has been reappointed by the Board of Governors as the school's headmaster, and Lucius has been expelled from the Board!"
Looking outside excitedly and incoherently, Harry gazed at the door. Professor Amostta rubbed his messy hair on the top of his head, blew his nose, and couldn't help but admire the boundless energy of these young witches and wizards.
"That's truly great news, Potter. Has Hagrid returned--"
Ammosta blinked his drowsy, half-closed eyes and said nonchalantly.
Having received a "political education" on love and courage in Dumbledore's office early in the morning, Harry looked stiff when he realized that Professor Brian's tone wasn't particularly happy?
"The Ministry has released Hagrid, Professor Brian. They're gathered in the courtyard to watch the snake, and Headmaster Dumbledore has asked me to inform you that the Minister of Magic hopes to have a personal conversation with you."
Harry stammered.
Ammosta sighed in resignation, closing his eyes and massaging his temples.
"Understood, you can go and report back now, Potter. I need to tidy myself up first; this is not a suitable appearance for a meeting with such an important figure as the Minister."
When Harry left, he still had a look of confusion in his eyes. Why did Professor Brian end the year that was shrouding young witches and wizards with the last bit of darkness? But, he seemed to be in a low mood.
....
It's probably around lunchtime, but the school great hall is empty. No one pays attention to the delicious food on the tables. Almost everyone in the school crowded in the courtyard, even climbed up the trees and along the corridors on top of looking at it.
As Ammosta appeared at the doorway, an explosive burst of applause and cheers almost overturned the entire castle. People gazed at Ammosta, who looked a bit bewildered, with reverent eyes, as if they were watching a rising star!
Growl...
Taking advantage of the saliva from his mouth, Amostat swallowed the bread that he had casually shoved into his mouth from the long table in the hall, raising his eyebrows high.
"Come over here, Ammosta!"
Professor McGonagall, standing in the center of the crowd, leaned on her toes, waved her arms and called out to Amostast who stood on the steps. Her eyes were filled with tears, streaming down her nose from emotion.
The crowd automatically split into two, and Amostast saw Dumbledore and the school professors standing in front of a cage. In the cage was the snake monster that Dumbledore had personally subdued, as they walked through the crowd, the Weasley twins loudly thanked him,
"You saved Ginny and Ron, Professor. We are incredibly grateful to you!"
Frankly speaking, Fred and George had never talked to anyone so seriously before.
Amostast smiled and nodded at the twins, taking a few steps forward to approach Dumbledore, who was smiling warmly and with his hands crossed over his stomach.
"What have you told everyone?"
"Just the truth, Amostast."
Dumbledore also answered Amostast's question with his eyes.
Cornelius Fudge was still dressed in the peculiar attire from last night, but his attitude towards Amostast was vastly different from the previous evening. From thirty feet away, he laughed heartily as he strode towards Amostast and, upon getting closer, affectionately enveloped his arm with a hug.
"Looks like we've got another exceptionally talented young hero here, doesn't it?"
Fudge winked playfully at Amostast, as if they were the closest of friends, despite this only being their second encounter and the first time they had spoken a single word.
"All this is thanks to the wise decisions of the Ministry, Minister. After all, the Board of Governors followed the Ministry's advice and sent me back to Hogwarts to deal with the Chamber of Secrets--"
"Oh, cough cough, of course... Oh, no, I mean, it was ultimately your contribution, Amostast!"
A momentary stiffness appeared on Fudge's chubby face as his smile faltered, but the look in his eyes then shone with a light that was not simply eager. He pounded Amostast's shoulder hard, his smile bright as a blooming chrysanthemum.
"The Ministry just played a very small role!"
"Ugh, dirty politics--"
In the gradually quieting crowd, George Weasley glared at Cornelius Fudge with disdain and muttered under his breath. However, Percy, standing in front of him, glared at him fiercely and commanded him to be quiet. Then, with a reverent gaze fixed on Professor Brian and Minister Fudge in conversation, Percy leaned in and listened intently to learn the 'art of politics'!
"There's no need for that, Amostast!"
Fudge laughed so much as if he was under a happiness charm.
"A Merlin's Knight Order third... second-class medal is well-deserved for your achievement. You saved several young witches' lives, ended the threat that has been hanging over Muggle-born children for thousands of years, and even donated this incredibly valuable snake monster to the Ministry. The Ministry won't have any objections to that; the procedures can be simplified, and I'll arrange for someone to bring the medal tomorrow... cough cough..."
Fudge slightly lowered his voice, speaking only to Amostast in a volume that only he could hear, "I'm going to have someone send the medal tomorrow... I mean, the order. I'll have it sent to you as soon as possible."
"As long as you mention it in your next interview..."
Noticing the strange expression on Amostast's face, Fudge quickly explained,
"Don't worry, young man. I will take care of it... Ah, I'm really glad that Rita Skeeter, that annoying woman, was kept away from me. She got wind of what happened in the school from somewhere and knows everything!"
Donation?
Amostast subtly glanced at Dumbledore, but didn't find any information from the wizard's mixed expression of laughter.
"If you're willing, I'll go talk to Rufus,"
Fudge's arm seemed glued to Amostast's, unwilling to let go at all.
"I think you would make an excellent Auror, Amostast. You could be Rufus' right-hand man... Ah, let me tell you a secret. Rufus isn't young either. He might not be able to do it for much longer. If you perform exceptionally as an Auror, maybe I can..."
Many professors who heard Fudge's words revealed their scornful eyes, but due to the occasion, they didn't say much.
"I will seriously consider your suggestion, Minister."
Amostast politely said, pointing to the figure huddled over the cage, longing to get inside through the gaps in the fence, curiously asking,
"Why do you seem less than thrilled to be free again, Hagrid?"
"You shouldn't have been so harsh, Professor Brian!"
Hagrid wiped away his tears and turned back to look at him with a "sad" expression, "Look at this poor little creature. It seems to have suffered a great deal... And,"
Hagrid then looked at Dumbledore and somewhat apologetic Fudge.
"Can't you leave this poor little creature in my care... to be frank, Minister, since Mr. Scamander retired, there aren't many competent people left in the Department of Magical Creatures..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Reading Hall
