Just as everyone could have predicted.
The events of last night rocketed to the top of Hogwarts' 'most talked about' list as soon as it opened its doors. From breakfast to classes, right through to lunchtime, whispers spread from corner to corner of the castle about what had happened.
Harry was amazed by his classmates' ability to gather intelligence.
Last night, only the three of them had heard Professor Brainard and Dumbledore's conversation later, but, under Sirius's warning, they didn't tell anyone. However, by noon, it was no longer a secret that Professor Brainard had fought with the eight-eyed spider in the Forbidden Forest and expelled them to the depths of the forest.
Everyone was extremely excited about it, except for Hagrid.
"Hagrid didn't come for lunch -"
Looking at the largest empty seat at the faculty table above the Great Hall, Harry whispered to Ron,
"He didn't have breakfast either. Ron, I'm sure Hagrid is feeling really bad right now."
Furrowing his brow, Ron listened as Ginyu hopped around happily, considering whether to gather the group to go fight the eight-eyed spider in the Forbidden Forest. Hearing Harry's words, Ron turned his head back and gave a sympathetic glance towards the faculty table.
"But Brainard professor did nothing wrong, didn't he, Harry? No one would like that terrible spider. Besides Hagrid, and you also heard it, Brainard professor just drove them into the deep of Forbidden Forest, instead of finishing them off, this was already enough to be kind."
Harry had had a close encounter with the giant spider named Aragog, which happened when they mistakenly entered the eight-eyed spider's territory while pursuing the dwarf Peter.
That was definitely a terrifying adventure, Harry remembered. At that time, he and Hermione had declared themselves as the friends of Hagrid, but the evil old spider still wouldn't let them go.
To be honest, Harry would never think that Professor Brainard was too cruel to those eight-eyed spiders, but he couldn't just ignore Hagrid's feelings.
"The Daily Prophet has already published -"
As Harry was considering whether to visit Hagrid after school, Hermione deeply inhaled and slowly revealed her serious face from behind the newspaper.
"What?"
Harry looked startled.
Harry looked surprised, "The Daily Prophet has reported that Professor Brainard has expelled the eight-eyed spider. Their news is so timely."
"Stop being silly, Harry, the Daily Prophet is certainly well-informed."
Hermione sighed in exasperation over Harry's obliviousness.
"But they will certainly not report this now, as it will undoubtedly make Professor Brainard's name bigger than it is now. This is not what the Ministry of Magic wants to see. I mean - "
Hermione handed the newspaper to Harry.
"Slytherin will be back in the Hogwarts Board of Directors, as Lord Sirius told us last night. Oh, you can see those guys in Slytherin."
Hermione raised her chin and pointed to the Slytherin table, saying in a disdainful tone.
Harry and Ron immediately turned their heads towards the Malfoy side, and Fred and George, who were heard chatting, as well as Neville and others, all turned around to look towards the Slytherin table.
"Oh, that little trash -"
Fred hummed a few times,
"Does he get to gloating again, does he?"
To be honest, Fred's evaluation is not particularly objective.
Although Draco had a slight haughty expression on his face, he was far from arrogant. It was the group of students around him who expressed their congratulations to him that made Harry feel sick to his stomach. Their flattering expressions were simply revolting.
Neville stared at Draco Malfoy, who was indolently fending off the group of sycophants around him. After quickly glancing at the newspaper in Harry's hand, Neville suddenly looked towards Hermione.
"What does this mean?"
Everyone's gaze fell on Neville's face, and Neville's own complexion was a bit pale.
"The Malfoy family has returned to the Hogwarts Board of Directors. The Daily Prophet has reported this extensively, so it must be the Ministry of Magic that's behind this?"
Harry and Ron both looked at Neville in shock. Although Sirius had told them about this last night, they never expected Neville to guess it just from the newspaper.
"Is the Ministry of Magic trying to interfere with Hogwarts through the Board of Directors?"
Neville continued to ask, looking at Hermione.
"What will they do? If they remove Dumbledore and Brainard, the Ministry of Magic would be afraid of them, wouldn't it?"
Remove Dumbledore and Brainard professors?!
Harry's face turned pale suddenly. Last night, Sirius had indeed warned them that Hogwarts might be in trouble, but Harry hadn't thought that the Ministry of Magic might use the Board of Directors to dismiss Dumbledore and Brainard professors.
That's not impossible.
After all, this is not the first time. When Draco Malfoy almost managed to do it without the support of the Ministry of Magic, but now with the Ministry's backing, supported by the Ministry, it's quite possible that this thing could become a reality.
"I don't know, Neville,"
Hermione's face looked equally unappealing.
"But the Board of Directors does have this right."
Hermione was about to express her opinion when suddenly, Feershe, who had darted into the Great Hall from the lobby, caught her attention. Feershe looked very flustered as he hopped over to Dumbledore and Professor Brainard at the faculty table, leaning in to say something to them. After that, Hermione noticed that the expressions on the two professors' faces had become solemn.
Dumbledore must have given Feershe some instructions, so the latter fluttered out of the Great Hall with great difficulty and headed towards the castle's exterior.
Many people noticed Feershe's odd behavior. They watched as his back disappeared into the pale light and began to discuss with those around them what could have happened.
However, students' curiosity was soon resolved.
About ten minutes later, the haughty woman in a pink short jacket, with curly hair neatly combed back and a look that resembled a toad, along with Lucius Malfoy, made Harry's face turn pale.
Ministry of Magic, Minister's Office.
"Well done, Lucius!"
A loud voice of praise made the employees who passed by the Minister's Office look puzzled.
As everyone knows, in recent days, MinisterCornelius Fudge has been in a very bad mood. Whenever people went to report issues or sign documents, they could always see the Minister with a stern face, which had directly led to the atmosphere in the Ministry becoming very oppressive lately.
"None of this would have been possible without your support, Minister--"
Lucius Malfoy, who had just regained control of the Board of Directors, leaned slightly towards Fudge, giving a sly smile before nodding to Umbridge.
Of course, and thank you, Mrs. Umbridge, without your mediation for the Malfoy family, several households wouldn't have agreed so readily!
"This is all for our plan, Lucius!"
Umridge laughed like silver bells, with a round and full face showing anticipation as she watched the Minister of Magic, who was enjoying the letter about her appointment from Lucius Malfoy.
"What should we do now, Minister?"
"Of course, Dolores!"
Fudge was too excited to contain himself. He rushed to the clothes rack, took down his robes, and then approached Umridge and Lucius Malfoy, who had a sneer hidden in the depths of his grey eyes.
"We're going to Hogwarts right now. I can't wait to see the expressions of defeat on Dumbledore and Brainard's faces! Spreading panic, inciting chaos, and daring to resist the Ministry's orders - they deserve this!"
Fudge led Umbridge and Malfoy out of the office, but a man with a grave expression and wandering eyes blocked them in the elevator lobby.
"Minister, I have an urgent document that requires your signature."
The man said it very inappropriately.
"This is Mr. Broderick Bode from the Department of Mysteries, Minister--"
Umbridge noticed that Fudge didn't seem to recognize this man, so she whispered a reminder, then spoke in a shrill voice to Bode,
"Broderick, the Minister has urgent business to attend to. You can report it to us when we return!"
"But I need to go to Azkaban for inspections. To check if the Dementors are still under our control. You know how important this is."
Bode still looked silly, and Malfoy, who was standing behind Fudge, quickly glanced at Bode and felt a chill in his heart.
"The Dementors in Azkaban. Fine."
Fudge frowned but did not underestimate the necessity of this matter. He took the document from Bode, looked at it carefully for a while, and then signed his name at the bottom.
And even more absurdly, Broderick Bode stepped into the elevator first, shut the door, and pressed the button to go down, leaving the Minister of Magic outside the compartment.
Does this guy have a screw loose?
Fudge was annoyed.
Fudge, who had been carried away by excitement just now, woke up a few degrees. He looked at the appointment in his hand, turned it around and put it back into Umbridge's hand.
"I just remembered --"
Fudge's eyes twinkled as he said to Umbridge, who seemed a bit puzzled,
"I have some urgent matters to attend to. Dolores, I have been putting it off for a while now, and I must deal with it immediately. You and Lucius will go to Hogwarts together and read this appointment letter."
(End of Chapter)
