thefictionvixens Chapter 208 Glory and Trade
Chapter 208 Glory and Trade
Chapter 208 Glory and Trade
As Cullen and Dumbledore emerged from the third-floor corridor, they encountered Professor McGonagall, who was rushing over. Her face was tense, her lips pressed into a stern line, and her eyes were filled with questioning and worry.
"Albus! Karen!" She strode forward, her sharp gaze sweeping over the two men. She only breathed a slight sigh of relief when she saw they seemed unharmed.
But then he tensed up again. "What happened? Some students at the Quidditch stadium said they saw Cullen's Patronus fly towards the Headmaster's Stand, and then Cullen and you disappeared—"
"Minerva, calm down." Dumbledore gently raised his hand to signal. "Cullen's alertness and action were very timely. We have just thwarted an attempt to invade the 'Forbidden Zone'." He succinctly described what had happened: Cullen discovered the abnormal magical fluctuations in the castle, issued the Patronus alarm, tracked it to the entrance of the Forbidden Zone, encountered and dealt with the host possessed by Voldemort, Voldemort's main soul separated from the host and tried to force its way in, was severely injured by Fawkes' flames and escaped, and the fake Philosopher's Stone remained unharmed.
Professor McGonagall's expression grew increasingly grave, especially when she heard "Voldemort's spirit" and "possessing a Ministry of Magic employee." Her fingers gripped her wand tightly. "Merlin!" she whispered in surprise, then looked at Cullen with lingering fear and undisguised admiration. "Mr. Hawthorne, you—you've done something incredible once again!"
"Thanks to the principal's Fox for arriving just in time, Professor," Karen replied calmly, without taking credit.
"That employee," Professor McGonagall looked at Dumbledore.
"He's already dead at the entrance. He was one of Minister Fudge's entourage, an Auror," Dumbledore said gravely. "I need you to inform Poppy (Madame Pomfrey) and ensure the area is temporarily cordoned off. Also, Cullen," he turned to the boy,
"They need you at the Quidditch arena. Director Roland Kelburn has shown great interest in your 'Quidditch Eye of the Record' system, and as one of the core developers, you'd better be there. Minerva will handle things here."
Cullen immediately understood the headmaster's meaning. It seemed Dumbledore was going to have a talk with that unfortunate minister. He nodded, "I understand, Headmaster. I'll be right there."
When Cullen stepped back onto the Quidditch pitch, the deafening roar almost overwhelmed him. The match was over, but the atmosphere remained electric. Ravenclaw's blue flags billowed like waves in the stands, mingled with cheers and songs. Gryffindor's gold and red, though somewhat subdued, also applauded their players; it seemed Ravenclaw had won in the end.
The audience was even more lively. Professor Flitwick, beaming, was summarizing the competition into a magical microphone, while Edgar and several senior club members were surrounded by a crowd. At the center of the group was Roland Kelburn, the Director of Physical Education at the Ministry of Magic. Tall and dressed in a well-fitting Ministry of Magic official robe, he was excitedly pointing at the floating central crystal ball and the surrounding magical screens, asking questions incessantly.
"Incredible view! Mr. Burns, you mentioned in your previous letter that it could record tactical trajectories, but I didn't expect it to be this clear! Look at this," Kelburn pointed to the screen showing a slow-motion replay of Harry Potter's pendulum maneuver from multiple angles, "the force exerted by every joint, the bending angle of the broom handle, the airflow disturbance—this is practically a textbook of flight techniques! And this tactical board annotation!" He pointed to the formation diagram that popped up next to Ravenclaw captain Boot on the adjacent screen during his defensive play, "God, this is more intuitive than the coach yelling a hundred times from the sidelines! Professional leagues desperately need this!"
Edgar's face beamed with pride and excitement: "Yes, Director! This is precisely one of our core research and development goals! The 'Quidditch Eye' is not just for recording, but also a tool for analysis and teaching! It can—"
"Karen! You're back!" Professor Flitwick spotted Karen and immediately called out, "Come here quickly! Roland is eager to learn more about the core rune architecture and magic sensing principles of our system! This is your masterpiece!"
All eyes instantly turned to Karen. Director Kelburn's eyes lit up, and he strode forward, extending his hand enthusiastically: "Mr. Hawthorne! Professor Flitwick and Mr. Burns have been praising your brilliant ideas and alchemical skills! Tell me about them!"
How did you come up with the idea of combining such a sophisticated array of magic-sensing runes with a panoramic telescope? And that broom signal transmitter—the weight control is simply perfect!
Karen quickly composed himself, a polite, slightly humble smile on his face, and shook hands with the Director: "Director Kelburn, you flatter me. This system is the culmination of the collective wisdom of the Spells Club under Professor Flitwick's guidance. My idea only provides a starting point; its true realization would not have been possible without the overall planning of Senior Edgar and the superb skills of all the senior students in rune engraving, magic circuit stabilization, and other aspects." He cleverly distributed the credit.
"Young man, don't be so modest!" Kelburn patted Karen's shoulder forcefully, making him stagger. "A flash of genius is priceless! Come on, tell me the technical details! I'm particularly interested in that magical analysis function that can generate tactical maps in real time! How did you guys do it?"
For the next hour or so, Cullen became the absolute protagonist. Standing before the rune control panel, he demonstrated the system's replay and analysis functions (bringing up highlights such as Cho Chang's interception, Wood's save, and Harry's crucial flight), while explaining the underlying principles to Kelburn and the curious professors and students around him (including Cedric, the Weasley twins, and others who had rushed over upon hearing the news).
"The core lies in capturing and analyzing the signals from the specially designed transmitters at the end of the broom, Chief. Each transmitter is embedded with a unique array of magical identifier runes and miniature motion-sensing runes. The main control rune array inside the central crystal sphere is a complex system for receiving, filtering, and locating magical signals—"
"Environmental magic interference is a major problem. We referenced the ideas in ancient runes and added anti-interference layers to both the transmitter and receiver." "The generation of the tactical map borrows from some group behavior prediction models in astronomy and divination, but eliminates ambiguity and is based entirely on objective data streams." Karen's explanation was logically rigorous, technically detailed, and full of vivid metaphors, making Kelburn nod frequently, his eyes shining with admiration. Even Professor Flitwick occasionally showed surprise and approval—he hadn't expected Karen to understand some of the technical details so thoroughly.
"Genius! This is a groundbreaking innovation!" Kelburn exclaimed, his face flushed with excitement. "Professor Flitwick, Mr. Burns, Mr. Hawthorne, and all of you students! On behalf of the Department of Physical Education and Sports of the Ministry of Magic, I formally extend an invitation to you! We are eager to pilot the 'Quidditch Eye of the Record' system in the upcoming Professional Quidditch League Summer Tournament! If the results are satisfactory..."
It will become the standard configuration for all future major Quidditch matches! The Ministry of Magic will fully support its subsequent optimization and promotion! This will be a revolution in the history of Quidditch!
A burst of enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted around them. The members of the Charms Club embraced each other excitedly. Edgar Burns was particularly smug, as if he could already see his future success in the Department of Physical Education at the Ministry of Magic. Professor Flitwick grinned from ear to ear, the little man seemingly floating on air.
Wesley, Ernesto, and Fabian squeezed under the commentators' box, waving frantically at Cullen. Wesley shouted excitedly, "Cullen! That's awesome! Did you hear that? We're going to change Quidditch! And we won! Ravenclaw won!" He waved his blue coin excitedly.
Karen finally pulled herself out of her sea of technology and looked at the scoreboard. A huge magical number flashed: Ravenclaw: 290
Gryffindor: 270 points. Although Harry caught the Golden Snitch (+150 points), Ravenclaw, with their solid teamwork and tactical execution in the early stages, firmly established an advantage by scoring with Quaffles. Even though Harry caught the Golden Snitch, they ultimately won the game by 20 points! This was a victory of team strategy, a testament to their months of continuous practice of various Quaffle scoring tactics, and the result of countless analyses of their opponents and targeted training using the "Eye in the Record."
Karen gave her roommates a genuine smile and a thumbs-up. Ernesto, holding his tactics notes, had an unusual flush of excitement on his face, and Fabian smiled happily as well.
Meanwhile, in the Hogwarts Headmaster's office.
The atmosphere here was completely different from the boisterous excitement of the stadium. Fox quietly preened his feathers on a perch, the silverware tinkling softly. Cornelius Fudge sat in a high-backed chair opposite Dumbledore, his obese body shifting restlessly, fine beads of sweat on his forehead, which he kept wiping with a handkerchief. A glass of mead sat before him, untouched.
Dumbledore sat behind the headmaster's desk, his fingertips touching, his azure eyes calmly watching Fudge. He clearly recounted everything that had happened at the entrance to the forbidden zone, including Voldemort's possession of the Auror, his attempt to seize the Philosopher's Stone, being discovered by Cullen, being severely injured by the Phoenix Flame and escaping, and the Auror's sacrifice.
"...So, Cornelius," Dumbledore's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a heavy weight, "Tom Riddle,
Voldemort, he has not vanished or weakened to the point of harmlessness as many had wished. He has returned, today, right here at Hogwarts, and has once again demonstrated his evil nature and danger. He possessed a brave Auror—your subordinate—and caused the latter's sacrifice. This is a warning not to be ignored.
Fudge's face turned from red to white, then from white to green. His fat fingers twisted the handkerchief tightly, his eyes darted around, and he made gurgling sounds in his throat, as if he was struggling to swallow something.
"Albus, this old lady can't believe it!" Fudge's voice was dry and trembling, with a deliberate disbelief. "A—a sacrificed Auror? Possessed by a mysterious person? And what's the evidence? Maybe it's just some—some dangerous dark creature? Or—or maybe that little wizard was mistaken? You know, children have vivid imaginations—and the Philosopher's Stone is perfectly fine, isn't it?" He spoke rapidly, as if grasping at a straw. "This means the intruders failed! Maybe it wasn't that serious at all!"
"Auror—perhaps a sudden, serious illness? Or perhaps attacked by some monster from the Forbidden Forest?"
He was running away. Dumbledore knew Fudge all too well. The minister was new to his post, his position unstable, and what he feared most was turmoil and panic, especially panic related to "that man whose name couldn't even be mentioned." It would make him appear incompetent and undermine his authority. He preferred to bury his head in the sand and pretend nothing had happened.
"Cornell," Dumbledore's voice remained calm, but with a hint of barely perceptible coldness, "the Auror's body is in the third-floor corridor, and Minerva is cleaning up the scene. There are magical burn marks on the back of his head, left by a powerful, evil spirit that forcibly possessed him and then broke free—this is the most direct evidence. Karen Hawthorne possesses an extremely rare talent; his perception of dark magic is incredibly accurate. It was his timely warning that prevented a greater disaster. As for the Philosopher's Stone remaining intact, that's because we were prepared. It wasn't unprotected, and—it was merely a decoy. The real danger lies with Voldemort himself; his very existence is the greatest threat. Denying the facts won't make him disappear; it will only allow him to gather power in the darkness, waiting for the next, even more deadly attack."
With each word Dumbledore spoke, Fudge's chubby face twitched, and beads of sweat dripped down his back even faster. He knew, of course, that Dumbledore wouldn't joke about such things, but his inner fear and political instincts made him cling desperately to the straw of "stability."
"But Albus," Fudge's voice pleaded, "think of the consequences! How much panic will the wizarding world be thrown into if this news gets out? I just took office, and the situation has only just begun to stabilize—the Mysterious One—the very name itself represents chaos! The Auror office will go crazy! Public opinion will tear me apart!"
He wasn't yet the Minister for Magic with a secure position three years from now, and he dared not turn against Dumbledore. He was almost in tears. "Couldn't we—couldn't we handle this discreetly? That Auror who sacrificed himself—we could classify it as a death in the line of duty, and give him the highest level of compensation and honor! The attack could be classified as an invasion by an unknown dark wizard or dangerous magical creature, which has already been repelled?"
This is good for everyone! It benefits Hogwarts' reputation, the Ministry of Magic's prestige, and—and stability!
Dumbledore stared silently at Fudge, his eyes deep and penetrating, as if he could see right through his fears and schemes. Only Fudge's occasional soft moans and Fudge's heavy breathing filled the office.
A full minute passed before Dumbledore spoke slowly, his voice low but like a hammer blow to Fudge's heart: "Handle this discreetly."
Can."
Fudge suddenly raised his head, his eyes gleaming with hope.
“But Cornelius,” Dumbledore’s tone shifted, becoming unquestionable, “I need you, in the name of Minister of Magic, to do something—something that should have been done long ago but has been unjustly delayed for fifty years.”
Fudge's heart jumped again: "What is it?"
"Publicly and formally restore Rupert Hagrid's reputation." Dumbledore's voice was resolute. "Retract all the false accusations against him from fifty years ago, restore his wand ownership, and publish a formal apology and restoration notice on the front page of the Daily Prophet. He has been wronged for half his life because of Tom's false accusations, suffering guilt and discrimination that he should not have borne. It is time to clear his name. This is the bottom line."
Fudge's face fell instantly, as if he'd swallowed a large fly. "Hagrid? That—that half-giant? The half-giant guard?" He stammered, his fat face full of embarrassment. "Albus, didn't we say before? This—this involves the death of a female student fifty years ago! Overturning the case would have terrible consequences! It would cause a lot of unnecessary discussion and—and controversy! Besides, it was the Mystic—oh no, it was Riddle who testified against him back then. To overturn it now would be tantamount to indirectly admitting that the Ministry of Magic was taken over by a student—by the Mystic? That's too shameful! We can compensate Hagrid privately, give him a raise, give him better treatment—"
"Compared to a lurking Dark Lord who could resurface at any moment, Cornelius," Dumbledore's voice suddenly deepened, carrying a chilling pressure, "which one's reputation is worse for the Ministry of Magic? Which one is easier to resolve? Which one better reflects the Ministry of Magic's impartiality?"
Fudge slumped in his chair, feeling as if his bones had been removed. He looked at Dumbledore's unwavering gaze, then at the terrifying fact that the mysterious man had possessed an Auror and stormed into Hogwarts, and then at the immense fear and desire to retain power that might lead to his downfall if this were exposed.
“Fine—alright.” Fudge’s voice was hoarse and weary, filled with a sense of powerless compromise. “I will—I will personally sign the documents to drop all charges against Rubeus Hagrid, restore his reputation, and—return his wand ownership. The Ministry of Magic will issue a statement acknowledging serious errors in the investigation.” He paused, then added with difficulty, “But—only a public restoration of his reputation! There will be no public disclosure of the trial details! Albus, this is the limit of what I can do! You must guarantee—what happened in the Forbidden Zone today must not be leaked! To the outside world, it can only be declared an accident!”
Dumbledore looked at the Minister for Magic before him, overwhelmed by fear and self-interest, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes—disappointment.
There was also a calmness that suggested he had anticipated this. He nodded slightly. "I understand the Ministry's difficulties, Cornelius. Hagrid regaining his innocence and wand is an important first step. As for today's events—" He stood up and walked to Fudge, his tall figure exerting an invisible pressure, "it will be kept strictly confidential, known only to a very few present. In exchange, I hope the Ministry will strengthen its covert surveillance of the Hogwarts area and some key historical sites, especially those connected to Tom Riddle's past. This is for everyone's safety."
"Ding ding ru," Fudge replied weakly, feeling as if he had suffered a crushing defeat and was utterly exhausted.