Daily News: The Prophet of Hogwarts

Chapter 36 The Principals

Cambridge University, England.

The biology lab manager flew into a rage, yelling, "Fuck you! Who is it?!"

The students, who had been using the lab the day before, fell silent, absolutely certain that they had locked the door before leaving.

The extent of the damage to the gate also proves this point.

What an undeserved disaster... The students listened with long faces to the leader's angry scolding.

Moments later, the department head who arrived at the scene began to curse, while the administrators and students groveled.

Then, the principal and vice-principal arrived at the scene. Seeing the mess, they did not start cursing.

The students lowered their heads, looking at each other, thinking that the principals were indeed worthy of being principals, their manners were truly excellent.

Suddenly, there was a thud, followed by the department head shouting, "My God! The president!"

The students looked up and saw that the two principals had fainted and were lying heavily on the ground, unconscious.

After a chaotic scene, the two principals were put on ambulances, leaving the students looking at each other in bewilderment, racking their brains trying to figure out how the theft had happened.

What I can't understand is why the intruders didn't steal any confidential documents or data, but only took all the lab rats.

At the university hospital, the president, who had just been resuscitated, was still unable to sit up when the department heads rushed in, holding a newspaper and shouting, "President, something terrible has happened! The Times has published an article about it!"

The principal took the newspaper, and what caught his eye was a sharp commentary by a certain General Niu, who wished to remain anonymous. The school was located in a valley region, founded in the 13th century, and its motto was "The Lord is our light."

What level is Cambridge University at now? With security capabilities like this, how can they even run a university and admit students? Can they even open for business? No, they can't. They don't have the capability, you know? If this continues, the biology lab will be burglarized, then the physics and chemistry labs will be burglarized, then the president's office will be burglarized, and then there won't be anything left to burglarize!

"Principal! Principal!" Seeing the principal close his eyes peacefully after reading the newspaper, the department head shouted, "You can't fall! Cambridge needs you!"

The vice principal, who had been eavesdropping nearby, quietly opened his eyes, glanced at the newspaper lying on the ground, and then peacefully fell asleep.

The distraught department head sobbed uncontrollably, "President, Vice President, can someone please wake up? Reporters outside are demanding interviews, even the Prime Minister called to inquire... I can't possibly go on these disgraceful interviews..."

When the biology lab administrator, who was anxiously awaiting the prime minister's phone call, went to the university hospital, he found the president and vice-president lying in hospital beds, and the department head lying on the floor. All three appeared to be unconscious, but their lips were upturned in a smile.

................

Hogwarts, eighth floor, headmaster's office.

"Headmaster, I think you've been too lenient with Lane Welsh."

"Severus, I thought Ryan was your prized student; he's always been very respectful to you."

Snape stared at Dumbledore: "I think his talent in Potions is passable, and he practices a lot."

Snape's tone was cryptic. He only discovered this after meeting Ryan: potion-making could be learned in this way, without needing any innate talent for potions. As long as one brewed potions more often, their potion-making skills would improve.

Unfortunately, not many wizards can use this method of learning.

As far as he knew, the Hogwarts infirmary, Diagon Alley, and the shops in Hogsmeade that were supported by Ryan all had large quantities of potions produced by Ryan.

"Don't we deserve to be lenient with a child who is talented and studies magic diligently?" Dumbledore said with a smile.

"Headmaster, you know what I mean," Snape said. "Adventurers..."

"Yes, that's a great name. I think they're all trustworthy kids."

Snape said, "A gifted leader, a group of young people who believe in him? Forget it, I don't need to worry about that, and I can't manage it anyway. Besides, you're right, he respects me a lot."

Dumbledore continued to smile at him.

Suddenly, Snape's eyes widened in disbelief: "Really?"

"I think so. Lane has an ingrained trust in the teachers who care for him, a trust that seems almost innate. I've never sensed that kind of taken-for-granted trust in any other student," Dumbledore said. "So, they are different."

Snape neither objected nor agreed.

Dumbledore: "Severus, I've summoned you for other matters, and I believe there are some things you need to know."

"I'm also curious why the headmaster specifically sought me out and even asked me to brew some special potions to heal the body," Snape said. "These kinds of potions are rarely used, and the corresponding injuries are also rare."

"So rare that even the St. Mungo's group of healers brought their families to observe."

"A very good joke, Severus. But it's not very relevant, it's about Quirinus..." Dumbledore recounted in detail what had happened in the past few days.

"To allow the Dark Lord's possessor to remain at Hogwarts? I think the best place for Quirrell is Azkaban." Upon hearing this, a complex expression appeared on Snape's perpetually unchanging face—fear, but even more so, resentment.

"Right now, we're not sure if Voldemort still maintains some kind of connection with Quirinus, so I hope you can try to probe Quirrell."

"You're senile, Dumbledore!" Snape roared. "Aren't you afraid I'll completely side with the Dark Lord? Don't forget, I am..."

"Severus!" Dumbledore interrupted him. "I believe you."

Snape stared at him for a long time, then suddenly stood up, pushed open the door, and left.

On the second floor of the headmaster's office, Ryan clutched his chest, looking utterly heartbroken as he slowly walked down the stairs: "Merlin, Professor Snape actually looked at me like that. I'm so upset. It's unacceptable that I didn't receive a vial of Felix Felicis."

"Oh, Lane, I see no sign of sadness in you, only a longing for Felix Felicis. Besides, didn't you already know this would happen?" Dumbledore handed Lane a pile of cockroaches crawling everywhere. "Want to try some?"

Edible twin tails might be popular somewhere... Ryan quickly waved his hand in refusal; he couldn't accept such a liberal view of food.

"By the way, Headmaster, I think Professor Snape's behavior is very unusual. I can't find any reason for him to come and talk about this." Lane said with a puzzlement. Over the years, he had a good relationship with Professor Snape. He would send gifts to him during holidays, and Professor Snape would also be willing to give him some guidance.

"What exactly is the prophecy you've made?" Dumbledore asked.

Ryan recalled the previous intelligence, in which Snape and Dumbledore sat facing each other, exchanging words. He then gave the textual explanation of the intelligence: "The prince, whose pride was shattered by his own recklessness and ignorance, saw similar eyes wearing a black and gold armband. He thought that an adventurer who was too dangerous was not suitable to be the owner of those eyes. But emotions are the greatest thing in the world. Some people spend their whole lives remembering their childhood, while others use the future to cover up the past."

While maintaining a charlatan's expression as he recited the prophecy, he secretly observed Dumbledore's reaction.

Based on what Professor Snape just said, he believes that Professor Snape may have joined the Dark Lord's Death Eaters when he was young, and later abandoned the Dark Lord and joined the White Lord's camp.

It's not that I suspect Professor Snape has made contact with Voldemort, whose whereabouts are currently unknown. After all, the prophecy revealed Snape's concern for a certain member of the Adventurers' Club.

Ryan asked because he wanted to hear some gossip from the older generation, and to find out which member had this relationship with Professor Snape.

After listening to Ryan's story, Dumbledore closed his eyes and sighed deeply: "Severus..."