At the Hogwarts Christmas feast, everyone was eating with gusto, even those about to embark on a "lifelong senior meal."

Under the guidance of Grindelwald, Cornelius Fudge, and others, the Great Hall was decorated with extraordinary grandeur.

Dozens of Christmas trees covered in silver frost were adorned with singing golden star fragments, and above, intricate magic was woven into the thick garlands of mistletoe and holly crisscrossing the ceiling, causing warm, dry snowflakes to constantly drift down from above.

The Siren Choir, under contract with Gringotts Wizarding Bank, also arrived at the castle, singing several cheerful and pleasant Christmas carols.

Hagrid, Professor McGonagall, and others also returned to Hogwarts. Under the influence of eggnog and red wine, Professor McGonagall finally relaxed her tightly pursed lips.

Newt didn't have the energy to continue dealing with the Ministry of Magic and Dumbledore, because his wife, Tina Scamander, had arrived. Even in her nineties, this former elite American Auror remained formidable, still earnestly grilling Newt about the details of the Basilisk's encirclement and suppression, and why he hadn't reported to the family before undertaking such a dangerous mission – had it not been for Cornelius Fudge, Newt's fate might have been even more miserable.

Cornelius Fudge, seated in the central position on the left side of the long table, was proudly recounting the details of the Chamber of Secrets battle to reporters and school governors.

As an official who arrived early on the scene and was instructed by "A-not-Albus Dumbledore," Cornelius Fudge displayed an almost immersive ease in his words. Anyone listening without prior knowledge would get the impression that he was the main force of the operation.

Albus Dumbledore and Newt Scamander, on the other hand, seemed more like elders filling in the gaps from the sidelines.

Dumbledore didn't seem to mind this at all, even nodding with a smile from time to time, as if agreeing with some of Fudge's statements.

In fact, this was the publicity line that the Ministry of Magic, the Board of Governors, and the Hogwarts professors had previously agreed upon.

If the reporters from publications like *The Daily Prophet* and *The Wizarding Weekly* were efficient enough, then tomorrow morning, many wizarding families would find reports about the extermination of the Basilisk on their breakfast tables, along with a photo of the Minister with the headless serpent.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Inside the Hufflepuff common room.

Since the students had all gone home, the entire common room was their free-for-all zone.

Hermione and Luna had just finished their third helping of cranberry Christmas pudding, while Hannah was still battling a golden, dripping roast goose. Elena held a crystal goblet, swirling the pomegranate juice within, trying to create an atmosphere of wine tasting.

"Still, there's something I don't quite understand, Elena."

Hermione took a small sip of iced grape juice and looked curiously at the white-haired dumpling roasting sausages by the fireplace.

"Why would Dumbledore, well, I mean you Great Arcana, ultimately decide to give this credit to the Ministry of Magic officials? If the newspaper publishes it like that, with accompanying pictures, everyone will think that the Chamber was actually helped by the Ministry—"

"Maintaining the stability of the wizarding world is the Ministry of Magic's duty, isn't it?"

Elena lightly tapped the sizzling sausages on the fireplace with her wand, directing them to turn over, and said casually.

"In the adult world, it's very important for everyone to do their job – not to mention that in this Chamber of Secrets hunt, the Ministry of Magic's Auror Office, the Magical Accidents and Catastrophes Department, and the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures all sent employees. Even if they didn't come, their names have to be added to the list of personnel who cleared the Slytherin Chamber and executed the Basilisk. Frankly speaking, this is actually the most perfect outcome."

"No matter what, that's ultimately Salazar Slytherin's 'property' left in the castle, right?"

"Moreover, considering the issues related to the Chamber of Secrets case, it's obviously better for the Ministry of Magic to take the lead than for Hogwarts to solve it quietly. As the maintainers of order in the current wizarding world, the Ministry of Magic proactively exterminating the Basilisk, the representative significance is the most important point."

Elena glanced at Luna, who seemed to be lost in thought, and unhurriedly explained to the three little fledglings.

"There's always been a saying at Hogwarts that the heir of Slytherin will one day return to the castle and release the monster from the Chamber to cleanse those who are not worthy of learning magic – well, that is, everyone other than pure-blood wizards – like me, like Hermione."

"In fact, this kind of thinking is not uncommon in many pure-blood wizarding families..."

Elena paused for a few seconds, meaningfully lingered on Hermione's face for a few seconds, and continued.

"If only Dumbledore killed the Basilisk, at most it would just add another record to his glorious resume and wouldn't have any subsequent impact on the wizarding world. But if the Ministry of Magic, as the maintainer of order in the wizarding world, proactively exterminates the Basilisk, the signal it sends is different. Combined with some rumors that spread like wildfire, it can have the effect of several Dumbledores in breaking down barriers and discrimination."

"...Professor."

At this moment, Hermione said seriously.

"You can't make it a habit, Elena, it's Professor Dumbledore."

"Okay – at least the influence that's as good as several Professor Dumbledores can have."

Elena shrugged helplessly, not choosing to argue in this area, continuing to speak while flipping her sausages.

"In short, we've planned everything.

"There's never a free lunch in this world. Employees of Destiny Group are mixed in with the reporters. Besides the last few staged photos of those big shots, there just happen to be a few dynamic photos before the staging process from when they stepped into Hogwarts Castle."

"After all, there are bound to be a few reporters who take risks for popularity, and this is a deadly backup plan."

Elena ignored the astonished expressions of Hermione, Luna, and Hannah, and forked the sizzling sausage onto the plate in her hand.

"On the other hand, killing the Basilisk will also create another reason for revenge – as the heir of Slytherin and the talented wizard who opened the Chamber of Secrets last time, Tom Riddle, who is currently on the run, will obviously set his sights on the Ministry of Magic. If he recovers some of his strength, then the Ministry of Magic from tomorrow onwards will likely be marked as the first target. Death Eaters and the Dark Lord will launch revenge against high-ranking Ministry of Magic officials..."

"This is very reasonable, isn't it? There are too many benefits in this, you will slowly understand later."

Dangerous brilliance flashed in Elena's eyes, looking somewhat similar to the goblins from Gringotts Wizarding Bank.

"So, you plan to use this to threaten the Minister of Magic and the school governors?"

Hermione thought carefully for a few seconds, glanced at the white-haired dumpling casually nodding, and said in disbelief.

"Elena, aren't you thinking too low of the Ministry of Magic officials? I don't think they can't see this possibility—"

"You can never measure bureaucrats by intelligence or stupidity, this is what my father once said."

Luna stood up, holding a table knife, walked to Elena's side and sat down, lightly saying in a song-like voice while helping her cut the sausage, "Their difference is nothing more than greed, and even more greed...Compared to fame, power, and status, these are nothing."

"Moreover, the Great Arcana never imagined coercion from beginning to end, and the Ministry of Magic and the Board of Governors have never had such worries."

Luna glanced at Hermione, who seemed to want to say something, shrugged her shoulders, and said softly in a faltering tone.

"In the eyes of the Ministry of Magic and the Board of Governors, if Professor Dumbledore really wanted to target them, he wouldn't have to go to so much trouble – I guess, those photos and the like will mostly be sent to some other unrelated people, to make them have friction with the Ministry of Magic, right?"

"Well, that's right, so—"

Elena said happily, took out a parchment list from her chest, and handed it to Hannah, who was next to her, who was gobbling up the roast goose.

"About a few months ago, informants from Gringotts Wizarding Bank provided a message that some old magical families and officials were quietly transferring assets, and the recipients were the American magical community and the Federal Magical Savings of the Americas. And with the help of some of Professor Dumbledore's friends, we got a more detailed list. Greedy guys are best suited to deal with other greedy guys..."

Under normal circumstances, Cornelius Fudge naturally has no need to target the forces of those old magical families.

However, if someone uses these handles to coerce this Minister of Magic, perhaps some political compromises can be obtained at the very beginning.

But as time goes by, as the Great Arcana continue to praise and build up the reputation of the Ministry of Magic officials, there will inevitably be a day when the Ministry of Magic and those old magical families tear their faces and backfire – driving wolves to chase tigers, this is a very clever hunting method.

"Luna, you're now a reserve 'High Priestess', and you have to start learning to handle some simple affairs here at Gringotts."

Elena pushed the parchment list, saying in a cheerful tone as if giving a gift.

"You pick a few names on this, and then let Hannah cooperate with you to issue orders. In the next few days, let the wizards of Destiny Group cleverly send out the evidence that can be used to coerce the Ministry of Magic officials, giving priority to members of the Hogwarts Board of Governors who do not hold positions in the Ministry of Magic."

"Oh, by the way, after you guys finish your daily 'approval' homework, you can eat barbecue."

"Otherwise, you can only smell the aroma from the side and watch us eat first..."

After speaking, Elena returned to the fireplace in the lounge and began to grill the remaining dried tofu, chives, small green fish, and other things.

Although the Hogwarts kitchen is very willing to serve them, the fun of barbecue lies more in the process than the final result, of course, and some extra joy of occasionally persecuting the little fledglings to work overtime.

On the other side, Luna expressionlessly circled a few names on the parchment and handed them to Hannah, who had a bewildered expression on her face.

"My 'approval' process is already finished. The rest is up to you, Miss Chariot—"

"Huh?"

Hannah blinked her eyes blankly, subconsciously turned her head to look at the public desk in the lounge.

On that long table, less than a third of her pile of "documents to be reviewed" had been completed.

Then, Hannah turned her head and looked at the sizzling barbecue by the fireplace again, swallowed, and said tentatively.

"How about I get you Christmas presents first, and then Elena, you can help me finish today's 'approvals' together later? If you help me, I can promise you two, no, three Christmas wishes! Well, no regrets, I mean what I say!"

"Don't look for Elena, I can help you, two wishes, how about it?"

Hermione suddenly took the initiative to speak, preventing Hannah from throwing herself into the trap in advance.

At the same time, Hermione inconspicuously glanced at Miss Lovegood not far away and raised her eyebrows.

"Wait, Granger, that's too much—then I'll also two..."

However, before a certain white-haired dumpling could finish speaking.

Amid the haggling of the three of them, a new voice was added.

"One wish."

Luna said quietly.

Huh?

Huh huh?

Huh huh huh?!

Elena turned her head in astonishment, can this also be internally competitive?!

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Yay!!