A story, or rather a campus legend, has always been circulating within Hogwarts.
At the stroke of midnight, by offering a "food item of uncertain identification," one can pass through the gargoyle guarding the seventh-floor corridor of the castle, reaching a mysterious magical place rife with both opportunities and perils, where one can obtain almost anything Hogwarts has to offer—be it fortune or misfortune.
However, if students were to visit this place now, perhaps two more adjectives could be added.
Disgusting and dreadful.
Umbridge was plastered against the oak door, resembling a pink toad clinging to it.
A faint, chaotic murmur emanated from the room, as if a fierce argument was underway.
But no matter how closely she pressed her ear to the door, the sound remained muffled and indistinct, as if someone had draped an invisible white curtain over it. Umbridge had to strain her ears to occasionally discern a few meaningless words.
As for bursting in or turning away?
Neither of these options seemed to be within Umbridge's considerations.
Compared to Albus Dumbledore, the centuries-old foreign alchemist was far more capricious and arrogant.
Although the "Longevity Pact" stipulated that elderly wizards from various magical communities had an obligation to abide by the laws of the modern world and not exploit their extended lifespans to control or influence politics, it appeared that "Paracelsus," besides being more willful than rumored, had given the British Ministry of Magic no real grounds to act against him. In these "minor frictions," the elders still held considerable privileges.
If she dared to barge in again this time, it might very well be a repeat of the "spellcasting practice" that had occurred in the entrance hall a few months prior.
Of course, Umbridge couldn't simply turn around and leave, otherwise, her only value at Hogwarts would be gone.
"What on earth are these three talking about…"
Umbridge's plump face was pressed tightly against the griffin-shaped brass door knocker, her brows furrowing ever deeper.
Based solely on fragments like "Hogwarts," "professor," "beneficial," "must"... she couldn't even begin to guess the direction of their conversation.
Just as her patience was wearing thin, the voices inside the room suddenly ceased.
Then, Umbridge heard footsteps gradually approaching.
She quickly stepped away from the door, retreated a few steps, and pretended as if she had just arrived at the top of the stairs.
"Oh, Professor Umbridge, you're still here?"
The door to the headmaster's office opened automatically. Elena glanced at Umbridge standing by the stairs and said with feigned surprise.
"Professor Dumbledore even asked me to notify you, but it seems unnecessary now—well, I'll head back to my dorm. By the way, it looks like you got bitten by something, perhaps you should get some ointment from Madam Pomfrey later? After all, there are quite a few mosquitoes and insects in Hogwarts Castle..."
Elena's gaze swept over the somewhat disgusting mist on the oak door and pointed to Umbridge's right cheek.
A faint red imprint was visible on the side of her face, looking like an ancient Eastern tattoo branded on a criminal's face.
Before Umbridge could say anything, Elena waved her hand, skipped past the Senior Undersecretary who had been listening to "office ASMR recordings" at the door for over ten minutes, and walked down the corridor with a cheerful mood—given Grindelwald's performance just now, forging her signature would be punished with only three days of senior meals for now. As for a certain old turnip who long past the point of being afraid of boiling water, she decided to downgrade it from senior meals to healthy mush.
Umbridge rubbed the imprint on her face, casting a cold glance at Elena's departing figure.
That annoying little brat, does she really think Hogwarts belongs to her?
As the Senior Undersecretary and High Inquisitor of the Ministry of Magic, if she were to put aside her status and start negotiating with Dumbledore little by little, Umbridge didn't believe that Dumbledore would make the wrong choice—tonight's showdown would start with this little fellow to establish authority.
As for that Paracelsus, she could show some respect, say some nice words, and get by.
In fact, in Umbridge's world, showing appropriate goodwill to those powerful wizards was not a difficult thing.
Umbridge regained her composure, pushed open the half-closed door, and entered the office.
"Professor Dumbledore—"
"Oh, Professor Umbridge, you're here?"
Almost as soon as she pushed open the door, a voice that Umbridge least wanted to hear echoed in the room.
To her surprise, it was Professor Otto Apocalypse who spoke first this time.
The old wizard stroked the phoenix on its perch, pointed to the sofa on the side of the headmaster's office, and looked like he was in charge.
"I'm sorry, my attitude may have been a bit stiff just now, please sit down—Professor."
"It doesn't matter, you're such a remarkable alchemist, I was a little impolite to intrude just now."
Umbridge looked at the kind-looking old wizard, feeling slightly relieved, and put on that false smile again, speaking in a coy voice.
"The Ministry of Magic attaches great importance to wizards like you who are willing to come out of seclusion. If you need anything in the British magical world, you can contact me at any time to help you communicate. I was mainly a bit too anxious just now, after all, whether it's Miss Kaslana or that student duel—"
Obviously, this old wizard was just like the old-generation wizards she had encountered before, and a few compliments would do the trick.
Even a legendary alchemist who was hundreds of years old wouldn't want to antagonize the Ministry of Magic for no reason.
As Umbridge spoke, she sat down on the sofa, picked up a cup of tea, and slowly stirred it.
She paused for half a second, and after confirming that "Paracelsus" did not react in any way, she turned her head to look at Dumbledore behind the desk.
"—This is actually required by the Ministry of Magic's decrees. As you know, the Minister attaches great importance to the growth of students and campus safety."
"Oh, yes, yes, Elena—"
Just then, the old wizard standing next to the phoenix interrupted again.
"I also heard about what happened at the door of the Great Hall today. That child argued with you in front of all the students. And she even relied on her privileges to directly add back the points you deducted on the spot, which is really too... tsk... I don't know what to say..."
The old wizard shook his head and said, like a concerned elderly bystander.
Because the old man spoke, Dumbledore, who was sitting behind the desk, did not interrupt and politely waited for him to finish speaking first.
"Yes, this situation is really terrible, it must be—"
Umbridge said, her tone mixed with a hint of surprise and wicked excitement.
"Well, so Albus and I severely criticized her, and told her not to do it again."
"—Severely punished, as a warning to others? Huh?!"
Umbridge finished her sentence, and suddenly froze, as if she had opened a Christmas gift and found it empty.
"Wait, just... just a criticism and education, and then... don't do it again? That's it?"
"What else can we do?"
Grindelwald shook his head kindly and grinned.
"She's still a child, children are normal if they are lively."
"But..."
The muscles on Umbridge's right cheek twitched slightly.
Before she could finish speaking, Grindelwald suddenly darkened his face and frowned.
"No, Professor Umbridge, you are such a big person, why are you still arguing with children?"
"...I, um. Uh."
The color on Umbridge's face changed from green to white to red for a few seconds, and finally she took a light breath.
She had heard before that "Paracelsus" favored that little girl, and now it seems that this is indeed the case.
Let's talk about Elena Kaslana later, and when the Ministry of Magic has negotiated with the school board, someone will naturally come to put pressure on her.
"So, about the mass duel between Gryffindor and Slytherin students—"
"Let's take a look at the children's affairs first—right, Albus?"
Grindelwald waved his hand, looked at Dumbledore sitting behind the desk, and said in an old-fashioned way.
"It doesn't matter if children mess around occasionally, anyway, we professors will be watching from the side at that time."
After Dumbledore nodded in response with a wry smile, Grindelwald turned back around.
"Okay, the two things have been resolved."
"Professor Umbridge, do you... have any other questions?"
"I..."
The corner of Umbridge's eye twitched, and she took a deep look at the kind-smiling old wizard.
It seems that the feeling of being helpful was all a facade to fool her.
Dumbledore had been prepared for this interrogation tonight.
Fortunately, the Ministry of Magic had prepared a lot of emergency plans in advance before sending her to Hogwarts.
Umbridge put down the teacup in her hand, cleared her throat, took out a manuscript from her handbag, and said coldly.
"Of course, I would like to discuss some potential safety hazards in Hogwarts from the perspective of the Ministry of Magic's decrees and the 'Educational Decree No. 24', some major hidden dangers that may violate the laws of the Ministry of Magic, in my capacity as a Ministry of Magic employee..."
Perhaps no results can be discussed tonight, but she can at least rely on herself to hold back these two old wizards.
The Ministry of Magic should have received the letters she sent, and some new educational decrees can be promulgated by noon tomorrow at the latest.
…………
At the same time, Gryffindor Common Room.
Because it was located on the same floor corridor, Elena was not worried about getting lost.
When she said the password and climbed through the Fat Lady's portrait into the warm and comfortable Gryffindor Tower, most of the Gryffindor students were not asleep yet. Everyone was either gathered around the fireplace or lying on the staircase railings of the dormitory, discussing something enthusiastically.
Since the announcement of the "House Cup Tournament" was posted at the entrance of the Great Hall, almost the entire Gryffindor's enthusiasm had been ignited.
After returning to the common room that night, everyone began to discuss the lineup and tactics for the weekend.
"Well, how far have they discussed?"
Elena quietly walked into the room and found Hermione reading quietly in the corner.
Just as Hermione had said before, she had no intention of participating in the discussion at all.
"Finished talking? They just finalized the first few groups, and are still discussing the final ones..."
Hermione took off the silver bookmark pinned in her hair, carefully put it into the page, closed the book and put it on her lap and continued.
"If nothing else happens, the first grade will be Ginny Weasley, the second grade will be Harry Potter, and the third grade will be Micock McLaggen. As for the fourth grade's duo match, it will be the Weasley twins, and the personnel for the next few higher grades are still being discussed, but..."
Hermione hesitated and looked around, saying with some worry.
"Just now, George and Fred sneaked out, saying they were going to the kitchen to get some food for everyone. But they haven't come back yet..."
"Don't worry, those two guys are definitely fine—"
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Just then, a hearty female voice suddenly emerged beside the two of them.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop on you."
Angelina Johnson shrugged her shoulders. She just happened to hear someone mention Fred's name.
"I know George and Fred very well. Except for the semester when they first entered school, they have never been caught by Filch in the years that followed. Their talent in night touring is at least the kind that is rare in Hogwarts for hundreds of years, so don't worry."
"Uh—"
Elena blinked her eyes, hesitant to speak.
If she remembered correctly, because Grindelwald had a meeting arrangement tonight, the patrol schedule of the castle was...
…………
"Damn it, George, how can they run so fast!"
"There's no way, we're too unlucky today, even the professors are night running?!"
On the fifth floor corridor of the castle, the twins were holding a lot of food, panting and jogging quickly.
Fred looked back behind him and said anxiously.
"It's too late—George, hurry!"
George nodded, took out his wand and quickly tapped it on the parchment in his hand.
"Mischief Managed!"
In the next moment, two groups of light and shadow appeared at both ends of the corridor respectively.
Two adult wizards appeared in front of George and Fred, carrying hand lanterns, just like taking a walk.
"Huh? Weasley, why are you still wandering around the castle so late?"
"Come on, Remus. Don't talk nonsense, we're just here to catch them."
Sirius Black interrupted unceremoniously, looking at the two students trapped in the center of the corridor with interest, and took a light breath.
"Phew, you two, you can really run—"
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Yay!