Hogwarts, the Great Hall.

With the arrival of the owl post, unease rapidly spread in less than half a minute.

Compared to the young wizards who were a mixture of fear and excitement, the atmosphere at the staff table was particularly somber.

"So... Professor Dumbledore already knows? Is there anything we need to do?"

Professor Snape put down his newspaper, glanced at the empty seat in the center, and asked Professor McGonagall in a low voice beside him.

Although he phrased it as a question, his tone was extremely certain—for decades, Albus Dumbledore had almost never missed a daily breakfast at Hogwarts. If not for the major events now published in the newspaper, Snape couldn't think of anything else that would make the old man leave in such a hurry.

Perhaps Dumbledore wouldn't inform them in advance, but Minerva McGonagall, as the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, would likely know more.

However, Professor McGonagall didn't answer him immediately. She was currently reading a short letter with a serious expression.

The professors exchanged glances, but didn't urge Professor McGonagall.

After a moment, Professor McGonagall sighed lightly and handed the letter to Snape.

"The current situation is roughly like this—as for more details, perhaps we'll only know after the Headmaster returns. Let's have a small meeting in the staff room next to the Great Hall after breakfast to discuss the arrangements for the next few days... Judging from Professor Dumbledore's description, he may not be able to return for a while after these few days. As for the students, well, I'll try to reassure them and explain things simply—"

As she spoke, she looked at the chattering house tables below and gently tapped her spoon against her goblet.

"Quiet, please, gentlemen and ladies—"

Professor McGonagall's voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to carry a certain power of deterrence, quickly restoring order to the chaotic and noisy hall.

"Now, Professor Dumbledore believes that everyone has the right to know what's happening outside the school, rather than guessing and sketching out vague and distorted rumors through newspapers, magazines, and gossip. Yes—Voldemort—" Professor McGonagall paused and continued, "That dangerous Dark wizard has returned—just last night, he and his followers forcibly broke into the Ministry of Magic, trying to steal something from it."

"Yes, Voldemort has returned from the dead, but he's not as terrifying as the rumors suggest. Under the pursuit of the Aurors of the Ministry of Magic, he and his followers fled the Ministry of Magic in a hurry. Aurors from various countries' Ministries of Magic are now launching a joint operation to hunt down and capture those fleeing Dark wizards—"

"What about Professor Dumbledore? Where did Professor Dumbledore go?"

At this moment, Bill Weasley "couldn't help" but ask from the Gryffindor table.

Almost everyone had noticed Professor Dumbledore's absence, which was also a major factor in the unease that had spread through the hall earlier.

"That's what I'm going to talk about next, Mr. Weasley."

Professor McGonagall looked around at the tense faces of the students in the hall and cleared her throat before continuing.

"As I said just now, Voldemort and his followers are on the run, and Professor Dumbledore has decided to take the initiative and assist the Ministry of Magic in capturing Voldemort—in fact, not only Professor Dumbledore, but many internationally renowned wizards have also participated in this operation."

Professor Dumbledore is taking action personally? The magical governments of various countries are jointly encircling and suppressing the Dark Lord?!

Whispers filled the hall as Professor McGonagall spoke.

For most of the students, Albus Dumbledore's power was more of a symbol or a concept.

Apart from maintaining order during the trial of Peter Pettigrew a few months ago and occasionally making guest appearances in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class last year, almost no one had seen Dumbledore actively cast spells. The upper limit of this most powerful wizard in the current magical world existed only in people's imaginations.

Even when Voldemort's power was at its most arrogant, he didn't dare to step into Hogwarts.

Everyone in the magical world knew that Dumbledore was the person Voldemort feared the most, and also the only one he feared.

Clink, clink, clink—

Professor McGonagall picked up her spoon and gently tapped her goblet again.

The whispers in the hall quickly subsided.

"Therefore, given the turbulent external situation, Hogwarts will temporarily enter a semi-closed state during this period."

"The Hogsmeade weekend trips are temporarily canceled. House prefects can collect lists of snacks and small items that the students want to purchase each week, and submit them to their respective House heads. They will be purchased uniformly by mail... Mr. Filch will also review the contents of the lists."

"The ghosts of the patrol team will patrol the school grounds 24 hours a day, and I hope there won't be anyone sneaking out of the school—"

She first gave a meaningful look at the Gryffindor table, warning the Weasley twins who were eager to try, and then turned to look at the Hufflepuff table, preparing to warn a certain white-haired little witch... Hmm? Professor McGonagall raised her eyebrows, her expression somewhat subtle.

Professor McGonagall noticed that not everyone was listening to her attentively.

Among the faces that were either panicked, serious, or tense, several little witches hiding at the very end were focusing on dealing with the food in front of them.

She suddenly remembered the "extra reminder" Dumbledore wrote at the end of the letter: Don't mind Aeliana Kaslana and the little witches around her. As the Hogwarts student prefects, they can manage themselves.

Now that she thought about it, perhaps that was the most important hint... if she wanted to have a relatively easy time these next few days.

Dumbledore didn't say how long he would be gone, but Professor McGonagall wasn't worried about the old wizard.

After all, in recent years, the person who really did the work at the school wasn't the Headmaster.

Especially in the last two years, many of the changes at Hogwarts were influenced by Aeliana Kaslana.

Now was a good opportunity to learn how capable this little witch was, and to solve some of the things that had been puzzling her... Even though she knew there were some risks in doing so, Minerva McGonagall couldn't suppress her curiosity.

Moreover, more importantly, with Voldemort's return, the situation was no longer as easy as before.

"Ahem, ahem—On the other hand, I hope—"

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and, after thinking for a few seconds, smiled and said.

"The Hogwarts student prefects can fully mobilize your enthusiasm and assist the professors and prefects in carrying out their work at this delicate time. By the way, Miss Aeliana Kaslana, please wait a moment after breakfast, I have something to tell you separately—"

The aged cat-woman's eyes flashed with a hint of curiosity.

For no reason, she always felt that Aeliana seemed to know more information than she did.

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