Hogwarts: I Am an Exemplary Wizard

Chapter 541: Chapter 539: Karkaroff Settles Scores After the Fall

”So, the good things you mentioned earlier are no longer there?” Conna asked curiously over dinner.

”Not only that, I even lost a few things.” Kael said gloomily.

Although he had already made the decision and given that small vial of ashes to Dumbledore, every time he thought about it, Kael felt a twinge of pain in his heart.

In such a situation, not even the aroma of the fried pork chops could lift Kael’s mood even a little.

Conna seemed to notice this as well and quickly changed the subject: ”Is Mr. Nicolas Flamel still at the school?”

”No.” Kael shook his head, ”Nicolas doesn’t like appearing where there are a lot of people; he’s already gone back.”

”By airship?” Conna probed while serving herself and Kael a piece of toasted bread each.

”How did you know?” Kael looked at her in surprise, ”Did you see it?”

”Many people saw it.” Conna said, ”A huge airship appeared at the Astronomy Tower, causing quite a stir. Everyone is guessing what it really is.

”Some say it’s the school’s secret weapon, others think it’s a means of transport... just like Beauxbatons’ carriage and Durmstrang’s large ship.”

”It’s a means of transport, but not Hogwarts’.” Kael shrugged.

Just seeing one airship didn’t matter much. Except for someone like Conna who knew the inside story, others wouldn’t link it to the legendary Nicolas Flamel.

...

After that, Dumbledore got completely busy, and for two whole weeks, Kael didn’t see him in the castle at all.

But then, upon thinking about it, it seemed normal. Although he didn’t know how long it took to refine the Philosopher’s Stone, he was sure it wasn’t an easy task.

By February, Dumbledore still hadn’t returned, but the students didn’t seem to notice anything amiss since most of them hadn’t really paid much attention to the headmaster in their daily lives.

Of course, it would be a different story if it were Professor McGonagall. Even if she disappeared for a day, it would quickly become the talk of the school.

However, while Dumbledore was away from school, someone else decided to make a big show of things.

Karkaroff, he now seemed like a school director, strutting around the castle every day and mocking everything he saw with a lofty tone.

For example, the students were too lazy, talking and laughing in the corridors during break time. If they were at Durmstrang, students would never make such a racket.

Even the professors weren’t spared. Kael heard more than once that while speaking with Durmstrang students, he belittled Professor Sybill Trelawney of the Divination class as a quack and a cheat.

And Hagrid, in his words, was nothing but a big oaf.

Then there was Sirius. He thought Sirius was too biased and overly indulgent to a particular house, claiming he wasn’t fit to be a professor at all.

And some Hogwarts students swiftly agreed with his viewpoint.

Like Slytherin’s Malfoy.

”Professor Karkaroff and I always see eye to eye.”

He said loudly in the corridor: ”My father once thought about sending me to Durmstrang, but my mother disagreed; she didn’t want me to be so far away.

But I think he should have insisted back then. Professor Karkaroff at Durmstrang is exactly what a headmaster should be, and they would never allow certain lowly people to enroll...”

As he said this, he would always glance intentionally or unintentionally at Hermione.

This infuriated Hermione, and she truly wished Malfoy could realize his wish to go to Durmstrang, so she would have at least half the trouble at school.

But that wasn’t the end of it.

On Wednesday at noon, after class, when Kael was passing by the foyer, he suddenly noticed a large crowd gathered there, three layers inside and three layers outside, completely blocking the way to the Auditorium.

Curiously, he squeezed into the crowd to see what was going on.

Sure enough, it was Karkaroff, but this time he wasn’t bothering students and professors; instead, he turned his sights on Filch.

”I remember I’ve told you more than once, keep your cat under control, don’t let it run around the castle.” Karkaroff said condescendingly.

”Mrs Norris never runs around...” Filch said with an ugly expression, ”She’s helping maintain order in the castle, catching students who break the rules...”

”Sorry, I must have misheard...” Karkaroff drawled, ”Maintaining order, a cat?

”Is Hogwarts so desperate that they have to employ a cat to watch over students?”

Beside him, a few Durmstrang students let out timely chuckles to accompany their headmaster.

”Quiet, don’t be so rude, or people might think all of us at Durmstrang are uncouth.”

Karkaroff drawled, ”I must admit, I’ve never heard of such a situation. If you don’t mind, I would donate some money so you could hire a... wizard to manage the daily order of the school.”

In an instant, Filch’s face turned red, like a boiled lobster.

Karkaroff not only belittled Mrs Norris but also subtly insulted him as a Squib, making his whole body tremble, unable to utter a word.

Those around also showed indignant expressions. ℯℯ𝑙.

If Karkaroff were just mocking Filch and Mrs Norris, quite a few might have cheered, seeing as they also disliked the pair; someone teaching them a lesson wouldn’t seem too bad.

But since the taunt included Hogwarts, it was unacceptable for many.

Karkaroff seemed indifferent, even pleased, as he listened to the bustling whispers around him, and he smugly stroked his goatee.

”Why are you all gathered here.”

Just then, Professor McGonagall came over, and the crowd made way for her.

”It’s lunchtime; go to the Auditorium.” Professor McGonagall instructed everyone before turning to Karkaroff, ”There’s no need for you to worry about managing Hogwarts, Professor Karkaroff.”

”Of course, that’s correct.” Karkaroff said, ”I was only making a small suggestion, not trying to interfere with Hogwarts, that’s for sure.

”But I must ask you to understand, Minerva, I need to be responsible for our students. Krum has been scared by this cat several times now, and I can’t help but suspect that you might be doing it on purpose, to affect Krum’s performance and help your champion stand out in the competition.”

”We would never do such a thing.” Professor McGonagall said with a tense face.

”Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t accusing you, just expressing suspicion.” Karkaroff gave a fake smile.

”Oh, you must be the only ones who would use such underhanded tactics.” Came a derisive laugh from the crowd.

”Out of the five judges, only you, an old mangy dog, deliberately gave the other two champions low scores.”

Being publicly called a mangy dog, Karkaroff couldn’t maintain his composure and turned to shout at the crowd:

”Who said that, come forward! I must let Dumbledore teach you a lesson.”