Hogwarts: I Am an Exemplary Wizard

Chapter 553: Chapter 551: The Deputy Minister’s Absurd Proposal

Moody’s leave this time lasted longer than anyone expected. It was about a month later when he finally returned to Hogwarts.

On Friday night, as everyone was engrossed in their dinner, the Great Hall doors suddenly swung open from the outside. With a grim face, Moody limped in.

While Moody’s expression was always serious, even somewhat intimidating, today everyone could tell at a glance that he was in a particularly foul mood.

His scar-filled face was tense, and the magic eye in his eye socket never stopped, rapidly surveying each person around.

Seeing this, some students who initially intended to greet him quickly dispelled the thought, sitting obediently in their seats without daring to look at Moody.

”Kael, what do you think happened?” Cedric whispered beside the Hufflepuff long table, ”I’ve never seen Professor Moody this angry before.”

”I don’t know either,” Kael shook his head, ”but I guess it might have something to do with the recent happenings in the Ministry of Magic.”

He glanced at the Daily Prophet at his side.

There was a striking headline on the front page of the newspaper.

[Former Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Magic Law Enforcement Department, Dolores Jane Umbridge, Transferred to Minister’s Office as the Senior Deputy Minister]

Unlike the brief mention of Crouch a month ago, this new Deputy Minister Umbridge alone occupied the front page of the newspaper.

The paper detailed her past achievements and various contributions to the Ministry of Magic.

Most of the content Kael ignored after a glance, but one particular point caught his attention.

It stated that Umbridge believed Aurors’ powers were too extensive and that some particularly powerful charms, like The Blasting Curse, should be banned.

Additionally, she mentioned that Aurors were too lax before; they should be under the Minister’s Office dispatch like Beaters, rather than being directly led by the Head of the Auror Office as they currently are.

Judging from the date, this proposal appeared half a month ago and was marked as pending, clearly still under discussion, neither passed nor rejected.

The reason for Professor Moody’s prolonged absence likely relates to this matter.

If so, it’s no wonder he’s so angry.

Aurors and Beaters are fundamentally different departments. Aurors mainly deal with notorious Dark Wizards, with more dangerous missions, as if each task is a dance on the razor’s edge.

If using more powerful charms is prohibited, the consequences are predictable.

Moreover, being under the Minister’s Office dispatch means Aurors would have to deal with additional procedures each operation, greatly reducing their efficiency.

In some cases, especially in emergencies, every second counts, and any delay could make things worse.

Moody, though retired, surely wouldn’t stand by and watch the Ministry of Magic send Aurors to their deaths.

Fudge must be overestimating himself. It’s outrageous that such a ridiculous proposal hasn’t been immediately dismissed.

Other countries are striving to improve Aurors’ conditions to attract more talents, but Fudge insists on doing the opposite.

Kael could also guess somewhat. He probably wanted to gain control over the Auror Office, but this method is rather foolish.

If people from other countries saw this, then...

Well, in fact, people from other countries have already seen it.

Fleur merely sneered at the newspaper.

Though Kael couldn’t be certain she was laughing at this news, aside from this, there seemed to be nothing else amusing in today’s paper.

Moreover, at the Slytherin table, Krum wasn’t eating in silence as before but was chatting and laughing with other Durmstrang students in Bulgarian.

By his side, there was also a copy of the Daily Prophet.

Kael shook his head helplessly.

It seems that Sirius was right: without Crouch, it indeed isn’t good for the Ministry of Magic.

But these are not his concerns; Dumbledore certainly won’t let such a proposal pass.

Kael glanced towards the faculty table. Dumbledore was talking to Moody with the same serious expression.

...

The next morning.

When Kael arrived at the Headmaster’s Office on the eighth floor as usual, he didn’t see Dumbledore there... he must have gone to the Ministry of Magic.

Kael had anticipated this situation before coming, so he only waited in the Headmaster’s Office for ten minutes before leaving.

A break for a week isn’t bad, and today was also a Hogsmeade day. After drinking pumpkin juice for more than a month, Kael planned to go to the Three Broomsticks for a pint of chilled Butterbeer.

After leaving the eighth floor, Kael encountered Sirius and Harry in the entrance hall; they seemed to be heading out too.

”Kael?” Sirius was somewhat surprised. ”Aren’t you supposed to be with Professor Dumbledore today, learning charms?”

Though most students didn’t know about this, the faculty did. Sirius even shamelessly attended one lecture in the Headmaster’s Office.

However, he only lasted ten minutes that day before leaving without a backward glance.

He didn’t understand; he couldn’t understand at all.

Those complex Magic Text Formulas made his head spin. He didn’t choose Ancient Runes back in school, and the little knowledge he did have had mostly faded over the past twelve years.

”What, Kael is learning charms from Professor Dumbledore?” Harry asked, somewhat astonished, upon hearing this for the first time, with a hint of envy in his tone.

After all, that was Dumbledore, the greatest wizard of the century. Being taught by him must mean learning a lot.

”Yes, that’s right... well, for the Triwizard Tournament.” Sirius winked, then whispered, ”Remember not to tell anyone else.”

”No problem, I’ll keep it a secret,” Harry nodded repeatedly, putting away his envy.

He originally thought of telling Ron and Hermione, but since Sirius said so, he decided to wait a bit longer.

When the third task of the Tournament begins and they reveal this secret, their expressions will surely be priceless.

Harry turned to Kael, asking, ”So have you learned it already? I really hope you win the championship.”

”Learned? Far from it.” Kael replied, ”With Professor Dumbledore not at the school today, I’m planning to grab a drink at the Three Broomsticks. What about you guys...”

”We happen to be heading to Hogsmeade as well,” Sirius smiled, ”Remus is there too. If you don’t have other plans, do you want to join us?”

”Professor Lupin? Of course, no problem.” Kael nodded.

He indeed hadn’t seen Lupin, the former Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, for quite a while.

Looking at Sirius, Kael suddenly remembered: wasn’t he technically taking over Lupin’s position... Hardly surprising as they are good friends, even sharing the same job.

Just unsure if Sirius, like Lupin, could walk away unscathed from this position at the end of the school year.

To say the least, in these past years, Lupin’s end was among the best. Although his werewolf identity was exposed, forcing his resignation, he suffered no substantial harm.

Just this fact alone surpassed ninety-nine percent of his colleagues.

...