Hogwarts: I Am an Exemplary Wizard

Chapter 592: Chapter 590: Dumbledore’s Invitation

It’s been a week since the Weasleys left Ottery St Catchpole.

Honestly, after getting used to Fred and George’s constant noise, Kael found it somewhat strange to suddenly have peace and quiet.

Sometimes Percy would come back, but whatever Fudge had told him, he seemed like a completely different person lately, showing openly hostile attitudes towards anyone related to Dumbledore.

Therefore, Kael didn’t have much to talk about with him, and he preferred to spend the time thinking about how to deal with the Ministry of Magic in the future.

...

Soon, time passed, and it was already the eleventh of August.

That afternoon, while Kael was flipping through ”Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery” and ”International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy” in his room, a knocking sound came from downstairs.

Kael lifted his head in a daze.

Since Fred and George went to Grimmauld Place, he hadn’t heard a knock in a long time.

Cedric?

Kael thought, while standing up to glance out the window.

”Professor Dumbledore?” Kael called instinctively, seeing Dumbledore standing outside.

”Oh, I was wondering if you were at Grimmauld Place.” Dumbledore smiled, ”May I have a cup of tea?”

”Of course, Professor, please wait a moment.”

A few minutes later, Kael placed a cup of tea in front of Dumbledore, and fetched a jar filled with sugar cubes and a plate of butter cookies from the cabinet behind him.

”Thank you.”

As Dumbledore added sugar to the tea, he said, ”First, I must apologize to you, Kael. When I was explaining to others what happened on the mountaintop that day, I forgot to instruct them to keep it a secret.

”As a result, the news somehow reached Fudge’s ears, and the Ministry of Magic seems to perceive you as an enemy.”

”It’s all right, Professor.” Kael shook his head.

This couldn’t have been kept secret for long anyway, even he himself hadn’t intended to hide it, and the Ministry would have found out sooner or later.

Plus, the Death Eaters also knew about it, and Kael remembered that many of them had ties in the Ministry, causing trouble for him was not difficult for them.

”There’s another matter.” Dumbledore continued, ”Tomorrow I need to attend Harry’s hearing, so I won’t have time to accompany you for the inquiry... how about Minerva goes with you? I remember she is old friends with Ms. Hopkirk.”

”There’s no need.” Kael shook his head, ”It’s just a simple inquiry, no need for such a big display, I can go by myself, and besides, my dad will be with me tomorrow.”

”Minerva insisted.” Dumbledore said, ”You are still a student right now, even during the holidays, the professors have a responsibility to ensure you aren’t treated unfairly. She will be waiting for you in the Ministry’s hall tomorrow morning, so keep an eye out.”

”Alright then.” Kael said, having Professor McGonagall with him wouldn’t be bad, just like Dumbledore said, professors wouldn’t let the students be disadvantaged.

”Is that why you came to see me?”

”That’s the most important thing.” Dumbledore took a sip of tea, ”There’s one more minor thing... I think you’ve already heard from Dugald, I’m planning to hold a meeting in my personal capacity to reveal the truth to those willing to believe us, so they’re not deceived by false news.”

Kael nodded, ”Mr. McPhail mentioned it in his letter.”

”The meeting will be on August 20th, in Hogsmeade.” Dumbledore said, ”If you don’t have other plans, how about joining us?”

”Can I participate?” Kael asked curiously.

Being invited by Dumbledore surely meant the attendees were well-known wizards in the Magic Realm, could he, a fifth-year... no, rather, sixth-year student, fit in?

”No one is more fitting than you.” Dumbledore must have figured out Kael’s concern, and smiled, ”I originally intended to invite you directly but was worried you might have other plans, so I thought asking first was better.”

”I would love to join the meeting.” Kael said.

”Alright, I will come and get you then.” Dumbledore stood up, ”But for now, I must head to Little Whinging to prepare for tomorrow’s hearing.”

”Do you need help?”

”Thank you, but I just need to ask around if anyone noticed anything, it’s not much trouble, and one person is enough for the task.”

Dumbledore placed the teacup down, ”Thank you for the tea and snacks, I will see you tomorrow.”

With that, he disillusioned himself and left.

Only Kael remained in the living room.

He had planned to discuss more matters, like those concerning the Ministry of Magic and Fudge, but Dumbledore left before he could speak up.

Moreover, during their conversation, Kael sensed Dumbledore seemed especially busy, as if he was racing against time.

Although his speech wasn’t hurried, he drank the tea rapidly, almost finishing it in two sips.

In school, he never did that, for those overly sweet teas that even made Kael want to eat some black pepper to counteract the sweetness, Dumbledore preferred to sip them slowly, rather than finish them off as he did today.

This suggested he never intended to stay long initially.

But thinking about it, it’s understandable, as the matter involved Voldemort, he probably didn’t have much free time this month.

But this issue is not urgent, and it can also wait until after the visit to Hogsmeade to be addressed.

Kael got up and returned to his room upstairs, he didn’t expect Dumbledore would indeed invite him to the meeting, he initially thought Dumbledore came to invite him to join the Order of the Phoenix.

But he didn’t mention anything about the Order of the Phoenix.

Now it seemed, like Mrs. Weasley, Dumbledore didn’t want underage young wizards to join.

When the night fell completely, Chris returned home, but he seemed quite pleased, his steps much lighter than before as he entered.

”Don’t worry.” Chris smiled, ”I just went to the Leaky Cauldron, but Tom Senior told me someone had already approached him, and he agreed to go to the Ministry tomorrow and clarify the situation with Mafalda.

”Apparently, even Tom Senior was puzzled by this. He told me that before this incident, he had never heard of anyone being warned by the Ministry for using a charm at the Leaky Cauldron.”

”That’s good.” Kael said, ”How will I get there tomorrow, with you? Or should we go at the appointed time?”

”Come with me, I will take you.” Chris said, ”But a little bit earlier, your mom needs you, we need to go to the Department of Mysteries first, and then to the Office of the Prohibition of the Misuse of Magic.”

”What’s the matter, even the Department of Mysteries is involved?”

”Honestly, I’m not sure either.” Chris shook his head and said, ”Before leaving work, I received a note from your mom, asking me to take you there as soon as possible, and it didn’t say anything else.”

”But isn’t the Department of Mysteries tasked with certain assignments?” Kael asked, ”Can we enter?”

”Not us, just you.” Chris said.

”She will only take you to the Department of Mysteries, and after that, I will take you for the inquiry.”

...