Hogwarts: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me From Studying

The rain poured down torrentially, endlessly crashing down, and the lead-gray sky seemed on the verge of collapse.

Raindrops the size of beans pounded on the asphalt road, the windowsill, and the roof of a black magic car, creating a sharp tapping sound.

The car door suddenly swung open.

Selena Goldstein stepped out of the vehicle, and with a loud splash, the standing water exploded. Her black raincoat fluttered wildly in the fierce wind.

A curtain of water formed along the edge of her hood, yet it couldn’t hide those eyes, burning with a flame of determination.

Her back was straight as a rod, as she strode forward. Behind her, two other Aurors in raincoats hurried to keep up, their eyes filled with worry and apprehension.

”Think again, Selena!” one of them shouted, ”Perhaps matters aren’t as they seem? Maybe we should investigate further for a few more days...”

”Lopez, either go back or shut up and come with me!” Selena declared loudly, ”I will never regret this, nor will I turn back!”

Thus, the other two fell silent and did not leave.

The three of them crossed the deserted street, heading toward a tall building with a brand-new golden sign at the entrance:

”FMC·New York Branch”.

Selena directly pushed open the heavy oak door, and the door chime rang urgently, instantly swallowed by the sound of the raging storm outside.

The main control hall of FMC was spacious yet cluttered, with posters plastered on the walls and prop boxes piled in the corners. Several casually dressed staff members were gathered around a flickering Flow Mirror, adjusting something.

The giant curved main screen displayed rolling images, and Director Nelson was clutching a stack of scripts, loudly directing his busy staff.

The doorbell rang, and everyone turned their eyes toward the three unexpected visitors at the entrance—especially the woman leading them, who was removing her raincoat.

”Director Goldstein?”

Noticing the Auror Office’s commanding director, Nelson, a bespectacled man with thinning hair, stood up from behind the console, quickly walking over with a look of surprise:

”In this weather... What brings you here?”

Selena dispensed with the pleasantries, tossing her raincoat to her colleague behind her and walking straight to Nelson, extracting a waterproof spell-protected document from her pocket and slamming it onto the console.

”I need to use your studio for a national broadcast.” Selena stated without room for negotiation, ”Right now!”

Nelson glanced at the document—it was an emergency authorization order from the Auror Office, with Selena Goldstein’s name prominently in the authorized by section—yet this certainly wasn’t within regulations.

”This is...” Nelson hesitated, ”Director Goldstein, according to protocol, you do not have the authority...”

”Did you read today’s newspaper?” Selena interrupted him, leaning slightly forward, her sharp eyes fixed firmly on Nelson.

Nelson stuttered, ”Of course... We... We have an upcoming interview with Acting Chairwoman Laira Piqueley...”

”Then don’t stand in my way!”

Selena took a step forward, making a clear threat: ”Otherwise, you’ll receive a notice tomorrow—every word your station broadcasts will require Auror Office approval from now on, or it won’t appear on the Flow Mirror! I mean what I say!”

Nelson nearly laughed out loud.

Since the advent of the Flow Mirror, countless politicians have tried to leverage it against them. If the FMC were swayed by the threat of an office director, they wouldn’t have survived this long.

But just as he was about to refuse, Nelson saw Selena’s eyes—

Those were not the eyes of a politician looking to exploit FMC for gain. That expression was all too familiar... Those eyes belonged to a warrior resolute and unwavering.

Every other staff member in the control room paused, watching them with an air of detached interest.

Outside, thunder rolled, and flashes of lightning slipped through the blinds, sharply illuminating Selena’s face.

Nelson’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he recalled her earlier words—newspaper... and thought of that earth-shattering report from this morning...

Nelson’s heart skipped a beat, suddenly understanding.

He hesitated for half a second, then feigned meekness, stepping back and raising his hands:

”Alright, alright... Since it’s an emergency authorization from the Auror Office, we’ll cooperate. How much time do you need?”

Several staff members looked at him in astonishment, then back at Selena.

Selena secretly let out a sigh of relief—she hadn’t expected it to be this easy—but kept a stern face as she said:

”Fifteen minutes... Give me fifteen minutes; I’ll bear all the consequences afterward.”

Nelson put on a thoroughly resigned expression and slumped his shoulders.

He nodded and turned to his team, saying, ”Get ready, clear Studio Three, connect to the national main channel in three minutes, and initiate maximum signal amplification... Why are you standing still? Move it, boys!”

The staff members quickly busied themselves; a young man seized the chance to approach Nelson as he cleared up and whispered:

”Are we really going to accept their terms? If word gets back to headquarters, Mr. Machioni’s wrath won’t be pretty to face!”

Nelson said sternly with a frown, ”What are we?”

”Huh?” The young man asked, confused, ”W-we’re FMC wizards?”

”We are all American Wizards.” Nelson’s gaze shifted to Selena, who was entering Studio Three, and he said softly, ”We can’t always turn a blind eye to certain matters.”

...

Studio Three was small yet straightforward. A massive flow mirror occupied an entire wall, mirroring the room’s furnishings in standby mode. Several magic lamps hung from above, casting a cold white light.

Standing before the Flow Mirror, Selena looked at her reflection: her hair was slightly disheveled from the rain, and her face was pale from fatigue and tension, but her eyes... Those eyes burned with a near-sacred resolve.

Her companions Anderson and Lopez stood at the door. Young Anderson finally couldn’t hold back, his voice full of concern:

”Selena... Are we really going to do this? Shouldn’t we try rallying support from other members first? Or wait for Headmaster Fontana’s response? I’m not a coward, but what you’re doing is really dangerous.”

”There’s no turning back, Anderson.”

Selena didn’t look back; her gaze was still fixed on her reflection in the mirror. ”And there’s no time to wait or hesitate any longer!”

She turned to face her only two comrades at that moment, her voice echoing in the cramped studio, with each word struck like a hammer:

”What oath did we swear the day we donned this uniform? ’To uphold the laws and order of the Magic World, to protect the innocent from harm, regardless of whether the threat comes from outside or within.’

Her voice suddenly rose, filled with long-suppressed anger and sorrow:

”The threat is now within us! Laira Piqueley and her behind-the-scenes forces—chasing power, willing to frame an honorable chairman, concealing the inhumane experiments by Muggles on wizards, allowing the forbidden Time Magic to rob colleagues of life and future!”

”They sit in Congress, weaving their throne with lies, while Chairman Hosone—who we all know is a good man—has become a fugitive!”

Her chest heaved intensely, and for the first time, her eyes welled with tears, promptly suppressed:

”If we remain silent now, letting usurpers have their way, what kind of Aurors are we? What meaning do the badges we bear still hold?”

”I will tell the truth, let all compatriots see clearly what’s happening. Then... then, whether they arrest me or put me on trial, I’ll accept. But at the very least, before they drag me to prison, I’ll make it known Chairman Hosone has been wronged!!”