With extraordinary comprehension, I built a floating city at Hogwarts.

Page 462

Dumbledore's tone was very sincere, revealing his complete trust in Lupin: "Until now, Remus has remained clear-headed and restrained, and has never had any record of harming anyone. But just last week, he took his potion as usual, never expecting this to happen tonight. It is clear that someone has deliberately framed him and tampered with his potion. I implore you to remain calm, preserve some dignity for your Professor Lupin, and give him a chance to prove his innocence."

Just then, Professor Snape emerged from the crowd, his face so dark and gloomy it seemed to drip water.

He looked at the bound werewolf, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

Memories flooded back, and he remembered the near-fatal accident when he was a student. Snape was instantly enraged.

He stepped forward and said loudly, "Dumbledore, I, Snape, may not be a good person, but I wouldn't stoop so low as to tamper with his medicine! If you don't trust me, you can always find someone else to make him the Wolfsbane Potion."

“Severus, don’t let anger cloud your judgment. You know that’s not what I meant.” Dumbledore frowned and explained to Snape, “I’m not doubting you, but the situation is complicated, and we need to stay calm and work together to find out the truth.”

Just then, a cloying and affected voice broke the 4.9-minute conversation between the two.

Ms. Umbridge swayed forward, a fake smile on her face. "Headmaster Dumbledore, please allow me to offer a humble opinion. Since this ugly werewolf..."

Umbridge shivered involuntarily at Dumbledore's glare, then immediately changed her tune, "Well, since Mr. Remus Lupin was careless and someone tampered with his medicine, Headmaster Dumbledore, how can you guarantee that something similar won't happen again?"

She glanced around and saw some young wizards nodding in agreement, so she continued with even more pride, "This time it was luck; our Ministry of Magic stopped the tragedy before he could hurt anyone. But what about next time? If our Ministry of Magic hadn't discovered it in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable. Headmaster Dumbledore, your decision based on your personal feelings for Mr. Lupin could put the children in the castle in danger."

After hearing Umbridge's words, the young wizards around her began to whisper among themselves, and many of them felt that what she said seemed to make some sense.

These young wizards didn't usually like Umbridge much, always thinking she was a meddlesome and annoying character, but this time they surprisingly spoke some truths.

Chapter 524 Public Outcry

"My God, I've actually been living with a living werewolf for so long!" a young wizard exclaimed, his face filled with horror and disbelief. "If he really goes out of control, won't we all get infected? My life will be ruined!"

“How can the school let a werewolf stay with us? They have absolutely no guarantee of our safety and they take it for granted—” another young wizard said indignantly. “Have they even considered our safety? My dad is on the school board, I have to tell him about this right away and make him take action against the school!”

“But Professor Lupin is so kind to us, and his classes are so interesting,” a little witch said hesitantly. “I really find it hard to believe he’s a werewolf.”

“What do you know? Werewolves are evil; they have no souls!” her female companion retorted fiercely. “Professor Lupin is only nice to us to lower our guard. These werewolves should be sent to Azkaban!”

……

After the wizards of the Department of Magical Creatures Management and Control used drugs and spells, the tall werewolf gradually regained his sanity. His eyes, which had been clouded by wildness, slowly cleared.

He was tightly bound to the ground and could only sit quietly, his head bowed low, trying to avoid all the gazes of the world.

From a distance, his once majestic body now trembled slightly, appearing so small and humble, like a wild beast captured by a hunter, awaiting its fate.

Around him, some young wizards angrily rebuked him, venting their shock and anger at being deceived and misled.

Those sharp words were like swords, piercing deep into the werewolf's heart.

The young wizards who had previously been on good terms with Professor Lupin, while not joining in the chorus of insults, stood silently to the side, offering no defense of him.

Their gazes turned cold and unfamiliar, as if they were looking at a monster, a dangerous entity that could harm them at any moment.

This transformation was heartbreaking for Lupin; he would rather remain forever asleep in that endless wildness than face this reality.

Tonight's experience has added another layer of trauma to Remus Loo's already torturous life.

Harry struggled through the crowd and finally reached Professor Lupin's side, wanting to untie Lupin and free him.

However, just as he was about to get closer, he was blocked by members of the werewolf capture team.

“You can’t go over there, he’s still in danger,” a team member said seriously.

Harry struggled, trying to break free of their restraints, and he could sense Professor Lupin's sadness and humiliation.

“No, you’re wrong! Professor Lupin wouldn’t hurt anyone, he wouldn’t!” he shouted, hoping to awaken the conscience of those around him.

Among the young wizards watching, some felt a little sorry for what they were seeing, such as Hannah Abbott of Hufflepuff.

“Maybe Harry is telling the truth?” she whispered to the person next to her. “Look at Professor Lupin, he’s regained his senses. He’s usually so kind.”

However, her words were immediately refuted by Seamus Finnigan: "Don't believe Harry Potter. Have you forgotten the news in the Daily Prophet? He's been trying to spread the lie of the return of the Man from Nowhere to get attention. Like my mother said, now you can't even trust Dumbledore."

Seamus Finnigan had a fight with Harry and the others when school started, and this was like finding irrefutable evidence.

Harry felt a pang of bitterness upon hearing these words.

He looked around, his pleading gaze landing on his other Gryffindor companions: "Professor Lupin had a hundred chances to kill me, but I was alone with him many times, and he never hurt me. It's the same for you, isn't it? He's innocent."

However, his pleas were met only with silence from his companions.

They seemed to be influenced by Seamus's words and began to doubt Harry and Professor Lupin.

Neville seemed to want to say something, but after glancing at the werewolf, he trembled slightly and took a few steps back, no longer daring to look Harry in the eye.

Just then, the werewolf, who had been looking down, suddenly raised his head, revealing human-like emotions in his red eyes.

His gaze was fixed on Harry, he nodded to him, then shook his head. This action startled the young wizards in the room, who all backed away, wanting to get as far away from him as possible.

However, Harry understood Professor Lupin's meaning. While he was grateful that Harry had defended him, he was also advising himself not to speak up for him anymore.

“Professor Lupin’s light is white,” Luna suddenly appeared in the crowd, standing beside the bound Professor Lupin, her voice clear and firm, “unlike that madman emitting black light. He is innocent.”

Her words confused Harry, but he immediately understood what she meant.

Luna has always observed the world in her own unique way, and now she is expressing her support for Professor Lupin in her own way.

Harry felt a surge of warmth in his heart; finally, someone had stood up for him.

Just then, Harry's companions finally managed to squeeze to the front.

“I believe in Luna, and I believe in Professor Lupin.” Ginny walked to Luna’s side and took her hand.

Ron hesitated as he looked at Professor Lupin's previous out-of-control and frantic state.

But in the end, he mustered his courage and, like Harry and the others, went to Professor Lupin's side and awkwardly imitated his sister, saying, "Professor Lupin is innocent."

After saying that, he subconsciously tried to take Harry's hand, just like Ginny Luna had done, but Harry immediately shook him off.

Harry glared at him.

Are you crazy to do something like this at a time like this?

Just then, the camera of the Arcane Eye suddenly switched and focused on the staff of the werewolf capture project team.

Their tattered clothes and scratches made them look utterly wretched. Their pitiful state made Harry and the others' explanations for Lupin seem weak and ineffective.

The television screen switched back to 783, focusing on the female reporter, Fleur Delacour.

By now, the sky was bright, and she stood outside Hogwarts, interviewing a group of angry parents.

"We strongly protest Professor Dumbledore's irresponsible behavior!" one parent shouted, waving his wand excitedly. "If my child's safety cannot be guaranteed, I would rather transfer him to another school. Hogwarts is no longer the school we trusted."

Another parent sighed, "I used to think Hogwarts was the safest place in the world, but now it seems I was wrong. It's such a shame that something so terrible happened here."

……

Public opinion turned against Dumbledore.

If he could previously maintain a respectable balance with Minister of Magic Fudge based on his former prestige, he can no longer do so.

Because he hired werewolves as professors without authorization, putting the students in a dangerous situation, even the parents who had previously supported him or remained neutral were now very dissatisfied with him.

In this situation, to protect Professor Lupin from the Ministry of Magic's harassment and more serious accusations, Dumbledore had to compromise with Fudge. He admitted his negligence in hiring Professor Lupin and allowed the Ministry of Magic to help Hogwarts with "reforms."

Dumbledore finally relented, and Fudge was overjoyed. He praised and commended Umbridge's performance and promoted and rewarded her almost immediately.

Chapter 525 News Report

On Monday morning, Hermione returned to Hogwarts.

By this weekend, he had already learned something about Lupin's situation.

She stepped into the Gryffindor common room, where the atmosphere was somewhat different from usual.

Several young wizards were gathered around the fireplace, their eyes glued to the news playing on the television.

In the past, they would eat in the Great Hall while reading the newspaper to keep up with current events, but with Levin installing televisions in the common rooms of each house, some young wizards have come to enjoy watching the news on TV.

They would arrive at the auditorium early, pack their breakfast, and then return to the lounge to eat while watching the show.

Just like what Harry and his friends are doing now.

Hermione strode over, and when she saw the image on the screen, she involuntarily gasped.

She had considered that the Ministry of Magic would extend its reach further into Hogwarts, but she hadn't anticipated that things would change so quickly.

The image of presenter Fleur Delacour appeared on the screen, with a huge photograph behind her showing Dolores Umbridge grinning broadly, her eyes seemingly winking at them, her expression full of smugness and provocation.

“This is big news from last night,” Fleur’s voice echoed in the common room. “In order to promote educational reform, the Ministry of Magic issued the Education Order No. 23 and appointed Dolores Umbridge as Hogwarts’ first Senior Investigator.”

“Umbridge—'Senior Investigator'?” Harry said, frowning, a half-eaten piece of bread slipping from his fingers. “What does that mean?”

No one answered him.

"In an emergency meeting last night, the Ministry of Magic passed this new decree, which will give them unprecedented control over Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."

Host Furong continued her introduction:

“In recent weeks, Minister Cornelius Fudge has used new legislation to improve magic schools. Just recently, on August 30th, Education Order No. 8 was passed,” Fleur added. “This order stipulates that if the current headmaster cannot provide a candidate for a teaching position, the Ministry of Magic will recommend a suitable candidate. Let’s hear what the relevant personnel at the Ministry of Magic have to say about this.”

The scene suddenly shifts, and Furong appears in an office setting, transformed into a female reporter interviewing a red-haired man.

Ron and Hermione recognized the familiar face at a glance—Ron's third brother, Percy Weasley.

“Mr. Weasley, as a member of the Ministry of Magic, what is your opinion on this new decree?” Fleur asked.

On the big screen at that moment, a label appeared next to Percy: Percy Weasley, Assistant Minister for Magic.

Unbeknownst to the audience, Aufa United Television deliberately chose Percy as the main interviewee to give him more screen time.

Percy gazed at the Arcane Eye before him, a hint of barely perceptible smugness in his eyes.

He cleared his throat and began to answer: “For some time now, the Minister has been increasingly uneasy about the current state of Hogwarts. He took this action after listening to the concerns of the parents. The worried parents feel that the school seems to be heading in a direction they strongly disapprove of.”

"I see. The Ministry of Magic issued Education Order No. 22 long before the start of the school year, and Dolores Umbridge almost got the Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching position because of it,"

Hermione stood to the side, a flash of understanding crossing her eyes. "No wonder Levin told us on the train not to expect to learn anything in this term's Defense Against the Dark Arts class. With no suitable professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts, Dumbledore had to assign Lupin to fill in to silence the Ministry and prevent Umbridge from carrying out Education Order Twenty-Two. Unfortunately for Umbridge, she ultimately got what she wanted."

“But what does this have to do with senior investigators?” Harry frowned, a hint of confusion in his voice.

“Wait, Harry, the news isn’t over yet. Just keep watching and you’ll find out,” Hermione said sternly.

"After the teacher known as the 'Werewolf Professor' was expelled from Hogwarts,"

The scene briefly cuts back to Furong, who is intently reading the manuscript in her hands.

"Ms. Dolores Umbridge will take over the Defense Against the Dark Arts course at Hogwarts. She has vowed to bring about groundbreaking changes to the course and has promised to provide timely feedback to the Minister for Magic on the true state of Hogwarts. Recently, the Ministry of Magic passed Education Order No. 23, and this temporary action has now officially come into effect. She will also be given a new position—Hogwarts Senior Investigator. These new measures from the Ministry of Magic have received enthusiastic support from the parents of Hogwarts students, who hope to see a more standardized and efficient Hogwarts."

The scene then cuts back to the interview in the Ministry of Magic's office.

"This is an encouraging new initiative by the minister in an attempt to control the decline in Hogwarts' educational standards."