At the Christmas dinner at Hogwarts, everyone ate with gusto, even those who were about to receive the "indefinite senior meal."
Under the management of Grindelwald, Cornelius Fudge and others, the auditorium was decorated with extra grandeur.
More than a dozen Christmas trees covered with silver frost were hung with pieces of singing golden stars. Thick ribbons composed of mistletoe and holly crisscrossed on the ceiling cast exquisite magic, constantly flowing from the ceiling to the ceiling.
Warm, dry snowflakes fell below.
The Siren Choir signed by Gringotts Wizarding Bank also came to the castle and sang several cheerful and pleasant Christmas carols.
Hagrid, Professor McGonagall and others also returned to Hogwarts. Under the attack of eggnog and red wine, Professor McGonagall finally loosened her tight lips.
Newt has no energy to continue dealing with the Ministry of Magic and Dumbledore because his wife Tina Scamander has arrived. Even though she is over ninety, this former American elite Auror is still majestic and serious there.
Pressing Newt on the details of the basilisk hunt and why he didn't report it to his family in advance before carrying out such a dangerous mission - if it weren't for Cornelius Fudge, Newt's end might have been even more miserable.
Cornelius Foley, sitting in the middle of the left side of the long table, was proudly introducing the details of the secret room battle to reporters and school directors.
As an official who arrived at the scene in advance and received the guidance of "Ah Dumbledore", Cornelius Fudge showed the ease of speaking as if he was personally on the scene. If he didn't know the real situation in advance, anyone would be surprised after hearing it.
This will give rise to the illusion that he is the main force in the action.
Albus Dumbledore and Newt Scamander, on the other hand, are more like elders who are checking for mistakes and filling in the gaps.
Dumbledore didn't mind this at all, and even smiled and nodded from time to time, seeming to agree with some of Fudge's statements.
In fact, this is also the propaganda caliber previously discussed by the Ministry of Magic, the School Board and the Hogwarts professors.
If the reporters from magazines such as "Daily Prophet" and "Wizard Weekly" work efficiently enough, then tomorrow morning, reports about the extermination of the basilisk will appear on the breakfast tables of many wizard families, and by the way, Mr. Minister
Photo with the headless basilisk.
At the same time, on the other side.
In the Hufflepuff common room.
Since all the students have gone back, the entire common room is their free range.
Hermione and Luna had just finished their third serving of cranberry Christmas pudding, while Hannah was still fighting with the golden roasted goose. Elena was holding a crystal goblet and shaking the contents of it.
Pomegranate juice strives to create an atmosphere of wine tasting.
"However, I still don't quite understand something, Elena."
Hermione took a sip of the iced grape juice on hand and looked curiously at the white-haired dumpling sitting by the fireplace grilling sausages.
"Why did Dumbledore, well, I mean you Major Arcana people, finally decide to give this credit to the officials of the Ministry of Magic? If it were published like this in the newspaper and accompanied by the corresponding pictures, everyone would think that the Chamber of Secrets
Actually, it was the Ministry of Magic who helped—"
"Maintaining the stability of the magical world is the duty of the Ministry of Magic, isn't it?"
Elena gently tapped the sausages sizzling on the fireplace with her wand, directed them to turn over, and said lightly.
"In this adult world, it is very important for everyone to perform their duties - not to mention that in this Chamber of Secrets hunt, the Auror Office of the Ministry of Magic, the Department of Magical Disasters, and the Department for the Control of Magical Creatures all sent employees, even if
None of them came, and their names have to be added to the list of people who will clean up the Slytherin Chamber and execute the basilisk. Frankly speaking, this is actually the perfect result."
"After all, it is the 'property' left by Salazar Slytherin in the castle, right?"
"Furthermore, considering the issues related to the Chamber of Secrets, it is obviously better for the Ministry of Magic to take the lead in handling them than to be solved quietly by Hogwarts itself. As the maintainer of order in today's wizarding world, the Ministry of Magic takes the initiative to eliminate the basilisk. The representative significance of this is
The most important thing."
Elena glanced at Luna who was thoughtful, and explained the three little wings slowly.
"There has been a saying in Hogwarts that the descendants of Slytherin will one day return to the castle and release the monsters in the secret room to clean up those who are not qualified to learn magic - well, that is, pure
Everyone except blood wizards - like me, like Hermione."
"In fact, this kind of thinking is not uncommon among many pure-blood wizard families..."
Elena paused for a few seconds, lingered meaningfully on Hermione's face for a few seconds, and then continued.
"If Dumbledore had killed the basilisk, it would have added another record to his glorious resume and would not have had any subsequent impact on the magical world. But if the Ministry of Magic, as the maintainer of order in the magical world, takes the initiative
The signals revealed in the eradication of the basilisk are different. Combined with some of the spreading remarks, it can exert several Dumbledore effects in breaking down barriers and discrimination."
"……professor."
At this moment, Hermione said seriously.
"You can't make a habit of it, Elena, that's Professor Dumbledore."
"Well - at least as much influence as a few Professor Dumbledores can have."
Elena shrugged helplessly, not choosing to argue in such a place, and continued while turning over her grilled sausages.
"All in all, we have everything planned.
"There is never a free cake in this world. Employees of the Destiny Group are also among the reporters. In addition to the last few makeup photos of the big shots, from the time they stepped into Hogwarts Castle, before the photo shoot process
There just happen to be a few dynamic photos.”
"After all, among journalists, it is inevitable that some will take risks just for the sake of publicity. This can be a fatal backhand."
Elena ignored the stunned expressions of Hermione, Luna, and Hannah, forked the sizzling sausage and put it on the dinner plate at hand.
"On the other hand, killing the basilisk will also prompt the birth of another reason for revenge - as a descendant of Slytherin, the genius wizard who opened the Chamber of Secrets last time, Tom Riddle, who is currently on the run, will obviously focus on magic because of this.
Ministry. If he regains some strength, there is a high probability that starting from tomorrow, the Ministry of Magic will be marked as the first target, a Death Eater, and the Dark Lord will launch revenge against senior officials of the Ministry of Magic..."
"This is very reasonable, isn't it? There are so many benefits in this, and you will slowly understand it later."
Elena's eyes flashed with danger, and she looked somewhat similar to the goblin at Gringotts Wizarding Bank.
"So, you plan to use this to blackmail the Minister of Magic and the school directors?"
Hermione thought carefully for a few seconds, glanced at the white-haired dumpling who nodded casually, and said in disbelief.
"Elena, are you thinking that the Ministry of Magic officials are too stupid? I don't think they can't see this possibility -"
"You can never judge a bureaucrat by his intelligence or stupidity, that's what Dad once said."
Luna stood up, held the knife and walked to Elena to sit down. While helping her cut up the grilled sausages, she said lightly in a singing-like voice, "The difference between them is just greed, and being greedier...
…Compared to fame, power and status, these are nothing.”
"What's more, the Major Arcana never imagined coercion from the beginning to the end, and the Ministry of Magic and the school board have never had such concerns."
Luna glanced at Hermione who seemed to want to say something else, shrugged her shoulders and spoke softly in an erratic tone.
"In the eyes of the Ministry of Magic and the school board, if Professor Dumbledore really wanted to target them, there would be no need to go to such trouble - I guess those photos and the like would probably be sent to other unrelated people for them to
Is there some friction with the Ministry of Magic?"
"Well, that's right, so-"
Elena said happily, took out a parchment list from her chest and handed it to Han Na who was eating roast goose next to her.
"About a few months ago, an informant at Gringotts Wizarding Bank provided news that officials from some ancient magical families were quietly transferring property, and the recipients were the American Wizarding World and the American Federation Magical Savings. And in Dumbledore
With the help of some of Professor Lido's friends, we got a more detailed list. Greedy guys are the most suitable to deal with other greedy guys..."
Under normal circumstances, Cornelius Fudge naturally has no need to target the forces of those ancient magic families.
However, if someone uses these excuses to blackmail the Minister of Magic, some political compromise may be obtained at the beginning.
But as time goes by, as the Major Arcanas continue to tout and build the reputation of Ministry of Magic officials, sooner or later there will be a day of rift between the Ministry of Magic and those ancient magic families - Exorcism of the Wolf
Chasing tigers is a very clever hunting method.
"Luna, you are now a reserve 'Priestess', and you have to learn to handle some simple matters here at Gringotts."
Elena pushed the parchment list and said in a cheerful tone as if giving a gift.
"Choose a few names here, and then ask Hannah to cooperate with you in issuing orders. Within the next few days, let the wizards of the Destiny Group skillfully send out the evidence that can be used to blackmail the officials of the Ministry of Magic. Prioritize those who are not involved in magic.
A member of the Hogwarts Board of Trustees."
"By the way, by the way, you can only have barbecue after you complete your daily 'approval' homework."
"Otherwise, we can only smell it on the side first, and let's eat first..."
After saying that, Elena returned to the fireplace in the lounge and began to roast the remaining dried tofu, leeks, small herring and other things.
Although the Hogwarts kitchen is very happy to serve them, the joy of barbecue lies more in the process rather than the final result. Of course, there is also some extra happiness in occasionally forcing the little wings to work overtime.
On the other side, Luna quickly circled a few names on the parchment with an expression on her face and handed them to Han Na, who looked confused.
"My 'approval' process has been completed a long time ago, and the rest is left to you, Miss Chariot——"
"Eh?"
Hannah blinked blankly and subconsciously turned her head to look at the public desk in the lounge.
On that long table, less than a third of the pile of "documents to be reviewed" belonging to her had been answered.
Then, Hannah turned her head and looked at the sizzling barbecue next to the fireplace, swallowed her saliva, and said tentatively.
"How about I go get you a Christmas gift first, and Elena, you can help me go through today's 'approval' later? If you help me, I can promise you two, oh no, three
A Christmas wish! Well, I will never go back on my words and do what I say!”
"Don't look for Elena, just let me help you. How about two wishes?"
Hermione suddenly spoke proactively, stopping Hana from falling into a trap in advance.
At the same time, Hermione glanced at Miss Lovegood not far away calmly and raised her eyebrows.
"Wait a minute, Granger, you're going too far - then I'll also..."
However, before a certain white-haired dumpling could finish his words.
In the bargaining between the three of them, a new voice emerged.
"A wish."
Luna said softly.
Um?
Uh-huh?
Uh huh huh?!
Elena turned her head in astonishment, this can also be rolled?!