143: School Board Meeting {xml} Meeting with Parents
Joel thought about the diary all night.
According to his observations last night, the probability that Malfoy holds Riddle's diary is very small, and now Lockhart has become the key suspect.
But how did Lockhart get Riddle's diary?
Joel was puzzled, but this was not good news. With the strength shown by Lockhart, if Riddle's diary was included, Joel would not be able to restrain him at all.
I fell into a deep sleep and was woken up by Hailis early the next morning.
His head was swollen and painful. Joel drank two glasses of ice water, and the symptoms were finally relieved. Hailis got up earlier, had already washed up, and was sitting cross-legged on the sleeping bag, with a hair rope in her mouth, and her slender fingers in her black hair.
Wandering in the middle, as if dancing a wonderful dance.
The morning sun has not yet risen, and most of the classmates around him are still asleep. In the dim auditorium, Joel looks at Hailis with her ponytail, feeling that time is so long, and he hopes that time will stand still at this moment forever.
"Why are you looking at me?" Hailis grabbed her hair with one hand and took off the hair tie with the other hand, "Why don't you go and wash up? Everyone will get up later, and the public washroom will definitely be crowded.
people."
Joel struggled to crawl out of the warm sleeping bag. He looked at the ponytail that Haylis had tied up and pulled it forward. It was smooth and elastic and felt good in the hand.
Hailes fought back with half embarrassment and half joy, but Joel dodged.
There were no toiletries, so Joel could only finish his personal hygiene in a hurry and left the bathroom.
Thanks to his youth and strength, Joel recovered well from his ankle injury and was now able to trot. He and Haylis walked around the Black Lake, breathed the fresh air for a while, and chatted by the way. They returned when the sun rose.
When we arrived at the auditorium, all the sleeping bags had disappeared, and the four long college tables were neatly arranged and filled with breakfast.
As expected by Haylis, the public restroom on the first floor was crowded with students, and Professors Lockhart and Sprout were helping to maintain order.
Dumbledore sat in the middle of the teacher's chair. His face was livid, in stark contrast to his previous amiable appearance. Fortunately, the founder of Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the United States was closely related to the descendants of Slytherin (the founder of Ilvermorny, Ilvermorny).
Thor Searle's mother's maiden name
Gunter), she left a portrait in the British Ministry of Magic. Sprout asked Principal Everard (the 18th century Hogwarts headmaster, who also left a portrait in the British Ministry of Magic) to pass it back and forth, and just passed it on.
Then the news is notified to myself on the other side of the ocean.
At 7:50, all the students were sitting in their seats, even the elective course professors were no exception.
Dumbledore tapped his cup, stood up and raised his hands.
"I think everyone here is aware that a vicious injury occurred in Hogwarts Castle last night," Dumbledore said in a serious tone. "Ginny Weasley, a first-year Gryffindor student, was petrified in the library.
The administrator, Mrs. Pince, was seriously injured."
"This matter must have caused a lot of panic for everyone. This morning, I will discuss with the ten school directors whether to continue classes this school year," Dumbledore said. "I would like to ask you to stay in the auditorium today and not go out.
"
Even the usually lively and active Gryffindors didn't raise any objections this time. Just kidding, their elementary school girl was still lying in the hospital wing not knowing whether she was alive or dead. How could they be in the mood to play.
For the first time in my life, the auditorium was so quiet during meal time. No whispering could be heard, only the crisp sounds of scattered tableware clashing together.
Half an hour later, Professor Dumbledore left the auditorium and headed to the principal's office on the eighth floor.
"I don't want to go home..." Alan cried sadly. He came to Hogwarts to seek refuge. His family had been asking him to inherit the family business and sell Bibi's multi-flavor beans to all over the world, but he preferred to be a common man.
An ordinary pharmaceutical developer.
"Who says it isn't?" Eddie also sighed. His family was harmonious and he had good economic conditions, but he couldn't bear to use magic at Hogwarts at will. "I won't stay at home for more than half a year, I will."
Mom will nag me to death."
At nine o'clock in the morning, ten school directors arrived at the principal's office through the Floo network. They were said to be ten directors, but in fact they were the trustees of the families behind them. Of course, most of the time, the patriarch held this position.
Dumbledore cast an exquisite summoning spell and conjured a long table and eleven chairs out of thin air, occupying the remaining space in the office.
"Albus, has something serious happened?" A middle-aged bald man with severe dark circles under his eyes coughed twice and asked softly, "It took me a long time to get out of bed."
"If you could indulge less in women, you might have more energy, Mr. Rozier," the head of the Greengrass family said coldly.
"What's the point of living like that?" Rozier waved his hand, "You think so, right Albus?"
"Everyone, we have made an exception to summon the directors today because a very serious injury occurred at Hogwarts..." Dumbledore knocked on the table, focusing the attention of the ten directors on himself, and directed Huo
Recent accidents in Gwartz detailed.
"Dumbledore, just for such a small thing, you want to close the school?" Lucius Malfoy said in an unbelievable tone, "This is not what you would do."
"Lucius, some students have been injured..." Dumbledore sighed.
"It's just that a student was injured," Lucius tried hard to suppress the raised corners of his mouth, not wanting others to feel his happiness, "What's her name, right? Ginny Weasley?"
Seeing Dumbledore nodding, he continued, "She can be cured, right?"
The ten directors cast their gazes, and Dumbledore hesitated for a moment before nodding, "When the mandrake matures at the turn of next spring and summer, we can prepare a potion to revive the students."
"Isn't this enough?" Lucius didn't want Hogwarts to stop. He wanted to drive Dumbledore out of the position of principal. A student was petrified and a staff member was injured. Such "small" accidents
Trying to get Dumbledore fired is nonsense.
"Listen Albus," Lucius changed his name to a more familiar one, "Why did our ten families choose you to be the Headmaster of Hogwarts?"
Dumbledore showed a puzzled expression at the right time.
"It's because we have great trust in your strength!" Lucius said immediately, "With your strength, you will be able to handle this little thing perfectly."
"That's right," Mr. Rozier agreed very much with this statement. "We, a group of people, only invest a sum of money into the school every year to keep Hogwarts running normally. You can definitely handle the rest, Albus."
Is it right?"
The remaining eight school directors nodded in agreement. They did not want Hogwarts to stop functioning. These ten families controlled half of the wizarding world's economy. If Hogwarts was temporarily closed, it would definitely cause panic among students and parents, and they would be concerned about the British wizarding community.
The economy will be hit to a certain extent, and it's unclear how many galleons will be lost by then.
"Also, Albus, are you sure that the Chamber of Secrets exists?" The head of the Selwyn family, who had been silent for a long time, asked, "I mean... is this accident simply using the gimmick of the Chamber of Secrets to cause panic?"
"This possibility cannot be ruled out," Dumbledore pondered for two seconds. "I don't know whether there is a secret room. I am afraid that only Mr. Slytherin in the world knows the answer to the question."
"Okay," Lucius stood up pretending to be broad-minded, "Albus, as long as you are here, Hogwarts will be very safe, and we and the parents of the students will also feel relieved."
The conversation came to an end. None of the ten directors agreed to close Hogwarts on the grounds that the situation was under control and there was no need to go to war.
It was almost noon, and Dumbledore invited ten directors to have a meal in the auditorium. Several school directors who had urgent matters declined to leave, leaving only the three heads of the family, Rosier, Selwyn, and Malfoy. There happened to be empty seats at the teacher's bench—
—Professor Flitwick They haven't come back yet.
The house elves used magic to bring sumptuous dishes to the table. The students in the audience were sitting upright, and everyone was looking at Professor Dumbledore. No one took a look at the steaming delicious food on the table.
There was worry, fear, and anxiety... Dumbledore took in the children's emotions and stood up.
"Students," Dumbledore said with a smile on his face. Although he was still worried in his heart, he did not want to pass on this negative emotion to the students here. "After discussions with ten school directors, we have decided to let the students of Hogwarts
Teaching continues, including Quidditch."
There were no students cheering in the audience, only two or three people whispering.
Dumbledore's smile continued, "I believe that the vicious incident will be under our control. Starting from tomorrow, next Monday, Mr. Filch will close non-essential areas in the castle; the curfew will be advanced to 8pm on weekends. It is no exception; at the same time, the deans and prefects of our four colleges will give full play to the role of supervision and care. Students in the corridors must walk with two or more people to ensure safety; we will also concentrate the classrooms on the lower floors to make it easier for students to go to and from get out of class for meals. "
These measures have completely calmed the nervousness of the students at Hogwarts. Despite the hurtful incident, many students still believe in Dumbledore. This centenarian man is omnipotent in their eyes.
The students who were relieved of their worries finally enjoyed the food with peace of mind, and the auditorium became noisy again.
The professors and directors at the teachers' bench also moved the tableware.
"This is the first time I have sat in this seat to eat. The dishes you gave to the teachers' table are really different. They are much better than what the students below eat." Mr. Rozier was quite emotional. "Last time I sat here.
It was twenty-five years ago that we dined at the Letling Table. In the blink of an eye, it was a truly nostalgic seven years."
"We have to take care of the taboo preferences of the professors on the teaching bench," Dumbledore explained to the school director who just spent money and ignored the business. "In addition, there are relatively few people on the teaching bench, so the elves can cook more exquisite dishes."
.”
Rozier was very familiar with Dumbledore, and Dumbledore was willing to chat with him. Although Mr. Rozier was not the richest among the school directors, he was very passionate about education and was willing to spend money on Hogwarts.
He couldn't be a gardener, so he built a bridge of communication for the garden. The Rozier family took care of the processing of certificates from the wizarding world to Muggle schools. If students from the Muggle world want to return after seven years of magic education,
In the Muggle world, if you continue to study in college, Rosier Education Company will be responsible for handling all admission notices, letters of introduction, etc. One-stop service, the user experience is excellent, and it has been selected as the most popular consumer award in the British wizarding community for three consecutive years.
"By the way, the quality of students at Hogwarts over the years is pretty good." Rozier glanced down from the dark circles under his eyes and said coldly.
"How do you say this?" Even Lucius was stunned by this sentence. Hogwarts still has good and bad students? Why didn't he know?
"There are more and more handsome guys and beautiful girls," said Rosier, who is very cheerful and open-minded, and generous with his money. He has nothing wrong with him except being lustful. "I saw that there are many beautiful girls in Ravenclaw House."
"That little girl with black hair really appeals to me." Rozier raised his finger and pointed at the person next to him.
"Rozier, you'd better be careful what you say," Mr. Selwyn said sadly, "that's my daughter."
"Ah, Hailey has grown so big?" Rozier was a little surprised, "The last time I saw her, she was still a little girl. She has really transformed into a girl."
"Huh," said Mr. Selwyn, who was an arrogant person. "Rozier, you'd better be careful. You don't want to die on your bed one day without someone collecting your body."
The direct line of the Rozier family has no heirs. It is rumored that the current head of the family, Rost Rozier, had an unrequited love for a girl when he was in school. He once confessed his love to a girl in public but was unable to get her. She got married right after graduation without giving him any chance, and ended up falling in love with her.
Rozier became increasingly decadent and exhausted his body at the age of only forty-two.
"Oh, don't call me a arrogant man," Rozier countered without hesitation, "I think it would be good for your daughter to imitate your early love."
Mr. Selwyn's elegant and easy-going face was covered with frost, "What did you say?"
"Look at Hailey and the boy opposite her." Rozier had been staring at Hailey for a while. "Even though there was no physical contact between the two of them, when their eyes met, the sparks and lightning were definitely there.
"
Mr. Selwyn's eyes flashed, and he spat out curse words, "What the hell, can you see the look in my daughter's eyes from ten meters away? I suggest you become a referee in the Quidditch League. It will definitely be fair and just."
Having said that, Mr. Selwyn hurriedly cleared the food on the plate, stood up, left the table, and came to his daughter Haylis.
"I told you to study hard. Have you studied hard during this time?" Mr. Selwyn said in a questioning tone.
Hailis' hand holding the fork paused, then put down the tableware and stood up.
"I'm studying hard, father." She responded softly.
From Joel's perspective, Haylis' thick eyelashes as thick as crow feathers trembled slightly, the corners of her mouth were pursed tightly, and her eyebrows were introverted. He had been with Haylis for several years and knew that this micro-expression meant that his girlfriend was very unhappy.
.
But before he had time to think more, Mr. Selwyn had already turned his eyes over, staring at Joel's face with his sharp eyes like an eagle, as if he wanted to peck a big hole in Joel's face.
Is this a meeting with parents?
Joel secretly said that his future father-in-law seemed to be very dissatisfied with his first impression, which was not good news.