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chapter 168 part 1
Chapter 165: When Tom Got a Nose (4k)
July 14, 2022 Author: I'm Just a Pigeon
Although a brilliant idea had formed in his mind, William had no time to act on it—the Ministry of Magic hadn't spent a fortune just to go through the motions and, incidentally, send the Minister of Magic's unmentionable parts over to get whacked.
Even if the Minister did have such proclivities, having the heir of the Malfoy family be the one to do it was out of the question. It wasn't *that* expensive...
The Quidditch match was, in the end, just an interlude. The Ministry of Magic and the Board of Governors were here to ride the coattails of the diadem's discovery. With such a significant treasure of Ravenclaw's being found, the Ministry of Magic and the Board of Governors certainly had to have played an "active role." Otherwise, who would foot such a pointless bill?
Speeches, taking photos, touring the castle library and Hospital Wing, and visiting Professor McGonagall's office to get a picture with the diadem that had been brought there—the Ministry of Magic did have some capable people. The series of tasks was arranged quite properly, showing none of the haste of a plan that had been concocted just that morning.
---
"It's finally over."
William gazed at the distant Ministry of Magic delegation leaving the school grounds on Thestrals, feeling genuinely happy.
After a perfect lunch prepared by the house-elves, who had done their utmost, the people from the Ministry of Magic and the Board of Governors left Hogwarts satisfied. Despite a minor incident, both guests and hosts had thoroughly enjoyed the day.
*Next, I'll go back and continue looking into Slughorn's information, and while I'm at it, I'll make a note about that Malfoy heir in my notebook—*
The inspiration that struck during the Quidditch match was important, but William didn't intend to disrupt his investigation schedule over a mere guess. A scattershot approach might yield a surprise, but it was far less reliable than the information on the retired old professor, which was already providing solid clues about the curse.
*If only there wasn't a curse on that information. With that curse in place, I can't even ask others about it indirectly.* William shook his head with a helpless expression. The Dark Lord's curse to protect himself was truly domineering, leaving him unable to rely on anyone else.
*I'll just have to keep digging. He's already shown his hand; I refuse to believe he can block off every single lead.*
William stretched his muscles, preparing to return to his office.
"William? Where are you going? The main event is about to start. The test for the diadem is today. You're not going to skip it, are you?"
Adams grabbed William, who was trying to slip away, and stared at him with a puzzled look. Without a doubt, if William dared to say no, Adams would pull out his wand and end it all right there.
"Of course I'm going. How could I not?" William patted Adams's shoulder. He had already warned him about the diadem's danger, but if Adams insisted on the experiment, he would certainly have to go and watch.
---
In the Gryffindor Common Room, students were celebrating wildly. They hadn't had time to prepare when the Ministry of Magic officials arrived in the morning. Now that they could finally relax, the group began to unleash all the joy they had suppressed throughout the morning.
In front of the whole school, a crowd of Ministry of Magic officials, and all the members of the Board of Governors, they had defeated their old rivals, Slytherin. Could anything be more exhilarating?
As the hero who had turned the tide by catching the Golden Snitch, Harry received an unprecedented welcome. Countless people rushed over just to give him a hug and offer their congratulations.
By the time he finally squeezed out of the crowd, his equally excited best friend had wriggled over.
"Harry, that was a brilliant catch of the Golden Snitch!"
Ron's face was beaming. "And of course, that punch you gave Malfoy was brilliant too! I really want to know what Malfoy's expression was. Even his father probably wouldn't dare hit the Minister like that, right?"
At the mention of Malfoy, Harry also burst into a happy laugh. He had been standing closer than anyone else and had seen Malfoy's expression clearly. He had never seen the boy wear such a look of despair.
The two of them then began to compete in imitating Malfoy's expression at that moment, sending the surrounding Gryffindors into fits of laughter.
"By the way, where's Hermione? Have you seen her?"
"No, she should be here celebrating. You haven't seen her either?"
As the two were looking for their friend, a first-year student easily squeezed through the crowd, panting heavily. "Harry, uh, Professor McGonagall told me to let you know that you need to go to her office for photos."
"Photos?" Ron asked curiously.
"Of course, taking photos," the speaker's voice was one Ron knew all too well. It was his own brother, though he couldn't quite tell if it was Fred or George.
"Among today's rewards, besides a sum of prize money, our House Team also earned the opportunity to have a group photo with the diadem."
The other twin also stepped forward, finishing the sentence.
"Harry, it's time to go, or the photographer will get impatient. I hear our photo will be in the newspaper, too."
"In the newspaper?"
"Of course, The Daily Prophet. Just wait for tomorrow's paper, Ron. We'll all be in it."
The House Team led Harry away, laughing and joking. When they ran into people, they would proudly show Harry off—"Harry might even get to wear the diadem for a bit! His Snitch catch was so beautiful, it's only normal he gets a little special treatment!"
---
"Hermione, you didn't watch the match?"
A slightly dejected Ron finally spotted Hermione in the Common Room. She was carefully trying to walk out of the room.
"Shh, Ron, quiet down!"
Hermione looked as nervous as if she were about to do something mischievous, putting a finger to her lips in a hushing gesture.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Hermione hesitated for a moment. "Professor McGonagall told me not to make this too public, but... alright, just don't shout it out. I've been given permission to try on the diadem for a little while, under the supervision of the professors."
"The diadem? When?"
"Today. Professor McGonagall just had someone come and notify me."
"Well then, congratulations," Ron said, trying his best to look nonchalant.
"Okay, I'm heading off then. Don't tell anyone."
Hermione glanced around, then tiptoed out of the Common Room.
---
"Mom, Ginny, I'm here—"
"Ron, are today's activities over?"
Mrs. Weasley looked lovingly at her youngest son. Ginny's injuries hadn't fully healed, so she had been staying with her in the Hospital Wing.
"They're over. George and the others won, and they went to take photos. They said it'll be in tomorrow's newspaper."
Ron reported the good news in a lighthearted tone. "Of course, Harry's there too. You'll see him in the paper tomorrow."
"Fred and George?" Mrs. Weasley's face was wreathed in smiles. "They really are brilliant at Quidditch. You'll be just as good one day, Ron."
"Why isn't Percy here? He left the Common Room a long time ago. Did he not come over?"
Mrs. Weasley smiled, but before she could say anything, Ginny blurted out the answer. "Percy's professor gave him a special recommendation, allowing him to go and try on that diadem."
Since they were going to test the diadem today anyway, William had specifically sent for Percy. With his excellent grades, solid fundamentals, and diligent work ethic, Percy was overjoyed by even a small bonus from the project. William was exceptionally pleased with Percy as an assistant, and since he was already giving one student a chance, he didn't mind giving his competent helper one as well.
Ginny's blunt comment made Mrs. Weasley's smile freeze on her face.
"Ron, you're still young. That diadem isn't as magical as all that," Mrs. Weasley said, ruffling Ron's hair. "Have some candy. Tell us about the match today. Ginny and I didn't get to see it."
Chapter 165: When Tom Got a Nose (4k)
July 14, 2022 Author: I'm Just a Pigeon
Although a brilliant idea had formed in his mind, William had no time to act on it—the Ministry of Magic hadn't spent a fortune just to go through the motions and, incidentally, send the Minister of Magic's unmentionable parts over to get whacked.
Even if the Minister did have such proclivities, having the heir of the Malfoy family be the one to do it was out of the question. It wasn't *that* expensive...
The Quidditch match was, in the end, just an interlude. The Ministry of Magic and the Board of Governors were here to ride the coattails of the diadem's discovery. With such a significant treasure of Ravenclaw's being found, the Ministry of Magic and the Board of Governors certainly had to have played an "active role." Otherwise, who would foot such a pointless bill?
Speeches, taking photos, touring the castle library and Hospital Wing, and visiting Professor McGonagall's office to get a picture with the diadem that had been brought there—the Ministry of Magic did have some capable people. The series of tasks was arranged quite properly, showing none of the haste of a plan that had been concocted just that morning.
---
"It's finally over."
William gazed at the distant Ministry of Magic delegation leaving the school grounds on Thestrals, feeling genuinely happy.
After a perfect lunch prepared by the house-elves, who had done their utmost, the people from the Ministry of Magic and the Board of Governors left Hogwarts satisfied. Despite a minor incident, both guests and hosts had thoroughly enjoyed the day.
*Next, I'll go back and continue looking into Slughorn's information, and while I'm at it, I'll make a note about that Malfoy heir in my notebook—*
The inspiration that struck during the Quidditch match was important, but William didn't intend to disrupt his investigation schedule over a mere guess. A scattershot approach might yield a surprise, but it was far less reliable than the information on the retired old professor, which was already providing solid clues about the curse.
*If only there wasn't a curse on that information. With that curse in place, I can't even ask others about it indirectly.* William shook his head with a helpless expression. The Dark Lord's curse to protect himself was truly domineering, leaving him unable to rely on anyone else.
*I'll just have to keep digging. He's already shown his hand; I refuse to believe he can block off every single lead.*
William stretched his muscles, preparing to return to his office.
"William? Where are you going? The main event is about to start. The test for the diadem is today. You're not going to skip it, are you?"
Adams grabbed William, who was trying to slip away, and stared at him with a puzzled look. Without a doubt, if William dared to say no, Adams would pull out his wand and end it all right there.
"Of course I'm going. How could I not?" William patted Adams's shoulder. He had already warned him about the diadem's danger, but if Adams insisted on the experiment, he would certainly have to go and watch.
---
In the Gryffindor Common Room, students were celebrating wildly. They hadn't had time to prepare when the Ministry of Magic officials arrived in the morning. Now that they could finally relax, the group began to unleash all the joy they had suppressed throughout the morning.
In front of the whole school, a crowd of Ministry of Magic officials, and all the members of the Board of Governors, they had defeated their old rivals, Slytherin. Could anything be more exhilarating?
As the hero who had turned the tide by catching the Golden Snitch, Harry received an unprecedented welcome. Countless people rushed over just to give him a hug and offer their congratulations.
By the time he finally squeezed out of the crowd, his equally excited best friend had wriggled over.
"Harry, that was a brilliant catch of the Golden Snitch!"
Ron's face was beaming. "And of course, that punch you gave Malfoy was brilliant too! I really want to know what Malfoy's expression was. Even his father probably wouldn't dare hit the Minister like that, right?"
At the mention of Malfoy, Harry also burst into a happy laugh. He had been standing closer than anyone else and had seen Malfoy's expression clearly. He had never seen the boy wear such a look of despair.
The two of them then began to compete in imitating Malfoy's expression at that moment, sending the surrounding Gryffindors into fits of laughter.
"By the way, where's Hermione? Have you seen her?"
"No, she should be here celebrating. You haven't seen her either?"
As the two were looking for their friend, a first-year student easily squeezed through the crowd, panting heavily. "Harry, uh, Professor McGonagall told me to let you know that you need to go to her office for photos."
"Photos?" Ron asked curiously.
"Of course, taking photos," the speaker's voice was one Ron knew all too well. It was his own brother, though he couldn't quite tell if it was Fred or George.
"Among today's rewards, besides a sum of prize money, our House Team also earned the opportunity to have a group photo with the diadem."
The other twin also stepped forward, finishing the sentence.
"Harry, it's time to go, or the photographer will get impatient. I hear our photo will be in the newspaper, too."
"In the newspaper?"
"Of course, The Daily Prophet. Just wait for tomorrow's paper, Ron. We'll all be in it."
The House Team led Harry away, laughing and joking. When they ran into people, they would proudly show Harry off—"Harry might even get to wear the diadem for a bit! His Snitch catch was so beautiful, it's only normal he gets a little special treatment!"
---
"Hermione, you didn't watch the match?"
A slightly dejected Ron finally spotted Hermione in the Common Room. She was carefully trying to walk out of the room.
"Shh, Ron, quiet down!"
Hermione looked as nervous as if she were about to do something mischievous, putting a finger to her lips in a hushing gesture.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Hermione hesitated for a moment. "Professor McGonagall told me not to make this too public, but... alright, just don't shout it out. I've been given permission to try on the diadem for a little while, under the supervision of the professors."
"The diadem? When?"
"Today. Professor McGonagall just had someone come and notify me."
"Well then, congratulations," Ron said, trying his best to look nonchalant.
"Okay, I'm heading off then. Don't tell anyone."
Hermione glanced around, then tiptoed out of the Common Room.
---
"Mom, Ginny, I'm here—"
"Ron, are today's activities over?"
Mrs. Weasley looked lovingly at her youngest son. Ginny's injuries hadn't fully healed, so she had been staying with her in the Hospital Wing.
"They're over. George and the others won, and they went to take photos. They said it'll be in tomorrow's newspaper."
Ron reported the good news in a lighthearted tone. "Of course, Harry's there too. You'll see him in the paper tomorrow."
"Fred and George?" Mrs. Weasley's face was wreathed in smiles. "They really are brilliant at Quidditch. You'll be just as good one day, Ron."
"Why isn't Percy here? He left the Common Room a long time ago. Did he not come over?"
Mrs. Weasley smiled, but before she could say anything, Ginny blurted out the answer. "Percy's professor gave him a special recommendation, allowing him to go and try on that diadem."
Since they were going to test the diadem today anyway, William had specifically sent for Percy. With his excellent grades, solid fundamentals, and diligent work ethic, Percy was overjoyed by even a small bonus from the project. William was exceptionally pleased with Percy as an assistant, and since he was already giving one student a chance, he didn't mind giving his competent helper one as well.
Ginny's blunt comment made Mrs. Weasley's smile freeze on her face.
"Ron, you're still young. That diadem isn't as magical as all that," Mrs. Weasley said, ruffling Ron's hair. "Have some candy. Tell us about the match today. Ginny and I didn't get to see it."
