Chapter 408 A Belated Apology (a Four Thousand Word Chapter! Please Feed Me!)
It's three o'clock on Friday afternoon, outside Hogwarts Castle.
According to the original course schedule of Hufflepuff House, Elena should appear at the Quidditch field at this time, preparing to start the weekly flying lessons with the little wizards of Ravenclaw.
However, judging from the current situation, it is obvious that she will be absent from this week's flying class again - although in Mrs. Huo Qi's words, Elena no longer needs to take this class. She flies better than Juda. Some of the seventh graders are okay.
"Um...Is Professor Binns okay?"
Standing on the long bridge in front of the gate of Hogwarts Castle, Elena glanced at the serious Dumbledore next to her and asked cautiously, "I didn't expect that before, I just asked a few more questions. , the professor will become dull..."
"This is not a question of whether it is good or bad. Professor Binns is in a... well, rather special state."
Dumbledore rubbed his brows, shook his head helplessly, and sighed softly.
"Having read so many documents about "Hogwarts: A School History", you must already know it. When Hogwarts was first founded, Professor Binns's History of Magic course was once known for its humor and interest. , but after becoming a ghost, it gradually became what it is now.”
Long time is the most deadly poison in the world.
Even Nick Flamel and his wife have begun to feel tired of their own lives, let alone Professor Binns who has been around for several times longer than Nick Flamel - to use a more vivid metaphor, before Professor Binns He proactively entered the low-power energy-saving mode, and Elena's questions and behavior happened to reactivate the old professor.
"If nothing else happens, when Professor Binns comes back next week, maybe the history of magic will become interesting again. This is also thanks to Miss Kaslana's help... However, I'd better try not to bother that person too much in the future. An old professor."
Dumbledore said this and glanced at Elena meaningfully.
"I don't just mean asking questions, but also some strange inducements and hints... Ghosts are not truly immortal. In some cases, ghosts who cannot use magic are much more fragile than wizards."
Dumbledore had always been a little confused about how Professor Binns discovered the Slytherin Chamber of Secrets.
From Myrtle's ghost to the bathroom, from Salazar Slytherin's questions to Professor Binns' obsession, from Tom Riddle's anomalies to the description of the basilisk, even if all the evidence chains are intertwined, They formed a closed-loop logic, but Dumbledore's intuition could still clearly perceive the number one motivator hidden behind the scenes.
"Hey, hey, I'm not worried about you."
Elena stuck out her tongue, sneered and shrank behind Gellert Grindelwald, who was watching the show silently.
In fact, it had never occurred to her to keep Albus Dumbledore completely a secret from the beginning.
The biggest advantage of working with smart people is that as long as both parties have the same purpose and demands, many things can be done through a silent understanding - cleaning up the unstable factors in the school, helping Hagrid clear his name, etc. This is what Dumbledore wants to see.
As for where Elena knew all this, it was actually not that important to Dumbledore.
Whether it comes from reasoning, or the strange entanglement of the castle, some pure-blood families related to Slytherin, or even the prophecy talent that may exist in the blood... As long as those three unbreakable oaths are still imprinted on the back of Elena's hand , then the interests of girls and Hogwarts will always be on the same side.
"So, Albus, how long are we going to stand here?"
Grindelwald raised his eyebrows and turned to look at Dumbledore, with a hint of disdain on his face. "After all these years, it seems that there is still considerable room for improvement in the Ministry of Magic's attitude towards you."
"We have always had different views on this matter..."
Dumbledore shrugged noncommittally, took out his pocket watch from his pocket and took a look at it, "If nothing else, they are already on their way - welcome to Hogwarts, Mr. Minister."
As the old wizard finished speaking, a short, stocky, middle-aged wizard appeared in front of the three of them.
Cornelius Fudge, now the British Minister of Magic, still wears the same unflattering hodgepodge of clothing as before: pinstriped suit, bright red tie, long black cloak, purple pointed boots, dark green hat, and a large roll of parchment under his arm.
"Oh, Professor Dumbledore, I'm sorry, I may be a little late."
As Cornelius Fudge spoke, he raised the large roll of parchment under his arm and waved it, "You know, find a dossier from decades ago, and then let the members of the Wizengamot Signing the change of judgment is a thankless and troublesome job."
Now that the existence of the Slytherin Chamber of Secrets has been confirmed, and there are indeed traces of Basilisk activity, the accusations made by the Ministry of Magic against Hagrid more than ten years ago are naturally untenable, and it is logical to revoke the verdict.
"Thank you for your hard work, Connelly, and thank you gentlemen for your cooperation."
Dumbledore smiled and nodded, "At least in this way, one less person in this world will suffer unjust injustice. Let's go quickly, otherwise Hagrid may be so anxious that he will stamp the floor to pieces."
"This is what our Ministry of Magic should do." Cornelius Fudge nodded politely, glanced at Elena who was standing behind Mr. "Otto", and asked with some confusion, "But, this child... "
"This kid is a friend of Rubeus Hagrid and is also the chef of Hogwarts. This time I happened to have some questions about ingredients and I needed Hagrid's help, so I just went with us."
Dumbledore waved his hand and explained very naturally, "I don't think Hagrid would mind having one more person to share the joy in this happy moment - you know, he has been waiting for this day for almost fifty years. years."
There is no doubt that 1942 was the worst year of Rubeus Hagrid's life.
During this year, the Chamber of Secrets was opened by Tom Riddle, who had not yet become a noseless monster, and blamed Hagrid for Myrtle's death, causing him to be expelled from Hogwarts and banned from holding any more In the same year, Hagrid also lost his father, which almost interrupted his path of learning magic.
If there is anyone in this school who most hopes to discover the Slytherin Chamber of Secrets, it is none other than Rubeus Hagrid.
At 3:05 in the afternoon, after finally waiting for Cornelius Fudge's pardon document, Elena and her "grandparents" and their group left the castle and walked through the open forest farm towards the cabin where Hagrid lived.
There had just been a light rain in the sky, showing an extremely refreshing light gray color, and the air was filled with the pleasant fragrance of grass. Elena turned her head and looked in the direction of the Quidditch pitch on the other side of the castle - at this time Flying lessons have already begun, and it seems to be a good feeling to skip class in front of the principal.
Hagrid's cabin is located on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. A giant crossbow used for hunting and guarding and a set of non-slip rubber galoshes the size of a small dolphin are hung in front of the door all year round. Nowadays, there is a small newly cultivated vegetable patch next to the cabin, which is a private vegetable garden exclusively for the Hogwarts faculty and staff.
Normally, the three-headed dog Luwei would lie down in the open space next to the vegetable garden to drive away crows and "vegetable thieves".
However, considering that the Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge would come here to visit today, under Dumbledore's suggestion, Lu Wei temporarily returned to the castle and continued to guard the trap door leading to the Sorcerer's Stone. Door - after all, a three-headed hell dog with blue fire all over its body may be a little too exciting for this minister.
Although from Elena's point of view, there is actually nothing strange about this.
You know, most farms and pastures in the non-magical world will also keep several similar large dogs to help their owners guard the land and livestock. It's just that the dogs in the magical world are a little bigger.
Beyond the lush vegetable garden, behind is Hagrid's cabin.
Elena saw Hagrid standing at the door of the hut from a distance, looking like a hill, constantly looking towards this side.
Unlike usual, Hagrid was not wearing his thick moleskin coat. Instead, he was wearing an old but well-preserved oversized Gryffindor House wizard robe - as As time went by, the golden red on it had already turned dull and white, but the majestic lion emblem on Hagrid's chest was enough to explain what it was.
This was the first time that Elena saw such an uneasy and expectant look on Hagrid's face, just like the expressions of the first-year wizards when they opened the branch school. The little giant was particularly nervous. With his hands on his hands, a faint flush of excitement could be seen on his dark face.
It is different from the light apology and erasure judgment in the original work.
Due to Elena's additional instructions and Grindelwald's superb negotiation skills, this time Cornelius Fudge brought not only a "suspect clearing" oral hearing, but also the Wizengamot Tribunal A co-signed document, a license to possess a wand from the Ministry of Magic, and... a notice of the resumption of classes at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"Okay, okay, Hagrid, I think you don't want any more pleasantries."
Cornelius Fudge hurried across the rubble behind the vegetable garden, smiling and waving the parchment at Hagrid.
"Although it may be decades late, from now on, you are once again a recognized official wizard. At the same time, if you don't mind, you can continue to complete the studies you have not completed at Hogwarts. ……oh."
Before Fudge could finish his words, a huge black hound jumped out from behind Hagrid, stood in front of Hagrid with hostility, and barked at the Minister of Magic who was approaching quickly.
"Ya Ya, don't get excited, don't get excited. They are good people this time."
Glancing at Cornelius Fudge who was standing still, Hagrid patted his forehead in embarrassment, walked over and pulled the hound behind him, rubbing his hands vigorously, his eyes like black beetles kept looking at Fudge's hands. Rolls of parchment linger.
this time? !
Cornelius Fudge raised his eyebrows almost inaudibly, selectively ignoring the offense in Hagrid's words.
"This is very rare, Hagrid." Fudge said in a crisp and fast tone. "You must know that this is almost unprecedented in the entire wizarding world. The Wizengamot Tribunal collectively signed to admit the mistake. For a few things, The case ten years ago, if it weren’t for Professor Dumbledore’s persistence and the possible threat posed by the Chamber of Secrets this time…”
"So, everything has been cleared up? Mr. Minister, Professor."
Hagrid looked at Cornelius Fudge, then at Dumbledore, and asked expectantly.
"Have you found out who did it back then?! If you need to identify or arrest, I can!"
"Sorry, there is no news yet. We still need help from the Ministry of Magic."
Dumbledore shook his head, his blue eyes flashed, and he frowned.
"But one thing is very clear. As... well, your life experience determines that you will never be the one to open the Slytherin Chamber of Secrets. As I have said all these years, I completely trust you. "
"Oh, Rube, you have to understand something."
said Cornelius Fudge, glancing at Professor Dumbledore, playing idly with the top hat in his hand.
"That was fifty years ago. Now we can only judge that the real murderer was a descendant of Slytherin blood. As for who it is, we are still slowly investigating - after all, The marriage relationship in the magic world is too complicated. Unless the murderer comes to us himself, the hope is very slim..."
"Um, okay."
Hagrid nodded dully, took the parchment from Fudge's hand, unfolded it and looked at it carefully, and his tone immediately became excited and clear again, "Then what it says is that I can get the wand again and join Hogwart. I have to continue my studies..."
"If you don't mind, Hagrid."
Dumbledore said with a smile and blinked flexibly, "And if I remember correctly, you still have four years of courses to complete, and of course, there is also an after-school assignment on Transfiguration that has not been handed over to me. ...Of course, if you don’t want to participate in O.W.L.s, that’s okay.”
"No, no, Professor Dumbledore, I do!"
Hagrid took out a large handkerchief and wiped the corners of his eyes, choking with tears of joy.
"Before my father passed away, he always thought that I could complete my studies at Hogwarts. Unfortunately, until he passed away, he left with great regret. Professor, I am really grateful..."
When he said this, Hagrid's eyes were filled with tears, and he didn't even have time to wipe them with a handkerchief - he never thought that one day he would be able to rejoin Hogwarts.
————
————
Gu acridine, a 4000-word chapter, progress (22.5/28)
In the past few days, Qidian's chapter review and book review functions will be temporarily closed until the end of the National Day. Don't panic, because I don't have anything to read about this chapter! (It looks familiar because I haven’t changed a word! You can’t complain anyway, I’ll stifle you to death!)
PS: Remember to vote and refill. Recommended votes and monthly votes are both fine. At least don’t make me feel like I’m on a stand-alone machine. Wow, oh, oh, oh, oh~
PS 2: By the way, I would like to recommend some good books to help everyone spend the National Day holiday.
Classical Fairy Tale: "Lanke Chess Fate"
Ridiculously funny: "Losing money and becoming the richest man starts from the game"
PM fan: "The Elf Leader"
Hardcore superpower: "What is it like to become a vampire"
Funny history: "Outstanding Youth of Ming Dynasty"