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Chapter 256: Interlude
Chapter 256: Interlude
Snape ultimately didn’t tell his joke, which was undoubtedly a pity, Felix thought. The professor had a real talent for dry humor.
He made a mental note to get a Christmas gift for him next year.
Felix sat next to Snape, ready to make a few quips, when the main doors of the Great Hall suddenly opened, letting in a gust of snow and wind.
A short, plump witch in pink entered, and Felix heard Professor Mcgonagall, two seats away, take a deep breath, her black eyebrows furrowed tightly.
This short, plump witch was Dolores Umbridge, and she was followed by two others. One was a lean, dark-skinned middle-aged wizard with a golden earring in one ear, dressed in Auror attire. Felix recognized him; last year, when Minister Fudge visited the school to inspect the Basilisk, this man had been with him. Fudge had called him "Kingsley Shacklebolt."
The other was a witch, also dressed as an Auror, with a thick scarf covering her face. Her youthful, lively gestures suggested she was young. She walked alongside Kingsley Shacklebolt.
Dumbledore’s smile faded, and his look of surprise lasted only a moment before he stood up and said politely, “What a rare visit, I didn’t know you would come on this special day.”
“Always so hard to find you, Professor Dumbledore,” Umbridge said, her toad-like face plastered with a conspicuous fake smile. “I’m not saying your Deputy Headmaster isn’t diligent… we’re all just doing our jobs. Like me, I had to assist Minister Fudge even during Christmas.”
Dumbledore said calmly, “I have complete faith in Minerva. She does her job exceptionally well.”
Umbridge seemed entirely unfazed, but the female Auror behind her had already turned away, unable to bear the sight.
Kingsley Shacklebolt stepped forward and said in a deep, slow voice, “Dumbledore, we have new information to share with you.”
Umbridge immediately screeched, “Kingsley Shacklebolt! I am the Minister-appointed investigator—”
Kingsley Shacklebolt didn’t look at her but explained, “I only take orders from Minister Fudge and Scrimgeour—Dumbledore, there has been new progress regarding Sirius Black.”
“I’m all ears, Kingsley Shacklebolt,” Dumbledore said gently.
“Someone spotted what appeared to be Sirius Black in Knockturn Alley. According to our information, an unfortunate wizard was ambushed from behind and had his wand stolen.”
“So, he has rearmed himself?” Dumbledore said. “I had assumed he would be wandering between the school and Hogsmeade.”
Kingsley Shacklebolt replied, “We thought the same, so we relaxed our vigilance there. But he might be more cunning than we imagined. I’m heading to London tomorrow—this is Tonks. Scrimgeour hopes she can relay messages.”
“Tonks?” Dumbledore smiled and looked at the young witch.
“Yes, Headmaster Dumbledore, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” the Auror said, removing the scarf from her face with enthusiasm.
Kingsley Shacklebolt fell silent. This man had a calm and reserved demeanor, and once the formalities were over, his presence faded into the background.
In contrast, Umbridge finally saw her chance. She spoke in a strained, girlish voice, “Thank you, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Professor Dumbledore. I hope you will reconsider, Tonks—she is, in a way, not quite disciplined enough. The Ministry of Magic is more than willing to send a permanent team—”
“We don’t need to discuss this further, Umbridge,” Dumbledore insisted. “Go back and tell Fudge that if he has any concerns, he should come to me directly.”
Felix, who was listening in, understood the dynamics. Umbridge and Kingsley Shacklebolt were not on the same side. Umbridge was backed by Fudge, either as a test or on her own initiative, but her goal was clear: to extend her influence into Hogwarts. However, Professor Mcgonagall and Dumbledore had firmly pushed her back.
While Kingsley Shacklebolt followed Fudge's orders, he clearly didn’t care much for Umbridge’s attitude as an inspector. His presence was more in line with the directives of Scrimgeour, the head of the Auror Office.
They soon left, and the incident left the professors in no mood for light conversation. The topic inevitably turned to Umbridge. The threat posed by Black seemed distant, but this toad-like woman was hard to like.
Professor Mcgonagall said sharply, “I’m not one to speak ill of others, but Umbridge—” Her nostrils flared, clearly agitated. “If you knew how she treats her subordinates and family, you’d understand my feelings.”
“Umbridge mistreats her family?” Felix asked.
“Ha! She often claims her ‘late’ father was a distinguished member of the Wizengamot, but he’s very much alive.”
Flitwick frowned, recalling, “I seem to remember something. The Umbridge name is quite rare. I recall that over a decade ago, there was an Umbridge who worked as a cleaner at the Ministry of Magic—”
At that moment, students began to arrive. Two first-year students appeared together, followed shortly by a sixth-year Slytherin with a sullen expression—apparently, he would only stay if there was family business.
The professors’ conversation lightened up again. Dumbledore left for a moment and returned with a stack of silver crackers. “These are Cracker Hats, just like Bertie Bott’s Every Flavour Beans, each one is a surprise.”
He handed one to everyone at the table, his tone cheerful. “Who wants to try?”
Felix glanced at Snape, and Dumbledore followed his gaze, winking and smiling, “Severus, you wouldn’t want to miss this.”
As they spoke, Harry, Ron, and Hermione arrived, looking surprised as Snape, with evident reluctance, pulled the string on a silver cracker. It burst open, revealing a lady’s pointed hat.
Dumbledore handed the hat to Snape, but he immediately pushed it away. Dumbledore promptly swapped it for his own wizard hat.
“Merry Christmas, ladies and gentlemen.”
Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared in shock at Dumbledore’s new look, speechless.
The feast lasted for a full two hours, and everyone was in high spirits. The unpleasant topic of Umbridge was left behind, except for a brief interruption when Trelawney appeared. Before sitting down, she insisted on counting the number of people. When she counted thirteen both times, she began to wail.
It was only after Felix politely reminded her that she might have forgotten to count herself that Trelawney sat down quietly.
(End of Chapter)
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