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Chapter 669: Decision
Chapter 669: Decision
The bell rang, and students streamed out of the classroom, their faces filled with anticipation.
"I've made up my mind!" Ron announced loudly as he walked in the direction of the Potions classroom. "I'm going to make a complete set of Wizard chess pieces." The people around him looked astonished.
But Harry and Hermione showed little interest in his declaration. "Have you finished your Transfiguration essay? Can I borrow it?" Harry asked.
Ron's enthusiasm immediately deflated.
"Not yet", his face fell, "I only wrote the introduction—I don't understand half of the content."
"Professor Mcgonagall will go over these concepts repeatedly. I also find a lot of it confusing", Hermione offered some encouragement. "Once you master Animagus transformation, combining it with the textbook will make things clearer, right, Harry?"
Harry mumbled an indistinct response. Since learning the Animagus transformation, he did feel some changes, but not in the complex theories of Transfiguration that Professor Mcgonagall discussed. He was still as lost in class as before.
He knew Hermione's method, but the thought of the thick books she constantly flipped through made him hesitate.
Ron looked dejected. He hadn't felt the Animagus transformation yet, and he had been pestering Harry and Neville for advice on what it felt like.
"Does your heart suddenly race, and do you break out in a cold sweat?"
"Are you sure it's not just in your head?" Harry countered, and Ron fell silent.
...
In Potions class, Slughorn stared at Harry's cauldron in bewilderment.
The cauldron contained a gray-green, soft, and sticky substance that looked like a mixture of boiled and congealed slugs and vegetable juice. It emitted a faint chill when approached. This was Harry's work for the day, and it was truly a disaster.
Hermione's eyes widened in delight, as if she were about to burst into song.
"Oh... well, my dear, this won't do", Slughorn fiddled absentmindedly with the buttons on his vest. "It lacks a certain something. You need to brush up on your potion theory..."
He didn't say more, moving to Ron's cauldron, where he was quickly driven back by a noxious cloud of smoke.
"That book doesn't give any hints, does it?" Hermione's eyes sparkled when Slughorn moved on to check the other students. "Even Snape and Professor Halfpenny combined couldn't explain a complex composite poison in a few lines."
"I could carry a piece of bezoar with me", Harry gritted his teeth and whispered.
Hermione paused, but Ron was excited. "You can do that? Why not? We have plenty of time—"
"No way! Professor Slughorn knows about Harry's precious book. He's even looked through it", Hermione quickly interjected. "I think the first person to do this would be considered a genius, but the second would just be a poor imitator."
"Thanks for the summary, Hermione", Harry said irritably.
When Slughorn returned to the front of the class, the students were dejected. None of them had managed to concoct the antidote within the allotted time, which was a significant blow to their confidence.
But Slughorn showed no disappointment. He puffed out his tight belly and chuckled. "Did you find that some shortcuts don't work anymore?"
Some students glanced at Slughorn, then looked at Harry.
Due to their special experience during last year's O.W.L. exams, many students knew that a few Gryffindors had obtained Professor Halfpenny's old textbooks. Later, some simplified O.W.L.-level potion steps were compiled, benefiting all four houses.
This year, they had tried the same approach. Although they had the notes (Harry had removed some dangerous curses and Professor Halfpenny's disturbing comments), they were surprised to find that it didn't work.
Slughorn smiled, his walrus mustache twitching. "Yes, Hermione Granger came closest to success in today's test. If she had another half-hour, I believe she could have completed the antidote independently. But she still has a long way to go to become a true potion master."
Hermione was not convinced and pouted.
"I could name some outstanding potion masters, like Damocles Belby, Severus Snape, and of course, Lily Evans—" Slughorn smiled at Harry. "You might think my criteria are based on grades, but that's not the case... A potion master needs an independent spirit, courage, passion, rigor, innovation, and a profound understanding of potions."
"For those truly gifted, these qualities show up early. Their minds are like the sap of the mooncress during a full moon, distinctly different from others."
" Outsiders may find it hard to understand why I favor one student over another, even if both have excelled in their O.W.L. Potions exams. This is because I see the talent in that student. And often, by sixth year, the differences become stark. I rarely misjudge."
"The advanced class is unlike previous years. You will delve into more wondrous potions and deeper theories. Without a genuine love for potions, it's difficult to progress far... Of course, brewing some passable potions is still possible."
"Sounds a lot like what Professor Halfpenny said", Harry muttered under his breath.
"Harry, do you have a question?" Slughorn, who hadn't heard Harry's muttering, asked with concern.
Harry was taken aback and slowly stood up. The others turned to look at him.
"Well... I was wondering if Professor Halfpenny is considered talented. I mean, his notes have been very useful to me—" Harry stammered.
This time, Slughorn didn't immediately answer. He furrowed his brow, thinking for a long moment.
"I haven't taught him, but... from his notes, it's clear he has his own independent thoughts on potions." Slughorn seemed reluctant to say more, but the students were all staring at him, clearly interested in the topic. His hands flailed in the air for a moment before he cleared his throat and whispered.
"I don't think he will become a Potion Master—Professor Halfpenny is capable of brewing advanced potions, yes, I have no doubt... His notes are very logical, and with his magical prowess, he won't botch the intricate steps."
"But I haven't seen much in the way of groundbreaking insights. Perhaps his heart isn't in it. His achievements in Ancient Runes speak for themselves. It's normal; talented wizards are often more individualistic and are drawn to different aspects of magic..."
Harry's thoughts suddenly drifted elsewhere. Professor Slughorn probably viewed Voldemort the same way back then.
Voldemort also excelled in his studies, with Dumbledore saying he excelled in all his subjects. But he might have been more of an imitator in potions, much like Professor Halfpenny, rather than an innovator.
As Slughorn said, "Talented wizards are drawn to different aspects of magic." Clearly, Professor Halfpenny chose Ancient Runes, while Voldemort unhesitatingly plunged into the depths of dark magic.
Harry also thought of Dumbledore and Grindelwald, once close friends who took vastly different paths.
Harry suddenly understood Dumbledore's emphasis on "choices." In the past few months, he had seen many exceptional wizards in the Pensieve. They all started out differently, sometimes even appearing awkward and clumsy, like Mr. Newt Scamander...
In the evening, Felix suddenly appeared in the office.
He had just returned from outside, specifically from over ten thousand meters in the sky. Apart from the cold, there were no other issues. He had originally wanted to fly higher through the thick clouds, but he decided it wasn't necessary to rush.
He treated it as a post-dinner stroll.
When he returned, Valen, who was mixing a juice on the sofa, pointed to the window. A silver phoenix Patronus was quietly waiting there.
"Felix, I hope you can come over", Dumbledore's voice said.
Felix turned and left the room, waving at Valen. "I'll take you out for a walk another day", Valen said.
In the Headmaster's office, the spacious room was brightly lit, with the deep night outside the window. Dumbledore sat behind his long-legged desk, and upon seeing Felix, he immediately put down his newspaper and walked around the desk to stand in front of him.
"I want to show you something", he said straightforwardly.
"Will we be using the Pensieve?" Felix asked. Dumbledore looked slightly surprised and said, "What? Oh—" He noticed Felix's gaze on a transparent glass bottle on the desk, which contained wisps of silver thread.
"No, not that", he said briefly.
From the tip of Dumbledore's wand, wisps of smoke emerged and quickly coalesced into an image in mid-air. Felix glanced at it, his expression turning serious as he stepped forward to examine the crowd and buildings in the scene more closely.
"Parliament Building?" Felix tilted his head.
Dumbledore nodded and gestured for him to look in a particular direction.
Felix refocused on the image, ignoring the colorful and extreme slogans held by the protesters. His eyes scanned the scene, searching for what Dumbledore wanted him to see. Then, on the plaza in front of the building, he noticed Rita Skeeter, clearly dressed up, holding a microphone in a prominent position.
"Rita Skeeter?" Felix chuckled in surprise. "This is unexpected. And it seems she holds a significant position."
"That's the crux of the matter", Dumbledore said. "This image was shown by Grindelwald during his application. I know he has the ability to see the future, though only in fragments."
"I bet he doesn't know Rita Skeeter", Felix said with a smile.
"Skeeter's sharp writing is far more recognizable than her appearance", Dumbledore agreed. "Besides, they likely missed each other. Skeeter was nearly absent from the wizarding world this academic year. It took me some time to find her at a Muggle newspaper."
Felix blinked, recalling that he had recommended this woman to Amelia Bones.
"Since then, I've been closely monitoring her movements. I don't think that newspaper is a good place for her. The work environment is far more complex than the Daily Prophet, but she has adapted well. With her series of reports on the gun control movement, she has gained significant recognition and is even in the running for a prestigious journalism award..."
"It's certainly a pleasant surprise for her", Felix remarked with a touch of sentiment.
"My current question is", Dumbledore said, looking at him with interest, "does she plan to continue living a double life as a journalist? I know some wizards have independent identities in the Muggle world—not just names, but specific professions—but most of them align with one side or the other. It's rare to see someone active in both worlds."
Felix hesitated for a moment.
"Amelia only gave her a one-year assignment, but knowing Rita Skeeter, she won't easily give up the reputation she has built on the other side. She might choose to maintain this lifestyle even after her task ends. As for how long... no one can predict that."
"Indeed, no one can predict that."
Dumbledore spoke softly, lost in thought. After a while, he snapped back to the present and said, "Felix, there's another, more important matter."
Now it was Felix's turn to be curious.
"About Grindelwald?" he ventured.
Grindelwald had just delivered a speech that bordered on capitulation earlier that day. Could Dumbledore have changed his mind so quickly? Felix pondered the implications of this move, which went beyond simply having another Dark Lord as a colleague. It would bring a series of changes, including the Ministry of Magic's stance and the International Confederation of Wizards' commitments...
Of course, these weren't of much concern to Felix. What mattered was that if Grindelwald were allowed to stay at Hogwarts long-term, the risk of his identity being exposed would increase significantly.
Devereaux, who had once presented himself as a fervent and loyal saint but was actually an ambitious schemer, had a point:
'In the end, a leak is almost inevitable. When that happens, the whole world will focus on Hogwarts, and even Dumbledore's current standing won't be enough to handle it...'
"I have been in correspondence with my successor, the new president of the International Confederation of Wizards, Babaji Agimba", Dumbledore said solemnly. "Once the exams are over this year, they will send someone to escort Gellert back to Nurmengard."
Felix looked at him in shock.
"When did this happen?"
"Last night."
Felix stared at the old man in front of him, surprised by how decisive this action was. Dumbledore had decided to send Grindelwald back to prison? After learning about the Blood Oath from Harry, Felix had thought Dumbledore had softened.
"So... what do you need me to do?"
"I'm concerned that Gellert might react unexpectedly when he finds out. I want you to keep a close eye on him, and..." Dumbledore paused, his silver beard trembling slightly, "you know about the binding charm on his magic, right?"
(End of Chapter)
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