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Chapter 755: Disclosure
Chapter 755: Disclosure
As the sky brightened, the Gryffindor students waiting in the common room finally received news. A weary Professor McGonagall regretfully informed them that Black had escaped once again.
As Professor McGonagall turned to leave the common room, Shanna quickened her steps and followed the professor through the portrait passageway, clearly wanting to speak with her.
Upon seeing this, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan exchanged glances, shrugged, and returned to their dormitories to catch some sleep. They could easily guess that Shanna intended to share their earlier speculations with Professor McGonagall.
As for the outcome, the trio had already predicted it.
The students, who had been anxiously awaiting news, were now battling sleepiness and returned to their respective dormitories. The common room suddenly became spacious and quiet.
Soon after, Shanna returned to the common room, but one glance at her expression was enough to know that Professor McGonagall was not receptive to these "speculations," especially since they suspected that Black had accomplices within the school.
"You guessed it; Professor McGonagall is unwilling to believe these speculations," Shanna said helplessly as she noticed the curious gazes of the others. "However, she agreed with the guess that Black sneaked into the castle through a secret passageway."
There were numerous secret passageways in the castle, so many that even Filch couldn't know the location of every single one. Perhaps, during Black's school days, he had discovered a passageway that led outside the castle.
"They are adults, and they are more inclined to trust their own judgments rather than listen to a minor trying to meddle," Albert bluntly pointed out. "To be frank, your actions just now were quite irrational."
"To be honest, I'm more inclined to trust your judgment," Shanna said after a moment of silence. "In some ways, you see things more clearly than most so-called intelligent people. If anyone could capture Black, I'd bet it would be you, not the Hogwarts professors or the Aurors from the Ministry."
"You seem to have quite the confidence in me," Albert said, somewhat surprised.
"After all, you can make prophecies, can't you?" Shanna said matter-of-factly.
"I think Professor Dumbledore should ask for your help. Then, they wouldn't be running around like headless chickens," Alicia added, sharing Shanna's confidence in Albert. She hadn't forgotten that it was Albert who had discovered the culprit behind the attacks on Muggle-born wizards last year and, in the process, exposed the heir of Slytherin.
"My prophecies don't come cheap," Albert smiled.
"If you could capture Black, you would receive a reward of one thousand Galleons in one go," Shanna said, pointing to the wanted notice for Black in the newspaper. "That would be worth far more than your prophecies."
"No, with prophecies, I at least get paid upfront," Albert said meaningfully as he looked at the wanted poster in the Prophet. "As for the bounty on Black, who knows if I'll ever see that money."
"All right, let's head back and rest. We didn't sleep well last night, and if there's any new discovery, be sure to let us know," Angelina said, covering a yawn and gesturing for the others to return to their dormitories.
Black's intrusion had undoubtedly shocked Hogwarts, and the group of Dementors who had tried to assist in the search for Black were once again barred from the school grounds by Dumbledore's wand.
The Dementors were furious about this but helpless to do anything about it.
In the end, the Ministry could only influence the school through the Board of Governors, and so... the security of Hogwarts Castle was further strengthened.
First, Sir Cadogan was fired, much to the relief of the Gryffindor students. The incompetent guard was sent back to his original post on the eighth-floor staircase landing, and he seethed with indignation and frustration. Sir Cadogan had merely followed the rules, and the whole incident wasn't his fault.
To persuade the Fat Lady to return to work, Dumbledore agreed to hire some individuals to ensure her safety, and it just so happened that he had received a notice from the Board of Governors. Thus, a group of rude, impolite gnomes appeared in the corridor leading to the Gryffindor common room.
This group hardly qualified as competent security, at least in Albert's opinion. They did little more than stomp around the corridors with threatening glares, muttering to themselves, comparing the sizes of their clubs, or whacking their companions' heads with said clubs to determine whether their clubs were sturdy or their companions' heads were thick.
Oh, dear Merlin! Anyone unaware of the situation would have thought a gang had infiltrated Hogwarts.
"I highly doubt their competence for this job. It's truly hard to imagine that Professor Dumbledore would willingly spend money to hire them for enhanced security," Albert remarked as he approached Professor Flitwick, who was showing Black's wanted poster to each of the security guards stationed at the front door.
“These are security guards hired by the Board of Governors,” Professor Flitwick said as he walked, “since the Aurors from the Ministry couldn't be stationed at Hogwarts, this was the only option.”
As the two turned a corner in the corridor, they saw Filch attempting to nail up a wooden board over a hole in the wall, presumably to prevent the rats from getting through.
"To be honest, I doubt that Black's target is Harry Potter." Albert said to Professor Flitwick, "Otherwise, Ron Weasley would have died last night, along with Harry Potter and the other students in their dormitory. Given Black's viciousness, I don't think he would have spared a group of sleeping children, especially since one of them is his arch-nemesis."
"There are indeed many questionable points, and perhaps we'll only get answers once Black is captured," Professor Flitwick said kindly, "But the Aurors are responsible for that."
"The Ministry of Magic has always been unreliable, like allowing Dementors into Hogwarts," Albert muttered, "Sorry, I've never been a fan of those creatures."
"No one likes them," Professor Flitwick stopped and said to Albert, "If you have any prophecies or insights, you can share them with me or Professor Dumbledore."
"I prophesied that Black would be captured, Professor," Albert said after a moment's hesitation, "In my crystal ball, I saw myself capturing Sirius Black one night, but it seems the Ministry of Magic intends to renege on their offer. Minister Cornelius Fudge doesn't seem willing to pay the bounty for Black."
"This..."
Professor Flitwick's expression was one of surprise, not expecting Albert to make such a statement.
"You captured Black?" he asked tentatively.
"It's just a prophecy, and the future is still subject to change," Albert said calmly, "To be frank, I want to know if the Ministry of Magic keeps their word."
"If you really did capture Black, I think the Ministry would be hard-pressed to deny the reward." Professor Flitwick said after a moment of silence, "If you wish to speak with Professor Dumbledore..."
"Professor Dumbledore is probably very busy, and I think it's best not to disturb him with uncertain matters." Albert shook his head, "Besides, prophecies can be tricky."
Professor Flitwick watched as Albert walked away, then quickly made his way to the headmaster's office. As he knocked and entered, he saw Professor Dumbledore writing a letter.
"Yes, Filius, what is it?" Dumbledore asked, looking up.
"I just met Mr. Anderson, and he..." Professor Flitwick proceeded to tell Dumbledore about his encounter.
"Mr. Anderson is questioning the credibility of the Ministry of Magic, it seems." Dumbledore said with interest.
"Yes, he doesn't seem pleased with the Ministry's intention to renege on their offer." Professor Flitwick asked, puzzled, "But I thought you'd be more concerned about him capturing Black."
"Under what circumstances would the Ministry go back on their word?" Dumbledore put down his quill, "What do you think Mr. Anderson is trying to tell us?"
"That Black might be innocent?" Professor Flitwick found the idea incredible.
"Yes, if Black is indeed innocent, I believe the Ministry would revoke the bounty, and knowing Fudge, he'd be reluctant to pay out such a large sum." Dumbledore speculated.
"But why wouldn't Mr. Anderson come to you directly with this information?" Professor Flitwick was confused, "And how could Black possibly be innocent?"
"Sirius Black was imprisoned in Azkaban without a trial, years ago." Dumbledore's spectacles gleamed, "So, we don't really know the full story."
"But why would he break into Hogwarts then?" Professor Flitwick asked, "He obviously intended to murder..."
"Harry and his roommates are unharmed, and I believe Mr. Anderson has guessed something." Dumbledore crossed his hands, calm as ever, "But he also knows we are more inclined to believe our own speculations. Mr. Anderson is an intelligent man; he understands what it would mean if Black is truly innocent, so he's giving us a heads-up, and..."
Albert was clearly disgusted by the Ministry's intention to renege on their offer.
(End of Chapter)
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