https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-790-A-Conversation-with-Umbridge/13454654/
Chapter 789: You Cruelly Damaged It
Chapter 789: You Cruelly Damaged It
Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and no third package arrived during that time.
However, Ivan had already formed some guesses about the person sending the packages; he just hadn't figured out their motives yet.
On Thursday noon, after finishing his meal in the Great Hall, Ivan turned his attention to the Slytherin Table, considering whether to find an opportunity to corner the sender and ask some questions.
Just as he was thinking this, Harry and Ron, who had returned to the dormitory earlier, rushed over, grabbing Ivan and gasping for breath.
"Something's wrong, Ivan! You need to come and see!"
Seeing their panicked expressions, Ivan couldn't help but feel curious and immediately followed them.
When they reached the Common Room, Ivan found that the young wizards of Gryffindor were gathered around the notice board, where a new sign had been posted.
Hogwarts Senior Investigator's Decree:
All student organizations, associations, teams, or clubs are hereby dissolved.
...
Any student found to have formed or joined any organization, association, team, or club without the High Inquisitor's approval will be immediately expelled.
After reading the contents of the notice, Ivan remained calm.
It was clear that this decree was aimed at him, but he had anticipated this when they started the D.A. (Dumbledore's Army).
Harry and Ron, on the other hand, were extremely worried. They both looked at Ivan and asked, "What should we do now, Ivan? Should we temporarily stop the meetings?"
"No, everything continues as usual... Do what you need to do!" Ivan shook his head and replied casually.
Harry and Ron exchanged puzzled glances, not quite understanding Ivan's meaning. Umbridge's decree was clearly a move against them, and the best course of action would be to temporarily cancel the large gatherings until the heat died down.
After all, Educational Decree Number Twenty-Four was very clear: if Umbridge caught them, they would definitely be expelled.
"Don't worry too much. If anything happens, I'll take care of it." Ivan patted their shoulders, offered a few reassuring words, and then headed back to the dormitory.
Due to the new notice, the young wizards were all gathered in the Common Room, leaving the dormitory empty. Ivan took advantage of the midday break to sit by his bedside, opened a hidden compartment in his drawer, and retrieved the Crown, examining it closely.
Three years ago, during the final battle in the Chamber, he had used a Basilisk Fang to destroy this relic of Ravenclaw. Even now, the fine cracks on the Crown were still visible.
Magic Item: Ravenclaw's Diadem
Special Status: Damaged
Description: This is a relic left behind by Rowena Ravenclaw, one of the founders of Hogwarts. It can enhance the wearer's wisdom.
Note: You cruelly damaged it...
Seeing the note in the item description, Ivan's lips twitched. Ravenclaw's Diadem had long been tainted by Voldemort, and he had actually freed it from its suffering.
How could it be called cruel?
Ivan silently ranted in his mind, but the System's description of enhancing wisdom piqued his interest.
According to legend, Ravenclaw's Diadem did indeed have such a function. Helena had stolen it to surpass her mother's wisdom.
"Strange, if the Crown is truly so magical, why would Voldemort have been willing to turn it into a Horcrux?" Ivan gently traced the inscriptions on the Crown, feeling somewhat puzzled.
He had always assumed that the stories about the Crown enhancing wisdom were just fables—like Rowena Ravenclaw hoping that people would realize the true source of wisdom was not the Crown but herself.
However, after reviewing Ravenclaw's manuscripts over the past two days, Ivan had revised his theory. The System's description provided another piece of evidence.
But no matter what, he had no intention of returning the Crown to Helena until he fixed it and figured out its power.
Snap~
In the quiet boys' dormitory, a faint snapping sound echoed.
At the sound, Ivan immediately drew his wand and pointed it toward the empty space beside him, where a small figure had just appeared.
“Dobby?”
Once he recognized the visitor, Ivan lowered his wand and asked curiously, “Did my mother send you? How is Knockturn Alley doing lately? Is everything alright there?”
“The situation is not good, Master. The Ministry of Magic has recently increased its searches in Knockturn Alley. Mrs. Hals suspects that the Dark Lord is infiltrating the Ministry of Magic… Additionally, due to the inspections, the Wizards Market has been forced to halt its operations…”
Dobby's ears drooped as he spoke in a high-pitched voice, recounting the troubles Knockturn Alley had faced over the past two months, occasionally muttering “bad Ministry of Magic” and “bad Aurors.”
Listening to Dobby, Ivan couldn't help but frown.
After capturing the Wizards Market last year, the substantial funds they had seized were reinvested into its operations. Now, over a year later, the Wizards Market had finally started to turn a profit, only to be forced to close due to the Ministry of Magic's inspections. How could Ivan not feel frustrated?
Of course, the most pressing issue was the shortage of funds. Whether it was to maintain the Aurors or to influence officials in the Ministry of Magic, money was essential.
“Thankfully, there's the Philosopher's Stone…” Ivan thought to himself, his frown gradually easing as he looked at Dobby and said, “Don't worry about the funds. When you return, have Mother send a list of what is needed, and I will provide an equivalent value in gold and magical metals. Then, have Rochelle and the others exchange these for enough Galleons.”
The Philosopher's Stone could perform material transmutation, and this function extended beyond just transmutation. In fact, most metals could be directly created by consuming magic.
Although this was somewhat wasteful of magic, it was a special time, and he couldn't afford to be picky.
The only problem was how to exchange the gold and magical metals for Galleons without raising suspicion from the Ministry of Magic.
Gringotts was a good option; even if he produced a mountain of gold, the goblins could handle it. However, there were many Ministry of Magic informants there, and the goblins' loyalty was questionable. They might turn around and sell him out.
This was where the Pureblood Families who had surrendered came in handy.
Despite already being heavily extorted once, with each family paying several thousand Galleons to join, Ivan didn't believe that the Pureblood Families had only that much wealth.
He couldn't forcibly requisition their assets, but a trade should be fine, right?
(End of Chapter)
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