Hogwarts: Who made her a professor?

Chapter 294 Dumbledore's Response

Chapter 294 Dumbledore's Response

Everything has settled down.

As if suddenly snapping out of his daze, Barty Crouch was the first to say goodbye and leave.

He said he had to return to the Ministry of Magic overnight to deal with the backlog of official business and wouldn't even stay for a drink.

"Dumbledore, I must return to the Department," he said. "These are very busy and very difficult times. I put young Weasley in charge temporarily, and he's doing a good job, but not good enough."

Ignoring Dumbledore's attempts to persuade him to stay, Barty Crouch left immediately, becoming the first to exit the temporary common room.

"Professor Karkaroff, Mrs. Maxim, would you like to have a bedtime drink before you go?" Dumbledore extended the invitation again.

However, Mrs. Maxime disrespected Dumbledore with a physical gesture, putting her arm around Fleur Delacour's shoulder and striding out.

The two walked quickly outside, whispering to each other in French at a rapid pace.

Belvina suddenly started speaking French, saying, "I wonder if the French Ministry of Magic has a habit of cutting off the tricolor flag."

Madame Maxime and Fleur Delacour paused noticeably before quickening their pace and disappearing in a flash.

Awkward, extremely awkward.

Those who remained in the lounge felt embarrassed for them and couldn't help but scratch the three-bedroom apartment with their toes.

Igor Karkarov gave Bellvi a deep look, then called to Viktor Krum, and the two left without a word.

"Harry, Cedric, I suggest you go back and rest," Dumbledore said, smiling at the two of them. "I'm sure your classmates from Gryffindor and Hufflepuff are waiting for you."

It's easy to imagine that the common rooms of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff are bustling with activity right now, each eagerly awaiting the return of their respective house's champions.

"I'll see them both out; I have a few words to say to them," Belvina said to Dumbledore.

Then, Belvina beckoned to Harry and Cedric and said, "Come on, I'll send you two out, heroes of Hogwarts."

With that, Belvina led the two of them outside.

It was very late, and the auditorium was empty. The candle flames cast a faint light, making the grinning pumpkin lanterns hanging in the air look eerie.

"Listen, Wednesday night at 11 p.m., I'll be waiting for you in the foyer," Belvina said as she walked away. "Don't tell anyone, sneak out alone."

Completely bewildered, Cedric nodded. Although he didn't understand the reason, he subconsciously followed Belvina's instructions.

"Harry, remember to bring your baby," Belvina continued. "You and Cedric will need it."

Harry, equally bewildered, nodded. He was even more confused than Cedric, Professor Moody's words echoing repeatedly in his mind.

"I know you have a lot of questions right now, but it's too late today," Belvina continued. "Next time, next time I'll satisfy your curiosity."

As she spoke, Belvina pushed open the double doors of the auditorium. "Alright, now you must get back to the common room as soon as possible," she said. "Don't keep the students waiting too long."

"Professor, I'll head back now," Cedric said, then turned to Harry and said, "Harry, we're rivals again."

After saying that, Cedric walked to a door on the right side of the marble staircase, went down the steps outside, and returned to the Hufflepuff common room located underground.

"Belvina, my name—" Harry asked quietly, still thinking about it.

"It wasn't me. Someone else put your name in the Goblet of Fire before me," Belvina said. "How did they manage that?"

You just heard that too.

Harry was startled and quickly asked, "I am the only student to sign up for the non-existent fourth school, so I will definitely be chosen as a champion, even if I am not seventeen years old."

"That's right." Belvina nodded. "Scared?"

"A little," Harry said. "How could I not be afraid at all!"

Harry forced a smile, though it looked somewhat strained. If he could, he wouldn't want to be remembered like this.

"Alright, go ahead. Hermione and Ron are still waiting for you," Belvina said. "Remember to watch out for Fred and George; they won't let you get away with this."

Harry took a deep breath, nodded emphatically as if to encourage himself, and then climbed the marble stairs without looking back, his steps firm as he went upstairs.

Watching the boy's thin figure recede into the distance, Belvina's eyes flickered, but she still didn't call out to Harry as he walked away.

As the boy's figure disappeared down the marble staircase, Belvina closed the double doors of the auditorium again and turned back into the temporary lounge.

At this point, only Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Professor Moody, and Snape remained in the temporary lounge.

Dumbledore stood with his back to the three men in front of the roaring fireplace, the firelight illuminating his aged face, his crescent-shaped spectacles occasionally flashing a light.

"We can't let Harry participate in the competition, Albus," Professor McGonagall said worriedly. "First the Dark Mark, and now this. We have to do something."

Professor Moody leaned against a table, tapping his crippled leg incessantly.

Snape stood in the shadows, his slightly greasy hair obscuring his face, his hands unconsciously clenched into fists inside his sleeves.

"What do you think we should do, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked. "Stop the game?"

Professor McGonagall stepped forward and said, "Albus, someone wants to hurt Harry, and we must stop it. And there's Cedric, Krum, and Delacour too."

At that moment, Belvina pushed open the door and entered the temporary rest room.

"Belvina," Dumbledore said, "tell me again what happened last night."

"Someone impersonated Karkaroff and threw Harry's name into the Goblet of Fire," Belvina said. "The method was exactly the same as Mr. Crouch described."

"Even if the methods are exactly the same, it doesn't prove anything," Moody said gruffly. "He used to be the head of the Department of Law Enforcement, so it's normal for him to think like a dark wizard."

As he spoke, Moody actually removed the prosthetic leg, seemingly unconcerned about being suddenly attacked.

He continued, "Blake, are you sure the 'Kakharov' you saw was an imposter?"

"Unless Karkaroff's Occlumency is exceptionally sophisticated," Belvina said confidently, "sophisticated enough not only to evade my detection but also to fabricate a memory for me to see."

"Karkaroff isn't capable of that," Snape said coldly. "Otherwise, he wouldn't be sitting on the dock. His most commendable skill is escaping."

Alastor Moody deeply understands this point.

"What are you talking about? I don't quite understand," Professor McGonagall asked, bewildered.

"It's clear that our Miss Black and the Headmaster have teamed up to have us all turned upside down," Snape said, his tone as cold as the December air in the underground classroom.

At this point, Dumbledore turned around and said calmly, "Belvina and I originally had three suspects: Alastor—" Professor Moody snorted, "—Karkaroff, and Barty Crouch."

"So, your only remaining suspect now is Barty Crouch?" Professor Moody asked.

“That’s right, only he’s left.” Belvina spread her hands. “But I have no evidence to prove that Mr. Crouch has any ill intentions.”

"In any case, at least we have a preliminary understanding of his intentions now," Dumbledore said. "Harry, his target is not the Triwizard Tournament, but Harry."

The Triwizard Tournament is the method; Harry is the real goal.

Now, what Dumbledore and Belvina need to do is figure out each other's true intentions and what he wants to do to Harry.

"Excuse my bluntness," Snape said, his hands still tucked into his sleeves, "but if we really want to find out the truth, perhaps the best option is to wait and see."

As Snape spoke, he glanced at the others in the makeshift lounge.

Dumbledore remained silent, Professor Moody continued to beat his severed limbs, and Professor McGonagall looked on with pity.

Belvina's eyes gleamed with a sharp light, like a tabloid reporter who had caught a whiff of gossip.

"Are we just going to do nothing?" Professor McGonagall said. "Harry is just a child, not a piece of meat, not bait on a hook."

"I think that's exactly what Professor Black intended—to lure the snake out of its hole," Snape said, looking at Belvina. "It's just that someone was faster than Professor Black and beat her to it."

Instantly, Professor McGonagall and Professor Moody's attention shifted to Belvina.

Belvina, who came up with the idea, is equally suspicious, much like an undercover agent who has been hiding in Hogwarts for many years.

"You wouldn't poison my food, would you?" Belvina asked with a smile. "Severus, you wouldn't do that, would you?"

Snape raised an eyebrow and said softly, "I vaguely remember Professor Black having pretty good grades in Potions; he should be able to tell if he's been poisoned, right?"

"How can a junior like me compare to Professor Snape, the contemporary Potions Master!" Belvina said obsequiously, with a smug look on her face.

"I don't deserve such praise." Snape flicked his sleeves and walked back outside the circle of firelight, disappearing into the shadows.

Belvina turned to Dumbledore and said, "Professor, give the order! We have to do something to protect Harry."

"Severus, Karkaroff is in your hands." Dumbledore looked at Snape. "Find out his stance and make sure he doesn't get any ideas he shouldn't have."

Snape nodded in agreement from the shadows, though he didn't want to get any more involved with Karkaroff.

Then Dumbledore looked at Belvina and said, "I need to know Barty Crouch's every move at the Ministry of Magic. Can you do that?"

"I guarantee I'll complete the mission." Belvina gave a playful salute.

At this moment, Belvina seemed to have returned to her former fearless self, carefree and undaunted.

"Alastor, you need to teach Harry more in Defense Against the Dark Arts class," Dumbledore said to Moody. "We need to prepare for the worst."

"I understand," Professor Moody said gruffly, as he reattached the prosthetic leg.

Dumbledore turned to Professor McGonagall one last time and said solemnly, "Minerva, I'm leaving everything at the school to you. I need to see some old friends."

After saying that, Dumbledore looked up at the ceiling and murmured, "There must be a bigger conspiracy behind this."