bioinnovel Chapter 357 A Minor Outburst
Chapter 357 A Minor Outburst
Chapter 357 A Minor Outburst
The long morning finally came to an end, but Hogwarts did not seem as vibrant as usual.
Headmaster Dumbledore ordered the cancellation of all classes for the day and commanded students from all houses to remain in the common rooms and not to leave.
Vice Principal McGonagall and the other three deans returned to their respective colleges to count the number of students in the lounges one by one, ensuring that no student remained outside the dormitories.
After receiving the principal's order, the students who were forced to stay in the lounge couldn't wait to start discussing what was happening at school. They were so eager to know what was going on that they didn't even care that their own dean was standing right in front of them.
This morning, the dean also told everyone not to go out alone, and to go in groups no matter where they go.
Not long after, the principal ordered all classes canceled and everyone to stay in the common room, not even allowed to walk together.
The two orders, one after the other, would make even someone with exceptionally low sensitivity realize that something was wrong at the school, let alone a group of teenagers...
The student is quick-witted.
Despite the intense discussion among students from all grades, they were unable to reach a conclusion.
After all, they had very few clues, and the four deans kept quiet before leaving, refusing to reveal any information.
And so, everyone's thinking gradually became more active, and the topics of discussion became increasingly outrageous, until a wise man climbed to a high place and raised his arm to shout:
"I know the truth!"
The other students all looked up, their eyes filled with a thirst for the truth. "It must be Karkarov! Karkarov must have died of illness, that's why the school is under lockdown!"
Some students suddenly realized that Karkarov had only taken a few steps by the lake yesterday, and he had already fainted. It was not impossible that he would suddenly die today.
Some students scoffed at this, saying that although Karkaroff had fainted by the lake and fallen ill and was hospitalized, according to Durmstrang students, he was in good health and could not possibly have suddenly died.
Some students had more unique ideas. Although they did not believe that Karkarov would suddenly die, they thought that something might have really happened to Karkarov, otherwise there would be no way to explain the sudden martial law imposed on the school.
As everyone knows, where there is a sleeping dragon, there will surely be a phoenix chick; each academy has successively produced its own great genius.
And so, Igor Karkarov inexplicably became the focus of discussion, with everyone speculating about what had happened to him.
Some say that Karkarov must be terminally ill and about to die; others say that Karkarov has contracted a strange disease and cannot be seen by anyone.
That's why he hasn't gotten off the boat and fainted by the lake yesterday.
Some people say that Karkaroff must have gone mad, that he's mentally unstable, and that he's causing chaos in the castle right now, which is why Dumbledore has everyone stay in the common room and not go out.
The heated discussion among the students continued until around ten o'clock. The Gryffindors and Ravenclaws in the common room, located in the tower, were the first to realize that what happened today might be more serious than they had discussed.
Because the Ministry of Magic has sent people.
Through the tower windows, they could clearly see a group of people walking into the school.
At this moment, the faint silvery-white sun was shining on the ground, and the Ministry of Magic group quickly headed towards the castle.
The leader was a short, stout wizard with messy gray hair and an anxious expression on his face. This man was none other than Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic.
Behind the anxious Fudge was Barty Crouch, whose attire was as impeccable as ever, and whose hair was meticulously combed.
Her hair was parted straight, looking as if it had been licked by a baby cow.
Behind the two high-ranking officials were more than a dozen Ministry of Magic personnel, many of whom were familiar faces.
The newly crowned King of the Roll, Percy Weasley, the elite Auror John Dexter, and others.
Belvina stood in front of the castle gate, watching the Ministry of Magic delegation crossing the area. She noticed that Felix Ferguson was not in the group.
Soon, Fudge and Crouch's group arrived at the castle gate.
Belvina hurried down the stone steps, saying, "Minister—"
Fudge raised his hand to interrupt her.
"Let's go inside and talk," Cornelius Fudge said. "Where is Dumbledore? I need to see him immediately."
The minister looked very unpleasant and his attitude was quite cold.
It seems the minister is deeply disappointed with the performance of his subordinate, Belvina.
"Minister, Dumbledore is in the Headmaster's office," Belvina said. "He's waiting for you."
"Lead the way," Cornelius Fudge said curtly.
Then, Fudge waved his hand, and the Ministry of Magic's entourage immediately dispersed.
Without a word, the elite Auror John Dexter immediately led a few men to the second floor, with Professor Flitwick, with his short legs, hurrying behind.
Rufus Scrimgeour, the Auror's Chief of Staff, led a few people up the stairs and headed straight for the university hospital. Professor McGonagall, worried, went with them.
The remaining few turned away from the castle, and judging from the direction they were heading, their destination was likely the Durmstrang ship moored on the Black Lake.
Clearly, Connery Fudge and Barty Crouch came prepared.
On his way to the principal's office, Cornelius Fudge didn't say a word, his eyes filled with anxiety, a top hat tucked tightly under his arm.
Belvina had anticipated Fudge's coldness. She didn't care what the minister was thinking at the moment; she only wanted to know Barty Crouch's attitude. However, Barty Crouch showed no emotion whatsoever. He was serious, as if that was the only expression he had.
Before long, the deputy director arrived at the principal's office with the minister and the director.
Connelly Fudge stepped forward, pushed open the office door, and walked straight in without even knocking.
"Dumbledore, I wish you could tell me this isn't true." Fudge's voice trembled slightly, whether from nervousness or anger, it was hard to tell.
He continued, "Please tell me, Igor Karkaroff is not missing, the Headmaster of Durmstrang is not missing, Hogwarts is peaceful, nothing has happened!"
Before Dumbledore could speak, Moody, who was in the headmaster's office, spoke first.
He roared, "Are you trying to deny Karkaroff's disappearance like you wouldn't even look at the Black Magic Mark at the World Cup camp!"
Seemingly surprised to see Moody there, Connelly Fudge was startled by his roar.
Fudge glared at Moody with annoyance, then looked at Dumbledore and continued, "Tell me this isn't true." "I'm sorry, Cornelius," Dumbledore said calmly. "Karkaroff has disappeared. It must have been in the early morning. A portrait in the castle shows him being taken away."
"Portrait? What a joke!" Fudge shouted. "Since when can a portrait serve as a witness?! Are you going to tell me...?"
"It was the Death Eaters who took Karkaroff, right under your nose at Hogwarts!"
In the message Belvina sent to the Ministry of Magic, she told Fudge everything about Karkaroff's disappearance.
This includes Igor Karkarov stealing a lot of medicine, being attacked in the corridor after leaving the school hospital, and the two assailants wearing black hoods and masks.
Then, Percy contacted Belvina urgently via FlooNet, telling her that the minister was very angry and that there were sounds of things being smashed coming from the minister's office.
Anger and rage are normal. It would be strange if Cornelius Fudge didn't react when Durmstrang's headmaster was attacked and disappeared at Hogwarts, on British Ministry of Magic territory.
Compared to the furious and irrational Connery Fudge, Buddy Crouch appeared remarkably calm.
He looked calm, like a black lake frozen in the cold winter.
"Cornelly, I must admit it was my oversight." Dumbledore's tone remained calm. "Karkaroff has been taken away. Those two may be Death Eaters, or they may just be pretending to be them to mislead people."
"Definitely not Death Eaters," Cornelius Fudge forced out through gritted teeth. "The Death Eaters are all locked up in Azkaban. No one has escaped, and no one has died mysteriously."
Professor Moody, leaning on his cane, limped forward, his eyes fixed on Cornelius Fudge.
Professor Moody roared, "What, are you going to deny it again? The Death Eaters were partying at the World Cup camp, then the Dark Mark went up, and now they've stormed into Hogwarts! How long are you going to keep denying this, you idiot?!"
"You keep calling yourselves Death Eaters, where's the proof? Can you produce any proof, Alastor Moody!" Fudge roared, though he gritted his teeth despite his bitterness.
At that moment, Barty Crouch suddenly spoke up.
He said, "I agree with the minister's view, and I don't think they would be death eaters."