bioinnovel Chapter 386 Cedric's Growth
Chapter 386 Cedric's Growth
Chapter 386 Cedric's Growth
"You are questioning the authority and credibility of the Ministry of Magic, Cedric."
Under the cover of night, Belvina, with her hands behind her back, circled around Cedric, looking as if she were scaring a child.
Fortunately, Cedric knew Belvina somewhat and was clear-headed enough that he wasn't intimidated by her stern gaze and tone.
"Professor, this is something you taught us a long time ago." Cedric instinctively straightened his back. "You taught us to have the courage to question authority."
"Oh," Belvina seemed to be playing dumb, "did I ever tell you all this before! I'm so brave."
It's impossible to fool anyone. Although it's already night, it's not time to go to bed and dream yet.
"Of course, it was you who taught me," Cedric said confidently. "Have you forgotten that we held a petition at the school a couple of years ago?"
Forgot?
How could Belvina forget!
She vividly remembers the grand scene of a large group of students blocking the entrance to the auditorium.
In an effort to oust Gilderoy Lockhart, the petitioning students held up banners and waved flags, completely surrounding the auditorium.
If Dumbledore hadn't intervened in time and immediately dismissed and investigated Lockhart for inciting public outrage, the student petition might have escalated into a protest.
The occurrence of a collective petition at the school was due to two main reasons: firstly, Gilderoy Lockhart was truly a terrible person, and the school administration had been playing dead and doing nothing; secondly, it was inseparable from Belvina's encouragement and support in class.
The person who once encouraged students to have the courage to rebel against authority now feels a sense of powerlessness, as if a boomerang has hit him.
"Well, I have to admit that this is what I taught you," Belvina said. "To dare to question authority and to dare to protect your own rights from infringement."
Cedric nodded emphatically. He said, "The Ministry of Magic's conclusions and the Daily Prophet's report always feel strange to me, like something's not right. That's why I'm wondering if the Ministry of Magic is hiding something."
At this moment, Belvina felt gratified.
She was pleased that Cedric was able to remain clear-headed, think independently, and not be manipulated by authority or public opinion.
However, while feeling relieved, Belvina also complained about the Ministry of Magic and Fudge, blaming their lies for not being convincing enough.
"Cedric, I don't know if you will follow in your father's footsteps and enter the Ministry of Magic in the future, but as your teacher at the school, I am willing to teach you some things that cannot be found in books."
Belvina looked at Cedric, and saw that Hufflepuff's heartthrob immediately perked up his ears, looking like he was all ears.
She continued, "Given the harsh realities of the situation, people in the department need to learn how to speak tactfully and when not to speak. In addition, lying and the ability to detect lies are also essential skills."
Belvina didn't want to talk to Cedric about these trivial matters, not wanting students to be exposed to the dirty dealings within the Ministry of Magic too early.
But then Belvina thought about it again, and she remembered Percy's confusion and embarrassment when he first started working at the Ministry of Magic. In the end, she decided to reveal some inside information to Cedric.
As for how much Cedric can learn from this inside story, that's up to him.
"I imagine you've heard what Barty Crouch Jr. did at school that morning," Belvina continued. "How much of what he said do you think was true, and how much was false?"
Although the Hufflepuff common room was located underground in the castle, Cedric was unable to witness Crouch Jr.'s performance firsthand, but he heard some details about it afterward.
With the Daily Prophet's subsequent extensive reporting, even if it was pieced together from various sources, Cedric was able to figure out what Crouch Jr. had done.
"Young Crouch confessed his crimes in front of the entire school," Cedric said. "Finally, he committed suicide in front of everyone."
Cedric thought for a moment, then said tentatively, "I suspect that what he said in front of everyone was half true and half false."
"Yes and no," Belvina said. "Most of what Crouch said was true, but he selectively lied to conceal the most important information."
Whether out of good intentions or malice, lies are born to cover up the truth.
Cedric frowned and racked his brains, but he still couldn't figure out where Crouch had lied, let alone what truth Crouch was trying to cover up.
Even today, people still dare not utter Voldemort's name, instinctively avoiding anything related to him. Cedric was no exception, finding it difficult to immediately think of Voldemort.
Seeing Cedric deep in thought, Belvina didn't urge him. She stood quietly to the side, not disturbing Cedric's brainstorming.
After a while, although the young Mr. Diggory had not yet connected it to Voldemort, he was even less inclined to believe the Ministry of Magic's conclusion.
"If Crouch Jr.'s words contain a lie, the credibility of the Ministry of Magic's conclusion will be correspondingly reduced," Cedric murmured. "Either the Ministry of Magic failed to see through the lie, or they intentionally concealed it."
Cedric thought for a moment, then continued muttering, "Young Crouch is deliberately hiding it, and the Ministry of Magic is deliberately hiding it too. The information they're trying to conceal is the same, but what is it?"
As he spoke, Cedric looked at Belvina, hoping to get an answer from the professor.
However, Cedric Diggory was destined to be disappointed; Belvina would not tell him the correct answer.
"That's enough!" Belvina snapped her fingers. "There are some things you shouldn't know too much about right now. Knowing too much will only hurt you."
It wasn't that he intentionally concealed anything, but rather that it wasn't appropriate for Cedric to know too much at this stage.
Cedric Diggory is a student, and his most important task right now is to study and improve himself; Cedric Diggory is also a warrior, and he needs to ensure he is in good competitive condition to participate in the Triwizard Tournament.
Knowing too much and thinking too much will only become a burden for Cedric.
To put it bluntly and bluntly, war should keep children away.
"Professor," Cedric said, "I can't guess the truth right now, but I think it must be very hard to accept."
If the truth weren't so unacceptable, the Ministry of Magic wouldn't have needed to lie, much less collude with the criminal Crouch Jr. to cover it up.
Cedric thought for a moment, then said, "Professor, the Ministry of Magic must have its reasons for doing this, right? I may not like Fudge, but he must have had a reason to do it, right?"
Young Mr. Diggory had already come up with an excuse for the lying Ministry of Magic.
To be precise, Cedric secretly hoped that the Ministry of Magic would be honest and upright, rather than full of intrigue and backstabbing.
Unfortunately, just as Belvina wouldn't give the right answer directly, Cedric's hopes were destined to be dashed; the Ministry of Magic was neither honest nor upright.
"Cedric," Belvina said earnestly, "what you should be thinking about most right now is the upcoming third project, not Crouch, not Jorkins, and certainly not the Ministry of Magic."
"I----"
Cedric wanted to readily agree, but agreeing was easy, doing it was not.
The Ministry of Magic, Crouch, and Jorgins—these issues weighed heavily on Cedric's mind, making him uneasy.
You should know that Cedric's father is an official in the Ministry of Magic. If something serious happens in the Ministry, his father, who works in the Department of Magical Creatures Control, will also be in danger.
Even though he couldn't immediately connect it to Voldemort, Cedric was still very worried.
"Alright, stop thinking about it," Belvina said. "Let's focus on the Triwizard Tournament."
As she spoke, Belvina reached out and patted Cedric's arm in a gesture of comfort.
She continued, "I can't even imagine how painful it would be if I lost to my rival in the third competition."
Upon hearing this, Cedric immediately envisioned the following scene:
In the third competition, Harry overcame all obstacles and finally lifted the trophy placed in the center of the maze.
As for Cedric himself, all he could do was congratulate Harry and then stand forlornly to the side.
Thinking of this, Cedric couldn't help but frown. He wasn't someone who couldn't accept defeat; losing wasn't terrible, but losing to a rival in love was truly painful.
"Professor, I will try my best to control myself and not let this affect me," Cedric said. "I don't want to see my rival lift the trophy that symbolizes honor in front of me."