Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon

Dumbledore put his plate aside, stood up, and greeted everyone cheerfully, "Good afternoon, everyone."

He looked behind Parkinson and Yaxley, and said with a hint of surprise, "I really didn't expect... you two actually came. Was it really necessary to make such a fuss?"

"I think it's necessary!" Parkinson stood in front of Dumbledore. "I seem to remember that you are no longer the headmaster of Hogwarts."

"Is that so?" Dumbledore. "I'm not that old yet... I remember the prepared statement was 'temporary suspension'..."

"You need to investigate me and determine that I am no longer suitable to be the Hogwarts Headmaster before you can truly remove me from the position..."

"So now..." He lowered his head slightly, glancing at Parkinson and the others' hands, "The investigation results are out? You didn't bring them with you?"

"So what?" Parkinson snapped. "You're suspended now, you have no right to act on your own!"

"By returning to Hogwarts now, you are ignoring the demands of the Board of Governors. Don't you know what that means?"

"Of course I understand..." Dumbledore's lips curled up slightly, revealing a perfectly measured, gentle smile. "I suppose none of you here represent the entire Board of Governors?"

"I still remember what happened last night... There was a riot in the Forbidden Forest, and another School Governor contacted me... hoping I would return to the school as soon as possible to deal with this sudden riot."

Yaxley stepped forward. "This is a clear indication of your lax management! At least as far as I know, Hogwarts has never..."

"Indeed, it is quite a coincidence," Dumbledore agreed with a smile. "Actually, there is another coincidence concerning all of you here..."

What are you trying to say?

Not only Parkinson and Yaxley, but other School Governor also started to shout, their brows furrowing as if they had realized something.

"What I want to say is..." Dumbledore said calmly, his eyes extremely bright, as he slowly turned his head to meet the gazes of the School Governor.

When the School Governor felt Dumbledore's gaze, they either lowered their heads or turned away, instinctively avoiding Dumbledore gaze.

Dumbledore maintained his smile, "I've noticed that you all seem to be plotting something under some pretext."

"I remember back then you all used various reasons... to claim you were innocent... either you were controlled by the Imperius Curse, or your families were coerced..."

"You have no evidence! There is absolutely no way you can have any evidence!" Yaxley straightened up and let out a low growl like a trapped beast.

Dumbledore smiled at Yaxley. "Perhaps? You seem a little too fanatical... thinking your former master has returned..."

"Of course, it could also be because of guilt... that they are willing to reveal more of their secrets... as a gift of atonement..."

"The secret entrances to those cellars... or some secrets hidden deep in the mountains, lakes, and forests... there are many kinds..."

"I must admit, Mr. Lucius Malfoy was more rational this time. I remember he was also a member of the Board of Governors, and he had a good relationship with you all..."

"But this time he was wise, he knew what he should do... he understood what responsibilities he should bear as a member of the Board of Governors... What do you think?"

"Lucius Malfoy!" Parkinson's voice was filled with hatred. "That traitor! That damned traitor!"

"I have something to attend to, I need to head back now!"

"I have something to do too, you guys continue your conversation!"

"I have a banquet to attend, and I'll be late if I don't go soon!"

These School Governor wavered, came up with all sorts of reasons, and rushed out of the Headmaster's Office.

Dumbledore closed the door and sat back down in his seat.

He pulled open one of the drawers, inside which was Soul Guiding Box made by Wizet, containing Soul Fragment of Voldemort and Tom Riddle.

Those Soul Fragment contain a lot of interesting content, including... Tom Riddle's memories of his contact with the Pure-blood Family during this period.

These memories are extremely precious. Since Voldemort was willing to give them up as a condition for exchange, it shows that Tom Riddle's Soul Fragment was more important to him.

Dumbledore also had dirt on these families, but it wasn't as effective as the information in his memory, nor could it take effect as quickly.

"Wizet, you've saved me a lot of trouble!" Dumbledore stretched slowly. "Judging by the time... the people from the Ministry of Magic should have already gone there..."

In the corridor, the School Governor members started discussing among themselves.

Is what Dumbledore said true?

"What exactly is Dumbledore planning to do? Will the Ministry of Magic come after us?"

"That Pure-blood traitor! The search hasn't stopped! He'll definitely make a big deal out of this!"

"But we have people at the Ministry of Magic. If we go back and write a letter now... at least they can buy us some time!"

"Doesn't Dumbledore have anyone else? Like this time... those School Governor actually agreed... Dumbledore must be behind this!"

"I told you Dumbledore was a tough opponent! You were the ones who advised me against it! You even said the Dark Lord was controlling everything behind the scenes, but where is the Dark Lord? Where is he?"

"Yaxley! Parkinson! Say something! Where is the Dark Lord now?"

"How should I know?" Parkinson flung his arm, his eyes darting around. "Lucius must have betrayed us! He's a traitor! He betrayed my friendship!"

An owl flew in through the window and dropped a letter in front of Parkinson.

Parkinson looked at the family crest on the letter and suddenly panicked, as if he had already guessed its contents.

Just as he opened the letter and was reading its contents, several more owls flew in, delivering letters to Yaxley and the others.

The group stood there, stunned, staring at the contents of the letter, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.

"Arthur Weasley is gone... Search those places..."

"How dare the Ministry of Magic? Where are our people?"

"Don't you understand? Dumbledore has connections in the Ministry of Magic too! The entire Hogwarts belongs to him! Even if we absorb Hogwarts graduates, how many can we absorb?"

"And this time we broke the rules... allowing the Ministry of Magic to launch a search of Hogwarts..."

"No wonder Dumbledore was so easy to talk to..." A School Governor slumped down, his robes soaked with cold sweat. "So this was the opportunity he was waiting for!"

Another School Governor's voice betrayed despair, "Dumbledore used this as an excuse... the Ministry of Magic had to... search our territory as well! That terrible man..."

The scene from the Headmaster's Office suddenly flashed into their minds.

The gentle smile that Dumbledore showed then now seemed to them like the delighted expression of Fire Dragon before a meal.

"Do you remember... what the motto of Hogwarts is?"

"Sleep... Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon..."