A gentle breeze swept through, making the oil lamp hanging beneath a wooden beam sway slightly. Its flickering light played across the faces of Dumbledore and Amosta, seated on opposite sides of the wooden table in Hagrid's Hut, lending a touch of sharpness to both faces that embodied tolerance and authority.
"So—"
Dumbledore's silvery-white beard swayed faintly as he looked at Amosta and spoke calmly. "You intend to refuse?"
"I have no reason to accept the Ministry of Magic openly planting a spy in Hogwarts, do I?"
Amosta spoke bluntly.
"Rather than let someone in only to cause us trouble, it would be better to keep them outside from the start."
"But you know Cornelius has already made up his mind to interfere in Hogwarts affairs. Whether it is you or me, I fear our refusal will not make him back down."
Dumbledore continued. Though he was pouring cold water on the matter, Amosta could tell that he, too, strongly resented the Ministry of Magic meddling in Hogwarts affairs.
Amosta knew it was not because Dumbledore was protective of his own domain and unwilling to let the Ministry of Magic encroach upon the authority he held as Headmaster. If Dumbledore truly thought that way, then he would not be Dumbledore.
More than anything, Dumbledore did not want political struggles disrupting Hogwarts' normal teaching activities.
Anyone could see that Fudge's recommendation of Umbridge for the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts was not truly about teaching.
Tap, tap, tap—
Amosta's fingers tapped rhythmically against the tabletop as he sank into thought. Refusing the Ministry of Magic's request was easy, but the political confrontation hidden behind this matter could not be brought out into the open.
"By the rules, the Ministry of Magic has no right to interfere