After that, Dumbledore hurried over and took Harry, Ron, and Airi to the Headmaster's Office—while Malfoy, who had fainted from fright, was naturally sent to the infirmary.
"Miss Airi, what you did was truly far too frightening for those children."
To Ron and Harry's surprise, once the door was shut, Dumbledore's first complaint was directed at Airi. But Airi's reaction surprised them even more.
"I was merely giving him the punishment he deserved, Mr. Dumbledore."
Facing Dumbledore's complaint, Airi raised her head and stared at him.
"I hope that you, the teachers at your school, and everyone in the British Wizarding World will not forget that they are British citizens first—subjects of Her Majesty the Queen—and only then wizards... Do you agree?"
"Of course I do, Miss Airi."
Dumbledore fell silent for a moment, then nodded. Airi said nothing more and stepped aside. Harry and Ron, meanwhile, stood there without even daring to breathe, neither saying a word. They exchanged a glance and saw the fear in each other's eyes. Though they were both young children, they could still sense the tense, drawn-sword atmosphere between Dumbledore and Airi.
Snape and Dumbledore often clashed in the past, especially over how Harry should be punished. Yet both boys could tell that before Snape, Dumbledore still held considerable authority as headmaster. But what had just happened was completely different. By all rights, Airi was merely the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and had no standing to oppose Dumbledore. Yet when faced with her words, Dumbledore had chosen to back down...
Just who was Professor Airi?
"Now then, you two, let's discuss your problem. Why were you there at that time?"
"Well..."
Hearing Dumbledore's question, Ron instinctively looked toward Harry. Under everyone's gaze, Harry fell silent for a moment before finally speaking.
"I...