Unexpected Developments

The noisy Great Hall fell silent immediately, and the students naturally recognized the recently powerful official organization.

"The Wizarding United Guard ... what are they doing here..." A low whisper arose.

"That's Mr. Bata. Why did they knock out our school's guards...?"

"Don't be silly, the Guard Corps are definitely here to arrest someone, but this is way too much of a show of force. Who would they need so many wizards to arrest..."

The student who said that paused for a moment, and the students around him also turned their attention to him.

Immediately afterwards, everyone couldn't help but look towards the head of the professor's table, where their principal, the Founders of Newmontgard, and one of the greatest wizards in the world today, sat.

Gellert Grindelwald.

Marshall did not let the students leave the Great Hall first; she stood in front of the Guard Corps and looked directly at Grindelwald.

"Mr. Grindelwald, we have some old cases that require your cooperation in our investigation, is that alright?"

His tone was calm and even, as if he were just asking for a small favor.

Even first-graders knew that something big was probably going to happen today.

Grindelwald leaned back comfortably in his chair. He first gestured for the professors around him to return to their seats, then scooped up a spoonful of Pudding in front of him, savored it carefully, and said slowly, "Newmontgard is busy with official business, please go back."

The middle-aged witch's eyes flickered a few times. She took a half step forward, her right hand, hidden beneath her robe, slightly raised. "Mr. Grindelwald, I respect your contributions to the Wizarding World over the years, but in front of so many children, perhaps it's best not to..."

Grindelwald waved his hand to interrupt him, "You guys are still the same as always."

The Guard Corps tensed up the moment Grindelwald waved, and some of the younger wizards even drew their wands.

Marshall didn't reprimand the breathing team members behind her. She raised her wand. "Gellert Grindelwald, there is evidence that you began secretly planning terrorist acts after 1900. Over the next forty years, you and your followers committed numerous crimes, stirring up multiple waves of crime in America and Europe, including countless murders..."

Marshall's words caused a huge uproar in the Great Hall. Whether they were students from Newmontgard or Hogwarts, they all looked at Grindelwald, who was at the head of the class, in disbelief.

In their eyes, the Founders and headmaster of Newmontgard was a great wizard with great personal charisma. Although his teaching methods were strict, or rather harsh, no one could question his teaching standards.

For many years, students from wizarding societies have grown up hearing about the headmaster's deeds. In their eyes, as well as those of their parents and even grandparents, Grindelwald is powerful and charming, strict but fair.

Newmontgard has provided many outstanding talents to the whole of Europe and even the entire Wizarding World, and the Wizarding Reform Association founded by Grindelwald has also effectively fought for the rights and interests of many wizards, especially Half-blood Wizard.

If we were to select the greatest figures of the 20th century who changed the Wizarding World, Gellert Grindelwald would undoubtedly be among the top contenders.

And this is the wizard whom the students of Newmontgard almost worshipped... The head of the Guard Corps said that he was the leader of a terrorist organization in his early years.

Even though the Wizarding United Guard has recently gained considerable prestige, the students' first thought was: You're talking nonsense.

Someone suddenly stood up from their seat. Sean recognized the person; it was Rai Pena, the one he had faced before and who had performed well.

"Madam, this is impossible—I have always trusted the Wizarding United Guard, and Professor Grindelwald is my role model. I think you must have made a mistake." He tried his best to remain calm, but his trembling eyes betrayed his shock.

Marshall glanced at the other man and said coldly, "Our Wizarding United Guard will never wrong any wizard, especially a great man like Mr. Grindelwald. But all the current testimonies point to him, and the witnesses who experienced the incident were also highly respected wizards. As an official organization, we must take responsibility for this."

She turned to Grindelwald again. "Sir, please cooperate with us in our investigation. If there are any problems, we will hold the wizard who provided false testimony accountable, and I will publicly apologize to you."

Before Grindelwald could speak, another senior student stood up. "Then where's the evidence?! You're arresting our headmaster based on nothing but your words?! The Wizarding United Guard, huh? You know what you're up to! Do you really think Newmontgard has no one left?!"

"Exactly, why should we?!"

"We can't let them take the principal away!"

The boy's words were highly inflammatory, and with several students echoing him, they quickly ignited the students' anger. Driven by their long-held sense of school honor and their inherent passion, the students of Newmontgard stood up in unison.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

"Sean, how could this happen..." Hermione whispered to the boy beside her at the quiet Hogwarts table.

Sean did not answer. His gaze was deep. He glanced at the students who had led the way and memorized their faces before calmly looking back at the field.

Because he knew that what Marshall said was true... Grindelwald was the First Generation Dark Lord who struck fear into the hearts of North America and Europe!

He changed his mind after the Prophecy, and he reconciled with Dumbledore. He may have also reached some kind of agreement with the Wizarding World's high command back then, but in any case, what he did back then will not change.

Sean was unaware of the details of what happened back then, but he knew one thing: Grindelwald had actually been restricted all these years, whether by the School Board of Newmontgard or by political organizations in the Wizarding World; they had been suppressing Grindelwald.

Just like what happened to Dumbledore.

But he also confirmed another point: if Grindelwald had indeed committed countless heinous attacks back then, the decision today would not be what it is today.

The situation must not have been completely out of control back then, and the Wizarding World had not lost too much power under Grindelwald's rule. Otherwise, even if Grindelwald wanted to be a headmaster in peace, no one would have agreed.

But today, the Wizarding United Guard brought up the old matter again... which proves one thing: one of the parties involved in the agreement reached back then must have gone back on their word.

Their aim is to target Grindelwald, but their motives remain unknown.

Moreover, under the watchful eyes of all the students, once the truth is fully revealed, Grindelwald's accumulated reputation will vanish overnight.

Sean looked at Grindelwald, who hadn't said much. Grindelwald's face showed no emotion; he was simply watching everything quietly.

But Sean knew that beneath the calm surface of the lake, a monstrous storm was brewing.

This man, this old wizard, has never changed; he is still the same unruly and arrogant Dark Lord.

Rules? The word "rules" doesn't exist in Grindelwald's dictionary!

Something really big is going to happen today... Sean reached out and squeezed Hermione and Daisy's arms, giving them a look and telling them to stand behind him.

If a fight were to break out, he would take the two of them and run away without saying a word.

The aisle in the middle of the Great Hall was like a fragile solid glass tube. Grindelwald and the Wizarding United Guard looked at each other in their bizarre and wonderful state, as if they were both waiting for the shattering that was about to happen.

The students' impassioned protests had little impact. The two sides in the confrontation represented the pinnacle of the Wizarding World: one was one of the most powerful wizards in the world, and the other was a powerful official violent institution. The students' protests meant nothing.

Marshall's arm holding the wand did not waver at all. She exhaled the breath she had been holding in her lungs, and a fleeting tremor ran through her chest.

"Mr. Grindelwald, just as that child said, do you need evidence before you come with us?"

Grindelwald didn't speak; he casually swirled the wine in his glass, as if waiting for something.

Sean was also waiting. He didn't believe that Dumbledore didn't know about such a big thing. Even if the other party concealed the timing of the operation, it would be very easy for Dumbledore to get there. Moreover, James and Sirius were in the Guard Corps, and they were Dumbledore's staunch supporters. Dumbledore must have received the news.

Amid the tense standoff and the students' commotion, the silent Grindelwald stood out as particularly unusual.

In many situations, silence often signifies admission—the voices of the protesting students have grown increasingly faint.

"Professor, Professor Grindelwald, you, you..." one of the unwilling students mustered up the courage to speak.

Grindelwald glanced at the other man with his usual indifferent expression, and finally spoke, "All professors, take your children back to bed."

Despite their weak and even somewhat feeble attitude, the students exchanged glances and finally stood up.

The professors wanted to say something, but under Grindelwald's gaze, they obediently kept quiet.

In Newmontgard, Grindelwald's words are the rule.

On the Guard Corps, one of Marshall's men gently nudged their leader and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Should we stop them...?"

Marshall shook his head almost imperceptibly.

Hermione tugged at Sean's sleeve. "Shall we go back first?"

The situation would have improved considerably if the students hadn't been there, but the other side was clearly prepared... Sean stared intently at the students who had initially stood up to speak, his arms hanging naturally with his sleeves facing the ground.

The Guard Corps ' attention was focused on Grindelwald and the professor beside him. In this situation, no one noticed a small, winged Little Snakes, smaller than an earthworm, slithering swiftly along the shadows on the ground, a glittering silver needle dangling from its mouth.

The students all stood up and left their seats, and the scene became slightly chaotic. Just then, the hot-tempered boy who stood up after Lai Pena suddenly tried to stand on the table.

He stepped onto the stool with one foot, about to stand up high and shout out what he wanted to say, when suddenly, a huge wave of dizziness hit him, and his body, which was already highly tense due to tension, lost all strength.

"Thump." The boy suddenly fell to the ground.

All eyes turned to him. The dizzy boy's eyes rolled back, and blood was spreading from his forehead from the impact of his fall, making him look like he was dead.

Grindelwald glanced at him casually and then ordered, "Someone take him to the Hospital Wing."

The minor incident did not deter the students from leaving; only Marshall's expression grew increasingly serious.

Naja nimbly slipped back into Sean's sleeve. The silver needle she had been carrying was coated with a concentrated dose of Draught of Living Death. This dosage was certainly not enough to have the effect of oral administration, but it was enough to make someone unconscious and sleep for an hour.

Sean breathed a slight sigh of relief. He could roughly guess what the other party wanted to say; it was nothing more than encouraging the students to stay, at which point Grindelwald would be greatly restrained.

However, this kind of mission not only needs to be kept secret, but also needs to attract Grindelwald's attention, so it shouldn't involve more than one person...

Sean glanced at Grindelwald, preparing to leave with Hermione and Daisy. This was all he could do; staying would only be a burden.

only...

In the ranks of Newmontgard, Fabian Aiken saw the unconscious boy, and his chest heaved violently. He thought of the moment he was hanging from the ceiling, and of his father's bald left hand.

He had heard about the plan, and of course, he wouldn't entrust the dirty work of encouraging students to stay behind to the eldest son of the Aiken Family —but the idiot in charge of this task had been taken down beforehand...

Fabian Aiken's breathing became heavy. He glanced furtively at Grindelwald, then gripped his trembling hand tightly.

"I told you I would get my revenge..." He took a deep breath, then suddenly stood up on the table.

"We can't just leave like this! We, the students of Newmontgard, will not allow our principal to be slandered! We want to see you bunch of people who twist the truth leave with your tails between your legs!"

His eyes were bloodshot as he looked at Grindelwald with grief and indignation, and he roared, "Professor, we know you are definitely not that kind of person, we will definitely stay and support you!"

The students, who were already reluctant to leave, were suddenly spurred on. Their respect for Grindelwald turned into youthful passion—the thought that they had disobeyed the principal's orders in support of him made them extremely proud.

The students who were about to leave stopped in their tracks, all waving their fists and looking at Grindelwald.

"That bastard's acting is pretty good..." Sean lowered his eyelids, hiding the anger in his eyes.

The scene became noisy, and it wasn't Grindelwald's order that silenced the shouts.

Someone walked in from the entrance of the Great Hall.

He carried a worn-out leather suitcase, his back hunched, and his face wore an awkward and inexplicably stiff expression.

"Professor Scamander ..." Sean murmured.