Hermione's Visit to the Ministry of Magic

"The essence of Animagus isn't just understanding the principles of Transfiguration, but also about self-awareness and perseverance. If what I just said has made you hesitate about learning this magic, I suggest you withdraw..."

The lesson was all about admonishing the young wizards, interspersed with Professor McGonagall's personal experiences and explanations. Loren and Hermione automatically ignored the discouraging words and gained a lot from the lesson.

After the class, Professor McGonagall took Rita away, this time without putting her back into the glass jar.

Evening, Gryffindor Common Room.

Loren and Hermione were huddled in the corner of the sofa, working on the mountain of homework that had piled up for the Easter Holiday. Harry and Ron had gathered a group of young wizards to play Exploding Snap.

Amidst the sounds of Wizard's Chess pieces clashing and Exploding Snap, Luna, with her long, unruly, waist-length blond hair, moved through the crowd. She carried a large stack of magazines, handing them to everyone she knew.

"The Quibbler, the Quibbler, check out the latest episode of the Quibbler."

Luna's voice was ethereal, as if she were singing, soft and delicate.

A magazine was handed between Loren and Hermione, and Luna said in a lighthearted tone, "Take a look, my dad got his first proper ad, it's Honeydukes's Easter promotion, it's really interesting."

Loren took one of the papers and watched Luna skip away.

Hermione frowned her pretty brows and asked in confusion, "So she shared this episode of the Quibbler with us for free just to tell us that Mr. Lovegood got an ad?"

Looking at the large stack of magazines in Luna's hand, Loren clicked his tongue. "I suspect Mr. Lovegood might lose money on this issue."

It was all Luna's good intention, Loren, as he unfolded the newspaper and began to read, "Honeydukes is launching a special Easter Egg-shaped Chocolate promotion, with even more exciting gifts waiting for you."

"..."

This smell is too strong. It seems like the person in charge of advertising at Honeydukes must be Muggle-born.

Below is a product demonstration: Egg-shaped Chocolate contain various gifts, somewhat like colorful firecrackers. When you twist one open, it will release a puff of smoke, and when the smoke dissipates, you will see the hidden gift.

When he saw the grand prize, Loren's eyes lit up.

Look—

Loren unfolded the magazine for her to see. "The grand prize is a bison. Twist open the Egg-shaped Chocolate, and as the smoke dissipates, you'll see a bison standing on your chest."

He then looked back with a smug look. "It's said to have been inspired by a misuse of the Levitation Charm, how interesting. If someone wins a big prize on the street, a wild bull will appear running through the streets of Hogsmeade. I wonder if Uncle Ambrose did any harmless disposal, I guess he did, tsk!"

Hermione's quill slipped on the parchment, but luckily it was the latest model from the Quill Shop. The little Witch slowly turned the quill upside down and swept it, the slipped ink was absorbed by the feathers and stored back into the spool.

Hermione looked up at him speechlessly. "Why do you look so disappointed? Are you expecting bison to run around in the streets?"

"Hehe..." Loren chuckled and leaned closer, saying, "Hermione, let's go to Hogsmeade tomorrow. Easter will be so much fun."

"Students are not allowed to leave the school Easter Holiday, and this week is not activity week, so even upperclassmen are not allowed to go to Hogsmeade."

"Um--"

Loren nodded. "Then it's settled. Tomorrow we'll take the Secret Passages behind the mirror on the fifth floor."

"Who said it was a deal with you! Where did you get the idea that I agreed?"

After some debate, Loren unilaterally announced that he would get up early the next morning for breakfast and try to play all morning so he could come back in time for lunch.

Hermione secretly resolved that she must get up early tomorrow to stop him.

The next morning, Hermione woke up while her other roommates were still asleep. After washing up and changing into clothes suitable for going out, she prepared to dissuade Loren. Just then, a silver Phoenix Patronus flew in through the window.

The Patronus landed gently on her shoulder, and Dumbledore's gentle voice came from its delicate beak.

"Hermione, come to the Headmaster's office after breakfast. We're going to investigate Loren and Sirius Black. Remember, the password is 'Egg-shaped Chocolate '."

The Phoenix vanished in countless tiny glittering fragments of silver light. Hermione's eyelids drooped, and her lips were pressed into a straight line...

Hermione was almost the first to arrive at the Great Hall. After she had eaten something with a heavy heart, Loren ran in from outside and sat down next to her.

"Ha, so early? Can't wait?" Loren said excitedly.

Hermione looked at him and felt a little relieved.

Bacon, fried eggs, orange juice... Hermione arranged his favorite foods on a plate and handed it to him, saying apologetically, "Something came up, so I can't go to Hogsmeade with you today."

"What's wrong? Can't we postpone it?" Loren asked.

Hermione avoided his gaze and remained silent.

"Well--"

Loren sighed, the knife scraping against the plate, and said in a mournful tone, "So mysterious, it's been like this lately. Go on, go on, what else can I do if you don't go? Am I supposed to petrify you with Binding Charm, then use Levitation Charm to take you to the Secret Passages, and follow it all the Secret Passages to the basement of Honeydukes?"

A smile crept across Hermione's lips, and she couldn't help but feel pleased. She reached out and patted his shoulder. "You could explain in more detail!"

"Outrageous! You broke your promise and then assaulted someone! You've gone too far!"

"Bang!"

When Hermione arrived at the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore was standing by the desk, slowly sipping a cup of hot tea. The white-bearded old man had changed into a mid-length black velvet trench coat, and a brown Derby Hat was upside down on the desk. This attire had a style from decades ago, but the old man's upright posture and extraordinary temperament completely concealed its outdatedness, instead revealing an elegant and mysterious demeanor.

Completely different from Dumbledore's usual robes, Hermione couldn't help but take a few more glances.

Hearing Hermione open the door, Dumbledore turned around, downed the remaining half-cup of tea in one gulp, and said gently to himself, "I'm getting too old, and my spirits aren't what they used to be. A strong cup of tea can help me stay alert."

Hermione pretended not to hear and instead asked, "Professor, how should we investigate? Do we have any leads?"

Dumbledore smiled and said, "It's not just clues. I can roughly guess what happened between them, but I need to find some information to verify it."

"But Professor," Hermione asked cautiously, "Wouldn't it be more convenient and faster for you to do it alone if we were just verifying something? Why did you ask me to come along?"

"Why would you think that?" Dumbledore said slowly and firmly. "Hermione, you are more important than you think."

Hermione was still puzzled, but she didn't have time to ask any more questions.

Dumbledore picked up the hat from the table, casually put it on his head, came to her side, placed one hand on her shoulder, and reached for the perch with the other.

Fawkes flapped his wings and landed on Dumbledore's arm. With a clear cry, Hermione experienced something similar to Apparition, yet different.

Hermione had assumed Dumbledore would take her to some Wizarding World place, such as the treehouse in the forest where the Prophecy crystal ball was kept, or the Castle where the all-knowing magic mirror was stored.

The next second, they found themselves in a secluded, dilapidated alleyway. Stepping out of the alley, they found the street deserted.

Even more unexpectedly, Dumbledore took her hand and led her into a shabby, inconspicuous subway station. Dumbledore skillfully guided her onto the subway, which was crowded with commuters heading to work in the morning. The two had to find a place to stand. Hermione was wearing a Muggle shirt that allowed her to move around easily, while Dumbledore's beard was tucked into his clothes and he wore a hat, making him unrecognizable even to acquaintances.

Their attire made them look like a grandfather taking his granddaughter on a trip to the city.

This is so Muggle, it's not magical at all.

Hermione couldn't help but tug at Dumbledore's sleeve and whisper, "Headmaster, where are we going?"

Seeing her tense little face, Dumbledore chuckled and wagged his finger, softly reciting, "[Muffliato]".

Then Dumbledore answered her in a normal volume without any hesitation, "We're going to the Ministry of Magic."

Noticing that the surrounding passengers didn't react with surprise, Hermione's mind raced, and she guessed that the spell she had just used was to prevent others from hearing their conversation.

Hermione raised her voice and asked frankly, "Why take the subway to the Ministry of Magic? That's not a normal mode of transportation for a wizard, is it?"

"Yes, Apparition directly to the Ministry of Magic," Dumbledore said. "But I'd like to take the subway, because I haven't ridden it in a long time."

So Dumbledore had ridden the subway before, a long time ago. This discovery surprised Hermione greatly, and she momentarily let go of the handrail.

Just then, the subway stopped at a station, and the inertia made Hermione a little unsteady. Dumbledore skillfully steadied her and said proudly, "Don't be so surprised. I have a big scar on my knee; it's a complete London Underground map."

Hermione was somewhat dazed; she had never imagined that one day she would be so amazed by Dumbledore in Muggle way.

"Ticket vending machines, escalators, televisions, subways... to many wizards, they are far more wondrous than magic." Dumbledore said, nodding his head as he looked at the things in the subway station he had just seen. "I once talked to Loren about these things, and he said that Muggle culture will eventually take over the Wizarding World. What do you think, Hermione?"

Hermione shook her head blankly. "I hadn't thought about such a far-reaching topic."

So the topics Loren and Dumbledore discussed were so grand? Hermione couldn't quite reconcile her impression of the two when she thought of the guy who kept insisting on seeing the bison.

"Loren has told me a lot about you, the Anti-Werewolf Law, vulnerable groups, marginalized groups... He always says that Hermione, you are the one who worries about these troublesome issues, and that these headaches should be left to you. He is suited to listen to your arrangements."

Hermione, unaware of Dumbledore's purpose in saying these things, listened silently without uttering a word.

"Five more stops..." Dumbledore checked the subway map on the window, then looked down and said, "Have you ever thought about taking Muggle Studies? Even though you're Muggle-born, it would be interesting to learn about the wizards' perspective on Muggle, and it might give you some inspiration."

When it came to choosing courses, Hermione became distressed. "Professor, I want to take every single course, but Loren told me that the times will conflict. Is there any way to solve this problem?"

"Well, to be honest, I don't recommend you take all the courses, but—" Dumbledore winked at her mischievously, "There's no rule against taking them all, is there?"

"Really, Professor!" Hermione understood the implication in those words, and her eyes lit up with surprise.

"Four stops to go, Hermione... there are three stops left..."

They got off at a station in central London, amidst a sea of people, jostled by countless well-dressed men and women carrying briefcases, many of whom were working overtime Easter Holiday. They took the escalator, passed through the ticket gates, Dumbledore watched with great interest as the revolving doors deftly swallowed his ticket.

Walking down the wide street, Dumbledore marveled at the majestic buildings on both sides of the road and the bustling traffic.

After turning several corners, the buildings on both sides of the street became lower and lower, and finally they came to a desolate alley and squeezed into a dilapidated red telephone booth by the roadside.

Under Hermione's surprised gaze, Dumbledore reached for the microphone and awkwardly dialed "62442" on the dial pad.

After the call connected, a clear and loud voice rang out from inside the phone booth. The voice didn't come from the receiver; the indifferent woman spoke as if she were standing right next to them.

"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and the purpose of your visit."

"Wulfric Brian, I have an appointment with Mr. Weasley. Arthur Weasley of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office ..."

The principal can lie!

Hermione's eyes widened in surprise as she stared at Dumbledore.

"Hmm... regarding the Flying Car from a year ago, this is Hermione Granger, we're here to provide a clue..."

Dumbledore intrigued and clearly wanted to continue, but the cold female voice interrupted him.

"Thank you. Guests, please take your badges and pin them to your clothing."

Ring and clatter—

A crisp metallic clinking sound rang out as two square, silver badges slid out of the coin dispenser on the public telephone. They were inscribed with:

"Wulfric Bryan provided the clue"

Hermione Granger provides the clue.

Hermione, imitating Dumbledore, absentmindedly pinned the badge to her chest.

The indifferent female voice rang out again. "Guests of the Ministry of Magic, you will need to undergo inspection at the security checkpoint and register your wand. The security checkpoint is located at the far end of the Main Hall."

As the phone booth sank into the ground, after about a minute of monotonous, grating scraping sounds, a thin golden light shone on the two people's feet. The light then gradually widened, expanding to their bodies and finally shining directly on their faces.

Just as Hermione felt the golden light was blinding, Dumbledore calmly shook his sleeve, and the strange phenomenon in front of her subsided instantly.

"The Ministry of Magic hopes you have a pleasant day." As soon as the woman's voice finished speaking, the door of the phone booth suddenly opened.

This was a magnificent hall with gleaming dark wood floors and a peacock blue ceiling inlaid with Winky gold symbols that constantly twisted and changed, like a giant bulletin board.

The walls were covered with dark, glossy black wood panels, and many gilded fireplaces were embedded in the panels. Every few seconds, a wizard would suddenly emerge from the fireplace on the left, while wizards lined up in front of the fireplace on the right, waiting to leave.

Hermione, who arrived by subway, looked at the wizards' modes of transportation, and the stark contrast stirred a strange feeling within her.

In the center of the Entrance Hall is a fountain, and in the middle of the circular pool stands a group of solid gold statues: wizards, Witch, Centaur, fairies, House-elf...

Just as Hermione was looking around, a terrifying man with long, gray hair walked towards them. Hermione gasped when she saw his appearance.

She had never seen a face like this before. It looked as if a clumsy carpenter had carved it from a piece of rotten wood. Every inch of the skin on the face seemed to be scarred, the mouth was a crooked gaping hole, and the nose, which should have been prominent, was missing.

His eyes were different sizes; the smaller one was a normal black eye, while the larger one was a bright blue one. The blue eye was round like a coin, and it kept moving around in all directions, completely unlike a normal eye.

Suddenly, the blue eyeball rolled back and disappeared into the man's head, leaving Hermione with only a large white eyeball.

"Let me introduce you. This is Alastor Moody, an old friend of mine," Dumbledore cheerfully, breaking the silence. "And this is Hermione Granger, a new friend of mine."

"Most people prefer to call me Mad-Eye, but very few dare to say it to my face." Moody's blue eyes swept over Hermione a few times before slowly looking away.

He didn't continue the pleasantries with Hermione, but instead said angrily, "You have no idea what those idiots did! That stinking rat got away! If I hadn't listened to you and gone to Azkaban to verify it, no one in the Ministry of Magic would have known about it!"

"That idiot Fudge still has a brain left; he knew to bring me back to investigate this matter..."

After listening to him Grawp off a string of curses, Dumbledore nodded and said with a smile, "Thank you for your help, Alastor."