You Make the Rules, I Laugh

Bright sunlight streamed down the straight, wide corridor, like golden flowers quietly unfolding, adding a touch of life to the quiet and desolate ancient Castle. Loren and Hermione walked through Hogwarts Castle, which they hadn't visited for two months, idly looking at the wizard paintings on the walls on both sides.

The frames were empty; the talking portraits seemed to have all gone on a trip.

Professor McGonagall walked steadily ahead, dressed in a black female wizard's robe, her expression neither sad nor happy, her eyes fixed straight ahead.

However, the old professor's inner world was not as calm as she appeared. Her lips were slightly pursed, and as she glanced at the glass jar in Loren's hand, her eyebrows furrowed, and a deep, resonant voice squeezed out from her throat:

"I must report what just happened to Albus, Loren, Hermione. You've come at the perfect time. Come with me to the Headmaster's office; he's there."

"Professor, why did Dolores Umbridge make that request..." Hermione asked cautiously, her lips slightly pursed and her eyebrows furrowed, her expression mirroring Professor McGonagall's. "Is she really applying to be the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor?"

Over the past few centuries, there have been instances where individuals have used Hogwarts teaching positions as a stepping stone to build fame, establish connections with the Board of Governors, acquire political resources, and ultimately secure a position at the Ministry of Magic. There have also been those, like Alastor Moody, who, after retiring from their Ministry of Magic positions, were unwilling to settle for a mundane retirement and chose to teach at Hogwarts.

But no one has ever chosen to teach at the school at the peak of their career. You should know that the power and status of the Senior Deputy Minister of Magic is far superior to that of a teaching position at Hogwarts.

"She has neither the ambition nor the patience to nurture students; she just wants to monitor Hogwarts Dumbledore's movements for the Ministry of Magic." Professor McGonagall's tone was impolite, even tinged with sarcasm. "The Ministry of Magic wants to interfere with Hogwarts, and even wants to undermine our unity and seize the power of the school's professors..."

Through Professor McGonagall's account, Loren and Hermione learned that many things had happened during the summer holidays. Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic were not at peace. First, Dumbledore publicly issued a warning, claiming that Voldemort had returned. Cornelius Fudge took the opportunity to dismiss Dumbledore all his positions except that of headmaster.

"Albus he didn't care what they did as long as they didn't tear him out of the Chocolate Frog picture, but some people obviously didn't think so..."

Without Dumbledore's permission, the Ministry of Magic's Minister's Office issued a new decree, "Educational Decree No. 24," appointing Umbridge as High Inquisitor to review and evaluate all student organizations, associations, teams, or clubs within Hogwarts. All gatherings of three or more students required Umbridge's permission. A series of standards were established to review all Hogwarts faculty and staff, and unqualified personnel would be dismissed...

Umbridge's initial request wasn't for a Defense Against the Dark Arts position. Professor McGonagall was so angry she laughed and bluntly rejected their so-called Educational Decree, arguing about procedural irregularities and Hogwarts' independent authority. Her scathing lecture almost made Umbridge lose face. When she realized that force wouldn't work, she resorted to a softer approach and applied for a teaching position as a second choice.

Hermione asked in a low voice, "So, the Defense Against the Dark Arts still hasn't found a professor?"

Professor McGonagall sighed, "Dumbledore had several suitable candidates, but last year the news spread that Mad-Eye had been imprisoned for a whole year. Even the Aurors Mad-Eye had suffered such a thing, so people are even more afraid of the rumored curse, so..."

Loren, walking beside him, twitched his lips. "..."

Why not reassign Professor Snape? He's been eyeing Defense Against the Dark Arts for a long time anyway, and hiring a new Potions class professor would be easier than hiring Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor.

Before he could offer any suggestions that would benefit everyone, Professor McGonagall had already given the monster statue a command. After a rumbling sound, the three of them climbed the spiral staircase and arrived at the Headmaster's office, where they knocked on the heavy Oak Door.

The warm sunlight streamed into the office through the window, and the principal, dressed in a white robe, sat behind his desk.

Tall and imposing with piercing eyes, his presence alone exuded a sense of security.

Fawkes leaned lazily against the window, basking in the sun. Its golden and red feathers shimmered in the sunlight, and it preened its feathers with its delicate beak, revealing a touch of mystery and elegance befitting Phoenix.

Loren and Hermione's hearts, which had been in turmoil all along, suddenly calmed down, as if they had nothing to worry about anymore. They smiled and greeted her, "Headmaster."

"Loren, Hermione, I knew you were back safe and sound. The aroma of roast meat wafted over on the wind at noon, Fawkes even ate two extra meat patties for lunch."

Dumbledore smiled and gestured for several chairs for them to sit down, poured tea for each of them, and then turned to Professor McGonagall beside him, "Do you have some good news to tell me, Minerva?"

"That's certainly good news!" Professor McGonagall said irritably. "The Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor you've been troubling us with has been accepted, and it's with Dolores Umbridge, the Senior Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic!"

"Hmm..." Dumbledore pondered for a moment with an air of seriousness, then nodded. "Not the most suitable candidate in my ideal sense, unless there are no other applicants."

Loren and Hermione blinked, a strange feeling rising in their hearts. They couldn't tell if Professor Dumbledore's words were a lame joke, and they secretly glanced at the professor beside them, whose face had turned pale.

"Are you kidding me, Albus?"

Professor McGonagall raised her voice, and the Deputy Headmaster's imposing presence made the Headmaster shrink back. "Hire someone who wants to destroy Hogwarts? You can't be unaware of her true intentions, can you? Or are you really senile?"

Loren and Hermione remained silent, holding their teacups and sipping their tea in small sips.

"Don't be so nervous, Minerva." Dumbledore smiled as he poured her tea, the rising steam causing Professor McGonagall's wide eyes to close slightly. "If she doesn't have the power to vet student groups or dismiss faculty members, and is just a regular Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, it won't cause any harm to Hogwarts. If she's not qualified, we can just find someone else... School starts soon, we can't just leave the Defense Against the Dark Arts vacant, can we?"

Professor McGonagall paused for a moment, staring at him hesitantly. Her tense nerves relaxed slightly as she subconsciously considered the possibility.

Looking back over the past few years, the professors of Hogwarts ' Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor have been anything but normal: dark wizards possessed by Voldemort, con artists who only tell stories, and Death Eater are disguised and harbor ulterior motives...

As the Senior Deputy Minister of Magic, Umbridge was, in a strict sense, a law-abiding and good wizard. Compared to the aforementioned dangerous individuals, she didn't seem so unacceptable.

Realizing this, Professor McGonagall's expression became complicated, and she seemed conflicted.

Seeing his Deputy Headmaster's reaction, Dumbledore smiled but didn't press the matter. Instead, he glanced at the glass jar on the table and chatted with the two young wizards beside him. "How did the trip to the Giant tribe go? It seems you had some unexpected gains?"

Loren sipped his tea, looking like he had a long story to tell and didn't want to talk about it.

Hermione nudged him and answered honestly, "We reached Ben Nevis Mountain using Floo Powder, and with the help of Old Dodd, the owner of the Slop Bar, we easily found the Giant tribe and reached an agreement with the three giant siblings..."

Golden sunlight streamed into the room, casting dazzling patches of light. Accompanied by the slurping sounds of tea being drunk, a rather uneventful adventure story was told by the Witch, while the two seasoned wizards listened intently.

They possessed imposing physiques that surpassed most creatures in the mortal world, and were enlightened by the wisdom of two wizards...

The two innocent little ones had no idea what a feat they had accomplished.

Dumbledore blue eyes narrowed slightly, his meaningful gaze seemingly piercing through all obstacles to see the Giant tribe gradually rising in the Ben Nevis Mountain Depression.

"What an incredible story..." Dumbledore's approving gaze fell on the two young wizards, and he said in a daze, "Perhaps hundreds of years from now, this chapter will be recorded in myths and historical documents, in which the two wizards, like Deity, rescued the giants from ignorance and confusion, and the three chosen siblings ushered in a new era for giants."

"Ah?"

Hermione blinked, and Loren was also stunned for a moment before belatedly realizing that what they were doing seemed to be similar to those charlatan legends. Many mythological stories instantly flashed through his mind.

A certain tribe had long been in a state of ignorance and oppression. One or more leaders of the tribe were chosen by a mysterious force and led their people to migrate to the Promised Land, which flowed with milk and honey, and developed into a vast kingdom.

"Hiss..."

Loren looked disgusted and waved his hand. "I don't want to be a charlatan. Others may not know, but we know, right? The truth behind those strange stories is that wizards interfere in Muggle politics and tribal conflicts, and it usually doesn't end well... Let's not talk about that. Let's talk about Hagrid's half-brother. What do you plan to do with him? Are you really going to let him roam freely in the Forbidden Forest?"

Dumbledore smiled sincerely, "Why not? If Hagrid can really teach him something, and if we can get the consent of the natives of the Forbidden Forest, perhaps I can hire Grawp as the new Gamekeeper. A Gamekeeper giants— Aegilbert would certainly envy us..."

Professor McGonagall's eyebrows furrowed, clearly indicating that she had something to say, but she did not immediately refute it.

"What should we do with these two hamsters?"

"Hmm... If we hand them over to the Ministry of Magic, they'll be imprisoned in Azkaban and will soon be back with Voldemort. I'm planning to find them a safer place."

"Then I'll leave it to you."

"..."

After a few cups of fragrant and sweet tea, all the worries were answered in just a few words. Dumbledore seemed to possess such Magic Power; as long as he sat in front of you, all problems ceased to be problems, and all troublesome matters became clear and organized.

Unlike Professor McGonagall, Loren and Hermione didn't get caught up in their dilemmas. They happily drank tea and ate snacks, talking about drawing Alchemy Array on giant skins, Gamekeeper, the Defense Against the Dark Arts next semester, and recommending which young wizards would be suitable Prefect.

The ever-watchful Ministry of Magic and Voldemort lurking in the shadows were all thrown out the window and carried away by the slightly sweltering evening breeze at the end of summer.

As the sun gradually sank behind the western mountains, the golden sunlight turned orange, and the sky grew darker.

Loren swallowed the last of his tea and his scones, glanced out the window, wiped his mouth, and said, "Professor, there are only a few days left before school starts. Can we stay at the school until then?"

Professor McGonagall thought for a moment. The House-elf had already cleaned up the dormitories for four houses, and there was enough food for two people for three meals a day. She thought there was no problem and was about to nod in agreement when Dumbledore smiled and refused the request.

"I'm sorry, Loren, Hermione, Hogwarts has a clear rule that students may not arrive at school before the official start of the term, so I cannot keep you here..." Dumbledore's voice was gentle, with a hint of apology. "Considering that it is a long way for you to return to Grimmauld Place, I will have Fawkes take you there. Don't worry, it will be quick."

"No... Headmaster Dumbledore!"

Loren and Hermione were dumbfounded.

A scheming Ministry of Magic official wants to join Hogwarts, and you agree.

You agree that a deranged giant will remain permanently in the Forbidden Forest.

We two honest, law-abiding young wizards wanted to stay at school for a couple more days, and you decisively refused!?

School rules?

I find the school rules laughable.

"The sun is about to set, Molly should be starting to prepare dinner. You should head back now." Dumbledore turned to look at the Phoenix, who was dozing on the windowsill. "Fawkes, take them back."

"Squeak!"

12 Grimmauld Place, underground Kitchen.

"So Dumbledore really sent you on a dangerous mission to face off against two vicious Death Eater!"

Molly gritted her teeth as she spoke, the knife and fork scraping against the plate with a sickeningly loud sound. She quickly burst into tears, her eyes red, "We adults aren't dead yet! Why won't he let us go, putting two little wizards in danger? Dumbledore really did that? He's gone senile..."

The entire dining table was silent. Arthur, Lupin, and Sirius Black kept their heads down, not daring to look up. They ate cautiously, despite the tempting dishes on the table. They only dared to take the food closest to them. Arthur broke off a piece of bread and stared longingly at the jam not far away, not daring to make a sound.

"Don't... don't worry, Mrs. Weasley, we're back safe and sound, aren't we?" Hermione instinctively protested, adding hastily, "And the situation wasn't as dangerous as you think..."

George and Fred exchanged a glance, their eyes meeting, their unspoken understanding evident.

Thankfully, I didn't tell my mom.

Otherwise, their adventure would definitely have been ruined.

On the other side, Harry, Ron, Ginny, and the others remained silent, their gazes occasionally falling on Sirius Black before casually looking away.

"Something's not right, something's wrong with these people..."

Loren, standing nearby, glanced thoughtfully at the expressions of the others.