McGonagall found Vincent while he was supervising James doing push-ups.
What was coming would come sooner or later.
He was only puzzled as to why it had come so quickly.
"Alfred, keep a close eye on him for me."
"Leave it to me."
The moment Vincent left, James immediately winked at Alfred.
"Old James, I don't want to suffer alongside you."
"Heartless!"
"Don't be like that. Take a look at your little beer belly first."
"Will one be enough?"
"Those are contraband!"
"Shh—" James pressed close to his ear and whispered a few words mysteriously.
"Fine, but don't let anyone find out."
"Relax. No one will know."
Headmaster's Office.
When Vincent arrived, the headmasters had started pretending to sleep again.
As he sat down, he noticed that magic had been cast all around them.
The last time this had happened was when they had discussed Grindelwald.
"Good evening." Dumbledore slid a transparent piece of candy across the desk. "Would you like one?"
Vincent shook his head. "Professor, did you call me here because something important happened?"
"You overlooked someone today."
Frowning, he picked up a candy and popped it into his mouth.
He had already felt chilled to the bone, and now he was practically turning into ice.
Malfoy, Parkinson, and Flint should not have been a problem. Byron and the others also came from ordinary wizarding families.
Zabini?
"Professor, does Madam Zabini have a powerful background?"
Dumbledore smiled without answering, which amounted to confirming the answer.
The fact that she had raised a son as prodigal as Blaise Zabini first showed just how indulgent Madam Zabini was.
Though people had nicknamed her the "Black Widow," that was most likely born from other witches' jealousy.
Whether the rumors were true or not, it would not be strange for a mother to do something irrational after watching her son suffer humiliation.
"Professor, the Greengrass Family?"
"You truly haven't disappointed me." Dumbledore's gaze drifted toward the window.
"If you want them to commit fully to your side, you must consider not only what is happening now, but also what may happen in the future."
Vincent thought of Viktor.
The reason he had been so devoted to Grindelwald, aside from personal charisma, was also a promise concerning the future.
Vampires had always been unwelcome among wizards, even in the relatively open-minded Americas.
If the Greengrass Family sided with a Muggle-born, certain people would surely see them as "traitors" and treat them just as they treated the Weasley family.
"I understand, Professor."
Dumbledore withdrew his gaze from the window and placed a candy in his mouth.
"Gilderoy's hearing is on Saturday. The Ministry of Magic will invite many influential figures."
It was an excellent opportunity.
But Madam Zabini would not make a move openly. She would certainly pull some strings in the shadows.
Vincent shivered and pushed the entire dish of candy back. "She won't succeed."
"It seems I guessed correctly."
"Professor, remember to keep it confidential."
Dumbledore nodded and waved for the house-elves to bring two cups of hot tea.
"There is one more matter."
He explained the bait plan without holding anything back.
Vincent had initially felt a little displeased, but he also understood that this was the fastest way to identify every Horcrux.
After taking a sip of tea to warm himself, he tilted his head toward the former headmasters, who opened their eyes and then hurriedly shut them again.
"Professor, there's no need to keep it from them now, right?"
"Madam Zabini is very charming. I imagine few wizards could refuse her."
He did not know whether the former headmasters could refuse her, but he knew Dumbledore certainly could.
"Professor, isn't that a little too dark?"
"One must always prepare for the worst. You should understand that deeply by now, shouldn't you?"
"Yes." He took another sip of tea in embarrassment.
"Do not be deceived by the illusion before your eyes." Dumbledore picked up the Elder Wand and dispelled the magic surrounding them.
"I am pleased that you recognized your mistake early. It gives me greater confidence in doing my job as headmaster."
Vincent pursed his lips at him. "Professor, I promise there won't be a next time."
"I believe there will."
From the context, he guessed that the headmasters had not heard nothing at all. Rather, they had been misled by a magical illusion into believing the conversation concerned what had happened in the Black Swan common room today.
If anything truly went wrong, Madam Zabini would not trace it back to a certain famous reporter.
Two in the morning.
Rita was at home rushing out an article.
She had accepted someone's Gold Galleons. At worst, she could whitewash them later.
Satisfied, she set down her quill and gave what she believed to be a charming smile.
The page introducing the Death Eaters had not been taken down. It had even earned her plenty of favorable attention.
Across the entire British Isles, anyone daring to do something like this was a hero of the Wizarding World.
If she could keep the series running, earning an Order of Merlin would not be impossible.
"Gu Gu—" Rita froze for a moment.
In the middle of the night, no little bird should have been delivering her a message.
And this owl's call...
"Merlin's wig!"
It was here, it was here—round and plump, it had arrived with a letter in its beak.
The signature was a Magical Runes inscription she would never forget for the rest of her life, and its contents rendered all her work tonight completely pointless.
There would definitely be benefits, but only after Saturday's hearing ended.
"Greengrass and Granger..."
She bit at her manicure, studded with imitation colored diamonds, as she agonized over how much polishing the new article needed.
Simply smearing them was not an option. She had to slip in some personal agenda.
Having accepted Madam Zabini's Gold Galleons, she would have to downplay Blaise Zabini, one of those involved.
But Malfoy's three families were not easy to provoke, and the Greengrass Family needed special "attention."
A story about three girls and four boys?
No, they would scatter her ashes to the wind.
A war between Hogwarts' two major clubs?
Still no. There was not much of an audience for that.
Based on certain insider rumors?
That would please neither side and offend both.
"Hmm—the flawless Mr. Wayne seems to have quite a few rumors surrounding him."
She took a thick stack of envelopes from a drawer.
There were all kinds of versions: jealousy, love turning into hatred, conquering Hogwarts, and so on.
Eh?
The nemesis of Defense Against the Dark Arts professors?
If she remembered correctly, the substitute professor was a special adviser to the Ministry of Magic's Department of Magical Law and the Wizengamot.
With such an impressive background, the title alone could set the entire Wizarding World ablaze.
Unfortunately, she could not write it. She still wanted to make a living in the British Isles.
"Sigh—"
Gaining fame far beyond that of an ordinary wizard truly required a price far beyond imagination.
If it was too troublesome, then she simply would not do it~
At worst, she could return the Gold Galleons she had received, then go back to exaggerating the facts like before and become a properly qualified clickbait writer.
Before you continue