Inside the Headmaster's Office

Hogwarts Main Castle.

Transfiguration Class office.

Beside the flickering fireplace, Dumbledore held a thick, ancient book aloft in one hand, his body sunk deep into the sofa.

An old-looking radio sat beside him.

"Some time ago, Grindelwald and his Saints attacked the Austrian Ministry of Magic. At present, the entire Magical World administration of Austria has been taken over by the Saints..."

"Matthew Peters, Vice President of the International Confederation of Wizards, called on everyone to restrain themselves, not to let hatred cloud their judgment, and to pursue negotiations..."

"It is said that Hogwarts secretly assisted the Austrian Ministry of Magic, but Headmaster Armando Dippet refused to answer this question. Is he tacitly admitting it..."

A hoarse broadcast came from the radio.

Dumbledore occasionally tilted his head to listen.

Behind lenses reflecting the dancing flames, his blue eyes occasionally gleamed with wisdom.

Whenever the radio reported useless news,

he turned his attention to the book before him.

The weighty tome recorded profound magical knowledge.

It contained the latest alchemical knowledge and ancient secrets Nicolas LeMay had sent him some time ago.

The novel knowledge put Dumbledore in a pleasant mood.

It stood in stark contrast to those distressing news reports.

When he read about how ancient sorcerers used the forces of nature to cast massive forbidden spells,

he could not help picking up the honey water beside him and taking a huge gulp. He slapped the sofa armrest hard and hummed an unknown tune.

Dumbledore's musical taste was enough to make one's heart stop.

Fawkes, who had been dozing nearby, could tolerate the hoarse radio, but he absolutely could not tolerate Dumbledore's "noise."

Fawkes could take no more. He raised his head, spread his beautiful wings, and flapped them fiercely, trying to draw his master's attention and make his displeasure known.

However, Dumbledore paid no attention at all...

At last, Fawkes' anger reached its peak.

He furiously flew off his perch.

The gusts above his head snapped Dumbledore awake.

He sensed Fawkes' displeasure, but it was already too late to soothe him. In truth, even if he had been in time, Fawkes would not have listened...

Like a woodpecker pecking at wood, Fawkes began vigorously working Dumbledore's crown with his beak.

It did not hurt, but it gave Dumbledore an electric, tingling sensation.

A few breaths later, Fawkes abruptly stopped.

Tilting his head, he looked out the window with puzzled eyes.

After hesitating for a moment, he left behind a greatly relieved Dumbledore and flew out alone.

Before long, Fawkes returned, with a silvery-white bat behind him.

Dumbledore, in his post-enlightenment state, stared expressionlessly at the Patronus.

"Albus, something has happened in Hogsmeade. I have arranged for the prefects of every House to thoroughly check whether any students have yet to return to Hogwarts. Come to the headmaster's office immediately."

A grave male voice came from the bat, which then dissipated into the air.

Dumbledore in his post-enlightenment state hurriedly recovered his emotions.

He rose at once and waved his wand, turning the sofa back into a book. At the same time, various scattered odds and ends returned to where they belonged. Finally, he raised his hand and caught the coat flying from the rack.

He arranged his clothes as he headed for the door.

He shut the door with his foot. By the time Dumbledore stepped outside, he was fully dressed, and Fawkes had tacitly landed on his shoulder.

By the time Dumbledore hurried to the headmaster's office,

the office contained not only Headmaster Armando Dippet, but also Deputy Headmaster Brandt Fergus, who had sent him the message, along with the heads of the other three Houses.

The rest of the faculty had used the free weekend time to attend to their personal affairs.

"Weren't you at a meeting?"

The moment he entered, Dumbledore was surprised to find so many people there, and he asked in confusion.

"We were in a meeting, but the Director of the Ministry of Magic's Education Office suddenly said that people in Hogsmeade had suddenly died. Since he needed to deal with this matter, we had to return to protect the young wizards' safety. So the meeting ended in a hurry."

Slughorn was sweating profusely. He feared war, and upon seeing Dumbledore arrive,

he poured out everything he knew.

"Ahem. The Ministry of Magic's Aurors will arrive shortly. We will wait for the prefects to report the headcount. If any students are still in Hogsmeade, we will have to rescue them."

Seeing that several of the strongest core wizards remaining at the school had arrived, the aged Headmaster Armando coughed and spoke slowly in a hoarse, elderly voice.

"Could you explain what exactly happened in Hogsmeade?"

This... Dumbledore still did not understand. Why did they need to rescue anyone...

"Ah, apologies. I am old, and my energy is lacking. When I think, I become absorbed and muddled... Let me think..."

Headmaster Armando Dippet rambled incoherently, looking abnormal in every way.

Dumbledore carefully examined him from head to toe.

His magic-infused blue eyes seemed to emit laser-like light.

Yet he found nothing.

After all, the four House heads and the headmaster and deputy headmaster were all here. No one should have been able to silently control Headmaster Armando Dippet, one of the strongest figures in the current Magical World.

He had his suspicions, but he could not question him without cause.

"Perhaps the school's many affairs, combined with this sudden incident, have made me overly nervous. The change Gellert mentioned... could it be this incident?"

Dumbledore withdrew his scrutinizing gaze and lowered his head, silently sorting through his thoughts.

The entire process was swift and discreet.

Only Deputy Headmaster Brandt Fergus cast Dumbledore an imperceptible glance.

"Five in the afternoon is the time set by the school for students to return from Hogsmeade to the castle, except for specially approved upper-year students."

After a pause, Armando Dippet glanced at Dumbledore before continuing.

"Of course, there are always students who return later than the prescribed time for various reasons. We merely deduct the corresponding House points and do not punish them severely."

"After returning from the Ministry of Magic, I wanted to confirm with our informants in Hogsmeade whether our students had been affected. But I discovered that every means of contact had been cut off."

"House-elves..."

Bernice Leslie, Head of Hufflepuff, spoke. She looked like a kind old woman.

"I ordered more than one House-elf to investigate. However, every House-elf that returned alive told me they could not Apparate directly inside. No matter which direction they approached from, the entire village of Hogsmeade seemed to have been covered by a pot lid, allowing nothing to enter or leave. I suspect it is war magic, the kind of barrier that seals off an entire city."

"Returned alive? Does that mean...?"

The Head of Hufflepuff drew in a sharp breath.

"I gave them a death order. No matter what, they were to enter and determine the situation, with at most one returning to report to me."

Headmaster Armando looked at her expressionlessly and nodded.

"Oh, heavens!"

This cry came from Horace Slughorn, the Head of Slytherin and the walrus-like fat man.

Bernice Leslie, Head of Hufflepuff, could not help speaking again.

"Does that House-elf need treatment?"

"It was sent for treatment. Otherwise, you would still be listening to its rambling nonsense with your own ears..."

After that, the office fell silent... Everyone was thinking... and waiting for news...

In short, a long period of silence followed.