Sirius paid no attention to the conditions Lorne offered, and excitedly asked, "You have a way?"
" Director Lorne in the Wizarding World can't do anything, but Mr. M, the mining tycoon in the Muggle World, will step in," Lorne said, pulling out his Muggle World card from his pocket. "I still have a lot of things to take care of at my mines in the Muggle world, and I'll probably have to go there soon. The drilling company I've hired is the same company that Uncle Harry works for. If I go to negotiate, they'll probably sign the license without hesitation."
Sirius spat viciously, "Those damned Dursley! When I get to the Muggle world, I'll give them a good beating and avenge Harry!"
"That's illegal. I went to great lengths to clear your name, and I hope you won't tarnish your reputation any further. Also—" Lorne frowned at the spit Sirius had left on the ground, then held up the sign on the table, "Fifty Knut fine."
"What?" Sirius exclaimed in surprise.
Lorne pointed to the sign on his desk, which he had specially ordered.
Hogwarts doesn't really resemble a school; it's more like a party venue for a bunch of minors. He thinks this might be one reason why the students aren't very interested in learning. Putting up more signs would make it look like there's another school, and it would also save Mr. Filch a lot of trouble.
Of course, the punishment standard couldn't be a fine; demerit points, solitary confinement, or cleaning duties— Lorne felt there was bound to be one that could control disobedient students.
Sirius picked up a sign from the table. "High floors, dangerous. Do not lean on the handrails. No student has ever fallen to their death at Hogwarts."
Lorne remained noncommittal. "What you said is correct for now, but I think it won't happen in the future, and not only students, but professors also need to pay attention to safety."
"Which professor would fall to their death?" Sirius asked dismissively.
In the end, Lorne received Sirius's assurance that he would need to work for him at the start of the semester.
Knowing that Peter couldn't escape his inevitable death, Sirius didn't care. He was bored in the Shrieking Shack as a dog, and as long as he wasn't discovered by the Dementor, he would do whatever Lorne told him to do.
" Dobby?" Lorne suddenly called out.
Dobby has been staying in its room lately, and it's become very enthusiastic about the chat function in the Cuckoo Messaging. Every morning and evening, it sends good morning and good night messages to everyone it knows. It feels like it's found that feeling again when it House-elf, and it can serve many people at once.
Lorne was thoroughly annoyed, especially since he hadn't set up the do-not-disturb function. His Magic Mobile Phone had just rang again, and Lorne knew without looking that it was Dobby's "Goodnight."
" Dobby's here!" Dobby jumped out of Lorne's cubicle, walking towards Lorne while frantically operating his Magic Mobile Phone, seemingly still having sent a message.
"Watch where you're going!" Lorne exclaimed, rubbing his forehead.
Dobby is a strategic weapon for Lorne. Right now, he can Apparition to save time, and later he'll probably need Dobby to stay with Sirius to prevent him from being captured by the Dementor.
" Dobby, stop messing around. Target the alley next to Harry's house. Activate Apparition."
Because of the various activities in the first three days of school, Lorne doesn't plan to hold anything on the first weekend. It's good to give students some time to lie in bed and daydream.
He went to Hogsmeade.
The only wizarding village in the United Kingdom completely uninhabited by Muggle is located in the Scottish Highlands, about two miles from Hogwarts Castle. It is snowy all year round, with thatched-roof houses, cobblestone streets, and magical candles that never go out hanging from the trees.
Hogsmeade isn't as bustling Diagon Alley; it's just a village, but it's the closest market to Hogwarts. Hogwarts holds Hogsmeade Week about ten times a term, allowing students in their third year and above with a permit to visit and shop there.
This is also why Lorne chose to open his second branch here: an internet cafe has to be located near a school!
The process of opening a shop here is not complicated. Unlike Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade is not crowded with people. There are open spaces everywhere. You can just apply for and rent or buy to build a house and open a shop. Lorne quickly finalized the deal.
He hired wizard craftsmen to build him a house so he could open before the first Hogsmeade Week. The group worked extremely slowly, which made Lorne anxious for them, but he couldn't say anything—they knew more about stonemasonry and building protective magic than he did.
Finally, just before Halloween, the second Magic Mobile Phone store was successfully completed.
Inside Hogwarts at this moment.
"Please hand in your Hogsmeade clearance form before Halloween. You cannot go without it," Professor McGonagall suddenly announced at the end of class.
Neville raised his hand. "Professor, I think I've lost it..."
"No, Mr. Longbottom, your grandmother sent it directly to me," Professor McGonagall glanced around, "Does anyone else have questions?"
Harry timidly raised his hand. "Professor, uh, my aunt seems to have forgotten to sign it. I mean, could you or the General Affairs Office sign it for me?"
"That won't work, Potter. Without a permission form, it means you're staying at Hogwarts. No problem, Hogsmeade Week is Halloween, and we'll have a dinner party."
"Yeah, yeah..." Harry muttered to himself, "Who wouldn't want to spend a day in Hogsmeade and then come back looking refreshed for the dinner party?"
Harry's pitiful story quickly spread to his friends' ears, Dean said that he was very good at imitating handwriting. As long as Harry gave him a reference, he could sign it perfectly.
"Unfortunately, Harry has already told Professor McGonagall that he doesn't have a permission form." Ron shook his head.
"They rave about Hogsmeade, but it's not really that great," Percy reassured them. "There's not much to do there besides Honeydukes, Zonko's Joke Shop, Dervish and Banges, and the Shrieking Shack."
"Oh right, Director Lorne is opening Magic Mobile Phone shop there," Percy suddenly added, giving Harry a jab. "That might be interesting. He said at the job fair there might be new positions. I'll have to check it out, but my goal is still the Ministry of Magic."
Harry remained depressed until Halloween.
That morning, Professor McGonagall called out names early and stood guard at the door, letting people in one by one.
Harry controlled his emotions, smiled, and told Hermione and Ron to go ahead, and that they could bring him some honey when they returned.
Students filed out one after another beside Professor McGonagall. Harry stood at a distance, watching intently as the first person left and the last, not knowing how long he had been watching.
But Professor McGonagall hadn't left yet; she was still standing at the door, looking in Harry's direction, as if she were waiting for someone.
Harry glanced around and said with a wry smile, "There's no one here, Professor. Have you forgotten? I don't have a permit; I can't go."
Professor McGonagall smiled and pointed behind Harry.
Harry turned around abruptly and was caught off guard by Director Lorne was holding up a piece of parchment.
"Your aunt asked me to bring this to you, Harry," Lorne said, shoving the permit into Harry's arms. "Don't thank me, someone else helped you."
Harry felt this was the most surprising moment of his life. He even wanted to give Lorne a bear hug, but the latter pushed him away mercilessly.
"What would others think if they saw this? I'm not some biased director," Lorne said seriously. "It was indeed one of your parents who asked me to deliver the permit for you. You'll probably see him soon."