Chapter 277: The Letter Was Intercepted
Although Professor McGonagall's firm stance ensured her classes remained undisturbed, the same could not be said for the rest of the faculty.
Especially for Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures class.
Since Phineas hadn't taken the course, he didn't know the specifics, but he had heard that Hagrid was under intense scrutiny, which had caused the gentle half-giant—never known for sharp thinking—to make numerous mistakes.
Umbridge targeted Hagrid's blood status with particular malice. Hagrid, who rarely filtered his words, inadvertently let slip several things during her interrogations. Fortunately, none of it was critical, and Dumbledore had wisely kept later instructions from him.
Phineas had expected this. If there were one person at Hogwarts who trusted Dumbledore unconditionally, followed his orders without question, and was completely loyal, it was Hagrid.
This man, born to a giantess, expelled from Hogwarts and stripped of his wand, had remained because Dumbledore chose to protect and employ him—and Hagrid never forgot that kindness.
Before the issue with the professors could be resolved, Umbridge issued yet another decree.
Hogwarts High Inquisitor's Educational Decree No. 24
All student organizations, associations, teams, or clubs are hereby disbanded.
"Organization" is defined as any regular gathering of three or more students.
Reformation may be requested from the High Inquisitor (Madam Umbridge).
No organization may exist without her explicit approval.
Any student found to have formed or joined an unapproved group shall be expelled immediately.
Signed:
High Inquisitor, Dolores Jane Umbridge
This decree rendered all formal groups within Hogwarts illegal—including the Charms Club, the Transfiguration Club, and more.
Phineas had good reason to believe the Ministry feared Dumbledore was building an army. This was an attempt to uproot his influence.
The students, however, were less concerned with politics. They were outraged for another reason: Umbridge had classified the Quidditch teams as private groups. No matches could occur without her personal permission.
Harry was furious.
"She can't do that! She doesn't have the power!"
Hermione sighed. "But she does have the power. And she has done it."
Ron angrily kicked a stone across the floor. "Bloody ridiculous!"
Phineas clapped a hand on their shoulders.
"This isn't even the worst of it. If I'm right, she'll soon interfere with classroom teaching."
"What?" Hermione gasped. "She can't!"
Phineas shrugged. "Just like you said: she can. If the Ministry wants to control Hogwarts, it starts at the roots. First the teachers. Then the students. What's left? The curriculum. The classrooms themselves. Teaching reform is next."
As they spoke inside the Room of Requirement, Astoria approached, cradling Phineas' owl, Popsicle.
"There's something else you should know," she said.
Phineas turned. Popsicle looked miserable—his feathers rumpled, a wing bent unnaturally. The owl gave soft, pained hoots.
"He's hurt," Phineas frowned, accepting the opened letter tied to Popsicle's leg.
Hermione gently examined the wing. "This wasn't an accident."
The group gathered around, analyzing the injury. Phineas had trained them well—thinking like tacticians, learning to observe and interpret details.
The letter, from Lisa, had clearly been opened. Fortunately, it was encrypted. Without the cipher, it appeared to be a mundane letter inquiring about family matters.
"The letter was tampered with," Phineas said grimly. "If I had to guess, Hogwarts' communication channels are being monitored."
Everyone inhaled sharply. Unlike the original timeline, Voldemort's return hadn't yet been publicly confirmed. It was only Phineas' insight, plus scattered evidence, that convinced Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville, and the twins. They hadn't contacted the Order of the Phoenix yet—but they still understood the gravity of this news.
"We need a secure communication method," Phineas said. "The Floo Network and owls are no longer safe."
Fred and George exchanged knowing looks and grinned.
Phineas noticed. "What is it?"
"In fact," Fred said, "we do have a reliable way."
George added, "A regular channel."
Phineas' eyes narrowed. "Hogsmeade?"
The twins nodded in unison. "The Hog's Head."
It was a solid idea. Few at Hogwarts knew about the secret passageway to the Hog's Head—Phineas, Lee Jordan, Fred, George, and Dumbledore among them. The passage emerged at a pub run by Aberforth Dumbledore, Albus' estranged brother. Phineas doubted Aberforth kept that location by chance.
The others looked puzzled. Phineas smiled and tapped each of them with his wand.
They vanished.
"Disillusionment Charm?" Hermione's voice echoed.
Astoria answered, "He's probably worried someone in Hogsmeade is watching."
"Exactly," Phineas said. "Let's go."
A door appeared in the Room of Requirement wall. It opened and shut by itself—completing the illusion of an invisible group of ghosts.
They walked the tunnel, finally reaching a door at the end. Phineas knocked.
After a moment, the door creaked open.
Standing on the other side was a man bearing a strong resemblance to Dumbledore—though rougher, heavier, and less refined.
A portrait of a young girl on the door bowed slightly toward their unseen forms.
Phineas' voice emerged from the air. "Something's happened at Hogwarts. I'll explain later. Please inform the Black family. I have urgent news for them. Thank you, Mr. Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore?" Harry blurted out, stunned.
Aberforth said nothing and turned away.
"That's the Headmaster's brother," Phineas explained. "But their relationship is… strained. Best not to mention Professor Dumbledore in front of him."
The kitchen fell into tense silence.
Soon Aberforth returned, accompanied by a boy who looked barely twelve. The child bowed toward their hidden presence.
Phineas spoke. "Our communication has been compromised. From now on, the Black family will use the third code set in all correspondence. Deliveries should not go through Hogwarts directly. Hogsmeade at most. Preferably farther."
"And ask Lisa to prepare vanishing cabinets, two-way mirrors, and similar devices. We need safer, faster methods."
The boy nodded and turned to Aberforth for confirmation.
"He can be trusted," Phineas added. "There's no need for secrecy here."
The boy relaxed. "Lisa warned us. Hogsmeade's crawling with strangers—some Ministry Aurors, some unknown. Now the only thing we can be sure of is that they are dark wizards."
"Yes. They're the dark lord's," Phineas said flatly.
"Professor Dumbledore is now facing a conspiracy from the Ministry of Magic. He could be removed as Headmaster of Hogwarts at any moment. His life might even be in danger. After all, he's over a century old now, and even he can't be vigilant all the time."
Phineas wasn't really speaking to the boy. His words were meant for Aberforth—to pass along to Albus Dumbledore.
Sure enough, Aberforth's expression darkened, while the boy looked puzzled.
Phineas continued calmly, addressing the child.
"You don't need to understand the details. Just remember this: write down everything I've said and deliver it to Lisa in person. Go to London yourself—don't trust anyone else with it."
The boy nodded and departed at once.
Watching him go, Phineas told the others, "That's one of the Black family's intelligence agents. He looks like a child, but he's a forty-year-old wizard. A talented one."
"This is how you pass messages safely. If you ever need to send something sensitive, come to the Hog's Head and leave it with him. The Black network is slow, but nearly impossible to detect. It can mobilize people quickly when needed."
More than a communication channel, this tunnel was a hidden escape route—a way out of Hogwarts in an emergency.
There was also Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets, which connected to Basque's lair in the Forbidden Forest. From there, they could Apparate. By the time anyone noticed, magical traces would already be gone.
Phineas turned toward the portrait.
"Ariana… I'm sorry."
The girl in the painting nodded, turned, and walked. The scenery behind her shifted until a door appeared, which she opened. The secret passage behind her activated.
"She's Dumbledore's sister," Phineas explained. "She can move between here and the Room of Requirement, and can even deliver messages. But her portrait can't speak—it was a flawed enchantment."
As he spoke, the group returned to Hogwarts through the tunnel.
After parting ways, Phineas headed straight to the Headmaster's office.
Dumbledore needed to know: the letters had been intercepted. Communications were no longer secure.