Not long after, it was once again time for dinner, suitable for all ages. Kayson happily arrived at the Great Hall, only to see Hagrid with a bitter expression.
"What's wrong?" Kayson asked after sitting down.
"You're a bit late. If you had arrived about four minutes earlier, you would have seen the Wizengamot summons fall from the sky," Snape said while eating.
"Hm? What new trick is the Wizengamot pulling now?" Kayson was a bit confused.
Hagrid could only hand the summons to Kayson, who, upon reading it...
"Intentional injury? What nonsense. Don't we have a Pensieve?" Kayson didn't take it to heart at all.
"The plaintiff is suing the one who spat..."
"...So the Wizengamot, or the Ministry of Magic, or Lucius Malfoy, believes that spitting dirty things on Draco's head constitutes... personal injury? If the one who spat was a person, then fine, but they're making a big deal out of a Hippogriff?" Kayson asked, somewhat bewildered.
"Yeah, what should we do, Kayson?" Hagrid asked miserably.
"Hmm... how will they likely rule?" Kayson asked.
"I think it will probably be life imprisonment for Buckbeak..."
"Oh, if that's the case, I think it's no big deal..."
Lupin timely added, "And Hagrid's charge of dangerous instruction. This charge has always existed, but no one has ever used it. This time, it's very likely to be pinned on Hagrid."
"Hmm... like this: later, you go find Madam Pince. The Library contains a vast amount of knowledge. Almost all newspapers, official documents, and Wizengamot rulings—anything with words—are in the Library. And Madam Pince tidies up the books in the Library every holiday, so she will definitely have rulings concerning magical creatures."
"Next, it's just a matter of copying previous defense work."
"But is it really possible?" Hagrid said, whimpering.
"What do you mean?" Kayson was a bit confused.
"He means, can ordinary defense arguments really defeat powerful families like the House of Malfoy?" Snape translated, making Hagrid nod repeatedly.
"Oh... they want to use their power to oppress us..." Kayson said, suddenly realizing.
Hagrid nodded frantically, "Will you have a way?"
"In fact, Hagrid, besides the House of Malfoy, no one else would be bored enough to bother a magical creature. So, at a time like this, if we were to seek outside help... they would think we're idiots," Lupin said, patting Hagrid's shoulder.
"Then what about Buckbeak, and the dangerous instruction charge...?"
Kayson was halfway through his question when he suddenly saw Professor Sprout and an unexpected visitor—Nymphadora Tonks—walk over.
"Uh, uh, uh... Are you... revisiting old haunts?" Kayson asked, somewhat strangely.
Nymphadora shook her head helplessly, "It's a case investigation. I'm here to investigate Hagrid and Buckbeak's criminal suspicion, and also a warning from the Ministry of Magic."
Kayson straightened up a bit, "What kind of warning?"
Nymphadora cleared her throat, "Actually, it's mainly a warning to Hagrid, because currently the Ministry of Magic, especially the Auror Office, is understaffed and doesn't have extra personnel to guard Buckbeak."
"So I'm here to warn you, Hagrid, that you absolutely must not secretly release Buckbeak after I leave, when you're alone."
"And absolutely do not use the Sandstorm Charm to corrode the ropes, or use three saw blades stacked together to saw the ropes, because that would look like a natural break, and it wouldn't be your responsibility, so the Ministry of Magic wouldn't be able to trace you."
"And the so-called dangerous instruction charge, you absolutely must not think of having Dumbledore secretly give you a provisional Professor certificate, because in that case, Hogwarts would only need to determine your internship as unsatisfactory, and would not need a Wizengamot ruling. And the next day, Dumbledore could re-employ you on the grounds of not having a suitable candidate!"
"Everything I've just said... absolutely! Absolutely! Absolutely do not do!" Tonks said, pressing her hands on the dining table and looking at Hagrid with a serious expression.
Then he saw Hagrid's innocent eyes, and then helplessly looked at Kayson, and then he saw eyes even more bewildered than Hagrid's. Finally, he looked at Lupin.
Hmm, this man looks more astute.
"Did you remember? Remember to help me supervise Hagrid," Tonks said to Lupin.
The latter then gave an OK sign, "Of course, no problem."
Then the others turned their gaze to Kayson, the reason being clear: Hagrid's reaction was normal, even basic, but if Kayson also reacted that way, it would be odd.
And Kayson naturally understood Tonks's clear hint; he just hadn't expected it could be played this way.
What can one say, with excellent employees like Tonks in the Ministry of Magic... they're doomed!
Kayson ultimately gave Tonks a subtle thumbs-up, "Too brave!"
Tonks shrugged, "It's fine. At worst, if I really get fired by the Ministry of Magic, I can still come back next year as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor." As she spoke, she glanced at Lupin, revealing a strange smile.
Dumbledore cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly, "Actually, the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor for next year has already been chosen."
"Ah?" Tonks looked at Dumbledore in astonishment. She thought she had already secured her fallback plan, but she didn't expect her fallback plan to be snatched away?
"Then, Professor, what if I can't make ends meet one day?" She looked at Dumbledore pitifully.
"Perhaps you could come and be the Hogwarts Gamekeeper?" Dumbledore suggested.
"What's the salary?"
Dumbledore gave a polite smile, and then Tonks looked at Hagrid.
"Gamekeeper... and a salary?" Hagrid asked, utterly bewildered.
This time, the Professors' gazes shifted to Dumbledore.
"So, where did the tens of thousands of Galleons sponsored by the school board each year go?" Professor McGonagall asked faintly.
"Professors' salaries, daily school maintenance, purchase of various magical materials, purchase of cafeteria ingredients... oh, and the Headmaster's office's dessert procurement," Dumbledore said dryly.
"...."
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