After the Halloween feast, the young wizards returned to their dormitories in groups, satisfied from their meal.
Once the students had left, the professors also departed one after another.
In the Headmaster's Office, Dumbledore looked at the sullen Snape and asked, "Severus, is there something you need to discuss with me?"
"It's about what happened two weeks ago, Dumbledore." Snape slammed a Golden Edge Map onto the headmaster's desk, saying expressionlessly, "That business of Kael Chopper selling maps at the school... should have some resolution by now."
"Oh, it's about that." Dumbledore calmly took a sip of his tea and said, "May I hear your thoughts on the matter?"
"Someone who disregards school rules like that must be expelled!" Snape blurted out.
"That's not a very good joke, Severus." Dumbledore shook his head and said, "You should know that nowhere in the Hogwarts school rules does it prohibit students from selling items within the school grounds."
"Moreover, from what I understand, this kind of map should have been sold by Miss Prince to Slytherin..."
"That's instigation!" Snape roared, interrupting Dumbledore. "I've inquired about it; all the maps were given to her by Kael!"
The noise was so loud that even the portraits pretending to sleep couldn't ignore it.
A big-nosed wizard angrily said, "Young man, watch your tone; this is the Headmaster's Office."
Snape completely ignored him and continued, "I really should have insisted on transferring Conna to Slytherin back then, instead of listening to you and letting her stay in Hufflepuff."
"I actually think it's a good thing." Dumbledore smiled and said, "Don't you think Conna was a bit too introverted before? As the only heir of the Prince family in the British Magical Realm, that's not a good thing.
And you, you can't protect her forever."
Snape was silent for a moment, then said impatiently, "We're talking about Kael Chopper here; today he dares to sell a map for five Galleons, tomorrow he might try to rob Gringotts. So, even if he's not expelled, we can't let it go unpunished."
"Hmm, you have a point. Five Galleons is indeed a bit much for the freshmen." Dumbledore pondered, "How about this, I'll personally ask the students for their opinions. If they all feel they've been deceived, then I'll naturally take action."
...
Snape fell silent once more.
In fact, when he confiscated that map, he had already asked once, and that Rowle had said...
"Deceived? Professor, you must be joking; it's only five Galleons, no big deal～～"
Even if Dumbledore asked, the result would probably be the same.
Though Snape believed he could easily sway the Slytherin students' views and have them verbally attack Kael.
But such actions would be too underhanded; he was biased, but not that shameless.
Moreover, such things are hard to keep secret; once exposed, it would be a lot of trouble.
"Kael's character is also quite questionable." Snape suddenly said, "I've observed him, he's very talented, yet his performance in class is quite mediocre.
At such a young age, he's already so deceitful; aren't you afraid he'll become the next Dark Lord?"
"I would rather call this humility, Severus." Dumbledore said calmly, "It's not easy for a person to shine, but it's even harder to hide one's light. It's a very rare quality."
"So..." Snape glared coldly at Dumbledore, "you're not planning to punish him?"
"Not if he hasn't done anything wrong."
"Very well!"
Snape's face grew even darker as he swished his cloak and turned to leave the office.
Whether intentional or not, as Snape turned, the hem of his cloak just happened to strike the portrait of the big-nosed wizard.
Enraged, the big-nosed wizard shouted at Snape's retreating figure, "Come back and apologize, you ill-mannered Slytherin brat!"
Snape still ignored him, but Phineas Black couldn't help it and rushed over to grab his collar, saying, "What did you just say about Slytherin!"
"Oh, you want to fight?"
The infuriated big-nosed wizard punched Phineas in the face without a second thought.
The "great" Headmaster Black wouldn't let that slide, and soon the two were tangled in a brawl.
Seeing this, the other portraits gathered with candies, snacks, and Butter Beer, forming a circle to mediate:
"Stop fighting, both of you, enough already."
"You're both adults, can't you be more mature... Hey, why hit his leg, grab his hair, something that long you can't see?"
"That knight watching over there, put away your sword, don't let them see it!"
"Uh-oh, Felix is going for his sword."
"Someone go get the hunter in the corridor, I remember he has an axe."
Their voices quickly attracted more portraits, filling each frame to the brim, the Headmaster's Office had never been this lively.
Dumbledore sat behind his desk, cheerfully adding sugar to his tea.
Fights between portraits weren't exactly rare, and besides eavesdropping on gossip, this was one of their only entertainments.
Dumbledore didn't bother intervening, as long as the frames and canvases weren't damaged.
But just then, Professor McGonagall's voice suddenly came from outside.
"Minister, you're visiting Albus this late?"
The portrait ears perked up, abandoning the spectacle and swiftly left the Headmaster's Office.
The Fat Lady from Gryffindor, before leaving, forcefully took the bruised big-nosed wizard and Felix away with two knights.
They couldn't let the Minister of Magic see them like that; otherwise, Hogwarts would be thoroughly embarrassed.
"It's an urgent matter, Minerva, I had no choice."
With a low voice, the door to the Headmaster's Office was quietly pushed open from outside once more.
"Albus, it's been a while, how have you been?"
Cornelius Fudge spread his arms, walking eagerly towards Dumbledore.
"Long time no see, Cornelius." Dumbledore embraced him briefly, smiling, "Would you like some tea? Or pumpkin juice."
"Tea would be fine."
Dumbledore snapped his fingers, and a steaming cup of tea appeared on the nearby table.
"Sugar needed?"
Fudge shook his head, appearing a bit anxious, constantly fidgeting with his bowler hat and occasionally glancing at Professor McGonagall.
"Albus, I'll take my leave then."
Professor McGonagall instantly understood Fudge's intention and turned to exit the Headmaster's Office.
"Albus, it's no longer containable, those smuggled Fantastic Beasts..."
As the Griffin gently closed the door, Fudge's voice faded entirely.
Though only catching half a sentence, Professor McGonagall could roughly guess the reason for Fudge's late visit.
This newly appointed Minister of Magic loved concealing news that didn't favor him, coming to Dumbledore for advice when things went south.
It seemed no different this time.
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, Cornelius Fudge's lack of accountability was far inferior to Millicent Bagnold.