But Dumbledore's nightmare was only just beginning.
From the very moment the Death Eaters burst into the room—
In the shadows, Orford managed to struggle over and press a shiny new bell installed on the mantelpiece. It was a device the Ministry of Magic had recently distributed for emergencies—meant to alert nearby Aurors for rescue in case of attack.
The good news: the device worked efficiently. Before long, an Auror arrived, methodically checking each house until he reached the scene.
The bad news: the Auror himself was anything but efficient, demonstrating an uncanny knack for making things worse.
"I'm a temporary Commissioner from the Ministry of Magic. Ms. Umbridge? Mr. Umbridge? Is everything all right?" A young voice rang out, loud as a foghorn, from outside the house. "Hello? Is anyone home?"
It was obvious this Commissioner was a fresh recruit—he announced his presence with all the subtlety of a Bludger.
When no one replied, he didn't seem suspicious; in fact, he sounded a bit disappointed, muttering to himself, "Another distress signal from this area… probably another faulty bell. There've been loads of false alarms lately! I've been running all over, never once seen a Dark Mark, nothing ever happens! The life of a working wizard—these rubbish devices just pile on the work… They promised I'd be slaying dragons, fighting Death Eaters, one wand strike—999 HP! Instead, I'm stuck fixing broken bells…"
At this, poor Orford let out a strangled, despairing sound, as if choking on phlegm, before being swiftly stunned and dumped next to Umbridge.
Even the Death Eaters were momentarily left speechless by such obliviousness; Bellatrix's shrill voice fell silent.
Jane Yu's four wooden chair legs were about to wear grooves into the floor.
Beside her, the backrest of Dumbledore's chair sagged in defeat.
No one could fathom why this newly minted Commissioner would be so careless—exposing himself without even basic reconnaissance, all while daydreaming about glorious duels.
The Death Eaters wasted no time in dealing with the hapless newcomer.
"Holy—It's real! Death Eater attack—report! Send backup to Umbridge—"
The voice outside was abruptly cut off.
Seconds later, a limp body was dragged inside and dumped alongside the stunned Umbridge pair.
"Who says you always have to leave a Dark Mark?" muttered Nott Sr. with disdain, pressing the same bell Orford had just used. "Do we have to do it on your schedule? We haven't even had time to put one up yet!"
To be fair, certain stereotypes about Death Eaters had led this Commissioner straight to his doom.
Jane Yu glanced over at Dumbledore, only to find that his chair back had straightened, his posture now radiating anticipation.
She soon realised why: another very young, clearly just-graduated Commissioner had received the alert and was now poking his head through the window. This one seemed more cautious than his predecessor—he kept silent and carefully surveyed his surroundings—
Only to provide a textbook example of "poke your head in, get knocked out." After a split second of silent eye contact with the Death Eaters, several Stunning Spells struck him at once, sending him tumbling from the window onto the lawn below.
The room fell utterly silent.
Every Death Eater wore a peculiar expression—a mix of wanting to laugh but not daring to, and feeling that mocking such incompetence would only lower their own standards.
Meanwhile, the armchair beside Jane Yu—at some point—had slumped even lower than before.
And now, another body joined the growing line-up on the floor.
Yet Dumbledore was undeterred. He still had faith in his students—surely, after a Hogwarts education, these budding young wizards would shine on the job.
Judging by the last two, there was… plenty of room for improvement.
Since the Death Eaters seemed determined to keep their captives alive, Dumbledore decided to hold back and give these children a chance to prove themselves.
So, in the midst of this awkward hush, the third Commissioner made his entrance.
He was clearly a cut above his predecessors in both nerves and tactics, employing a clever diversion to attempt a rescue.
Before he even drew his wand, several deafening explosions erupted from the back garden, sending the bewildered Death Eaters rushing out the back door to investigate.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner, under the cover of a Disillusionment Charm, leapt down the chimney, emerging in a cloud of soot.
He immediately fired off several stylish Levitation Charms, tossing the four bodies lying on the floor out the window. Knowing he was outnumbered, he wasted no time—casting a Shield Charm to deflect a barrage of Death Eater curses, ducking just in time to avoid a Bone-Breaking Curse, and nimbly vaulting out the window to complete a textbook hostage rescue.
Inside, Dumbledore's chair finally straightened. Jane Yu could sense his pride radiating from the faint stir of his upholstery.
So far, everything was going perfectly—the Commissioner had executed his mission with textbook precision.
Unfortunately, in the very next moment—
"Aaaaargh—!"
A piercing scream echoed from outside—the very Commissioner Dumbledore had just praised.
Clearly, in planning his daring rescue, he'd overlooked one crucial detail: how to escape the Death Eaters' cordon with four bodies in tow.
Apparition couldn't handle the weight of five people, and the result… was a rather gruesome separation of limbs and torso.
Now, the number of bodies lying around had reached five—or, to be precise, 4.50 + 0.25 + 0.25.
You had to admit, these rookie Commissioners' antics were reminiscent of the "Calabash Brothers save Grandpa"—each one marching in to their doom, one after another.
"They're all fresh out of school, you know—thick as Trolls! Can barely walk, can't even wave a wand!" The Death Eaters burst out laughing, delighted to have exceeded Voldemort's quota. "The Dark Lord wanted Umbridge, and now we've got these Ministry types too—we'll be rewarded for sure!"
Dumbledore's chair back slumped lower than ever, almost forming a hunch.
Jane Yu squeezed her eyes shut—she could hardly bear to watch. She understood these eager but inexperienced rookies.
For this batch of seventh-years, thanks to Umbridge, they'd spent nearly half a year before graduation unable to use their wands or cast spells. Most of their Defence Against the Dark Arts was self-taught, after enduring the "instruction" of Lockhart and Umbridge—two of the most famously hopeless teachers in Hogwarts history—and a revolving door of substitutes in the aftermath of the annual staff disasters.
"A whole nest of idiots!" The Death Eaters continued to mock those sprawled on the floor. "Thanks to that utter nincompoop Professor Umbridge for training up these little nincompoops for the Ministry! And let's thank Dumbledore for sending such fine cannon fodder to the Ministry—"
But their words caught in their throats as they stared, dumbfounded, at the two inconspicuous armchairs in the corner. The chairs began to move, gradually shifting into human form—the very targets of their furious abuse—
Dumbledore and Jane Yu!
Even the Death Eaters couldn't help but feel a pang of public humiliation when they realised the very people they'd been bad-mouthing behind their backs were standing right there in the room. And when that person happened to be their former headmaster, a deep-seated student's dread for the professor rose up instinctively.
"I never knew you all had such strong opinions about our school's teaching," sighed Dumbledore, his tone gentle. "Perhaps we should sit down and discuss it. What are your thoughts on curriculum reform at Hogwarts?"
A strange, awkward silence fell over the room.
"Er…" a Death Eater stammered, "Hogwarts really isn't so bad… your Transfiguration classes… were quite interesting… ha ha… and your student, Headmaster, is rather talented, too…"
"What utter nonsense!" shrieked Bellatrix, slashing her wand down. The man's mouth seemed to melt into his face as if scorched, leaving him able only to mumble and whimper. "It's Dumbledore—quick, take the ones the Dark Lord wants!"
But even among Death Eaters, quality varied. Aside from the veterans—Bellatrix and Nott Sr.—the rest, realising the situation, lost all interest in the hostages and scattered in panic. Under Dumbledore's formidable reputation, some even abandoned all resistance:
"It's Dumbledore and his secret weapon!"
"He knew about our plan all along—it's a trap!"
"Run! I don't want to go back to Azkaban!"
Jane Yu flicked her wand, layering several Shield Charms over the five wounded. She added a few Anti-Summoning Charms to their clothing to stop the Death Eaters from snatching the hostages away.
Almost as soon as she finished, several jets of red light shot towards her shields, bouncing harmlessly off or dissipating.
At the doorway, a rope materialised at ankle height. The first Death Eater to reach it tripped and crashed face-first, bringing down those behind him in a domino effect. A pile-up formed at the threshold, a tangle of groaning bodies.
With a flurry of Disarming and Binding Curses, Jane Yu had the heap of Death Eaters and their wands neatly trussed up and stacked to one side. Under Tongue-Tying and Silencing Curses, they could only let out muffled moans, unable to move an inch.
Meanwhile, Dumbledore was fishing—quite literally—using invisible ropes to reel back those trying to escape through windows and chimneys, tying them up in a bundle. Nott Sr., seeing the tide had turned, tossed a few showy, colourful spells as a distraction before Disapparating on the spot. Bellatrix, however, kept up her desperate resistance, hurling red bolts at the pair, but every spell was blocked by a shimmering silver shield.
"Curse you, Nott!" she screeched. "I'll tell the Dark Lord everything that happened here! Don't think you'll escape punishment!"
It had to be said, as one of Voldemort's most trusted lieutenants, Bellatrix's duelling skills were formidable; she could even hold her own against Dumbledore for a few rounds. But under his calm, unhurried barrage of spells, she was steadily forced back, and at last, with a howl of frustration, she Disapparated.
While the duel raged, Jane Yu quickly cast healing charms on the dismembered Commissioner, then used several Rennervate spells to rouse the stunned officers. They gradually came around, dazed and confused.
"There were Death Eaters—I got knocked out—wait, where am I—?"
The three who recovered looked at Dumbledore and Jane Yu as if they were long-lost relatives, bursting into tears of relief:
"We're useless… we're complete failures… we've let Hogwarts down, let our professors down… let down the captain who trusted us…"
The first Commissioner—who'd been cannon fodder—wailed, clutching his face and banging his head on the floor:
"I even embarrassed myself in front of Junior Yu—how humiliating… I wish I were dead… If the captain finds out what I did…"
Only after much frantic comforting from Dumbledore and Jane Yu did he calm down enough to introduce himself:
"We just graduated from Hogwarts and answered the Ministry's call to join the Auror selection. But we're not qualified yet… The captain assigned us as temporary Commissioners for these wizarding communities, responsible for alerting the Ministry in emergencies… As you saw, it didn't go well… I'll probably be out of a job tomorrow—unemployed the day after graduation…"
Wiping his tears, he fished out a notebook and quill, trembling as he held them out to Jane Yu:
"Before the Ministry sacks me, could you sign this for me? I could die happy… My captain's a huge fan of yours, too—could you sign one for her?"
Jane Yu stared, dumbstruck, while Dumbledore watched him with a gentle smile.
"And who is your captain?" he asked kindly. "Youthful enthusiasm is admirable, but too much can lead to recklessness. There are still plenty of Death Eaters here waiting for Aurors to escort them. Don't you think this might not be the best time for autographs, my boy?"
The Commissioner let out another huge sob. Under the withering stares of his fellow rookies, he staggered to the fireplace, tossed in a handful of Floo Powder, and stuck his head in to contact his captain.
But the arrival took Jane Yu completely by surprise.
It was none other than Gemma Farley, her long-lost upperclassman, now serving in the Ministry's Department of Magical Law Enforcement!
She hadn't changed much in appearance over the past two years, but her bearing was completely different—her eyes were resolute, her robes immaculate, and she still radiated that keen intelligence she'd had as a student. In fact, she now reminded Jane Yu a little of Minister Bones.
Upon arrival, Gemma nodded to Jane Yu in greeting and immediately set about directing her Aurors: counting heads, confiscating wands, searching the Death Eater captives, and sending the three battered Commissioners and the Umbridge pair off to St Mungo's.
When the work was done, she shed her mature façade, her eyes shining with excitement. When she spoke, she was her old self again:
"Yu, it's so good to see you!"
She swept Jane Yu into a big, enthusiastic hug—the joy of finally seeing the junior who'd once helped her so much was so overwhelming she even forgot about Headmaster Dumbledore standing nearby, forcing him to cough several times to remind her of his presence.
"Of course, Headmaster Dumbledore, it's a pleasure to see you as well." Gemma flashed a perfect smile, then turned back to Jane Yu, taking her hand. "I suppose this was your idea, wasn't it? Lying in wait here, catching the Death Eaters in a single net—you even saved my three Commissioners! I don't know how to thank you. Honestly, saying thank you between us feels almost too formal—"
"Er…" Jane Yu glanced at Dumbledore. "Actually, it was mainly Headmaster Dumbledore who happened to save—"
"Ahem." Dumbledore coughed twice, trying to join the conversation. "It really was Yu's plan. We—"
"Of course, Headmaster Dumbledore, I'm very grateful for your help as well." Gemma beamed at him, then turned briskly back to Jane Yu. "Thanks to you, the anti-rumour legislation I drafted caught Director Bones's eye two years ago, and I got into the Department as her assistant. She's always singing your praises—saying you foresaw the Azkaban disaster and broke through the triple assault of Death Eaters, Dementors, and the Dark Lord. If only you'd become an Auror too—we could fight side by side—"
"Ahem, ahem, ahem." Dumbledore couldn't help coughing three times. "Yu's career path, we—"
"Of course, Headmaster Dumbledore, I'm sure you're the expert on that." Gemma flashed another dazzling smile before turning back to Jane Yu. "These are extraordinary times, and I'm busier than ever. If you joined us, morale and training would soar. As you've seen, my new Commissioners are barely Aurors yet—just responsible for communications and first response in this district… Of course, they're a bit too heroic, always itching for a fight… and our communications aren't exactly efficient…"
"Ahem, ahem, ahem." Dumbledore made one last valiant effort. "Their courage is admirable, but their performance—"
"Of course, Headmaster Dumbledore, you know best what Hogwarts graduates are capable of." Gemma smiled sweetly, then continued, "Sadly, they had almost no time for Auror training before being thrown into the field. Here, three years of training are worth more than the seven at school—especially for the new hires of the last two years. Their Defence Against the Dark Arts basics are woefully thin. I've had to play professor myself, squeezing in remedial lessons whenever possible—would you believe some of them can't even manage a proper Shield Charm?"
Gemma's social skills, honed since her student days, were still second to none.
Not only did she manage to express gratitude to both of them while boosting her own and Minister Bones's image in Jane Yu's eyes, she also subtly voiced her dissatisfaction with the quality of Hogwarts' Defence Against the Dark Arts teaching.
Dumbledore fell silent. When an employer complains about the competence of a school's graduates, even a headmaster has to step aside.
Fortunately, the awkwardness didn't last long. Having achieved her aims, Gemma bid them both farewell.
Jane Yu turned to look at Dumbledore, only to find him shrouded in gloom, as if a perpetual rain cloud were following him around.
Was he really so devastated by the "outstanding performance" of his former students? She studied him uncertainly.
But Dumbledore's resilience was far greater than most. Meeting her gaze, he managed a faint smile:
"How splendid. Our little excursion has been most rewarding—we've seen justice done, and heard some fascinatingly frank opinions."
Were those opinions really "frank" and "fascinating"?
Was the trip really "most rewarding"?
Did he truly think it was "splendid"?
Jane Yu rather doubted it.
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