For a moment, the scene was unbearably awkward.
The room, inside and out, fell utterly silent—you could have heard a pin drop.
Those within and those without the door stared at each other, reading in every face a cocktail of embarrassment, awkwardness, and utter helplessness.
Jane Yu felt that speaking would be wrong, but so would silence; modesty was impossible, and so was contradiction—she was well and truly caught between a rock and a hard place.
Percy, meanwhile, felt as if he'd stumbled upon some earth-shattering secret, wishing he could crawl inside his Spell-Shielding Hat and disappear.
Though Minister Bones had always carried herself with utmost dignity, even she felt a peculiar twinge of guilt at the situation: one moment using someone's heroic deeds as a rallying cry for her staff, the next having that very person appear right before her. It was, even for her, a bit much.
Fortunately, all three were seasoned enough to handle a crisis—however much their toes might have been curling, they managed to muster up polite smiles.
Minister Bones, hardened by years of political survival, was the first to recover. Without missing a beat, she announced, solemn and clear:
"Yes, just as you've all guessed, Miss Jane is backstage right now. Let's welcome her with the warmest round of applause, shall we?"
Thunderous applause erupted. Every new Commissioner's eyes lit up, all turning to Jane Yu.
Realising there was no escaping the spotlight—or a speech—Jane resigned herself to fate and stepped into the hall.
Her face wore a professional smile, but her soul had long since fled.
"Today, we've specially invited Miss Jane here to offer you all some encouragement and inspiration!" Minister Bones demonstrated her formidable poise. "Next, we'll have a live Q&A session—feel free to ask her anything!"
No sooner had she finished than a forest of hands shot up from the new Commissioners below.
Pleased by their enthusiasm, Minister Bones gave a small, satisfied smile and pointed to someone in the front row.
"Miss—Miss Jane! When will the new version of the Magical Game Console be released—?"
Jane Yu wondered if something was wrong with her ears.
In the solemn Ministry of Magic, at a rousing mobilisation meeting—
Shouldn't these Commissioners be asking about "the spirit of the Auror Corps" or "the application of attack and defence spells"?
Why on earth was she hearing the words "Magical Game Console" in the Ministry?
Before she could reply, Percy—who had quietly slipped into the second row—sprang to his feet, hooked an arm around the questioner's neck, waved his wand with the other hand, and, bent double, unceremoniously dragged him to the back of the hall. The entire manoeuvre was as smooth as a well-practised spell.
At that moment, he found himself unusually grateful for his rowdy twin brothers at home; without them, he'd never have mastered such seamless moves.
Minister Bones' smile faltered into a look of bewilderment. She shot the questioner a stern, questioning glare, her eyes full of, "Are you here to apply for the Auror Corps, or to play games?"
After a brief, composed pause, she pointed to another Commissioner, firmly believing the last question was a fluke and this one would surely ask something worthy of the Auror spirit.
"Miss Jane, when will your latest merchandise be available outside school? Could you sign something for me—mmph mmph—"
Jane Yu's suspicions about her hearing only deepened.
Otherwise, how could she feel as if she were at a Hogwarts signing event instead of a Ministry mobilisation meeting?
She shot Percy a look of utter disbelief:
Is this Ministry for real? Is it actually serious?
Percy, having just caught his breath after his last intervention, was struck again by a fresh wave of mortification!
He dashed forward like a sprinter, pinned the questioner back into their seat, and clamped a hand over their mouth.
A ripple of laughter ran through the Commissioners; several covered their mouths, struggling to suppress their grins.
Even Minister Bones' iron composure seemed to crack. She turned a hopeful gaze on her newly promoted subordinate, praying he'd deftly steer the meeting back from a raucous fan convention to its intended purpose.
But Percy, suffering from second-hand embarrassment, radiated indignation at his colleagues' lack of decorum. He could hardly believe such frivolity had come from Ministry staff—and that he worked among them every day!
He stumbled onto the stage, arms and legs momentarily at odds, and could barely meet Jane Yu's puzzled gaze.
Another wave of laughter rippled through the audience, threatening to grow louder.
"Er… well… yes… I do have something to say… what I want to say is… is…"
Percy's mind was all but paralysed with embarrassment. Sweat beaded on his brow as he faced the Minister's gaze, unable to force out a single word.
Then, in a flash of inspiration, his eyes landed on the Spell-Shielding Hat in his hands!
It was as though a revelation struck him—his mind cleared, the sweat vanished, and his cheeks returned to normal.
"Ah! Yes, the Spell-Shielding Hat! Everyone, take a good look at this splendid hat! This is Jane's work—her remarkable creation!"
Percy's confidence surged; he straightened his back and smiled radiantly.
He raised the Spell-Shielding Hat high above his head, drawing everyone's attention, and proclaimed:
"Perhaps you don't know what it means to dedicate yourself utterly, to work so hard you can't sleep or eat—but Jane does!"
Jane Yu's polite smile vanished.
She was now certain her ears were truly failing her.
Otherwise, how could she be described with phrases like "dedicate oneself unto death" and "so anxious you can't sleep or eat"?
But Percy, catching her stunned expression, only grew more convinced. He gave her a resolute nod.
He knew, as the saying goes, Rome wasn't built in a day—and magical artefact modification was no simple feat.
Before this Spell-Shielding Hat was completed before his very eyes, she must have poured her heart and soul into it, enduring countless sleepless nights!
What kind of spirit could drive someone to accomplish such a feat? Percy pondered.
Though she never spoke of it—
He understood: as a fifth-year student, with the Headmaster and professors watching over her, she could have enjoyed a carefree school life.
Yet she chose to go to the front lines, to plunge into enemy territory, to rescue his comrades, to fight with courage!
What other student could claim as much?
She constantly worried for the Aurors and Commissioners battling at the front, exhausting herself for their safety!
For their sake, she researched ways to improve the Spell-Shielding Hat, just to reduce needless sacrifice!
This was courage, wisdom, perseverance, and strategy…
The very best of all four Hogwarts houses, united in selfless love!
Realising this, Percy felt as if he'd been struck by lightning—his blood surged, and he was ready to storm Voldemort's lair himself!
"Ever since Jane witnessed the tragic battle of our three heroic Commissioners, she's been heartbroken beyond words. That pain sparked her drive to innovate, to devote herself completely to invention! She dares to break with old magic, to create new spells—this is her spirit of innovation! The courage to reform, the will to create, the fusion of bravery, wisdom, perseverance, and cunning!"
"She works so that we might shed a drop less blood, striving for the renaissance of wizardkind! She wants you all to know—we are never fighting alone! In future, when you're on assignment, think of the clothes on your back and the hat on your head—Jane is with you, always!"
Percy raised his arms, eyes shining with emotion. The hall erupted into thunderous applause; the Commissioners all doffed their hats in salute!
At last, the meeting had returned to its intended spirit and message.
Even Minister Bones was swept up in the fervour!
She took the hat from Percy, examining it closely, her eyes growing ever brighter.
Then she seized Jane Yu's hand and raised it high overhead, her voice ringing through the hall:
"This is the spirit the new generation should embody! This is what you Aurors and Commissioners should aspire to!"
Minister Bones fixed her with a warm, expectant gaze, her tone resonant with hope:
"Now, I think you all understand what selflessness is, what courage is, what great love is—
"But perhaps you still don't know what innovation truly means, what invention and creation are—this is the great spirit contained in this Spell-Shielding Hat.
"Please, Jane—give your speech. Tell everyone what the spirit of innovation is, and how it guides you forward!"
Jane Yu understood: her moment to inspire had arrived.
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