The inquiry regarding Harry Potter using the Patronus Charm in front of Muggles during the holidays was dropped due to insufficient evidence
The inquiry regarding Harry Potter using the Patronus Charm in front of Muggles during the holidays was dropped due to insufficient evidence. Harry no longer had to worry about being expelled.
"Harry! Must've been boring sitting there all morning!"
Regulus Black, having finished his work, was ready to take Harry Potter back to Hogwarts.
"Regulus! Yeah, it was pretty boring—just watching the two sides argue. If I could've left early, I'd have walked out right away."
The dashing Harry Potter gave a charming smile. He no longer had the childish air he once did.
"Well, that's the adult world. All they ever do is argue for their own ideals."
Regulus Black knew very well that Harry Potter was completely different now. What remained to be seen was how this transformation would play out—would he become another Voldemort, or a savior?
In truth, among everyone, Regulus Black was the least concerned about Harry turning into Voldemort.
All his previous concerns had merely been an act for Dumbledore and the others. He couldn't let anyone suspect that the Dementors had been arranged by him, with the purpose of obtaining the Sixfold Soulguard Seal on Harry's left hand.
[Sixfold Soulguard Seal]
Kept in inventory for additional bonusesQuantity: 6/6
+77 Physical Defense
+77 Magical Defense
+77 Mental Defense
+77 Soul Defense
Grants the following abilities:
+7 Dominating Claw
+7 Psychic Hammer
+7 Mind Shock
+7 Shadowcloak
+7 Shadow Warrior
+7 Shadow Domination
+7 Item Finder
+7 Item Gathering
+7 Ruthless Rebuke
+7 Frozen Armor
+7 Frost Nova
+7 Cold Domination
Note:
Dementors wearing the gauntlet are immune to trap skills and poison-based attacks.
You can alter a Dementor's appearance using Shadow Domination.
This protective amulet, the Sixfold Soulguard Seal, had been designed by Regulus Black himself.
Its skills included six from the Assassin class, three from the Berserker class, and three from the Mage class.
It also provided immunity to two types of skills and allowed the Dementor's appearance to be freely changed. Though it couldn't transform into a real human, it could take on a humanoid figure wearing clothes, which made future use far more convenient.
For example, it could assume the appearance of Assassin Hassan-i-Sabbah from the Fate series—the version with purple hair, voluptuous curves, and wide hips.
The skull mask she wore could be permanently fixed in place using Ruthless Rebuke, and the total of twelve skills was just the right match for her needs.
As Regulus Black was speaking with Harry Potter, a figure silently shifted from his shadow to Harry's.
One of the six Hassan-i-Sabbah units had entered Harry Potter's shadow realm.
Her mission was long-term surveillance of Harry—and intervention, should the need arise.
"We've got to get to class. The Hogwarts Express left hours ago, but we might still make it in time for the evening's First-Year Welcoming Ceremony."
Regulus Black, as the newly appointed Director of the Magical Creatures Regulation and Control Department, also served as a teaching assistant at Hogwarts.
The Ministry's Floo Network Authority had granted him a personal fireplace connection between his office and Hogwarts.
Returning to his office with Harry Potter, Regulus pulled Harry close and stepped into the fireplace.
With a burst of silver flames, the two emerged into Regulus's Hogwarts office—a cramped room, far inferior to the professors' workspaces. In fact, Regulus hadn't set foot in it in years, since he lived in the Room of Requirement.
"Regulus! This is your office at Hogwarts? It looks like no one's been in here for years!"
Harry looked astonished. It was hard to believe that this dusty little room belonged to the school's most popular teaching assistant.
"Honestly, this is my first time here too. I only asked the Ministry to open a Floo connection—I didn't expect the Hogwarts side to lead here. Not sure if Dumbledore did this on purpose or if it was a mistake."
With a wave of his hand, Regulus cleaned the years of dust from the room. But the furniture and tools remained messily piled up.
"Come on, let's go. I'm not planning to use this place anyway. I'll ask the Floo Network Authority to change it later. Just a matter of saying the word."
Regulus Black pushed Harry Potter out of the assistant instructor's office—it was simply too shabby in there.
Another new school year had begun. As always, the first years arrived, and once again, the Sorting Hat conquered the room with its dreadfully off-key song.
Among the new students, a few caught Regulus Black's attention. Surprisingly, there was a pair of twins among them, with identical delicate features and long burgundy hair. They seemed quiet and reserved.
In the end, both were sorted into Slytherin—fine potential, indeed.
Slytherin welcomed the twins in their uniquely aristocratic fashion.
"What a bunch of hypocritical nobles."
Ron Weasley muttered the same complaint he made every year, as if it had become a habit.
Next came Dumbledore's opening speech. However, just as he was about to announce the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, a strange laugh interrupted him.
Dolores Umbridge came forward, disregarding all decorum, and announced to the entire student body that she was the new professor. She declared she would work together with everyone over the coming year for the honor of Hogwarts, and so on.
"She's a disgrace to Slytherin."
Some students, aware of her Slytherin background, began murmuring below about the Minister Fudge's darling… no! His favorite.
It seems the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, doesn't trust Harry Potter.
Seeing the pink toad glance repeatedly in Harry's direction, Regulus Black immediately understood that this was her primary task upon arriving.
As for whether Cornelius Fudge planned to stir up more trouble—it would all depend on what this pink toad decided to do next.
Then Dolores Umbridge made an announcement that had every student ready to pound the tables.
"As for the Defense Against the Dark Arts textbooks, the new materials have been approved by the Ministry of Magic. All the books you previously prepared for this year are now obsolete and must be replaced with the new ones."
What she said meant that everyone would have to bear an extra expense. For wealthier students, it was just a reason to frown. But for those from less fortunate families, it marked the beginning of financial strain.
Take the Weasley family, for instance—there were still four children currently enrolled at Hogwarts. That meant four sets of textbooks. And these weren't something one could simply pick up secondhand; they had to be brand new.
"!@#￥!（#￥%...￥%...）@%@!"
No one quite knew what Ron Weasley was muttering under his breath, but it clearly wasn't anything pleasant. Even though he now belonged to a wealthier class, his years of living frugally made him especially resentful of such sudden and forced expenses.
"Madam Umbridge, we will of course support the Ministry's decisions. However, isn't the timing of this a little too sudden?"
Regulus Black, though only an assistant at Hogwarts, was in fact the Head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures at the Ministry. Someone like Dolores Umbridge had no choice but to take his words seriously.
After all, they were both government officials—some respect had to be given.
"But of course. The Ministry is aware of the tight timeline, which is why the books have already been delivered to Hogwarts."
Dolores Umbridge, wanting to perform well in her new position as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, naturally had to put in some effort.
"These brand-new textbooks must have cost the Ministry a fair bit. I wonder—what's the actual cost of these materials?"
Regulus Black's point was clear. If the Ministry wasn't charging students the actual production cost, it would suggest profiteering—and that would reflect poorly on them. Surely that wasn't an outcome this pink toad wanted to see.
"Of course, they're priced at cost! The Ministry merely updated the curriculum. It's not trying to make money off students."
Dolores Umbridge immediately followed up with an explanation, perfectly aligned with Regulus Black's implication.
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