"HP: Too Late, System!"Chapter 345: Oath of Allegiance, Swan Song of the Aurors
Sirius eyed the cane, chose not to push further, and let his arms fall as he grinned. "I know, our Aurors..."
Scrimgeour cut him off sharply. "You're not fit to be an Auror!"
Sirius's lips twitched—so much for Douglas's clever speeches.
"Of course, what I mean is, Aurors work themselves to the bone for the safety and stability of the wizarding world. So for this operation, Remus and I, and all of Hogwarts, will give you our full support.
But... your action probably won't start until tonight, right? So I was hoping, in the meantime, you'd join us for a little friendly duel."
Scrimgeour sneered. "Sirius, are you hoping to test the Aurors' mettle? Did last year's little escape fill you with confidence?"
Sirius's smile only widened, the meaning unmistakable. "I think I've proved my abilities. But today, I want the Aurors to have a friendly match with Hogwarts' students. Especially the sixth-years—some of them are planning to become Aurors themselves. It'd be good for them to see what real Aurors are like, up close. What do you say?"
Scrimgeour frowned, clearly unimpressed by the idea.
Sirius lowered his voice, almost conspiratorial. "You're not planning to just sit around waiting all evening, are you? Besides, this would show everyone the close cooperation between the Ministry and Hogwarts—a bit of reassurance for the students, don't you think?
If the students see Aurors as approachable and friendly, they'll be less anxious about what's happening.
And, I'll admit, I have my own reasons. As Hogwarts' Administrative Director, it's my duty to think about these kids' futures. If they see what Aurors are really capable of, maybe they'll think twice before ever going down the wrong path."
Scrimgeour was speechless. Why don't you just call yourself Minister of Magic? You think further ahead than the Minister himself.
Still, he had to admit, there was merit in the idea. If students could witness the strength of Aurors firsthand, they'd realize classroom knowledge alone wouldn't make them great Aurors. Maybe, just maybe, it would raise the bar for future recruits.
Catching the flicker of interest on Scrimgeour's face, Sirius flashed a victorious grin and snapped his fingers. "No need to think it over—I'll handle the arrangements. I promise, this match will be unforgettable."
Before Scrimgeour could reply, Sirius turned and bounded up to the podium.
Scrimgeour watched him go, then signaled discreetly to several spots in the stands. Three Aurors quickly made their way over.
Sirius took his place at the podium. "All right, eyes up here, Hogwarts' little warriors..."
At once, the students below began to mutter.
"Why not call us Gryffindor's warriors..."
"I'm Ravenclaw, I—hey, why'd you nudge me?"
"Just look at the stage..."
Hearing the growing commotion, Sirius slipped into his best Douglas impression, the way he handled unruly students...
"Are we sure that's not Professor Holmes in disguise? Creepy... All right, I'll shut up."
"Ahem. Today, we have some very special guests—"
He raised his hand and waved at Scrimgeour.
"They're the Ministry's elite, the vanguard against Dark Magic—the very ones even your Professor Holmes avoids in the corridors—Aurors!"
The students, seeing Sirius's grin, erupted into laughter.
Sirius cocked an eyebrow. That dog's tricks really do work, he thought.
As he watched the students whispering and giggling, Sirius narrowed his eyes and smiled. Years of reading people told Scrimgeour this was trouble.
"Don't worry, they're not here to check your night-wandering records—though you've all been behaving lately.
On a serious note, Aurors carry the weight of protecting the wizarding world. Anyone remember the Gringotts break-in a few years ago? That was the Aurors... Well, let's try another. Remember that incident at school? That was the Aurors... All right, one more..."
Sirius swore to himself he wasn't doing this on purpose—his mind was just full of Auror failures.
He gave Scrimgeour an apologetic smile and gestured for him to take over.
Scrimgeour wanted nothing more than to hex Sirius on the spot.
Leaning on his cane, he climbed the steps, each tap echoing with authority—and no small amount of irritation.
At the top, he glanced at the crystal ball but didn't bother with a Sonorus Charm.
He straightened, every inch the general—tawny hair tousled by the wind, gold-rimmed glasses glinting in the sunlight.
His yellow eyes swept over the crowd. The students fell silent beneath his gaze. Satisfied, he nodded and struck the ground with his cane.
"Students of Hogwarts."
His voice was like flint—rough, sharp, and unyielding.
"I am Rufus Scrimgeour, Head of the Auror Office. I'm not here for Director Black's flowery welcome—well, not that flowery, really. Obviously, after ten years locked up—"
He caught himself just in time. Best not to joke about that. Wouldn't do the Aurors' reputation any favors.
"I mean, clearly, he's put all his energy into education... and doesn't really keep up with the world outside.
But I'm not here to show off. Everything we do is simply our duty as Aurors.
And what I want you to understand is this: the wizarding world doesn't stop spinning just because you're learning Transfiguration in class. Dark wizards have never disappeared."
He watched the students' reactions, pleased. He shot a look at Sirius's forced grin—no better than that Douglas, really.
"Most of you think of Aurors as wizards who catch Dark wizards.
But you're wrong. We are the Ministry's blade, facing dangers that hide in the shadows. Before the wizarding world even senses the threat, it's our job to stamp it out.
Aurors don't need applause for our deeds. But we never forget the oath we took when we joined this force."
He paused, glancing up at the Aurors hidden around the stands.
Suddenly, the Quidditch pitch rang with voices—thin, but steady and powerful, echoing across the grounds.
"I swear by Merlin's name, To be the watch in the darkness, To weave wards with spell and will, To guard secrets with my life, Never to bow to fear, Never to bargain with evil, Until the last spark of magic burns away."
No magic fueled this oath, but two centuries of Auror spirit burned in every word.
As the vow left their lips, the sound seemed to ripple outward, sweeping through all of Hogwarts.
Only veteran Aurors understood: this was more than a pledge of allegiance—it was the swan song they sang in the face of death, on the battlefield, when all hope seemed lost.
Even Scrimgeour hadn't expected the oath's final verse to stir so powerfully today.
It felt like a warning from the Aurors of old—a prophecy whispered on the wind. A chill of foreboding crept down his spine...
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