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Chapter 226 - Chapter 226: Dumbledore's Army

The beautiful Saturday continued after watching Luna carry away the drunk Senior Penelope. Hermione took Amanda around Hogsmeade again, and they even stepped into the Hog's Head Inn to take a look.

"This place is just like what Hagrid said back in our first year; everyone is hiding their faces, and there are all kinds of people here."

Hermione leaned in close to Amanda's ear and whispered to her.

"Mm." Amanda nodded with a calm expression, her gaze sweeping over everyone in the Hog's Head Inn, quickly assessing their identities, their occupations, and so on.

In an environment like this, quickly grasping everyone's information was undoubtedly beneficial for protecting herself and Hermione's safety.

Wizards coming here to trade certain illegal goods, Wizards having conversations that couldn't attract attention, Wizards just coming here to drink their sorrows away...

Amanda's brain quickly analyzed the basic information, physical characteristics, and possible motives of everyone in the Hog's Head Inn.

Although they all wore hoods, or even masks to cover their faces, through their clothing, their subconscious body movements, and even the small things stained on their clothes, Amanda was still able to synthesize the information and derive the results she wanted.

Her mind, as meticulous as a computer, was thinking and operating at high speed. Her gaze finally settled on a Wizard sitting in the innermost seat.

Judging by his shoulder width and possible waist width, Amanda concluded that this person was a male Wizard.

Observing the various traits on him, there were obvious dark marks on the cuffs of his wizard robe, and the aura he exuded was not something an ordinary Wizard could emit.

Therefore, based on a comprehensive judgment, there was a 68 percent probability that this male Wizard was a Dark Wizard.

After reaching the final conclusion, Amanda did not make any other moves; she just stood quietly in the Hog's Head Inn with Hermione, watching everything around them.

First, although he was a Dark Wizard, he clearly hadn't provoked her, nor had he provoked Hermione.

If she were to directly use magic to "blast" him, it would make her seem too rash, especially since there was still a 32 percent probability that he was not a Dark Wizard.

Second, she knew the background of the Hog's Head Inn. As a pub that could accommodate people of all identities and still stand tall, even being located in Hogsmeade right next to Hogwarts, it indirectly proved the identity and strength of the owner.

And that was indeed the case. Amanda had seen the name of the owner of this Hog's Head Inn when she was consolidating the business of the British Wizarding World.

Aberforth Dumbledore. If nothing else, just the name Dumbledore was enough to prove the power behind him.

According to the records of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, there were three last recorded descendants of the Dumbledore family, and two of them were still alive in this world today.

Their Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, and the Headmaster's brother, Aberforth Dumbledore.

However, the relationship between the two should not be very good. Books recorded that the two had not been in contact for a very long time, but the specific reason for this was not mentioned in the books.

However, judging from the fact that Aberforth opened his shop around Hogwarts, he should still have his brother, Headmaster Dumbledore, in his heart.

So, what exactly could have caused the two brothers to end up in such a state?

Amanda had too little information, but based on human analysis, she instinctively felt that the only thing that could cause such a huge rift between the two brothers was their sister.

That is, Ariana Dumbledore, who was recorded in books as having died young, but whose cause of death was not recorded.

With analysis and speculation running in parallel, she could only deduce this much. As for more information, the truth was not something Amanda could analyze through the existing information.

After all, in every book, it seemed as if everyone had a tacit understanding to either gloss over the history of that period or not write about it at all. Amanda privately thought that the more likely reason was that there were some things from that period that were not suitable to be written in books for everyone to see.

At least, it was not suitable for people of the present time.

However, whether from the perspective of strength or the power behind him, Amanda did not think anyone would dare to cause trouble in the Hog's Head Inn.

After all, Aberforth Dumbledore was, after all, a member of the Dumbledore family. Just looking at the strength of Headmaster Dumbledore, one would not dare to underestimate his brother's strength.

What's more, even if Aberforth Dumbledore's strength was truly not that great, he still had his own brother, Headmaster Dumbledore, behind him.

Whoever caused trouble here... were they really not afraid of Headmaster Dumbledore getting angry on his brother's behalf?

As an older brother, protecting one's younger brother, isn't that a normal thing? Just look at the Weasley Twins, look at Percy, and you can understand this principle.

"Amanda." Hermione gently tugged on Amanda's sleeve, pulling her back from her thoughts.

"Hermione, what's wrong?"

Amanda came back to her senses and quickly turned to ask Hermione, while simultaneously heightening her vigilance slightly.

"It's nothing," Hermione shook her head, her brows slightly furrowed. She looked toward the place where the Wizard Amanda had basically judged to be a Dark Wizard was sitting. "I feel like there's something wrong with him."

Following Hermione's gaze, Amanda slightly raised the corners of her lips. As expected, Hermione's senses were as sharp as ever.

"Hermione's feeling is right. There is a 68 percent probability that that Wizard is a Dark Wizard."

"Oh, oh... well, okay."

Hermione clicked her tongue and nodded, accepting the premise that Dark Wizards would also come out to a pub for a drink.

That's true; not all Dark Wizards were like Voldemort, spending every day either harming people or on the way to harming people.

The two girls left after satisfying their curiosity; they had no intention of sitting down for a drink at all.

Never mind the chaotic crowd at the Hog's Head Inn, just look at the glasses in their shop! Hermione shook her head and politely declined.

Merlin's dishcloth, how long must the glasses in this pub have gone unwashed to get that dirty?

By the time the two of them returned to the Hogwarts Great Hall, "dusty and tired," Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore were already sitting at the Ravenclaw Table, eating and waiting.

"Senior Cho Chang, Senior Marietta." Amanda sat in her usual spot and politely greeted the two seniors.

After greeting them, Hermione sat down next to Amanda. "Hasn't Senior Penelope sobered up yet?"

She looked around and, seeing that Penelope and Luna were not there, asked curiously.

"I don't know," Cho Chang shook her head honestly. "Marietta Eckmore and I only got back about fifteen minutes before you did."

Marietta Eckmore also nodded in agreement from the side. "That's right. Although we don't know if Senior Penelope has sobered up, we do know that Umbridge has started causing trouble for us again."

"Merlin's gummy candies," Hermione covered her face, speechless, and muttered softly, "She really can't hurt anyone, but she is disgusting. What has she done this time?"

"I reckon she must have seen the notice posted on the wall opposite the Great Hall entrance. She has issued a new rule in her capacity as High Inquisitor, requiring all student organizations and interest clubs within Hogwarts to be disbanded."

Marietta Eckmore explained it indifferently. Anyway, no students would pay attention to anything Umbridge said now.

If she wants to make a scene, let her. Consider it letting her and Fudge enjoy themselves one last time, and then they can be tossed into the river of history of the British Wizarding World.

"What an annoying person," Hermione frowned in disgust. "Then, our prepared Defense Against the Dark Arts self-study group..."

"That probably can't be called a group anymore." Cho Chang pursed her lips and interrupted Hermione.

Marietta Eckmore, next to her, had a similarly complex expression. "Yes. At first, we thought this time would be like the Second Year, with only Ravenclaw House and Hufflepuff participating in full, and some from Gryffindor participating."

"But clearly we were wrong, and wrong by a long shot." Cho Chang placed two glasses of pumpkin juice in front of the two younger students.

"This time, it's not just Ravenclaw House and Hufflepuff participating in full; Gryffindor and Slytherin are basically in the same situation."

"Except for some students in Slytherin House whose families still choose the Voldemort faction, everyone else has joined."

"So many people!" Hermione was slightly surprised. This was equivalent to the entire student body of Hogwarts choosing to participate.

If nothing else, Amanda alone... could she really handle it? Especially since her own study load was so heavy.

"Then Amanda alone, I'm afraid..." Hermione looked hesitantly at Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore. The two seniors looked at each other and smiled, signaling her to be at ease.

"Don't worry. Everyone has already discussed it. The fifth and seventh years who need to face the big exams will be taught by Amanda personally. As for the other years, it will be decided by assessments from everyone in Ravenclaw House; whoever has the highest score will teach."

"Mm," Cho Chang nodded, continuing after Marietta Eckmore. "This way, we can ensure that Amanda's own time isn't wasted. I wonder if this works?"

"That works." Amanda nodded, her expression unchanged. She reached out, picked up the pumpkin juice in front of her, took a sip, and turned to look at Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore with a hint of unquestionable authority.

"However, I require that while teaching the fifth and seventh years, I also teach the sixth years."

The two seniors, stared at intensely by Amanda, stiffened at the same time. She was saying she wanted to teach the sixth years, and she kept staring at them. Did that not mean that Amanda was requesting to teach the sixth years precisely because of the two of them?

"That's right," Amanda nodded affirmatively. Marietta Eckmore, completely unaware that she had unconsciously spoken her inner thoughts, immediately raised her hand to cover her mouth. "The situation is becoming increasingly severe, and the Wizarding World has already heard some rumors."

"Senior Cho Chang and Senior Marietta need to learn more defensive spells to protect themselves. I don't want anything to happen to any of you."

Hermione, the friends around her, the classmates, the Professors—if possible, Amanda wanted them all to be safe and sound, maintaining peace and happiness, just as they were when they first entered Hogwarts, and then graduate from Hogwarts.

"Then thank you." Cho Chang responded softly and reached out to stroke Amanda's smooth long hair.

"However, this year is the time for you to take the O.W.L.s Exam, so don't push yourself too hard."

"Okay, Senior Cho Chang, Senior Marietta, please rest assured," Amanda replied "obediently" with a blank expression. However, the words that followed made Hermione and the two seniors sweat. "I already made review preparations for the fifth-year O.W.L.s Exam two years ago."

"That is, really, really nice." Marietta Eckmore spoke with difficulty to offer a compliment. Feeling somewhat ashamed that her younger schoolmate was so diligent while she was somewhat slack by comparison, she also deeply felt that the straight-O top student for this O.W.L.s Exam would undoubtedly be this younger schoolmate of hers.

"Alright, let's bring the topic back." Cho Chang said while taking out a long, rolled-up piece of parchment from her wizard robe pocket. After unfolding the parchment, a quill was wrapped inside.

"What should our self-study group be called this time? Should we still call it the Defense Against the Dark Arts self-study group?"

"There are too many people; the name'self-study group' is not very suitable." Hermione lowered her eyes, pondered, and shook her head.

After a few seconds, she raised her head again, a mischievous smile hanging on the corners of her mouth. "How about Dumbledore's Army? It highlights that we are all students of Hogwarts, and it can also provoke Fudge and those people like Umbridge."

Listening to Hermione's proposal, Amanda raised her eyebrows, half-vividly and half-mechanically. "This name will severely provoke Fudge and Umbridge."

Especially Fudge. He was already afraid of her, afraid of Hermione, and afraid of Headmaster Dumbledore snatching away the remaining power in his hands.

Once such a name came out, it was basically dancing on his "wound."

However, the happiness constantly generated in Amanda's brain told her that she liked doing this; she liked this name.

Perhaps seeing the agreement on Amanda's face, Cho Chang did not hesitate and directly wrote down the words Dumbledore's Army.

"Then we will be called Dumbledore's Army. While the various years gather for activities, we will perfect this list."

Hermione nodded. "Mm, doing this will also make it convenient to assign homework, call people for class, and so on later."

She didn't feel at all that the homework assignment she mentioned in this sentence would make so many Young Wizards groan.

"Alright, then this matter is considered handled," Cho Chang put the parchment into her wizard robe pocket and stretched comfortably. "The last thing left is for you, Amanda, to personally decide on our meeting place."

"Meeting place." Amanda lowered her eyes, her mind instinctively running at high speed.

All seven years would participate in Dumbledore's Army, and they couldn't meet every day, so the venue they needed had to be large enough; therefore, empty classrooms were excluded from the options.

Then the only remaining most suitable option was...

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