Chapter 1069
Warning and Class
Chapter 1069 Warning and Class
For the first two days after Percy returned to Hogwarts, he was like a magnet radiating the light of the Ministry of Magic.
Whether he was having breakfast in the auditorium or passing by in the corridor, students who knew him would always approach him familiarly, and then several fuzzy little heads from the lower grades would quickly pop up around him.
"Mr. Weasley! Mr. Weasley!"
A second-year Gryffindor girl finally caught him at noon on the third day, her eyes sparkling as she said:
Are all Aurors exceptionally intelligent and powerful? How can we become an Auror? Mr. Weasley, what do you do at the Ministry of Magic?
Percy stopped, straightened his back, cleared his throat, and moved the notebook and copied documents in his hands to make the badge on his chest shine even brighter.
“That’s a very good question,” he said. “The work of the Ministry of Magic is far more complex, serious, and—if I may use that word—solemn.”
The students who gathered around looked at him with wide, eager eyes, their thirst for knowledge palpable.
"As the administrative director of the Auror Command, my job... how should I put it... you can think of it as a crucial link in ensuring that the Aurors can carry out their missions without distraction."
Percy said in a low voice, "From personnel deployment to logistical support, from mission records to risk assessment reports, every step requires extremely rigorous professional skills. It's not something an ordinary person can do."
"Speaking of this, I'm reminded of what Minister Sinknes once said..."
He began to talk at length about his experiences with the minister, occasionally mentioning the former minister, Fouché, to show how he had been entrusted with important responsibilities by both ministers.
Ten minutes later, the crowd began to quietly creep backward.
Fifteen minutes later, the younger students surrounding Percy had changed to the third wave. Only the girl who had initially stopped him, being the one Percy was watching and talking to, had no chance to leave.
Her eyes were unfocused, her smile was barely maintained, and all her attention was on her two feet that were taking turns supporting her weight.
Twenty minutes later, after painstakingly describing the dry, mundane meetings as if they were a crown being passed on, Percy felt his recently damaged confidence return.
He didn't care whether the students around him had changed; he just licked his lips and returned to the original topic with lingering interest.
“Aurors are, of course, the elite of the Ministry of Magic, specializing in tracking and capturing dark wizards. My appointment as the administrative head of the Auror office is largely thanks to the Minister’s favor…”
"But to become an Auror, you need to meet extremely strict conditions. You need to obtain at least 5 NEWT certificates, including Charms, Potions, Transfiguration, and Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"If you fail to achieve an 'E' (Good) in any of these four subjects, you won't even be eligible to submit your application!"
The students, hearing this for the first time, perked up, and one hurriedly said:
"But my best grade in Potions is only an A (passing). Is there any way to improve it?"
Percy seemed not to hear him and continued, "But that's just the tip of the iceberg, your ticket to gain 'admission'!"
"You have no idea how narrow that door is! The Auror office will also send people to conduct a full background check. If you have a family member with... well, a criminal record, I advise you to consider other paths as soon as possible!"
"What the Ministry of Magic needs is someone who has no weaknesses that can be exploited by dark wizards, a flawless person!"
"Being able to become the manager of such a group of elites is certainly inseparable from my luck and the appreciation of my superiors, but the most important thing is to be able to obtain that 'qualification'."
"If you want to be like me, then you have a lot to learn right now."
"For example, Defense Against the Dark Arts, in addition to the content in the textbook, also requires learning tracking and stealth disguise."
“I started studying the International Confederation of Wizards’ Statute Amendment in the third grade, and also read three hundred classic cases in the Wizengamot Cases… Of course, it’s best to memorize them.”
"I'd like to recommend a few books to you..."
Percy not only rattled off a long list of book titles, but also seriously asked them to take notes.
When he hinted that he would check their "self-study progress," the students suddenly remembered that they had many urgent matters to attend to.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Weasley, I…I’m going to be late for class.”
The second-year Gryffindor girl said timidly, "I'm really interested in what you're saying, but we're really running out of time!"
Before she could even get a reply from Percy, she grabbed her friend and ran off like a rabbit.
Following suit, the students around who were being watched by Percy also found excuses:
"Merlin, I haven't finished my Transfiguration homework yet!"
"My mice will starve to death if I don't feed them soon!"
"Mr. Filch asked me to clean the house!"
In the blink of an eye, Percy was the only one left in the corridor.
He frowned, lowered his arm which he had been waving excitedly, and shook his head, saying:
“Poor guys…they have no idea what they’re missing.”
Percy sighed with pity, switched the object in his arms to his other hand, and muttered to himself:
"If someone had sat down when I was twelve and told me, 'Which courses do you need to take?', 'What OWL level do you need to reach?', 'What kind of questions do interviewers like to ask?'—I would give all my Christmas presents for that precious afternoon."
"But what did they do? Faced with a success story that someone was willing to share all their knowledge with, they actually ran away!"
He shook his head, finding it hard to comprehend what he considered a utterly foolish act.
Just then, a figure passed by the fork in the corridor ahead. Percy's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly chased after it.
"Mr. Gray, could you wait a moment? I have a few thoughts I'd like to discuss with you!"
The voice behind him made Wade stop and turn around to nod politely: "Good afternoon, Mr. Weasley."
Percy walked up to him, moved the booklet in his hand to another spot, and made a "please" gesture with his right hand. The two of them walked together toward a quiet, empty classroom.
"I've been researching puppet pets lately."
Percy got straight to the point: "Actually, I've been curious for a while, but I've never had the chance... After all, spending tens or even hundreds of Galleons on a toy isn't my style."
"After arriving at the Auror Command, I discovered that the puppet technology was indeed impressive, even better than what Aslan's Magic Workshop advertised!"
After closing the door to the empty classroom, Percy saw that Wade was just looking at him without saying a word or showing any arrogance or complacency, which made him even more impressed.
He felt a pang of resentment and jealousy, but he tried to ignore the bitterness and said what he had been thinking about for two whole days: "They shouldn't just be pets, but should be promoted to realize their value to the entire magical world!"
Percy looked at Wade, his tone gradually becoming more fervent:
"From production and planting to home services, from construction and healthcare to Auror criminal hunting operations, there are so many things that puppets can do!"
"Of course, I'm not referring to the toys sold in the workshop, but to your real magical puppets!"
"They can take on countless dangerous or tedious tasks, freeing wizards from inefficient labor and preventing terrible deaths among our Aurors."
So I think—
Percy took a few steps closer to Wade and said, "If only you weren't using this technology to make toys, but instead handed it over to the Ministry of Magic for management!"
“Proper and formal management can ensure that the puppets are used where they are most needed, instead of… uh…”
He glanced quickly toward the door and said:
"...instead of being abused by certain people with ulterior motives!"
He seemed to think he had come up with an unparalleled brilliant idea, his eyes gleaming with idealism, and he said earnestly:
“Especially for you, Mr. Gray—I assure you, it will all be for your benefit!”
"Think about it, with the Ministry of Magic backing you up, you'll never have to worry about your technology being stolen, about outside criticism and suspicion, or about those businessmen deceiving you or threatening your and your family's safety!"
"You can focus on your research, and we'll take care of everything else. This is the best choice for you... Your income will only increase, and you won't lose a single Nat!"
After Percy finished speaking, he waited expectantly for Wade's response.
He seemed genuinely unaware that he would be rejected.
Wade looked at him, feeling quite puzzled—
Such a smart person, who has obtained twelve OWLs certifications, why does he say and do such stupid things?
“Mr. Weasley”.
Wade said slowly, "You mean—I should hand over my things to the Ministry of Magic, and let them decide who can use them, who can't, where they can be used, and how much to charge."
"What I can get is an empty promise without even a specific figure, and whether I can even receive any benefits in the future depends on the conscience of the Ministry of Magic?"
He chuckled derisively. "I thought a robbery of the Ministry of Magic would be more elegant! Compared to politicians, Voldemort seems more sincere!"
At least that dark lord promised that Vader would stand on his left in the future!
Whether it can be fulfilled or not is another matter, but it's at least much more substantial than Percy's empty promises.
Percy's face flushed red, then turned pale upon hearing the name "Voldemort," and finally turned a bluish-green from anger.
"Grey! You're misinterpreting the Ministry of Magic's goodwill! I... I was genuinely thinking of you!"
He took a deep breath and said solemnly:
“Some people in the Ministry of Magic—not me, but people of much higher rank than me—are indeed very worried about the abilities you possess…”
"If you continue like this...keeping the technology to yourself and ignoring the olive branch extended by the Ministry of Magic, then..."
He paused, observing Wade's reaction, and warned in a low voice:
"Then there might be more drastic measures. I mean, more formal, more legal, and more unavoidable measures than you can imagine."
“Oh…that sounds terrifying.” Wade said expressionlessly, “Then tell me, who exactly are these so-called 'certain people'?”
He narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze fixed on Percy's eyes, but his tone softened:
"If I really can't afford to offend them, then... a certain degree of cooperation isn't out of the question..."
Percy opened his mouth as if to say something, but then swallowed it back, his fingers unconsciously tracing the edge of the document.
"Uh, this..."
He hesitated for a moment, then stammered, "Anyway, this matter is very dangerous... I mean... very serious..."
Percy carefully chose his words: "I'm doing this for your own good, Mr. Gray. I watched you enroll and don't want to see you ruin your bright future in a moment of impulsiveness."
The gray eyes in front of him looked at him as if they could see through his hypocrisy and guilty conscience.
Percy seemed a little uncomfortable. He coughed lightly, habitually adopting the authority of an executive, and managed to squeeze out a sentence:
"Anyway... think carefully about what I said. I still have work to do... come find me when you've thought it through!"
After saying that, he turned and left in a hurry, his footsteps sounding much more disordered than usual.
Wade stood there, watching the hurried figure disappear into the distance, his brows slightly raised.
He pondered for a moment, then looked away and turned to continue walking down the stairs.
The underground corridor was much colder and darker than the upper level, and the torches on the walls burned day and night, but they didn't seem to provide much warmth.
Wade stopped outside Snape's office, looked up and knocked three times.
"boom!"
The oak door swung open abruptly, and Professor Snape's low, cold voice rang out: "Come in!"
As in previous years, the Potions Professor's office was dark and oppressive, with shelves against the wall filled with glass jars of all sizes, containing strangely shaped things.
The air was filled with the mixed smell of potions and various ingredients. It wasn't exactly refreshing, but it wasn't unpleasant either. Rather, it was a heavy, bitter smell that evoked images of cellars, mines, hospitals, or snake dens.
Severus Snape, the snake king who dwells in this lair, is just as cold and damp, hissing and flicking his tongue. When he moves, his wide black robes make a soft rustling sound.
"Good evening, Professor Snape," Wade said as he entered.
Snape raised his eyelids, his black eyes like deep wells. His gaze lingered on Wade's face for a moment before he leaned back in his chair.
"Good evening, Gray—close the door."
Wade closed the door and sat down in the chair opposite the desk.
Snape sat in the shadows, scrutinizing him with an unsettling gaze, and after several seconds of silence, he spoke:
“I have always thought that Dumbledore often gives his students more leniency than they deserve—especially in your case, Gray.”
"Perhaps you'd be willing to tell your ignorant professor how you convinced the principal to let me teach you, a student who shouldn't be exposed to this kind of knowledge at all?"
(End of this chapter)