ebonymovies Chapter 95 Dumbledore? Punish me? What right do you have to do that?!
Chapter 95 Dumbledore? Punish me? What right do you have to do that?!
Chapter 95 Dumbledore? Punish me? What right do you have to do that?!
Beneath the dome of Hogwarts, a deafening roar swept through the air.
When they saw Ciel defeat Snape and walk out of the Slytherin Headmaster's office, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff all cheered wildly for him.
The thunderous applause lasted for a long time, and everyone looked at Ciel as if he were a hero returning from an incredible mission in mythology.
The first-graders were even more excited, their faces flushed and their eyes brimming with tears.
When they saw Snape lying on the ground like a dead dog, their fear and lingering fear of him shattered!
It turns out Snape wasn't all that great after all; he just bullied ordinary students like them.
If they really encountered a genius like Ciel, wouldn't they be beaten to the ground like a dead dog?!
Even the professors who rushed over upon hearing the news were dumbfounded.
Even Professors McGonagall and Flitwick, who had witnessed Shire's power, were filled with shock.
Their battle with Ciel was to assess Ciel's abilities in Transfiguration and Spellcasting; it wasn't particularly focused on practical combat.
However, in actual wizarding combat, the situation can change in an instant.
They may seem strong on paper, but without actual combat experience, it's hard to say how well they can perform.
Compared to the Shire, Snape undoubtedly had a huge advantage in terms of magical skill, combat experience, and ruthlessness, in the eyes of the professors.
That's why they rushed over to protect Ciel.
But they really didn't expect that Shire would beat Snape so easily that he was like a dead dog.
Judging from Charles's condition, apart from looking tired and a little pale, he did not suffer any injuries.
Therefore, it seems that their assessment of Xia Er's strength was probably conservative.
This little wizard was holding back when he fought them; he didn't use his full strength at all!
"This is really..."
"A monster."
The same thought popped into the minds of all the professors.
But at this moment, an unusual seriousness and solemnity appeared on Dumbledore's face.
It was clear that his mood was different from that of the other professors; it was hardly one of joy.
The reason is simple: Snape was his man, or rather, his most useful pawn!
Of the four houses of Hogwarts, all four heads of house are, of course, passionate about Hogwarts and peace.
Loving Hogwarts does not necessarily mean being loyal to Dumbledore, nor does it necessarily mean doing everything according to Dumbledore's ideas and hints.
Professors Flitwick and Sprout were not members of the Order of the Phoenix, nor did they participate in Dumbledore's secret society, which speaks volumes about their attitude.
Although Professor McGonagall is a member of the Order of the Phoenix and the Head of Gryffindor, she is of the same lineage as Dumbledore and can be considered one of Dumbledore's confidantes.
Logically speaking, she should be the person Dumbledore trusts the most.
But she is not a puppet; rather, she is an excellent witch with a rigorous and fair personality, principles, and a strong sense of morality.
Therefore, some private plans and schemes cannot be shared with Professor McGonagall, otherwise it may alienate them from her.
For this reason, in the original book, Dumbledore never revealed to Professor McGonagall that Harry Potter was Voldemort's seventh Horcrux and that Harry Potter had to die first in order to destroy Voldemort. He didn't even mention the Horcruxes to Professor McGonagall.
He only told Snape about this.
As for why Snape was chosen, the reason is quite obvious.
This is someone who would do anything for Lily.
Did Snape have principles?
No, his principle, besides the glory of Slytherin, is to protect everything Lily has to do.
But that's precisely why Snape is so useful.
There's no need to worry about his morals or what he might think. You can just use the excuse of protecting Lily's child to get Snape to do all the dirty and tiring work.
Whether it's potions, secret plans, or having him infiltrate Voldemort's ranks, as long as Harry Potter is under control, Snape can do all of these things obediently.
Such a powerful pawn who is also a potion master and uses any means necessary is hard to find even with a lantern!
But now, Snape has been brutally beaten by Shire in front of everyone. How can he still stay at Hogwarts?
If Dumbledore wants to use this piece, then things will get much more complicated.
Besides the fact that Snape's situation weighed heavily on Dumbledore's mind, what alarmed him even more was the Shire's current prestige among the Hogwarts students.
It had only been a day or two since the start of the semester, and all the students were already cheering for Charles.
The professors all applauded him.
This is too much of a sensation, even more dazzling than Harry Potter, the savior whom Dumbledore has been trying to introduce!
This is troublesome.
In Dumbledore's mind, he, like Voldemort, firmly believed in that prophecy.
The prophecy has already been proven true once: Harry Potter indeed brought Voldemort, who was at the height of his power, to his knees!
But Voldemort has many tricks up his sleeve, and he will surely come back again. When that time comes, only Harry Potter, as prophesied, will be able to defeat Voldemort!
What good is Ciel's current genius?
If he is not the child of prophecy, then he is destined to be a supporting character who paves the way for Harry Potter, a stepping stone for Harry Potter to defeat Voldemort.
Dumbledore didn't care what happened after Voldemort was defeated.
But before that, no one can overshadow Harry Potter, otherwise Harry Potter might not have accumulated enough prestige, and the great cause of fighting Voldemort might be affected!
Therefore, the words that he had stopped mentioning years ago, yet which had always permeated his every action, echoed in Dumbledore's mind.
"For the greater good."
For a greater good, even knowing that Voldemort would break into Hogwarts, the Philosopher's Stone could be left here as a test, regardless of the potential casualties among the young wizards in the process.
For a greater good, the academic lives of so many students can be used as a backdrop for Harry Potter's path to becoming the Savior. No matter how hard they try, the one who shines brightly and wins the House Cup is destined to be Harry Potter and Gryffindor.
For the greater good, the Harry Potter trio can be arranged with numerous trials to guide them onto the planned path.
So now, for the greater good, what's wrong with sacrificing Charles and suppressing his brilliance?
"Although it might cause him some hardship, it's for Ciel's own good."
"His talent is too outstanding. He has received such praise at such a young age. Having such strength may not be a good thing for his future. He needs to temper his temperament."
Just as Dumbledore was having this thought, Mrs. Pomfrey from the university hospital rushed to the Slytherin headmaster's office.
She first checked on Draco Malfoy's condition.
When Madam Pomfrey saw Malfoy's broken wrist and ankle bones, her pupils contracted slightly.
"His wrist and ankle are broken."
"Although it can be cured, it will probably require at least two months of rest."
"Furthermore, there is a high possibility that it will leave some psychological trauma, and they may not be able to engage in high-intensity combat activities in the future."
"In other words, the chances of him playing Quidditch are slim..."
Upon hearing Mrs. Pomfrey's diagnosis, the professors showed expressions of regret, and the cheers of the upperclassmen, who had experienced the passion of Quidditch, subsided somewhat.
Not being able to play Quidditch is indeed a significant loss for boys during their Hogwarts school years, and everyone can relate to that.
Then, Madam Pomfrey walked over to Snape.
At first, Madam Pomfrey breathed a slight sigh of relief when she saw the wounds on Snape's body.
"Professor Snape's injuries are not serious. He has a penetrating wound from a curse, but the wound is small and has not damaged any internal organs; it is merely a superficial injury."
But when she pried open Snape's eyelids and saw his chaotic and frantic expression, Madam Pomfrey's optimistic expression vanished instantly, replaced by an extremely solemn look.
"This is troublesome."
"His physical injuries weren't serious, but he seems to have some mental issues, and that's quite a problem."
"I'm not good at treating Professor Snape's mental breakdown, so I have to send him to the psychiatric ward of St. Mungo's Hospital."
"But to be honest, even there, this is an extremely serious mental health issue, and it may not be fully recoverable."
Even if he recovers, Professor Snape will likely find it difficult to handle the heavy teaching workload afterwards...
These words caused a collective gasp and uproar throughout the room.
A series of shocked gazes couldn't help but be cast toward Charles.
Everyone was wondering what kind of magic Ciel had used to render Snape useless.
Upon hearing this, Dumbledore couldn't help but clench his fists even tighter.
He never imagined that Shire could cause Snape such serious mental problems.
Snape's Occlumency was no ordinary technique; how did Ciel manage to do it?!
This is really troublesome. He thought Snape was just unconscious and could be easily cured.
His only concern was that Snape would likely find it difficult to stay at Hogwarts and would probably have to work for him elsewhere.
But now it seems that Snape's problem is no longer whether he can stay at Hogwarts, but that his skills and potion-making techniques may no longer be of any use.
This best and most powerful piece of mine was ruined by Charles!
Just as everyone was in an uproar, Dumbledore finally spoke.
His face held a seriousness and coldness that most students had never seen before.
Behind the reading glasses, his azure eyes now resembled a block of blue ice, casting a sharp and cold gaze at Charles.
"Charles Evans, you're being too impulsive!"
"You already asked your classmates to go find the professors and deans. You could have just waited for us to handle it. Hogwarts will give you a fair answer."
"But why did you come here by yourself and get into a fight with your classmates and professors, leading to such a serious situation?"
"A first-year student will be saying goodbye to Quidditch from now on. I can't even imagine how much fun he will miss out on in his life. He may become depressed from now on."
"A Potions Master renowned throughout academia has developed mental problems, and it's uncertain whether he can be cured. Do you know how many people are waiting for Professor Snape to concoct potions to solve their problems?"
"You, you really are..."
Dumbledore sighed deeply.
"You must confess as soon as possible what you did to Professor Snape and Draco Malfoy, what spells you used, and do everything you can to help them heal. In this way, your guilt and punishment will be lessened."
"As for the specific punishment, you can wait for the board of directors' discussion."
"I'm afraid your classes at Hogwarts will have to be temporarily suspended as a precaution."
When Dumbledore said these words, the room fell so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone stared blankly at Dumbledore, unable to believe that he would make such a decision.
"Headmaster Dumbledore?"
"Why is Ciel being punished?!"
"He shouldn't be punished; he stood up for his classmates!"
"Snape, that old bat, went too far! Malfoy is a tattletale too, he deserves it!"
A cacophony of noise arose, but when Dumbledore's icy blue eyes turned and his gaze swept across the room, a heavy pressure fell upon everyone.
This most powerful wizard of the century, despite his usually amiable demeanor and occasional eccentricities, is incredibly down-to-earth.
But if he really wants to do something, then no one at Hogwarts can disobey him.
This is the authority Dumbledore commands at Hogwarts.
Dumbledore's tone became more forceful.
"As I said, the punishment for Charles Evans will be decided later."
"As for what punishment to impose, that's something I need to discuss with the school board."
Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick stepped forward.
"Dumbledore, the Shire doesn't deserve this..."
Dumbledore's expression softened slightly, as if he were giving face to the two heads of the house, but his words remained as harsh as before.
"Minerva, Felius, I told you, any disciplinary decisions need to be discussed with the Board of Trustees. You don't need to rush to plead for Charles Evans."
"I will give him a fair punishment."
Hearing the unwavering determination in Dumbledore's words, both Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick sighed, their hearts heavy.
If the punishment were truly minor, Dumbledore wouldn't have said that.
Moreover, Draco Malfoy's father is on the board of trustees; how could he possibly let Ciel off so easily?
It's highly likely that Shire will face expulsion, and may even be sent to Wizengamo for trial.
With this in mind, the two professors made up their minds that no matter what, they absolutely could not allow Shire to be expelled from Hogwarts.
They will mobilize all their connections, even collecting student signatures at Hogwarts, to ensure Shire's survival.
Now, faced with Dumbledore's determined mind, they could only sigh inwardly, powerless to resist Dumbledore's authority.
Only Professor Sprout, the Hufflepuff Headmaster, stood firmly before Ciel and even reached out to hold his hand in comfort.
Professor Sprout looked up at Dumbledore.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, I don't think my students have done anything wrong."
"If you ask me, the only mistake he made was dragging Draco Malfoy into it, that tattletale guy. But broken limbs are so easy to treat. What Quidditch player hasn't broken a limb or rib in practice?"
"This is probably not enough for the Board of Trustees to convict Charles."
"As for Professor Snape, I firmly believe he deserved it."
"Besides, Shire is just an eleven-year-old wizard. What profound mental magic could he possibly possess that could cause Professor Snape to have a mental breakdown?"
"I think Professor Snape was always gloomy. Perhaps he was defeated by his students and couldn't accept the fact, which is why he broke down. What does that have to do with Shire?"
When Professor Sprout spoke up to challenge Dumbledore's authority, Shire's eyes flickered.
Hufflepuff wizards are known for their resilience and are generally kind-hearted, rarely causing trouble.
As the Headmaster of Hufflepuff and Professor of Herbalism, Professor Sprout has a typical Hufflepuff personality and always keeps a low profile.
But now, in order to protect his students, Professor Sprout is confronting Dumbledore's authority.
This demonstrates the unity of Hufflepuff.
After Professor Sprout stepped forward, all the students of Hufflepuff School gathered around Shire.
They didn't say much, but their actions spoke volumes.
Dumbledore clenched his fists, his mood growing increasingly somber.
This was a scene he should have arranged for Harry Potter, allowing him to solidify his status as the savior time and time again amidst the adoration of the crowd.
But now that Ciel has pulled this stunt, wouldn't the scenario he's planning for Harry Potter this year—passing tests and thwarting conspiracies—become just child's play?
Dumbledore's lips twitched, and he made up his mind that this time he had to punish Charles Evans.
Dropping out is out of the question; after all, he's a pawn with unlimited potential, capable of clearing countless obstacles for Harry Potter.
But at least Shire should be suspended from school for a few months or even half a year, so that he can fade out of the students' sight. This way, Dumbledore can let Harry steal the spotlight and receive the honor that the savior deserves.
During this time, Harry Potter can also find opportunities to get to know the Shire.
Having been rescued by Harry Potter during his most difficult time, I believe Shire will wholeheartedly help Harry Potter and become his most loyal friend.
Among the crowd, Quirrell noticed Dumbledore's subtle change in expression.
In his mind, Voldemort clicked his tongue, his voice filled with disgust and hatred.
"Here we go again. Every time that old bee's mouth twitches, it means he's angry."
"The dust is settling down. Sprout and these foolish Hufflepuffs can't stand up to Dumbledore, that old bee. He knows these professors and students too well and can fool them in no time."
"But this is for the best. This time, Charles Evans will suffer a loss at Dumbledore's hands. I believe that if I remind him again, he will realize Dumbledore's ugly and hypocritical face, and he will definitely switch sides to mine."
"To be able to beat Snape at this age, with his help, making a comeback would be so much easier!"
Just then, to everyone's astonishment, Charles pulled his hand away from Professor Sprout's, stepped forward, and looked directly at Dumbledore.
He spoke, uttering a question with extreme contempt that left everyone's minds blank.
"Dumbledore, you say I should be punished?"
"What gives you the right?"
(End of this chapter)