A day at Hogwarts.

Chapter 620 She really came

Charles couldn't figure out if Snape was trying to scare him. In a state of indescribable, subtle confusion, he welcomed the opening dinner for his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The cafeteria was brightly lit by candles, their dazzling light illuminating every corner. It was bustling with activity, filled with the noise and joy of students reuniting after a long separation, and the air was filled with laughter.

Charles was greeted warmly by his classmates, who asked him all sorts of interesting things he had done during the summer vacation, what novel adventures he had experienced, and whether he had slept on a Galleon as the Daily Prophet had said.

"Busy!"

Charles skillfully delivered his prepared, vague speech, a perfectly measured, tired yet polite smile on his face.

He glanced at the Gryffindor table, deliberately frowned, and sat down next to Harry, saying in a tone that was half teasing and half serious, "I heard you were locked up in Azkaban for a very long time during the summer vacation?"

"Sure, you've grown wings and started going astray!"

This statement was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, immediately creating ripples.

Lavender laughed and said, "Charles, you bear the most responsibility for Harry going astray; it's because you didn't raise him to be a good boy."

The surrounding classmates chimed in.

Harry immediately reacted like Crookshanks whose tail had been stepped on, loudly protesting, "I'm innocent! It's all that woman named Umbridge's fault! She..."

“Ahem…” Charles coughed lightly twice, glancing suggestively at the professor’s table. “Watch your address, Mr. Potter.”

“Now, she is Professor Umbridge.” His voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable reminder, making Harry immediately realize his slip of the tongue.

At the same time, he sighed inwardly, "This troublesome guy really did come."

Harry looked in the direction he indicated and the first thing he saw was still Headmaster Albus Dumbledore.

The principal sat upright in the center of the professors' chair in a high-backed gold chair, wearing a deep purple robe adorned with silver stars and a matching pointed hat, which made him appear both dignified and mysterious.

However, at this moment, he was tilting his head slightly, listening intently to the whispers of a woman sitting next to him.

This woman had such a strong presence that it was hard to ignore her even in such a solemn setting.

In Harry's eyes, the woman was a spitting image of his aunt, who had an extreme fondness for pugs and whose taste was questionable.

She was short and stout, with short, grayish-brown hair permed into tight curls. Most striking of all was the enormous pink velvet bow she wore on her head. This bow complemented her fluffy, pink cardigan, creating a scene that made Harry's eyes hurt.

This combination did not enhance her elegance; instead, it made her look even more ridiculous.

Just then, she turned her head slightly, picked up the wine glass on the table, and took an elegant sip.

Harry suddenly saw her clearly and couldn't help but whisper to Neville across the table, "Hey Neville, I think I've finally found Rafer's long-lost sister."

Neville was chatting with Seamus when he heard this and turned around blankly, looking completely bewildered, having no idea what Harry was saying.

Before Harry could explain, he suddenly realized that Professor Umbridge's gaze seemed to have swept over him, and the cold, emotionless look in his eyes instantly reminded him of the way Snape looked at him.

He couldn't help but add to Neville, "I now seriously suspect that Professor Snape might also be related to Rafer."

Neville still thought Harry was just telling a lame joke he didn't understand, and grinned in agreement.

At that moment, Harry was astonished to see Professor Umbridge's expression undergo an instantaneous transformation. A radiant, even sweet, smile bloomed on her face, and her previously emotionless eyes now sparkled with eagerness and surprise, which, in Harry's view, even surpassed Dumbledore's reaction to a plate of sizzling honey.

She even raised her wine glass and gestured in their direction.

Many people around noticed this change, and they soon discovered that the person Professor Umbridge was warmly greeting was actually Charles.

Faced with this sudden greeting, Charles simply nodded politely across the crowd, his face bearing only a business-like smile.

Ron, who had been glaring angrily at the culprit who had caused Harry's imprisonment in Azkaban, looked at Charles suspiciously after seeing her give him such a bright smile, and asked in a low voice, "You know her?"

Charles turned his head and answered earnestly, "When opening a restaurant, the most important thing is to be loyal to the people. The minister comes and goes often, and I'm happy to have a powerful backer."

Ron was stunned by Charles's seemingly profound yet somewhat convoluted words. He nodded blankly, feeling that what Charles said made a lot of sense. Although he didn't fully understand it, he was greatly impressed.

"Huh? Who's that?" Hermione's voice rang out with curiosity.

She noticed a witch no one recognized walk to the far end of the professors' table, the seat that originally belonged to Hagrid, and sit down quietly.

The trio of Harry, Harry, and Meghan all knew that Hagrid would be going on a long trip this semester on a secret mission assigned by Dumbledore, but they didn't know who would be filling in for him.

Hermione naturally turned to Charles, who had the widest network of connections among them, and asked, "Charles, do you know the new professor?"

Charles carefully examined the witch.

She was an elderly witch with short, gray hair and a very prominent chin.

Charles felt that the face looked familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before or heard someone mention it, but he couldn't remember who it was for the moment.

He shook his head: "I don't remember much."

Just then, Rolf Scamander walked over, overheard their conversation, and chimed in, "That's Professor Wilmina Grapland."

“She’s the acting professor for the Conservation of Magical Creatures class.” Lof paused, then added, “She used to come to my grandfather often to ask him questions about magical creatures; I’ve known her since I was very young.”

After saying that, Rove took a sealed letter out of his pocket and handed it to Charles, saying, "This is a letter my grandfather asked me to give to you."

Charles took the letter; the envelope bore a somewhat familiar, slightly messy yet forceful handwriting.

Somewhat surprised and puzzled, he looked up and asked Rove, "Mr. Scamander, is there anything I can help you with?"

Rolf shook his head and said, "Grandpa didn't say anything specific. He only told me to give it to you personally."

Charles squeezed the letter in his hand, feeling somewhat puzzled.

Just then, the dining hall doors opened, and Professor McGonagall led in the first-year students, who were lined up with nervous and expectant expressions. The Sorting Ceremony was about to begin.

Charles carefully tucked the letter into the inside pocket of his robe, deciding to read it carefully after the dinner.

At this moment, everyone's attention turned to the old, yet fateful Sorting Hat in the center of the cafeteria.

At this moment, no one realized what the Sorting Hat was about to say.

(End of this chapter)