Hogwarts: Voldemort, don't stop me from studying

Chapter 968 Big News 4
The central courtyard of the Magic Congress, already a model of architecture in the magical world, has now been decorated with utmost solemnity.

Atop the towering dome, soft, magically simulated sunlight streams down, while the central magic fountain changes the shape and color of its water flow to the strains of the forest fairy orchestra, its ethereal and beautiful music echoing throughout the space.

On this day, guests gathered in large numbers.

Wizards from various countries, celebrities from the American magical community, and wizards from Wizengamo, dressed in magnificent robes, chatted in hushed tones, all wearing relaxed smiles.

Congressional staff, dressed in dark robes, were also much more formal than usual, some with their chests almost covered in medals, their expressions solemn, and they were in small groups.

Meanwhile, the cameras and microphones in the press area were already in place, with telephoto lenses and smart cameras gleaming softly.

The British delegation had naturally arrived as well. Minister of Magic Sinkennis personally attended the ceremony, wearing a gentle and friendly smile, while Kingsley Shackleton stood silently to his side, his sharp gaze sweeping across the entire room.

Lucius Malfoy was paler than usual, and his expression was unusually cold. Narcissa held his arm, and the couple maintained a haughty and distant demeanor.

Seeing this, some pure-blood wizards who wanted to greet them hesitated and stopped, turning to walk in other directions.

Amelia Bornes, who had previously run for minister, was speaking quietly with Rufus Scrimgeour. Both were losers, and the atmosphere between the two seemed quite amicable.

"Over 70 percent approval rating? After Hawthorne became a wanted criminal, Ms. Picqueli, as his assistant, was not suspected at all, and yet she gained such high approval rating so quickly?"

Borns said in a low voice, making no attempt to hide his feelings, "I don't believe Hawthorne is that kind of person. This is too suspicious!"

Scrimgeour's brow furrowed so deeply it looked like it could trap a fly, and he replied in a gruff voice:
"This is America, Burns. Whatever their ulterior motives are, it's none of our business."

In another corner of the atrium, Moody, a former Auror who is still residing in the United States, also received an invitation.

He attended the ceremony nonchalantly, unusually wearing a slightly worn dark green formal robe that barely met the requirements of the occasion.

Moody's magic eye spun around and around, slowly and meticulously scanning everyone.

This crowded environment made him feel uncomfortable, and people would always look at him strangely when they saw his terrifying appearance, so Moody always stayed in a corner.

Just then, a figure walked briskly but purposefully through the crowd, heading straight for the corner where he was.

Nymphadora Tonks was wearing a formal midnight blue gown today. She walked up to Moody without attracting much attention, simply approaching him naturally as if they were acquaintances.

Then, she spoke a few words quickly in a voice that only the two of them could hear.

Moody's normal eye suddenly widened, and a hint of ferocity seemed to flash across it.

"Ah……"

He stretched his stiff, almost moldy shoulders, and his mouth twisted into a nearly ferocious arc.

"They've finally arrived... Don't worry about leaving it to me!"

He exhaled and said in a rough voice.

Just then, the music stopped abruptly, and a clock-like chime sounded in the hall, urging everyone to quiet down and take their seats.

As the bells finished ringing, Congressman Tommy Crowther walked to the platform in front of the fountain and amplified the sound with magic:
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to America! Welcome to the headquarters of the Magical Congress!"

"On this important day, we are overjoyed to welcome a new Speaker of Congress—Ms. Leila Picqueli, who will lead us to an even brighter future!"

"I hereby declare the inauguration ceremony of the President of the Magic Congress to begin!" A round of enthusiastic applause rang out in the hall. Lyra stood up, nodded and smiled at the crowd below the stage, and looked poised and elegant.

Then, Francis Pegula, the chief magician of Wizengamo, stood up.

Although he did not possess Dumbledore's powerful magic or illustrious achievements, he had still nurtured many outstanding wizards and was extremely senior and highly respected.

In the gentle breeze, Pegula's long, silvery-white beard swayed slightly as he solemnly said:
"Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, fellow members of the American magical community."

"Currently, the magical world stands at an unprecedented crossroads. Externally, dark clouds loom, and old threats lurk in the shadows in new forms; internally, it also needs to clear away the fog and rebuild trust and order."

"At this difficult and critical turning point, unity is more important than ever – we must come together under a firm and decisive new leadership core."

"After urgent and careful deliberation and voting, the Magic Council has made a unanimous choice with an overwhelming majority of over 70%. We have unanimous and absolute confidence in Ms. Lyra Picqueri's exceptional abilities, iron will, and the courage to turn the tide..."

At the edge of the venue, Tonks was moving silently. Her bubblegum pink hair was usually very eye-catching, but when she transformed herself into a dusty gray, she was just as easy to miss.

Kingsley, who was standing next to Sinkness, suddenly felt something flashing in his vision. He turned his head and saw Tonks hiding behind a pillar, holding a small mirror that was shining on him.

Kingsley: "..."

He frowned at his subordinate's furtive behavior, and then Tonks waved his hand, sending a small paper airplane skimming the ground toward Kingsley.

Kingsley: "..."

How could you do something so reckless?
In such a solemn occasion, if it's unimportant information, can't we wait until later to discuss it?
If it's extremely urgent intelligence, what if this method of transmission is intercepted by someone else?
He took a deep breath, swallowed all the reprimands he had for his subordinates, and with a gentle flick of his fingers, the paper airplane, which had been moving slowly, flew into his hand with a "whoosh".

Guests sitting nearby saw this, but they just smiled and didn't pay any attention, let alone try to stop it.

Tonks was, after all, a beautiful girl, while Kingsley was a steady and mature single man. The paper airplanes they secretly passed between them naturally appeared to others as a pinkish ambiguity.

Kingsley unfolded the paper airplane, and after reading the words, a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes.

“Shakel,” Sinknis said without turning around, but the amusement in his voice was obvious, “you’re not finally thinking about personal matters and getting married soon, are you? Tonks is indeed a very interesting girl.”

Kingsley remained expressionless, flicked his fingers, and concealed the paper airplane in his palm, whispering:
“Young people are too impatient. They don’t even know where they are before complaining that I’ve left them in the US for so long.”

He neither admitted nor denied it, but his slightly intimate and biased tone clearly caused Sinkness to misunderstand.

The Minister of Magic let out a knowing chuckle from his nose, stopped asking questions, and refocused his attention on the podium, though a knowing smile still lingered on his lips.

Kingsley gazed steadily ahead, his palm gently poked by the sharp tip of a paper airplane. Occasionally, a glimpse of Sinkness would cross his eyes, a flicker of doubt stirring within him.

—As the Minister of Magic's personal bodyguard, he shouldn't allow any spells to be fired in his direction, right?

A small red heart was drawn in the back, as if it were being coquettish.

But Kingsley knew very well that Tonks wasn't the kind of girl who dated indiscriminately, and there was no ambiguous relationship between them.

So... what exactly did she mean?
The old man on the stage continued speaking in a somewhat unclear tone:

"Looking back on her years in office, Ms. Piqueli's achievements are undeniable. With her exceptional wisdom and execution, she led and perfected numerous key bills, and demonstrated admirable calmness and efficiency in handling several unexpected crises, even eradicating the Purifiers organization that had plagued the country for many years..."

(End of this chapter)