The Silent Witch of Hogwarts

Chapter 613 War (Part 1)

"Director Scrimgeour————"

Inside the tent outside Hogwarts, Fudge sat quietly in a chair, watching Scrimgeour. He was incredibly calm, a calmness that frightened Scrimgeour.

"Minister Fudge." Scrinker had expected to be subjected to a barrage of insults from Fudge, but seeing Fudge like this now, he felt somewhat uneasy.

Fudge looked at Scrimgeour expressionlessly and slowly asked, "Why haven't you attacked Hogwarts?"

"Because—because—" Scrimgeour paused before continuing, "I don't want the Aurors to get hurt—by using siege tactics, the Hogwarts students will soon surrender."

"Soon—is that so?" Fudge looked at Scrimgeour, shook his head slightly, and then stood up. "That's fine then, Director Scrimgeour."

"From this moment forward—you are no longer the Head of the Auror Office at the Ministry of Magic."

"And because you delayed the battle, there is every reason to suspect that you are a Dumbledore follower—therefore you must be arrested."

Although not unexpected, Scrimgeour couldn't help but feel angry when the day finally arrived. He looked at Fudge and slowly said, "So, Minister Fudge, are you going to launch an attack on Hogwarts?"

"Otherwise what?" Fudge looked at him and retorted, "Like you—waiting for the enemy to change their mind?"

enemy----

He had even begun to refer to the students and professors at Hogwarts as enemies—Scrimgeour pursed his lips, unsure how to evaluate Fudge in front of him.

After a few seconds of silence, he slowly said, "Fudge, are you really insane?"

"I'm not crazy—you're the one who's crazy." Fudge said, looking at the other Aurors: "Aren't you going to take him away?"

"————" The Aurors looked at each other, none of them making a move. After a few seconds of silence, one of the Aurors stepped forward, grabbed Scrimgeour, and took his wand.

As Fudge watched Scrimgeour being led away, he nodded slightly and looked at the other Aurors.

"From this moment forward—the new Auror Office Director will be Mr. Riddle." As he spoke, Mr. Riddle, who had been standing silently beside him, nodded slightly.

"I hope everyone can unite with me and take down the thugs in Hogwarts in one fell swoop."

No one responded to Riddle, but he didn't seem surprised.

"I'll leave this to you, Mr. Riddle." Fudge nodded slightly to Riddle, then stepped out of the tent.

As he left, Riddle's smile slowly faded, replaced by a cold, sinister expression.

"Mr. Riddle—" At that moment, an Auror stepped forward and said, "Are we really going to attack Hogwarts?"

"Don't say that—" Riddle looked at him and said calmly, "We are not attacking Hogwarts."

"We're just going in to arrest those who are temporarily disobeying Hogwarts," he said, shrugging slightly. "If this drags on any longer—you all know what the Minister will do."

"So even if it means failure—we must begin."

"For—failure?" The Auror in front of him clearly did not understand Riddle's meaning.

But Riddle chuckled softly: "That's right, for the sake of failure."

The changes among the Aurors quickly became known to the professors and students at Hogwarts.

Standing atop the Astronomy Tower, Loila could clearly see the Aurors gathering.

Just as Professor McGonagall predicted—although an understanding had been reached with Mr. Scrimgeour, everyone knew that this was likely only a temporary situation.

Once Fudge comes to his senses, he won't allow this to happen—

It seems he has come to his senses now.

Loila pursed her lips, unconsciously feeling a little nervous.

After all, anyone would be like that upon seeing hundreds of Aurors—but upon closer reflection, Loira realized she might have defeated close to a hundred Aurors herself—she defeated a hundred, Mr. Lupin defeated a hundred, Professor McGonagall defeated a hundred—

Actually, there aren't many left, right?

"Loila————"

"Hmm?" Loila turned her head slightly to look at Mr. Lupin, who was walking up the Astronomy Tower. He said with a serious expression, "Breaking news—Mr. Scrimgeour has been arrested."

"Mr. Riddle is now in command of these Aurors."

"Mr. Riddle?" Loila was taken aback at first, then frowned sharply. "Isn't that Voldemort?!"

"That's right." Lupin took a deep breath: "Voldemort can't wait any longer—he's decided to take action himself."

"Isn't this a bit—" Loila was silent for a few seconds, feeling that everything in front of her was a bit too ridiculous—Voldemort leading the Aurors to attack Hogwarts, why would she have such a dream?

But if Voldemort were to come—Royla slightly tightened her grip on her wand.

"Remus—I—I'll deal with him."

"Hmm." Lupin nodded slightly, then said, "The only one here who can rival him is you."

Actually, there's still Dumbledore—but where did that old guy go?!

Loila shook her head helplessly, then followed Mr. Lupin down to the foot of the Astronomical Tower.

As she descended the stairs, through the window, Loila could see the Aurors lining up, and in the distance, countless professors and students raising their wands and aiming them at the sky.

A tiny bit of magic rose from the tip of their staffs and then transformed into a protective barrier for Hogwarts in the air.

Yes—war is about to begin—Roy has certainly seen war before, wars far larger and more brutal than the ones we see today.

However, during that war, all she did was follow Lord Grindelwald—and now, Lord Grindelwald is no longer here.

In a way, I became him —

"Professor Hamilton!" The students immediately surrounded her when they saw her appear.

"Get ready for battle!" Lupin said to them at that moment, "And protect yourselves!"

"Of course we know, Mr. Lupin!" The students nodded one by one. "We will fight Professor Hamilton to the last moment!"

"The very last moment—" Loila looked up at the silver barrier that now enveloped Hogwarts, and then nodded gently.

She also raised her wand at that moment.

"Click—click!"

With a flick of her wand, all the armor stands standing in Hogwarts came to life, each emitting a blue light under the control of the central magic circle, and simultaneously raising their swords high.

To the students' astonishment, these armored figures, weapons in hand, marched in orderly fashion, step by step, toward the main entrance of Hogwarts.

Not only that, even the gargoyles on the walls and eaves of Hogwarts started to move at this moment. They flapped their wings and flew into the air, then skimmed over the ground and circled around the spires of Hogwarts.