Ancient Wizards Return to Hogwarts...

Chapter 287 Those who take a step into Hogwarts, kill

"Anyone who steps into Hogwarts will be killed," Rice said with a smile, looking at Helga sitting beside him.

Helga chuckled: This is the Salazar she knows!

Salazar's "business as business" attitude just now made her think that the old viper had changed his ways. Now it seems that even if his temperament has changed on the surface, he is still the same Slytherin at heart.

"Okay, we'll do it your way." Hufflepuff approved of Rice's decision.

Allowing Dementors to appear outside Hogwarts is a sign of their respect for the current headmaster, while exterminating any Dementors who dare to enter Hogwarts is a principle they uphold as wizards.

"However, it seems we didn't notify the Dementors that they weren't allowed to enter Hogwarts."

"What does that have to do with us?"

"Too."

The carriage sped up and drove straight to the castle. When the carriage came to a swaying stop, Rice and Helga got out.

Gazing at the magnificent castle before him and the lights shining through its windows, Hufflepuff stood rooted to the spot, mesmerized. Little had it changed from a thousand years ago; only the lights were more numerous and brighter. But the people had long since—

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Salazar standing to the side, seemingly getting impatient. Then she shook her head helplessly: people don't really change that much.

Aside from that golden griffin, aren't the old viper and the old raven already here? They're enough.

Thinking of this, Helga's recent melancholy vanished. However, just as she was about to stride into the castle, Rhys grabbed her robe.

"You should tone it down a bit, so that Dumbledore doesn't notice anything amiss," Rice kindly reminded him.

Hogwarts Castle has been imbued with countless spells by the four founders and their successors; its very existence is a miracle. Only a recognized and legitimate headmaster has full authority over the castle.

However, as the founders of the castle, the four elders all possess full authority. If they simply walked in, conflict could easily arise—there can't be two suns in the sky, so how can there be several people with the highest authority in the castle?

There will inevitably be conflict, and there may even be strange and unpredictable reactions, but in any case, it will certainly alarm the current headmaster, Dumbledore.

Helga suddenly realized what was happening and immediately concealed some of her privileges. She and Rice made the same choice, reducing their privileges so as not to arouse Dumbledore's suspicion.

After passing through the massive oak door, the two entered the castle's foyer. The foyer was brightly lit by torches, and directly opposite her was a magnificent marble staircase leading upstairs.

Hufflepuff: !!!

"Huh?! What's going on?" Her eyes widened in disbelief at the magnificent sight before her.

"Is this Hogwarts?" she couldn't help but ask.

No wonder Helga couldn't even recognize the castle she built herself. The difference between Hogwarts a thousand years ago and Hogwarts now is like the difference between a mud-brick house and a luxuriously decorated house.

In the thousand years since she left, Hogwarts’ headmasters, professors, and alumni have all had the habit of donating treasures to the school—even if they don’t have anything particularly valuable to offer, it’s still nice to give their armor or portraits to their alma mater after their death!

Who wouldn't want a portrait left at their alma mater after they die?

As a result, Hogwarts, after a thousand years of accumulation, has become a huge treasure trove.

"They lit so many lamps." After recovering from the various luxurious decorations, Hufflepuff immediately noticed the dense array of candlelight.

"Yes!" Rice echoed. When he first entered the castle, he was also amazed by the lights inside: how many candles must be lit tonight!

"The school is really rich!" Hufflepuff exclaimed from the bottom of his heart.

"Yes, yes!" Rice nodded repeatedly, without telling her the price the school paid for it.

If Helga knew the extent of the board's control over the school, who knows what she would do.

But if you think about it carefully, the board members also paid money. If you keep depriving them of their management rights over the school, it doesn't seem to be conducive to getting them to obediently generate gold coins.

Just because they can do many things doesn't mean their successors can.

Hufflepuff, stepping back into Hogwarts Castle, looked around like a country bumpkin visiting the city for the first time, eager to see and touch everything.

"You must be the new Ms. White?" Professor McGonagall's voice suddenly rang out.

Rice and Hufflepuff turned their heads at the same time and saw Professor McGonagall striding towards them, followed by Hermione with a happy expression.

"Yes, I am Smith White." Hufflepuff sized up the capable witch in front of her and silently gave her a thumbs up.

She had a very good first impression of Professor McGonagall.

"My name is Minerva McGonagall, and I am the Headmistress of Gryffindor House, Professor of Transfiguration, and also the Vice-Headmistress of the school." Professor McGonagall walked over to Helga and shook hands with her.

Hearing that Professor McGonagall held so many positions, Hufflepuff was filled with respect for her: She was a formidable woman. With so many roles, did she really have time to rest?

If she knew that Dumbledore didn't usually get involved much, she probably would have started to wonder how many hours Professor McGonagall had in a day.

The two exchanged pleasantries, leaving the "little wizard" beside them aside. Rice was happy to have some peace and quiet and headed straight for the Great Hall with Hermione.

"What does Professor McGonagall want with you?"

"A question about the timetable," Hermione replied vaguely.

Rice said "Oh" and didn't ask any more questions, her attention completely focused on the upcoming banquet.

The banquet proceeded as usual. The Sorting Hat sorted each new student into their appropriate house. Rice sat in the audience, applauding the new students who had been sorted into Slytherin, just like the other students, and sincerely hoped that they would grow into wizards who truly carried on his spirit.

After the Sorting Ceremony, Dumbledore stood up: "Welcome, everyone, to Hogwarts for the new school year! I have a few words to say to you, one of which is very serious... Dementors! As you probably know, they searched the Hogwarts Express. They will be stationed around the school as they carry out Ministry of Magic duties."

While they are here, no one may leave the school without permission. Dementors should not be fooled by tricks or disguises, not even invisibility cloaks. Dementors do not understand requests or excuses. Therefore, I warn each and every one of you: do not give them the opportunity to harm you.

Upon hearing Dumbledore's words, Rice raised an eyebrow: He was a man who obeyed the rules, respected the current headmaster, and would not give the Dementors a chance to harm him.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

The second update is here!

I'm going back to writing!

(End of this chapter)