Hogwarts: This holy light is righteously evil.

The darkness behind them surged in like a tide, but was firmly blocked by the faint light coming from the direction of Hogwarts Castle.

On the way back to the castle, the setting sun was slowly sinking into the distant mountains, and the orange-red glow spread across the entire sky, dyeing it a warm golden-red. The two figures were stretched long and thin by the glow, walking one after the other on the gray stone path, closely embracing each other, their figures edged with gold, blending into the surrounding scenery.

Hogwarts Castle stood bathed in the glow of the sunset, its towering towers piercing the clouds. The ancient stone walls were tinged with a warm golden-red by the light, and faint lights shone through the windows, showcasing the grandeur and solemnity of the thousand-year-old castle while also exuding an air of mystery.

Dumbledore turned his head and looked at Puni beside him. Seeing his still solemn expression, a hint of concern flashed in his eyes. He then spoke, his voice low and solemn: "Puni, everything that happened in the Forbidden Forest today, whether it was what you saw or heard, or the clues we discovered, must be kept strictly confidential. You must not reveal it to anyone, including your classmates, friends, or even professors who were not involved in this matter."

Puni nodded: "Professor, I understand completely. I will not reveal a single word to anyone and will keep it a secret."

If this information were leaked, it would not only cause panic among the students, but it could also alert the mastermind hiding in the shadows, allowing them to escape or even take more dangerous actions.

The two did not go directly to the bustling auditorium, which was crowded with students looking for food after class. The sounds of laughter and clinking cutlery could be faintly heard even through the long corridor. It was too noisy and would easily give away their whereabouts. They also did not go to the foyer, where students were constantly coming and going and owls were always delivering letters. It was too crowded and not suitable for discussing secrets.

Dumbledore led Penny quietly into a relatively secluded corridor. The corridor was lined with portraits of past Hogwarts headmasters. Most of the figures in the paintings had their eyes closed and were resting peacefully. Occasionally, one or two portraits would raise their heads and cast curious glances, but after meeting Dumbledore's serious gaze, they would silently lower their eyes again without making a sound.

The two followed the winding stone steps towards the school hospital, located on the east side of the castle. Normally, apart from students who were injured or sick coming here for treatment, most of the rooms served as temporary living quarters for professors. Now, as dinner time approached, the hospital was unusually quiet, with only the sound of their footsteps echoing on the gray stone pavement, breaking the surrounding stillness.

Pushing open the wooden door of the school hospital, a smell mixed with disinfectant and sedatives hit you. It wasn't pungent, but it carried a cold and serious feeling that instantly calmed you down. Heavy white curtains hung all around, completely blocking out the sunset outside. The room was dimly lit, and each bed was covered with a semi-transparent white curtain, dividing each bed into a small, independent space. A blurry figure could be vaguely seen behind the curtain, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

Madam Pomfrey was busy at a hospital bed. She was wearing her signature white nurse's uniform, her face devoid of any smile, her expression extremely serious. She held a wand in both hands and cast a healing spell on the bed. The white light from the tip of the wand fell softly on the bed, nourishing the body of the person on it. The curtains around the bed were tightly drawn, isolating everything inside, with only a vaguely visible, motionless figure lying there.

Hagrid and Professor Kettleburn stood anxiously by the curtain. Hagrid's large frame seemed out of place in the neat, small ward. He wore his signature coarse cloth coat, his hands nervously rubbing together, his brows furrowed deeply, his eyes filled with worry. Every now and then, he would tiptoe to peek behind the curtain, but dared not easily approach and disturb Mrs. Pomfrey's treatment. He could only move his feet restlessly in place.

Professor Kettleburn paced back and forth by the curtain with his hands behind his back, his face equally grave, a hint of anxiety in his eyes, and he muttered something under his breath.

Hearing the door open, the two turned around simultaneously. Hagrid immediately strode forward, deliberately lowering his voice, "Albus! You're back! Did you find any clues in the Forbidden Forest?"

As he spoke, he glanced worriedly at the tightly drawn curtains.

Lady Pomfrey emerged from behind the curtain, putting away her wand. Her expression remained grave as she shook her head slightly and said heavily, "His condition has stabilized for now, but it's not optimistic. He's been afflicted with a very vicious dark magic, a curse I've never seen before. This curse has not only caused severe physical damage, making his wounds heal extremely slowly, but more terrifyingly, it's also slowly eroding his spirit, like fine vines tightly binding his consciousness, making it impossible for him to break free."

She paused, then continued, "He is currently in a deep coma and will likely not wake up for some time, nor will he be able to answer any questions. We can only do our best to maintain his vital signs and slowly search for a way to break the curse."

Dumbledore nodded slightly, said nothing more, walked straight to the bedside, reached out and gently pulled back a corner of the curtain, his gaze falling on the person on the bed, his expression becoming increasingly solemn.

Puni followed behind him and peered over. He saw Professor Oren Cass lying quietly on the hospital bed, his face pale to the point of being almost transparent, his lips cracked, and even in his unconscious state, his brows were tightly furrowed, and there was still a trace of tear stains at the corner of his eye. Several shallow wounds could be seen on his cheeks, which, although treated by Madam Pomfrey, still looked shocking.

He exuded an aura of weakness and pain, his chest rising and falling slightly.

“Popito, thank you for your hard work. Just do your best.” Dumbledore’s voice was deep but full of trust. “Whatever potion or help you need, just ask Snape. I will personally tell him to cooperate fully with you and do everything in your power to save Oren Cass’s life and wake him up.”

He knew of Madam Pomfrey's medical and magical abilities, and he was also aware of Oren Cass's critical condition. Only by doing his utmost could he save his life and learn the truth about the Forbidden Forest from him.

“I will, Albus.” Madam Pomfrey nodded solemnly. “I will stay here and never leave his side, and do everything in my power to break the curse on him and wake him up.”

Dumbledore gently drew the curtains, turned around, and his gaze slowly swept over the faces of Hagrid, Professor Kettleburn, and Penny. His expression returned to its previous solemnity: "Sylvanas, Rubeus, thank you for discovering and assisting Professor Oren Cass in time. Without you, the situation would probably be much worse. Now, I need to speak with you alone about the discovery in the Forbidden Forest."

After saying that, he turned to Mrs. Pomfrey: "Poppy, no one is allowed to visit Professor Oren Cass except you, whether a student or a professor, without my or Professor McGonagall's company. Do you understand?"

Madam Pomfrey realized the seriousness of the situation from Dumbledore's words. This usually gentle headmaster only showed such a serious expression when facing a major crisis. She did not ask any questions or say anything more, but simply nodded solemnly again: "I understand, Albus. I will personally look after him, never leave his side, and will not let anyone get close to him."

As everyone walked out of the medical room and closed the door, Dumbledore stopped, his gaze sweeping over the three people present. He reiterated, "Everyone must keep the unusual events in the Forbidden Forest and the attack on Professor Oren Cass strictly confidential. Absolutely no one should leak this information. Pay special attention to any outsiders who approach the school recently, whether wizards or Muggles. Be vigilant and inform me immediately if you discover anything unusual. There must be no delay."

Hagrid and Professor Kettleburn nodded in unison, their anxiety undiminished. They both understood the importance of secrecy; a leak would not only cause panic among the students and disrupt the school's normal order, but could also alert the mastermind and allow them to escape, posing an even greater danger.

After saying goodbye to Hagrid and Professor Kettleburn, Dumbledore led Penny up the stone steps to the Headmaster's office. Pushing open the heavy oak door again, a warm feeling rushed out, completely different from the coldness of the school hospital and the gloom of the Forbidden Forest, instantly dispelling the chill from the two of them.

In the circular principal's office, the fire crackled in the fireplace, casting a warm glow that illuminated the entire room and gilded the surrounding silver instruments. Fox perched on a branch beside the fireplace, gently preening his golden and red feathers, occasionally letting out a clear and soft chirp.

“Professor,” Penny sat down in the chair, “that person hiding in the Forbidden Forest, he can move freely in the Forbidden Forest and control those huge eight-eyed spiders at will. He is obviously very familiar with the Hogwarts environment. Could he be… a Death Eater in disguise?”

Dumbledore sat in the large headmaster's chair, his hands clasped together in front of his chest. He pondered for a moment, a deep light flashing in his blue eyes, before calmly saying, "Your guess is very likely. After Voldemort's downfall, many of his followers were not completely eliminated. They hid their identities and lurked in various corners of the wizarding world, waiting for an opportunity to make a comeback."

"The Forbidden Forest is rich in resources and contains many magical creatures. The creatures themselves or the materials on them have great magical value. Whether used to refine dark magic potions or to cast dark magic, they are very beneficial. They are indeed a target that they may be coveting. They may want to use the magical creatures in the Forbidden Forest to refine dark magic potions and enhance their own power."

After saying this, he stood up, walked to the window, and opened it. The evening breeze, carrying a hint of coolness, blew in, ruffling his white beard and making the flames in the fireplace leap more intensely. He gazed at the dark Forbidden Forest in the distance, which was now shrouded in darkness, a place that seemed to devour all light. His eyes were solemn, and he was deep in thought.

“But what concerns me is why he would specifically target Professor Oren Cass?” Dumbledore began slowly. “If Professor Oren Cass had simply stumbled into the Forbidden Forest by chance and witnessed his operation, then his decision to silence him would be understandable. But there is another possibility… Professor Oren Cass might have been part of his plan all along, and his attack on Professor Oren Cass was not accidental, but a deliberate act.”

Upon hearing this, Puni said, "You mean, Professor Oren Kass's entry into the Forbidden Forest this time might not just be for studying magical creatures. Perhaps he had already sensed the anomalies in the Forbidden Forest, which is why he went there specifically to investigate? After all, some people have said before that they saw strange wizards loitering near the Forbidden Forest, and some even tried to approach Professor Oren Kass, acting suspiciously!"

“That’s a very reasonable guess.” Dumbledore nodded, turned to Puni, and said, “We all know that Professor Oren Cass has been behaving strangely lately. He often goes to the Forbidden Forest alone, and he always looks very serious, clearly sensing that something is wrong. Now that he has been attacked in the Forbidden Forest, this is no coincidence; there must be a deeper reason behind it.”

"Currently, only a few of us know about this. Until the truth comes out, it must be kept absolutely secret. We cannot let any unrelated people know, so as not to cause panic and put other students in danger."

“I understand, Professor.” Puni nodded and assured him, “I will keep my mouth shut and not divulge a single word, nor will I show any abnormality or let anyone notice anything amiss.”

“Very good.” Dumbledore smiled gently. “From now on, you should continue to attend classes and live your life as usual, complete your assignments on time, and interact normally with your classmates. Do not show any abnormality so as not to arouse suspicion. But you must remember not to enter the Forbidden Forest alone again, no matter what the reason, you must not take any risks. You must ensure your own safety, that is the most important thing.”

He paused, pointed to Fox on the branch, and added, "If you find anything unusual, whether it's an unfamiliar face, strange magical fluctuations, or anything else that's amiss, contact me immediately through the portrait in the castle, or just call Fox. It will find me right away and won't delay anything."

Then Dumbledore gave Penny a whistle.

"This thing can summon Fox."

Puni took the whistle and looked at the phoenix perched on the branch. Fox seemed to notice his gaze, raised his head, and let out a soft cry, his golden feathers shimmering in the light.

"Okay, thank you, Professor."

By the time Puni left the principal's office, night had completely fallen.

The hustle and bustle of the castle gradually subsided. Most of the students gathered in the Great Hall for dinner or returned to their dormitories to review their lessons. The once lively corridors became unusually quiet, with only the torches hanging on the walls crackling in the wind. The orange flames flickered and cast swaying, distorted shadows on the portraits and armor on both sides of the corridor, sometimes elongating and sometimes shortening, piling up in the dark corners, looking very eerie.

Puni gripped his wand, listening to the echoes of his footsteps on the stone path, mingling with the sound of burning torches.

Meanwhile, inside the headmaster's office, Dumbledore remained alone. Fawkes had flown back to his perch, tucked away his golden feathers, and closed his eyes to rest. The fire in the fireplace still crackled and burned, its warm light illuminating the entire round room, yet it could not dispel the solemnity between Dumbledore's brows.

He sat in the large principal's chair, his hands clasped together in front of his chest, his gaze fixed on the dark night outside the window. His thoughts had already drifted back to the Forbidden Forest, the scene of Professor Oren Cass's attack, the giant spiders under his control, and the strange and malevolent aura of dark magic—all of these images surfaced in his mind. He pondered the events of the Forbidden Forest repeatedly, trying to connect all the clues, guessing the identity and purpose of the mastermind behind it all, and even more so, he was thinking about the secrets that the unconscious Professor Oren Cass might possess.

Professor Oren Cass has been frequently entering and leaving the Forbidden Forest recently, clearly indicating that he has sensed something. His attack was no accident. Did he discover the presence of a Ministry of Magic infiltrator? Or did he stumble upon a Death Eater plot?

These questions lingered in Dumbledore's mind, but he couldn't find the answers for the time being.

He knew that Professor Oren Cass's coma not only interrupted the clues, but was also a signal that the dark forces had begun to take action, and the peace at Hogwarts would probably not last long.

Just then, a soft "tap-tap" sound broke the silence of the room. It was an owl tapping on the window of the headmaster's office with its beak. The sound was not loud, but it was very clear and seemed very abrupt in the quiet room, instantly pulling Dumbledore's thoughts back to reality.

Dumbledore slowly came to his senses, turned his gaze to the window, and without getting up, gently waved his wand. A soft white light flashed, and the tightly closed oak window quietly opened inward. The evening breeze, carrying the coolness of the night, blew in, ruffling his white beard and making the flames in the fireplace leap more intensely.

Outside the window, a jet-black owl perched on the windowsill. Its feathers were glossy, its eyes sharp, and it clutched a thick parchment letter tightly in its claws. Without pausing, it released the letter, dropped it, and then flapped its wings, cutting through the night and quickly disappearing into the vast darkness, leaving only a blurry black shadow that vanished in an instant, as if it had never existed.

The letter landed softly on the desk, making a slight sound.

Dumbledore stood up, walked slowly to his desk, reached out, and picked up the letter. The parchment was thick and rough to the touch. A bright red wax seal was imprinted on the seal, bearing the emblem of the Ministry of Magic: a phoenix with outstretched wings, circling a wand and a bone, majestic and cold.

He applied a little force and gently removed the sealing wax seal. The seal shattered into tiny fragments, which fell onto the desk with a soft sound.

Dumbledore unfolded the parchment, his gaze quickly sweeping over the writing. His face was calm and still, like a bottomless lake, but his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. The wrinkles were so shallow that they vanished in an instant. Behind his crescent-shaped spectacles, a complex light flashed in his blue eyes. A moment later, the surprise faded, replaced by a hint of seriousness.

"It seems the trouble has come sooner and more directly than expected." Dumbledore gently placed the letter on the table.

"The Ministry of Magic's supplementary educational order regarding Hogwarts expresses 'deep concern' for Professor Oren Cass's inability to perform his duties due to 'accidental' serious injury, and considers that the Defense Against the Dark Arts course at Hogwarts 'cannot be missed even for a day,' as it concerns student safety and the foundation of wizarding education, and there can be no slackening or oversight."

"After careful deliberation, the Ministry of Magic has decided to appoint a wizard to Hogwarts as the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, to fill the vacancy left by Professor Oren Cass and ensure the smooth operation of the course. Headmaster Dumbledore is requested to respond within one hour of receiving this letter, without delay or refusal."

"Respectfully yours, Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic, United Kingdom."

Dumbledore slowly closed his eyes and sighed softly. He knew all too well the deeper meaning behind this letter. It was not some so-called "concern" or to fill the gaps in the curriculum, but rather the Ministry of Magic's naked surveillance and probing of Hogwarts. It was Fudge's first step in trying to control Hogwarts.

Ever since Voldemort's downfall, Fudge has been wary of Hogwarts, wary of its power, its influence in the wizarding world, and even more wary of Hogwarts not being controlled by the Ministry of Magic. Now, Fudge has reached a secret agreement with those pure-blood families, and his power is growing day by day. Finally, he can no longer hold back and begins to extend his tentacles to this pure land of Hogwarts.

Professor Oren Cass's unexpected serious injury provided Fudge with a perfect excuse to legitimately plant his own people in Hogwarts, spy on everything in the castle, and even attempt to interfere with Hogwarts' education and management, gradually eroding Hogwarts' autonomy.

This assignment is just the beginning, the Ministry of Magic's first test. If he agrees, the Ministry will only push its luck further, constantly planting more people and gradually eroding Hogwarts' autonomy until it finally takes complete control of the school. If he refuses, Fudge will definitely use this as an excuse to accuse Hogwarts of ignoring student safety and the Ministry of Magic's regulations, thus putting even more pressure on Hogwarts. They might even use the Ministry of Magic's power to forcibly intervene in castle affairs, causing even greater trouble.

Dumbledore opened his eyes, his gaze falling once more on the letter, his blue eyes regaining their composure.

Chapter 118 The New Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Hillen Calder

Despite Dumbledore's best efforts to suppress the news and strictly order the professors in the know to keep quiet, only announcing that Professor Oren Cass had suffered an "accidental" serious injury and was receiving treatment, rumors in the castle could never be stopped. The news of Professor Oren Cass's unconsciousness still crept up every corner of Hogwarts like vines. In the corridors, dining halls, and dormitories, students could be heard whispering among themselves everywhere.

"Another unlucky professor has fallen... Sure enough, the Dark Lord's curse has never failed. This position is a hot potato; whoever touches it is doomed."

"Professor Oren Kass was such a kind person. He patiently taught us how to identify traces of dark magic and taught us basic defensive techniques. How could something like this have happened? It's such a pity."

The students gathered in twos and threes, their faces full of dejection. No one was surprised; there was only a sense of helplessness, like "I knew it." The position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was like being cursed with the most vicious curse. No matter how powerful a wizard was, once he sat in this position, he would eventually be doomed.

The next day at breakfast time, the auditorium was filled with the aroma of bread and hot cocoa, but it could not dispel the dejection on the students' faces.

Headmaster Dumbledore remained seated in the professors' chair, his white beard hanging down to his chest, his expression calm. As the noise in the Great Hall subsided slightly, he picked up his wand and gently tapped the table, the sound echoing throughout the hall and silencing all the whispers.

"Class, please be quiet for a moment." He paused, his gaze slowly sweeping across the room. "I'm sure you've all heard about Professor Oren Cass. He was seriously injured in an accident and is currently still in a coma. We will do our best to help him recover, and we hope you can all pray for him."

He paused, then continued, "Therefore, during Professor Oren Kass's recovery, we are honored to have a temporary successor. Professor Hillen Calder will be the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, responsible for the upcoming lessons, and will lead everyone in learning defense techniques against the Dark Arts. Let us welcome him."

As soon as he finished speaking, a tall, thin blond man slowly stood up from his professor's seat. He was tall and straight, almost half a head taller than Professor Snape beside him. His slender build did not make him appear weak; instead, it exuded a tense restraint, as if every muscle in his body was on alert. His thin face had prominent brow ridges and cheekbones that outlined cold, hard lines, without any excess softness. His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, and when they swept across the hall, the students present all restrained their expressions.

What is most striking is the row of short, neatly trimmed beards on his chin, which are close to his jawline and are of uniform length. They lie tightly against his skin, clean and neat, which is rare among male wizards.

After all, most of the male professors at Hogwarts were either like Snape, with a clean-shaven chin and a somewhat gloomy look, or like Hagrid, with a beard that grew wildly like a tangled ball of yarn, covering most of their faces. Professor Calder's appearance was more like that of a disciplined soldier than a carefree wizard, exuding an aura of rigor and coldness.

Puni sat at the Ravenclaw dining table, his gaze fixed on the new professor.

He noticed that Professor Calder's lips only curled up slightly, the curve was very shallow and fleeting, barely enough to be seen as a response to everyone's gaze. There was no warmth in that smile, but rather a sense of aloofness and indifference. The first impression he gave was that of an extremely serious, rigid person, exuding an aura of restrained dogma and discipline, making people hesitant to approach him.

Sparse and uneven applause rang out in the auditorium. Some students clapped perfunctorily, while others didn't raise their hands at all, just lowered their heads and exchanged knowing glances with each other.

Whispers arose again, quietly spreading throughout the auditorium.

"Could he have offended Fudge? Otherwise, why would the Ministry of Magic send him over so quickly? Professor Oren Cass just had an accident yesterday, and he's here today. It's too much of a coincidence."

"Need I say more? He must have offended someone. He's clearly been sent here to be used as a expendable resource. I reckon it won't be long before he follows in Professor Oren Cass's footsteps."

Several students, not wanting to miss out on the fun, even chuckled in hushed tones.

"I bet he won't last three months, two months at most, then he'll be in trouble."

"I'll bet a month! We'll wait and see how ridiculous it is then."

The murmurs weren't loud, but they were loud enough for the professors in the front row to hear.

Snape remained as cold and aloof as ever, not even lifting his eyelids, as if everything around him was irrelevant.

Hagrid frowned, his face full of displeasure, and wanted to speak up to stop him, but was gently pulled back by Professor Kettleburn beside him.

Dumbledore sat in the main seat, his expression calm, but a hint of thought flashed in his eyes as he looked at Professor Calder, lost in thought.

Professor Calder, the subject of the discussion, paid no attention to the gazes, whispers, and perfunctory applause from the audience, as if those voices were just passing by.

He simply nodded slightly, his gaze calmly sweeping across the entire hall. Then he opened his mouth and spoke in a clear and cold voice. His voice was not loud, but it quickly suppressed all the noise in the auditorium, making the entire auditorium quiet instantly.

"Thank you for the welcome. But I hope that in my class, order and efficiency will be more appreciated than applause. Let's skip the small talk and focus on learning; that's what you should be doing."

He paused, then continued, "Starting this afternoon, Defense Against the Dark Arts classes will proceed as normal, according to the schedule. Those who are late or absent will bear the consequences themselves, and I will not tolerate it."

After speaking, he didn't linger. He nodded slightly and sat back down in his professor's seat, his posture still upright and his back straight. He didn't look at the students once more.