Hogwarts: This professor is too Muggle

"Azkaban is a place where wizard criminals are imprisoned. Apart from dark wizards who have committed serious crimes, there are only annoying Dementors in it. It is not a tourist attraction, Professor Lewynter." Ms. Bones said bluntly.

"Appropriate academic research can help identify loopholes and address deficiencies."

"You think Azkaban has flaws and is backward compared to Muggle prisons, is that right?" Ms. Bones glanced at the young professor beside her with a meaningful look.

Melvin was acting a bit like Belby at the moment, like an old scholar obsessed with academics. "Ms. Bones, whether Azkaban is backward or advanced, it's not perfect. Visiting and studying it is to discover its shortcomings and make improvements. What do you think?"

Ms. Bones looked thoughtful and fell silent.

As a professor at Hogwarts, although Lewynter had criticized the Ministry of Magic in the past two years and the Magic Mirror Club he established had some suspicious aspects, which angered Fudge many times, this young professor was not an evil dark wizard or a power-seeking ambitious person.

Dumbledore, Marchbanks and other old wizards can testify to this, as can the second-class medal on his chest.

The Director of Law Enforcement was not worried that the young professor had done anything wrong; she was simply hesitant about whether the true nature of Azkaban should be revealed to the public.

Azkaban is not completely closed. In addition to the staff on duty, relatives of prisoners can also apply for visits. For centuries, it has maintained a record of zero escapes and has never had any problems.

In the eyes of officials in power and the general wizarding community, this is a qualified prison, but only a very small number of wizards know the truth buried on this isolated island.

The existence of Azkaban is very special. The Ministry of Magic set up the Dementors' habitat as a prison, not only to imprison criminals, but also to use criminals as bait to attract Dementors and prevent these strange creatures from harming other places.

The final fate of the prisoners there is to lose their minds and go insane. There is even a cemetery set up there to bury those who died of depression.

Should such a prison be known to the public?

Should changes be made?

As her thoughts raced, Ms. Bones had already made a decision. She looked up into the young professor's eyes, her dark pupils as deep as the night sky.

"Next week, when the staff on leave return to work, I'll arrange for a guide to show you around."

Melvin was delighted: "Thank you very much."

He didn't know what the senior executive was thinking. He had proposed visiting Azkaban on a whim. Besides satisfying his own curiosity, his main purpose was to send Peter Pettigrew in. He was also waiting for Bellatrix's vault key.

"I have a request," Ms. Bones said with a smile. "After you finish writing the paper, I hope the professor won't rush to publish it. Can I take a look at it first?"

"My pleasure."

Bones breathed a sigh of relief at the young professor's cooperation. Listening to the dance music playing again below, his eyes stayed on the obese minister, who was wearing a conspicuous purple robe. His sleeves were bulging with fat, and his belly pushed the buttons on his abdomen open. He looked clumsy like a fat pig.

But he didn't care about his ugly appearance at all. He pestered the witch of the Greengrass family to dance waltz with him, showing off his first-class medal with a green ribbon and smiling brightly.

"Are you ashamed?" Ms. Bones pointed to the young professor's second-class medal.

Melvin was stunned for a moment, then realized what she was asking. He shook his head and said, "The medal is just a symbol. It doesn't mean anything in itself."

"You are right. The medal does not mean anything. It is Merlin, Arcturus, Dumbledore and outstanding wizards like you who have bestowed the medal with glory."

Madam Bones nodded, looking at the minister swaying her big belly on the dance floor, and said softly, "Umbridge has submitted a new Anti-Werewolf Bill to the Wizengamot. It will be voted on after the Christmas holidays. It is said that they have won many votes from neutral members. I believe it will be announced soon. Umbridge can use this bill to be promoted to Senior Undersecretary."

"No wonder Minister Fudge is so happy."

Melvin knew that this meant that the political situation in the Ministry of Magic would change, Fudge's power would be strengthened, and he would completely break free from the control of both Dumbledore and Bones, take over power, and become a truly powerful minister.

Melvin took a sip of his wine and tutted his tongue. "I've persuaded Mrs. Edgecombe to submit an application after the holidays to borrow the Floo Network to connect to the mirror and transmit the image signal. Do you think Minister Fudge will agree?"

"Will your name or Dumbledore's name appear on the application?"

"Probably so."

"Then wait for the rejection."

……

The wind and snow in the Scottish Highlands continued to howl into the New Year.

Students always have the longest holidays. The Hogwarts Express has not yet returned to school, but the various departments of the Ministry of Magic have resumed work. Wizards and witches have returned to their posts with lifeless expressions on their faces and started to deal with the backlog of matters during the holidays.

After a two-week break, Cornelius Fudge returned to his ministerial office to review the documents submitted by various departments.

"Law Enforcement Department: Willy Weathersing has once again enchanted a Muggle public toilet, causing it to bite a Muggle's buttocks into seven pieces. The Muggle has been handed over to St. Mungo's, and the Memory Destruction Team is here to deal with him... A sentence of three months' imprisonment is proposed, pending approval."

There were also some picture files next to it, one of which was a close-up of a Muggle's butt. The wizarding government didn't care about mosaics, so a close-up was just a close-up, with clear outlines and bright colors. The photo was also developed with a developing potion, so it moved.

A fat, white mass of flesh, bloody and mixed with flowing yellow unidentified objects.

Fudge's buttocks tightened, and he felt a deep malice. He picked up the quill and wrote below:

"Commuted to six months!"

After changing three months to half a year, and then to a year, Fudge felt a little better. He picked up the teacup and wanted to take a breath, but when he saw the slightly yellow tea, he didn't know what it came to his mind, and his stomach felt uncomfortable again.

Looking at the two thick stacks of documents waiting to be processed, Fudge felt a little uncomfortable.

The Ministry of Magic began to gain power, but power was not always good.

"It will be fine after a while. Once Dolores gets promoted, we can let her handle these things..."

Fudge sighed resignedly and began to review the documents one by one.

Fortunately, Wei Dexin's case was a rare one, and the other documents were generally normal. Although it was a bit tedious to review, it didn't cause any strong discomfort. The solutions provided by other departments were generally fine, and he didn't need to think too hard, so it wasn't very stressful.

Writing and drawing, the taste of power becomes sweet and delicious again.

As he was about to get off work at noon, a document from the Transportation Department caught his attention.

"Floo Network Office: To develop the potential of home mirrors and fully utilize the Floo Network's transportation resources, our company and the Magic Mirror Club have conducted in-depth research and analysis and have proposed a plan to deeply integrate the Floo Network with small mirrors. The goal is to..."

Mrs. Aikmo was a pragmatic official. Although the wording of the official document was difficult to understand, it was very clear and organized. The strategic plan, technical points and relevant content of the pilot area were all clear at a glance. Fudge was once a mid-level official and could understand the potential of this application.

But Melvin Levant's name stands out even more.

Without much hesitation, Fudge rejected the application on the grounds that safety could not be guaranteed.

……

Meanwhile, downstairs in the Minister's office, Melvin stood before the fireplace in the Law Enforcement Division and sprinkled a handful of green powder on the flames, causing the fire to burst into flames. Fluorescent green flames leaped out of the hearth and licked the marble walls.

"Azkaban..."

As the flames suddenly burst out and engulfed his figure, Melvin disappeared from the room.

Melvin walked out of the old, cold fireplace, dusted off the ashes on his body, touched his coat pocket, and looked up to see the young witch standing outside.

Wearing the standard Auror wizard robe, he paced back and forth boredly, his cheeks shaking constantly, as if he was chewing gum. Upon hearing the voice from this side, he turned around, revealing his beautiful heart-shaped face, and exclaimed in surprise:

"Professor Lewinter?"

Perhaps due to the cold temperature, the witch's skin looked a little pale, but her bright purple eyes and thick, fluffy pink curly hair made the whole picture vivid.

"Nymphadora Tonks?" Melvin asked uncertainly.

"That's right, just call me Tonks. Ms. Bones told you that I'm your guide on this prison tour..." Tonks spoke quickly and chatteringly, which was out of place on this remote island.

Melvin smiled without saying anything, neither confirming nor denying. "As far as I know, you are an Auror, right? Why are you in Azkaban?"

"It's all Mad-Eye's fault! I had already passed the exam and my rotation was over, but he insisted that I had never come into contact with real dark wizards and wanted me to go to the prison to interact with them. It's so abominable!"

Tonks was a qualified Auror, and she would perform her duties even in between complaints. "Professor, follow me. Don't stray too far, or you'll be in trouble if you run into a Dementor."

This was an office for wizards to stay in. Outside was a simple corridor with dirty kerosene lamps on the walls, the light was dim but steady.

Torches are not used on this kind of island. The humidity is too heavy, firewood is hard to come by, the sea breeze is howling, and there are occasional heavy rains. Torches are not as convenient as oil lamps and candles.

Tonks walked in front, leading him outside, and they didn't meet anyone along the way.

"Although there are patrols on the island, they are few in number and not permanent. No one wants to stay here. It's cold and wet, and there are those nasty Dementors. People will go crazy if they stay here for too long. The prisoners have been tortured beyond recognition and don't have the strength to escape. I can leave in two weeks. I really hope I won't have to come here again..."

Tonks introduced the place while looking at the road, as if she was familiar with the place.

Walk through the corridor and push open a door, and outside is a desolate and rugged rock. The edge of the rocky shore is a towering cliff, and the surging waves are constantly beating. In the distance are low clouds and water mist. Even the whistling wind is oppressive.

Looking back, they realized the building they were in was a fortress.

"The fortress on the cliff has been renovated several times. It was originally built by a dark wizard named Axtis. He was extremely powerful and locked himself up here to study dark magic. His mind became damaged and he became insane. He was keen on luring, torturing and killing Muggle sailors who passed by here.

"The Ministry of Magic didn't discover this place at first. It wasn't until after his death that the concealment spell lost its effect and Dementors began to appear in the surrounding area. The Aurors followed the clues and found this island, this fortress, and thousands of Dementors."

Melvin looked up at the sky above the island. The thick, gloomy clouds were low, and some vague objects were floating in them, like dark clouds or black birds.

An ominous magical power loomed, filled with an atmosphere of coldness and despair.

"You know about Dementors, right?"

Tonks rambled on, "Every wall of the castle is filled with the bones of Muggles. They suffered unimaginable torture in their lives. Experts don't know whether it is this pain that breeds Dementors, or whether Dementors are attracted to this pain. In short, anyone who destroys the building will be attacked by Dementors..."

Melvin listened quietly, looked around, and recalled information about the prison.

Azkaban is located in the North Sea and had never appeared on any map before the 15th century. After the Ministry of Magic discovered it, it marked it as an uninhabited island unsuitable for survival and abandoned it for many years.

It was not until the International Confederation of Wizards introduced the Statute of Secrecy that the number of wizard criminals in Britain increased sharply, and small prisons scattered across the country were often blown up. The Ministry of Magic began planning to set up a prison specifically for imprisoning wizards.

A remote island suited their needs, with the Hebrides being the first choice, but then Minister Eddridge Diggory had his eye on Azkaban.

"The prison is divided into several areas, each housing criminals of different crimes. The fortress is located in the center of the island, where the most Dementors gather, and the prisoners there suffer the most. Therefore, all of them are the dark wizards with the heaviest sentences, Death Eaters, murderers, and so on..."

Tonks felt that those people deserved it.

Melvin paused for a moment and said, "Why don't you take me to visit those serious criminals?"

"They have just been tortured by Dementors and are paralyzed in their cells, unconscious. It will take them two hours to recover. I will take you to see the prisoners with minor crimes first, and come back later."

Tang Kesi paused for a moment and waved his hand: "Actually, there's nothing to see. You'll know later."

Melvin followed beside her, listening to the witch's introduction and occasionally asking questions.

While walking along a bumpy road, he discreetly adjusted his coat pocket and put a rat tail back into it.

Chapter 162 Dementor Jailer

When the vibrations from the bumpy road reached his coat pocket, the vibrations were not severe. Peter Pettigrew tucked his tail in, and with one toe missing, he arched his limbs inwards, trying to grab the silk cloth of the young professor's pocket. However, he did not dare to use too much force for fear of leaving marks with his claws.

After all, Azkaban was not as smooth as a glass jar, but he had become accustomed to staying in someone else's pocket. He curled up into a ball and tried to reduce his presence, listening to the conversation between the female Auror and the young professor, and still able to spare some time to look at the environment outside.

There were no living creatures or green plants within sight, just a bare expanse. The sky and the rocks were almost the same color. The only sound echoing on the empty island was the sound of wind and waves. The deep blue waves washed over the rocky cliffs, breaking into white splashes of water.

Such repetitive monotonous noise and stereotyped scenes make it difficult to concentrate. The brain unconsciously empties and allows thoughts to wander.

……

In the white porcelain cup depicting violets, there is hot pumpkin juice. The air is filled with steam and the juice tastes sweet and delicious.

Peter Pettigrew and the young professor sat opposite each other across a large desk, each daring to stare at the cup in front of them, not daring to look up.

Early in the morning, Peter was woken up by the young professor to have breakfast. The food produced by the Hogwarts kitchen was particularly tempting, but ten minutes ago, Peter was still in the form of a mouse, squeezed in a narrow glass bottle, with only his two eyes moving around.