Hogwarts: What are the four great masters doing?

Ryan saw the words 'Phoenix Nest' written on the oak door.

And this is indeed the case.

The space behind the door is much larger than it appears from the outside. In the center of the room, stands a golden-red perch that is more gorgeous and larger than the one in the Hogwarts headmaster's office. The scorching heat comes from here.

Inside the huge round nest on top of the perch, a phoenix curled up like a dark golden bonfire that was about to burn out.

It was Fox.

At this moment, its feathers have lost their former bright luster and appear a dark golden color like a dusty gem, with a heavy and tired atmosphere.

The eyes that were once as bright as flames were closed tightly, the head drooped limply on the chest, and the slender tail feathers were scattered around the perch, as if all the vitality had been drained away.

It's dead.

"The process of Nirvana is always long and painful,"

Dumbledore's voice was low and gentle, his eyes locked on Fawkes: "It will return in flames, Lion... You need not worry about him."

His determination seemed to be contagious.

"I never worried, Headmaster Dumbledore."

Ryan said softly.

He observed Fox's nirvana more carefully.

At this moment, Fox's feathers glowed with a soft golden-red luster under the candlelight - that was not the unique light of phoenix feathers, but the light of flames.

Yes, that special flame belonging to the Phoenix is ​​still burning - the flame is small and weak, but it does exist.

but...

"..."

Ryan could see at this moment that there were still tiny dark red marks like old blood scabs on Fox's body.

It was like a wisp of dust, or some dirty and filthy thing, existing on the body of the Phoenix - even the Phoenix's flames could not completely burn it.

"what is that?"

This made Ryan curious.

"Oh, maybe some of the embers of the phoenix's rebirth."

Dumbledore said softly without changing his expression.

"Really? This is the first time I've heard of it..."

Ryan also found it amazing - he had learned some knowledge about the Phoenix Nirvana from the Big Four before, but nothing related to this.

However, he did not delve into it too deeply and simply attributed it to a natural trace of the fire bath process.

At this moment, Dumbledore turned to look at Ryan, with a genuine and relaxed smile in his blue eyes: "You have seen the situation of Fawkes, it is not worth worrying about - but I think maybe we can use something to celebrate its nirvana? How about a cup of hot tea and dessert?"

His tone was light and casual.

After Ryan agreed, he stood up and walked towards the kitchen in the ancestral home.

So the only people left in the room were Ryan and the newborn phoenix sleeping on its perch.

"The principal also has desserts here..."

Ryan muttered.

After taking another look at Fox, he looked around without hesitation.

It has to be said that Dumbledore's ancestral home gave him a much better feeling than the Black house or the Gaunt house - at least it was not so gloomy, and it might be because Dumbledore changed it to this way.

Ryan could see the old musical instruments in the corner, and on the wall of the corridor not far away was a tranquil landscape painting depicting a summer valley lake. Even the bookshelves were filled with books on magical theory and Muggle philosophy works - this must have been placed by Dumbledore, and it seemed that the old wizard would come back to live here occasionally.

But when his eyes passed a short porch, they suddenly stopped.

At the end of the corridor there was a half-open wooden door.

What caught Ryan's attention was not the door itself, but the small, slightly mottled and faded wreath decoration hanging on the door - it was woven with dried cornflowers, tender lily of the valley and a few small white roses made of silk cloth.

The style has an obvious girlish feel, soft yet delicate.

There was even a small, slightly askew crayon drawing hanging on the wall by the door, showing a little girl with pigtails standing in front of a small house.

Below is the name of the room owner.

"Arianna Dumbledore."

This is obviously a girl's room.

A surge of pure curiosity welled up in Ryan's heart.

Ariana?

He felt that the name was familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere.

"Yes—I heard this name when Headmaster Dumbledore was controlled by the Resurrection Stone at Gaunt House."

Ryan recalled.

He had also speculated that Arianna might be the name of Dumbledore's lover, but now it seems...

"Is it his mother, or his sister?"

Ryan subconsciously took two steps toward the door.

But at this moment...

"Oh, Ryan - I have to share with you my recent little discovery, the combination of cola and honey is actually quite delicious."

Dumbledore's voice interrupted Ryan's actions.

"..."

So Ryan gave up the idea of ​​continuing the exploration.

"Here I am, Principal."

He just glanced at the room and silently memorized it.

and...

"Although I love sweets, cola with honey is too much, right? And where's the tea we agreed on?"

"Oh, and tea, of course... spring water from Godric's Hollow, with herbs dried from the valley's wildflowers—but it's not sweet enough."

"Shouldn't you prepare some for Fox? Pour it on its feathers as a bath. Maybe it will smell like flowers when it wakes up."

"Oh, unique idea."

Dumbledore and Ryan quietly enjoyed afternoon tea in the old house.

While enjoying afternoon tea, Dumbledore took out a letter with the Ministry of Magic's eye-catching logo and gold-stamped edges.

"By the way, I think you could take a look at this—it seems like Connelly can't wait any longer."

Chapter 213: Return to the Ministry of Magic! Lucius's message!

Dumbledore handed the letter to Lion.

After Ryan took the letter, he quickly scanned the cold and complicated wording unique to the Ministry of Magic documents.

"Please ask Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and Mr. Lion Ellias to go to the Ministry of Magic as soon as possible to negotiate a date for the inquiry."

The text is very brief, but every word is full of urgency.

"I'm afraid you're right."

So, Ryan nodded thoughtfully: "Minister Fudge really seems to be unable to wait."

Despite saying this, Ryan and Dumbledore still enjoyed their afternoon tea leisurely.

Afterwards, they set off for the Ministry of Magic.

The familiar elevator shaft, the cold glow of marble, and the distinct smell that permeated the air.

"Smells of conspiracy."

Ryan thought: "A low-brow conspiracy."

And as he and Dumbledore stepped out of the elevator and walked towards Fudge's office.

They were surprised to find that there were already quite a few people sitting in the office.

Those are all wizards from pure-blood families.

They cast cold, malicious glances at Dumbledore and Ryan.

There were smiles of mockery and gloating on their faces.

"Aha, look who's here? The great Headmaster Dumbledore and the heir of Hufflepuff."

A pure-blood wizard whose name Ryan couldn't remember spoke first, his voice long and slow.

"It's nice to see you guys. We thought you needed to do some more preparation before coming over."

Another pure-blood clan leader also sneered and said.

Taunts and ridicules fell like hail.

They focused on the Crouch scandal and the Bloody Baron affair, making a big fuss about Dumbledore's poor judgment of people and Ryan's meddling in the political situation.

At first glance, they sound like messengers of justice.

"Oh..."

But at this moment, Dumbledore's wide robe sleeves did not move at all.

"Sorry, I'm old and don't like to wait."

His eyes, as blue as the sky, swept across the audience calmly: "I am very happy to chat with you, but today is obviously not the time - I came to see Connelly, and I have other things to do later."

"So, maybe I need you to move aside first."

His voice was no longer gentle, but maintained an almost distant and impeccable politeness.

Ryan stood a step behind him, his eyes lowered, and said nothing.

"Arguing or communicating with the enemy is just a waste of words and is useless."