Some people never show up when you need them the most, yet they are the first to arrive to claim the spoils once you've solved all the problems on your own.
In the wizarding world, these people have a common name, the Ministry of Magic.
The strongest fortresses are often breached from within, even in the wizarding world, this remains true.
When Allen orchestrated a severe injury to that powerful vampire, the enormous explosion shattered the laboratory's previously flawless defenses into a thousand cracks.
This sudden upheaval made the observers outside uneasy, yet they still anxiously began deciphering the defensive wards anew.
As the wards fell, the wizards, originally just guiding the spells, instantly gained new roles, explorers.
Their participation directly declared the failure of the near-graduating students' exploration mission, though, in reality, it was already doomed.
Due to the vampire's interference, three students were killed, they refused the vampires' recruitment and stubbornly resisted.
Among the remaining wizards, some were controlled, while others hid throughout the castle. The vampires' relentless pursuit of Allen gave these students precious time to conceal themselves.
When the Ministry arrived, all surviving young wizards were rescued, while the vampires were decimated; only a few fled, the rest were slain on the spot.
This was how the Ministry managed to snatch the MVP's rewards after raiding the field and defeating enemies.
Of course, publicly, the story was different. At least, according to the newspapers, the narrative read:
"...According to our investigation, young wizards from Hogwarts and Ilvermorny, originally engaged in friendly collaborative exploration, were ambushed and kidnapped by despicable vampires. These shameless creatures cruelly killed three hostages to force compliance, yet our brave wizards refused to yield. Their spirit..."
"...Fortunately, our valiant Aurors arrived just in time. With the assistance of professors from both schools, they successfully broke through the vampires' defenses, rescued the hostages, and defeated the main vampire forces. Our esteemed Minister of Magic..."
Allen casually used the newspaper as a cushion for the chair, stone tables and benches were great in the winter, except for the chill.
Overall, the mood was surprisingly good, even though one Slytherin had died.
The deceased's family had come in person, but the uncle showed no sign of sorrow; his expression upon leaving looked unmistakably like a smile.
The deceased was Norris, Allen's trading partner. Perhaps his family did feel sadness, but evidently, the Ministry's compensations had brought surprises that more than balanced it out, Allen knew exactly how much private treasure was in that laboratory. Had he not been focused on defeating the vampire, he would never have missed the chance to loot it.
The Ministry, as the largest wizard group on the scene, gained so much that they even handed Allen a "shock fee", a mere one hundred Galleons, yet from the notoriously stingy Ministry, it was a big deal.
Of course, Allen would never tell them about the rare tomes or important experiment logs he pocketed while gathering materials. The Ministry seemed satisfied with the operation's results, likely assuming that the wizard contractors had gained nothing.
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When Allen and company returned, they were met with a grand welcome feast, fresh from the American Ministry, they now encountered the British Ministry.
There's a saying: "Heavenly materials and earthly treasures reside with those destined to have them." It has basic rule similar: might makes right.
Thus, when the American Ministry left excitedly with their loot, Ilvermorny and the British Ministry teamed up to demand a share, "Hey buddy, we're feeling jealous today; mind sharing a few dumplings?"
Under the unbreakable principle of wand range being truth, the combined forces quickly proved the proposition: "What's yours is mine; what's mine is still mine."
In other words, during Allen's trip back, the American Ministry experienced a dramatic swing from surprise to disappointment, but Allen had no intention of refunding anything.
Allen and Annie, thanks to their outstanding performance, earned exemption from two exams and automatic top grades (O) in their N.E.W.T.s, a cause for envy among the remaining students. Allen, however, couldn't explain that the reward came from fighting, of course.
Life back at school was practically heaven compared to the exchange program, minus one professor.
Yes, once again, another Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was gone.
The kindly professor had been expelled for participating in the fight.
Fighting was natural, even professors could lose their temper, and a minor scuffle didn't warrant dismissal.
The problem: the professor's fighting was exceptional.
He fought all by himself, taking on a whole group of wizards.
During the exchange, the atmosphere at Hogwarts wasn't ideal, but the visiting students were all troublemakers. One day, during a planned duel, a slightly inebriated professor passed by, saw the fight, and delivered a single blow, controlling all the students.
Meanwhile, the opposing school sent a biased professor, who clashed with the slightly drunk Hogwarts professor.
The result: the Hogwarts students witnessed their Defense Against the Dark Arts professor take on an entire exchange team single-handedly. Even Dumbledore couldn't protect them.
Self-defense, yes, but knocking everyone out was excessive, especially against a whole school's delegation.
Thus, Dumbledore was once again stuck in the cycle of tracking the professor.
Amid such calm, the year-end arrived. For the first time in decades (and perhaps the last), the House Cup returned to Hufflepuff, the team's points were just too high.
On the train back, Allen said goodbye to Annie and acquaintances, everything appeared calm.
Yet beneath the surface, dark currents surged.••┈┈┈┈┈༓┈┈┈┈┈•••
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