After the Halloween feast ended, the young Wizards sauntered back to their dormitories in groups, happily stuffed.
When the students had all left, the professors also departed one after another.
In the Headmaster's Office, Dumbledore looked at a grim-faced Snape and asked, "Severus, is there something you wanted to see me about?"
"Still that business from two weeks ago, Dumbledore." Snape slapped a Golden Edge Map onto the Headmaster's desk, his expression blank as he said, "That Kael Chopper selling maps at school... you have a verdict now, I assume?"
"Ah, so you mean that." Dumbledore calmly sipped his tea. "I'm happy to hear your thoughts on the matter."
"For someone who disregards school rules like this, expulsion is a must!" Snape blurted out without hesitation.
"That joke isn't very good, Severus," Dumbledore shook his head. "You should know as well as I do—there isn't actually any Hogwarts rule forbidding students from selling items on campus."
"And as far as I know, that map was probably sold to Slytherin by Miss Prince..."
"That's incitement!" Snape yelled, cutting Dumbledore off. "I've asked around—every single map came from Kael!"
His voice was so loud, even the portraits who'd been pretending to sleep couldn't stand it anymore.
A large-nosed Wizard portrait grumbled, "Young man, mind your attitude. This is the Headmaster's Office, you know."
Snape ignored him entirely and went on, "I really should've insisted Conna transfer to Slytherin instead of listening to you and leaving her in Hufflepuff."
"Personally, I think that was for the best," Dumbledore smiled. "Don't you think Conna was a little too introverted before? For the only heir to the Prince family in the British Magical Realm, that's really not a good thing."
And you, you can't protect her forever, either."
Snape fell silent for a moment, then said impatiently, "We're talking about Kael Chopper now. Today he dares to sell a map for five Galleons, tomorrow he'll dare to rob Gringotts. Even if we don't expel him, we can't just let this slide; there must be punishment."
"Hmm, you make a good point—five Galleons is quite steep for a first-year," Dumbledore mused. "How about this: I'll ask the students myself. If they all feel cheated, then I'll take care of it, naturally."
...
Snape fell silent again.
In fact, when he confiscated the map, he'd already asked once, and Rowle had replied…
"Cheated? Professor, you must be joking. Only five Galleons? It's no big deal, really～～"
Even if Dumbledore asked, the result was probably going to be the same.
Though Snape could easily convince the Slytherin students to change their opinions and lay into Kael if he really tried.
But that kind of thing was beneath him. Even if he was biased, he hadn't lost all his dignity.
Besides, things like this are hard to keep quiet. If it got out, it'd be a whole pile of trouble.
"Kael's character is questionable as well," Snape suddenly said. "I've been watching him—he's got talent, but let's face it, his classroom performance is painfully average.
So sly at such a young age—aren't you worried he'll become the next Dark Lord?"
"I'd call that modesty, Severus," Dumbledore replied serenely. "It's not easy for a person to shine, but it's even harder to hide your light. That's a rare trait indeed."
"So..." Snape glared coldly at Dumbledore. "You're not going to punish him, then?"
"Not if he hasn't done anything wrong."
"Wonderful!"
Snape's face grew even darker. He whisked his robe around and stormed out of the Headmaster's Office.
Whether on purpose or not, as he spun, the end of his cloak swung right into the large-nosed Wizard's portrait.
The wizard was furious, shouting at Snape's back, "Come back and apologize, you ill-mannered Slytherin brat!"
Snape still ignored him, but Phineas Black beside him couldn't help it—he darted over and grabbed the wizard by the collar: "What did you just say about Slytherin?!"
"What, you want to fight?"
The big-nosed wizard, still hot under the collar, punched Phineas square in the face without another word.
Of course Headmaster Black wasn't just going to swallow that—soon the two were rolling around, brawling fiercely.
The other portraits saw the row and quickly gathered, circling up with sweets, seeds, and Butter Beer, all the while trying to talk them down:
"Stop fighting, you two, honestly, stop—"
"How old are you? Can't you show some dignity… hey, why are you going for his legs? Grab his hair—it's long enough, can't you see?"
"Hey, you knight over there gawking, put your sword away before they see you!"
"Oh dear, Felix just went for the sword."
"Somebody go call the hunter in the corridor, I remember he's got a spare axe."
The ruckus soon drew even more portraits, until every frame was crammed tight—never had the Headmaster's Office been so lively.
Dumbledore sat behind his desk, happily spooning sugar into his tea.
Portrait scraps were nothing rare, and aside from eavesdropping on gossip, this was really their only entertainment.
Dumbledore couldn't be bothered to intervene. As long as the frames and canvas stayed intact, all was well.
But just then, Professor McGonagall's voice sounded from outside the door.
"Minister, you're here to see Albus this late at night?"
The portraits' ears all twitched—they instantly forgot about watching and scrambled to exit the Headmaster's Office as fast as possible.
Before she left, the Fat Lady from Gryffindor grabbed the battered big-nosed wizard and Felix, dragging them away with help from two knights.
They couldn't be seen by the Minister of Magic looking like that—it'd be an absolute embarrassment for Hogwarts.
"An unexpected situation, Minerva, I had no choice."
With a deep voice, the door swung open once more from the outside.
"Albus, it's been too long! How are you?"
Cornelius Fudge spread his arms wide, beaming as he walked up to Dumbledore.
"Long time no see, Cornelius." Dumbledore hugged him briefly, smiling. "Would you care for some tea? Or perhaps pumpkin juice?"
"Tea is fine."
Dumbledore snapped his fingers, and a steaming cup of tea appeared instantly on the table nearby.
"Would you like sugar?"
Fudge shook his head. He looked a little tense, fidgeting with his bowler hat and sneaking glances at Professor McGonagall now and then.
"Albus, I'll just be off now,"
Professor McGonagall immediately caught Fudge's drift and slipped out of the Headmaster's Office.
"Albus, there's no hiding it now, those smuggled Fantastic Beasts—"
As the Griffin slowly closed the door, Fudge's voice faded away completely.
Even though she'd only heard half a sentence, Professor McGonagall could just about guess why Fudge had come calling so late.
The freshly-appointed Minister of Magic was always trying to keep a lid on anything that reflected badly on him; when he couldn't hold it down any longer, he'd run to Dumbledore for advice.
This time was no different, clearly.
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips. This lack of backbone from Cornelius Fudge was miles behind Millicent Bagnold.