Carl failed; the perfect plan didn't succeed, or rather, it failed successfully.
Harry pretended to be injured several times in the following days, even spending the entire Easter holiday in the Hospital Wing,
but Dobby never appeared.
Although the House-elves of Hogwarts worked tirelessly and without complaint, Harry couldn't endure it anymore; he still had Quidditch training!
So, the perfect plan was reluctantly abandoned, and Carl and Snape once again came to the Headmasters Office to discuss, summarize, and assign blame.
After rigorous analysis, Carl finally found the reason for the failure.
Whether it was the transport captain with the advantage on his side, or Sun Quan preparing to execute Liu Bei at Ganlu Temple, they all failed, which led to his own failure.
Snape: (._.)
"You mean because you accidentally used their words and schemes, and then you were infected by their failure?"
"Hmm! Well-reasoned, logical, and justified!"
"Is—is this right?"
"Yes, yes! You might not understand it well, but this is actually a form of metaphysics!"
Looking at Carl, who was full of conviction and spoke with certainty, Snape almost believed him.
This kind of talk, used to fool an idiot, would probably cost two bags of melon seeds.
"Then where do you say the problem lies?"
"I don't think the approach was wrong, but we both overlooked something very important."
Snape's expression was a little helpless, "Dobby is a House-elf of the House of Malfoy; he doesn't have his own time to arrange. His previous attempts to stop Harry Potter and the two attacks must have been opportunities he sneaked out for."
"Perhaps Dobby hasn't been back to Hogwarts since the last time I discovered him."
Carl:
Holy crap! It seems to be true!
Recalling the plot in the original work, Dobby visited Harry in the Hospital Wing because Harry was injured by him, and he was present at the time.
"So—we've been fighting wits against thin air all this time?"
"Hmm!"
Carl and Snape looked at each other, both falling silent for a moment.
What to do? Although there was no KPI assessment, failing the mission was a bit embarrassing.
"Excuse me, do you need help?"
Dumbledore, who had been drinking tea for a long time, now spoke with a smile.
Although he wanted to continue watching the show, to prevent the Kitten from getting angry and acting recklessly, he thought it was necessary to offer some advice.
Carl: (one_-)
"Oh! Isn't this Albus, who was suspended by the School Board, threw all his work to Minerva, and is now so idle he's practically farting? I almost didn't see you!"
The day Lucius Malfoy and Cornelius Fudge came to Hogwarts, Cat Mom made him write a Transfiguration essay in her office all day.
Damn it! What about the promised trust?
However, Carl had long anticipated Dumbledore's continued suspension.
Although, under his intervention, no one had been petrified by the Basilisk.
But in the original work, it was merely Muggle-born young Wizards who were attacked, a mere threat to life.
Now, however, young Wizards from pure-blood families had been frightened. For the School Board and the Ministry of Magic, this was undoubtedly a very serious and malicious incident.
Dumbledore rubbed his forehead, a little headache, "Ahem—actually, I'm not that idle. After all, the opening work for the next school year needs to be completed by me alone, and I'm already starting to prepare."
"Ah? Is Minerva going to skip work?"
Carl was very happy. Slacking off is good; how can Professor Cat not learn to slack off?
"Not skipping work, but Minerva took the opportunity to ask for a leave and handed her summer work over to me."
Dumbledore felt a bit regretful; this deal didn't seem worth it.
"So that's it! Fair and reasonable!"
Carl chuckled, "Did Minerva say what she's doing on her leave?"
Dumbledore spread his hands, "It's better for her to tell you herself."
Snape: (,one)
"Headmaster Dumbledore, Mr. Orolin, can we deal with the main business first?"
He wasn't worried about Harry Potter's safety, he just wanted to complete the mission successfully.
Hmm! That's all!
"It's very simple, Severus, you write a letter to Lucius saying you need to borrow a House-elf, and I think given your relationship, he shouldn't refuse, after all, as you said, sometimes he is a smart man."
Two big fools: — —
Ah? Could it really be this simple?
Snape believed that Carl had interfered with his thinking, which caused him to act foolishly.
And Carl, while disdaining Snape, also cast a contemptuous look at Dumbledore.
He had a solution but didn't say it earlier, making him busy for nothing.
"Boring! I'm leaving!"
He originally wanted to find some fun, but he ended up becoming the old man's fun again, which was annoying.
Once Dobby arrived at the school, if he was told that the danger had been eliminated, he naturally wouldn't try to harm Harry anymore.
So Carl was too lazy to bother with this matter anymore. He might as well go find Cat Mom and ask her about her plans for the summer, since she had already taken leave.
"Leaving already? Not staying to play a bit longer?"
Hearing Dumbledore's polite retention, Carl waved his hand without looking back.
"You should think about how to deal with Lockhart and Malfoy's matters!"
Two major events occurred at the school before the June exam week.
First, Dumbledore, who had previously been suspended by the School Board, returned and resumed his position as Principal.
Then, Aurors from the Ministry of Magic took Professor Lockhart of the Defense Against the Dark Arts Class away.
The first event did not surprise anyone, after all, it was Dumbledore; as long as he was still there, who else would be Principal?
The second event, however, astonished everyone. Although Lockhart was a universally disliked person, he was still a Professor.
How could he be arrested? Could it be that the Minister's wife wrote him a love letter?
And when the reason for his arrest spread, both the Professors and the young Wizards were utterly dumbfounded.
There could actually be such a shameless person in this world! No wonder Lockhart was like a clown; it turned out everything about him was fake.
This broke the hearts of many young Witches. They never expected their idol to fall in such a way, beyond redemption. For example, a certain Hermione Granger, who preferred to remain anonymous, was so angry she almost threw her book.
Most young Wizards, however, were very happy, because the Defense Against the Dark Arts Class exam was canceled.
Although they had to write an essay titled "Don't Be This Kind of Person—Taking Gilderoy Lockhart as an Example," it was still simpler than an exam.
Hmm, Hermione became even angrier.
"Bang!"
The door to the Headmasters Office was pushed open forcefully, and a grim-faced Lucius Malfoy walked in with the House-elf Dobby.
After nodding to Snape, he looked at Dumbledore with uncontrollable fury.
"What have you done? Why did they agree to reinstate you as Principal?"
"Long time no see, Lucius."
Dumbledore met his gaze with a gentle smile, "Actually, I didn't do anything, it's just that the young Wizards trust me more to protect their safety."
After all, at that time, they saw with their own eyes that it was the great Wizard Albus Dumbledore, Transfiguration Master Minerva McGonagall,
and a decent Severus Snape, who drove away the terrifying monster.
The School Board suspended him because pure-blood young Wizards were attacked, and naturally, they would reinstate him at the request of pure-blood young Wizards.
"Protection? What a joke! You didn't even catch that monster!"
Lucius couldn't help but grit his teeth; he had already lost his position on the School Board.
"But the monster hasn't reappeared, just like your former master, Lord Voldemort."
After Dumbledore finished speaking, Lucius's expression instantly stiffened.
"You—what are you saying? All Wizards know I was under the Imperius!"
Dumbledore nodded noncommittally, "Perhaps, I believe you also don't wish for him to reappear, after all, Lord Voldemort entrusted his precious diary to you, and you disappointed him."
"What diary?"
Lucius's body swayed; he felt that some things were getting out of control.
"The diary you placed with Ginny Weasley."
Dumbledore's smile was very gentle, "Do you need me to help you recall?"
Lucius's face was livid as he remained silent for a few seconds, "Don't speak without evidence."
"Yes, we need evidence, but I wonder if Lord Voldemort needs it."
"I don't know what you're talking about!"
Under Dumbledore's gaze, a pale Lucius was about to leave.
"Wait a moment."
"What else?"
"This House-elf by your side, Dobby, can stay at the school."
"What did you say?"
Lucius turned around in a rage, "Excuse me, great Headmaster Dumbledore! Are you blackmailing? Or begging?"
"Neither, I am informing you."
"You!"
Under Lucius's gaze, an expressionless Dumbledore's eyes flashed with a chilling light.
"Lucius Malfoy, what makes you think I am an easy person to talk to?"
If Carl were here, he would definitely notice that Dumbledore at this moment was even more dangerous than Grindelwald.
I am not the White Dark Lord.
But I can be.
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