Harry Potter: New World

Chapter 371 - 371

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After putting the bottle with the others and checking for the presence of disguise charms on myself, I again went to the exit from Hogwarts. Under the light of the stars in a clear night sky, breathing fresh air, I reached the border of anti-apparation charms and moved to the threshold of Mr. Guber's house. As soon as I knocked on the door, it immediately opened, though not without the help of Willie, the important house-elf.

"Dear unwelcome guest has decided to disturb the honorable Mr. Guber again?"

"Again, Willie. Didn't Mr. Guber say I'd be back?"

"He did, of course, he did. How could he not?" The house-elf stepped aside to let me into the house, but I didn't have to walk far. Mr. Guber was already walking toward the exit, dressed in a black business suit and robe.

"Don't just stand there, young man," the old man complained, gesturing me out of the way like a fly. No respect, well, and Merlin with him - old people should be respected. "We're going straight to Hogwarts."

"But... I thought that you would go there only in the morning ..."

"Wasn't it you, young man, who said that there is no time to waste? So we don't waste it. Come with me" the old man abruptly turned around and again walked down the corridor deeper into the house. I hurried after him.

"Then why did you drive me away right from the doorstep?"

"Just an old man's whim."

We approached the fireplace, in which a yellow-red flame from the firewood was quietly burning. Mr. Guber took a handful of Floo powder and threw it into the fire, whispering a couple of phrases. When the flame changed color but still remained yellow, Mr. Guber stuck his head into the fire, talking about something with an invisible and inaudible interlocutor on the other side. After a dozen seconds, the old man "emerged" from the fireplace, again throwing a handful of Floo powder, and this time the flame turned green. As if setting an example, Mr. Guber took some Floo powder again and went inside.

"Hogwarts Headmaster's Office," he said clearly, throwing the Floo powder at his feet and disappearing in a green flash of flame.

I had to follow his example, and after a few seconds, I smoothly walked out of the fireplace in Dumbledore's office. Contrary to my expectations, there was no semi-darkness or the usual weak lighting - a bulky chandelier was burning in all the lights upstairs, flooding the office with soft yellow light more than enough. The headmaster was sitting at his desk in his usual purple robe, and Mr. Guber was just saying something to him.

"... as a lawyer for the House of Black, and a representative of the interests of both the House of Black in general and Mr. Knight in particular, I officially request permission to visit potential witnesses and victims in the upcoming case."

"I allow it, Erich. Of course, I allow it. Just for Merlin's sake, not too long" the Headmaster nodded. "There is one sickly pink person moving around our beloved castle, capable of creating problems for all of us out of the blue."

"Don't worry, Albus. Everything will be fine," the old man nodded and turned to me. "Don't just stand there, young man, please. Take me to the hospital wing."

Without any further ado, we left the headmaster's office, and Dumbledore stayed inside, pondering over something and making notes with a quill on a long parchment. Once again, we had to walk through the dark corridors of the castle, and when I offered to hide us with charms, Mr. Guber merely brushed us off.

"Do I look like a youngster who decided to sneak into the women's locker room of the House team? Do I not?"

"Not at all."

"Exactly. Remember, young man. Whoever hides is always to blame. No matter what. But you can hide. I'm well aware that despite everything, you are a student at Hogwarts, and the local rules apply to you just as much as they do to the rest of students."

Nodding, I hid myself with charms. Contrary to my expectations, we didn't encounter a single living person - just a couple of ghosts. After quietly reaching the hospital wing, Mr. Guber stepped inside and headed for Madame Pomfrey's office. In a couple of minutes, he returned from there with a folder - a copy of the one I'd certified. He then made his way through the rows of bunks to the second room, where the girls' beds were behind a screen. Lady Greengrass was still there, and surprise flashed in her eyes when she saw the old man. After a quick conversation among themselves, they went behind the screen, and, as I understood, there, the girls gave oral testimony, which Mr. Guber carefully recorded.

After that, the lawyer came out to a bored me.

"Mr. Knight. Please show me the container with the memories, if you don't mind."

"Of course," I nodded, pulling four vials out of my pocket, and Mr. Guber swiped a wand that suddenly appeared in his hands over them.

Four of the exact same vials appeared in the air in front of the lawyer, and a black leather briefcase appeared on the floor in front of him. It opened on its own, and Mr. Guber put the slightly thickened folder and the vials in it.

"That's all we'll need. Send a list of applications to your contact. With this..."

The door to the hospital wing opened, and Professor McGonagall appeared on the doorstep in her full everyday parade - a black floor-length gown, a green robe, and a pointed hat. She was looking at us over neat rectangular glasses.

"Mr. Knight, Mr. Guber," the professor nodded to the lawyer respectfully but not deeply - a great rarity. "The headmaster asks you to come to his office urgently."

"Professor," we nodded simultaneously and quickly followed McGonagall.