Babajide cleared his throat. "Rodney, stick to the plan; there's no need for you to showcase your eloquence here." Rodney fell silent and simply pulled out shiny handcuffs and ankle shackles, placing them on Grindelwald.
A team member pushed the door open, while another raised their wand towards Grindelwald. With the effect of the handcuffs and ankle shackles, Grindelwald's body floated in mid-air, limp and powerless.
"Mr. Akingbade," Professor McGonagall said sternly, "I'm not sure if Dumbledore informed you, but he wishes for the entire process to be kept strictly confidential, especially not allowing him to regain his senses."
Babajide calmly replied, "You make a valid point."
He waved his wand in the air, and Grindelwald's face was covered with a black mask. Seeing Professor McGonagall about to say something more, he smiled, "Well, Professor, take me to Dumbledore. Leave the professional matters to them; these young men deal with the most dangerous criminals all year round."
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips into a thin line. She walked behind as everyone exited. After everyone left, she stood at the doorway and locked eyes with the phoenix. "Thank you, Fawkes. You may go now." Fawkes nodded at her and spread his large wings, igniting his body. Then Professor McGonagall closed the office door.
A burst of firelight shone through the crack under the door, then faded away.
"Was that a phoenix?" Babajide suddenly exclaimed in surprise. "I didn't realize it earlier."
"It's called Fawkes," Professor McGonagall absentmindedly replied. "Mr. Akingbade, there's something you may not know—Headmaster Dumbledore has submitted his resignation to the school board, today of all days... Well, he's... he's eager to embark on a journey," she sniffed, "I'm not sure if you'll be able to see him."
They made their way through the corridor to the spiral staircase, when suddenly, there was a commotion downstairs. "What's happening?" Professor Sprout asked, puzzled. She glanced downstairs, and suddenly, a silver transparent head popped up from the steps, startling her.
"Murder! Someone's been murdered!" Peeves shouted excitedly, whistling loudly.
Professor McGonagall called out, "What's going on, Peeves? Are you up to mischief?" Peeves jumped in surprise, somewhat fearful of Professor McGonagall, so he slickly replied, "There's a conflict, Professor, a little crybaby against a few adults, wands against wands," Peeves said solemnly, "I was just about to inform Filch; maybe his little stick can separate them—"
"Crybaby? A student?" Professor McGonagall's eyebrows furrowed tightly as she hurried downstairs.
"Yes, that Longbottom—though he's not as fun as he was in the first and second year," Peeves followed her, hopping on two legs as if climbing the stairs, humming all the way. "Shut it, Peeves!" Professor McGonagall yelled back, already on the ground floor, where the entrance hall was packed.
Someone shouted, "Professor McGonagall is here!" The crowd parted, allowing Professor McGonagall to see the two opposing sides. On one side were four International Confederation of Wizards enforcement team members, and on the other—
"Longbottom! Abbot! Finnigan! Thomas! Goldstein! Greengrass!" Professor McGonagall shouted angrily, calling out one name after another. They held their wands, and then she turned to the other side, "And you two, Weasley and Lovegood, what do you think you're doing?"
The named students sheepishly lowered their wand tips, all looking at one person—Neville.
"Mr. Longbottom, did you do all this? Give me a reason." Professor McGonagall's chest heaved dramatically.
"I want to know too, who are they?" Neville's face flushed, pointing at the four International Confederation of Wizards enforcement team members. "Hannah and I were coming out of the Great Hall, and we saw them rudely dragging someone downstairs. Though their face was covered, I recognized Professor Bagshot; I remember the pattern on his clothes and trousers!"
"They are International Confederation of Wizards enforcement officers," Professor McGonagall said weakly. "Mr. Longbottom, you were too impulsive."
"But didn't you see what they did?" Neville shouted, his eyes reddening. "They... they—" He stuttered in anger.
Hannah Abbott took his hand and spoke for him, "Professor McGonagall, we truly don't know who these people are, but they certainly didn't look like enforcers just now; they seemed like thugs breaking into the school. They made Professor Bagshot's knees hit the stairs, and his head was drooping on the ground! You know, Neville respects Professor Bagshot very much... When he went up to ask a couple of questions, he was attacked with spells."
The students were suddenly filled with righteous indignation.
Professor McGonagall widened her eyes and turned to look at the four members of the enforcement team. They stood there expressionless. At that moment, Babajide approached, asking solemnly, "Rodney, is what this student saying true?"
"It seems so," Rodney replied with a disdainful curl of his lip. "Can someone explain why so many students are speaking up for a dark wizard?"
"What evidence do you have for saying that?" a student exclaimed indignantly.
"Evidence?" Rodney said scornfully. "There's plenty. You don't know what he did when he was younger, and if it weren't for someone protecting—"
"Rodney!" Babajide barked sharply.
Looking around, he then said after a moment's thought, "Allow me to introduce myself: Babajide Akingbade, current Chairman of the International Confederation of Wizards—" The students looked at him in astonishment, then glanced at Professor McGonagall, who nodded subtly.
Whispers erupted in the entrance hall.
"I assure you, on my honor, that this individual is undoubtedly a dark wizard, and one of the most dangerous kinds at that. He escaped from his prison a year ago and was subdued by Headmaster Dumbledore himself this time," Babajide stated.
The students exchanged looks. Was it another fake Moody? But it was quite audacious for an escaped convict to apply for a teaching position at Hogwarts. Even Professor Black had been acquitted before becoming a teacher.
"Of course, I understand that you were unaware, so your courage in defending your teacher is commendable. I won't pursue any charges against you, but taking another step would be breaking the law. Think carefully," he concluded, his tone growing stern.
Many students looked timid and apprehensive. Babajide glanced around, waved his hand, and the four members escorted the unconscious Grindelwald away.
"Wait, um—Mr. Akingbade?" Neville summoned his courage and took a step forward, speaking softly. "I'm sorry, it was my mistake. I wanted to ask—may I speak with Professor Bagshot for a moment? Just a few words, I want to clarify—"
"Absolutely not!"
It wasn't Babajide who said this, but Professor McGonagall. She spoke firmly, facing a crowd of surprised onlookers. "I won't allow anyone to wake him."
The entrance hall fell silent, except for a scoff from the team member named Rodney, who was then pulled away by his companion, leaving the crowd behind. McGonagall breathed a sigh of relief, not knowing the reason but feeling she had fulfilled Dumbledore's task.
"Alright, everyone, disperse," she said sternly, turning her head. "Leave this place, and prefects, take charge."
The students dispersed, buzzing with discussions about what had just happened and Professor Bagshot's identity. Only Neville remained rooted to the spot, taking out the broken Sneakoscope from his pocket. He had imagined many scenarios, but never this kind of parting.
Meanwhile, the four enforcement members arrived at the halfway point of the castle in a carriage.
"You were a bit impulsive, Rodney. I know your family holds a grudge against Grindelwald," one of them said, controlling Grindelwald into the carriage and then following suit. "But you shouldn't have attacked that student, even if it was just to intimidate—"
"I didn't."
"What?"
"I didn't mean to intimidate him. I intended to stun him directly. But for some reason, the spell clearly hit him, yet had no effect," Rodney replied, puzzled himself, staring at his wand. Had it malfunctioned?
He glanced at Grindelwald, who was sandwiched between two members. With a casual flick of his wand, Rodney caused Grindelwald's exposed skin to swell and redden as if whipped.
"Rodney! I warn you—"
"Sorry, Captain." Rodney shrugged, lowering his head to continue studying his wand. "It didn't malfunction. So, what was it? Some kind of concealed defensive charm?"
As he spoke, the carriage suddenly jolted, hurtling into the dark night sky. The breathing beneath the black masks quickened, and the skin on their wrists, marked like whip scars or bee stings, turned bright red.
Meanwhile, in the headmaster's office, two hands clasped tightly together.
Mysterious, intricate patterns gradually emerged, seeming to come to life as they climbed up Felix's wrist.
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