The Prisoners of Hogwarts

Chapter 66 A Plan to Lure the Tiger Away from the Mountain

Chapter 66 A Plan to Lure the Tiger Away from the Mountain

Lin Qi lowered his head in thought, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of the sofa.

For some reason, hearing the name Barty Crouch and recalling the intelligence information about him made him feel that something was amiss.

But he still couldn't remember what was wrong.

"No." Lin Qi made the final decision. "I don't know why, but I always feel that he is not a consistent person. There is something hidden behind him... Let him continue to chase after the purebloods. It would be a pleasant surprise if he could reduce their strength."

"You are the leader, you decide." Reggie's voice remained flat.

Without further discussion of the Ministry of Magic and pure-blood families, Lynch changed the subject, his tone becoming serious: "Another matter: has Albus Dumbledore replied to the invitation he sent to Headmaster for the World Wizarding Card Championship finals?"

"He's confirmed he'll be there that day," Reggie replied immediately. "The Daily Prophet and Wizarding Weekly will announce tomorrow that Headmaster Dumbledore will be attending the finals as a special guest of honor, which will be one of the biggest publicity points for the finals."

"Very good." A glint of light flashed in Lynch's eyes. "Tell Lucius that his next task is to ensure Dumbledore remains at the finals venue for the entire day! From the opening address to the end of the awards ceremony, he cannot leave for a single moment! I don't care what methods he uses. In short, I want Dumbledore to be completely preoccupied that day!"

"Understood." Reggie's figure straightened slightly in the flames. "I will tell Lucius to make sure he understands the importance of this."

This will buy you enough time.

"Hmm." Lin Qi nodded slightly, ending the topic.

The emerald green flames in the fireplace began to flicker and shrink slightly, their brightness gradually diminishing.

Reggie's figure became blurred in the flames.

"Stay in touch," Lynch concluded.

"Understood." Reggie's voice disappeared completely with the last soft crackling sound of the flames.

The flames in the fireplace returned to their normal orange-red color, burning quietly, as if the secret conversation that had just transcended space had never happened.

Only the faint sound of burning firewood and the silence of Lynch lost in thought remained in the stone house.

With the lifting of the Ministry of Magic's ban, the students at Hogwarts Castle developed a passion for outdoor activities that, like a river thawing, flowed freely.

It's starting to surge forward again.

When the announcement of the Quidditch season restart and the detailed schedule were posted in the common rooms of the four houses, the popularity of wizard battle cards in the schools immediately fell behind.

Most students' attention was now focused on the upcoming Quidditch match.

The young wizards discussed tactics and expressed their support for their respective teams in any place where they could talk.

The Quidditch teams of the four houses also began intensive training. The hoarse shouts of the team captains during training echoed through the sky from morning to night. The sound of brooms flying through the air and the rustling of robes fluttering in the air filled every corner of the field.

The situation for the Gryffindor team is somewhat delicate.

They possess a Seeker of unparalleled genius, certified by Professor McGonagall and Captain Oliver Wood—Harry Potter, a "secret weapon" that has remained hidden from the opposing team's sight until now. Captain Wood is determined to keep him hidden until the very last moment before the game officially begins.

Therefore, they had to choose the least ideal and most arduous training time: the hour or so after the afternoon classes ended, as dusk fell and the sky quickly darkened.

At this time, most students are crammed into the warm auditorium to enjoy dinner or rest and chat in the common room. The grounds are cold and sparsely populated, making it a good time for covert training.

But the cost is enormous.

The team members had to conduct high-intensity flight and tactical drills under limited light. The biting cold wind scraped across their exposed skin like knives, and their fingers were so frozen that they could barely hold the broom handle.

When training ended and everyone returned to the castle, they needed to sit in front of the fireplace and drink several cups of hot pumpkin juice to recover.

But beyond these, a more pressing issue is security—although the Ministry of Magic’s ban has been lifted, Headmaster Dumbledore still explicitly requires that at least two professors be present to supervise students when they are on the grounds.

As the Head of Gryffindor and a passionate Quidditch enthusiast, Professor Minerva McGonagall took on this guardianship responsibility without hesitation.

Although this meant squeezing that unwavering hour into her already extremely busy work schedule every evening, she still did it willingly.

As for another professor, she had considered inviting her friend Professor Flitwick, but just as Professor Flitwick was about to agree, someone else she didn't expect volunteered to take on the job.

Lynch stood at the edge of the Quidditch pitch, watching the Quidditch players flying around in the sky practicing their tactics.

He was still wearing that sharp suit, but because of the cold wind, he had put on a black overcoat, and the black raven was still perched on his shoulder.

After watching for a while, he walked calmly to Professor McGonagall's side and stood beside her, his gaze fixed on Harry, who was chasing the Golden Snitch at the edge of the pitch.

"Professor McGonagall." Lynch's steady voice broke the howling of the cold wind.

Professor McGonagall did not turn her head; her gaze remained fixed on the players soaring in the sky, but her jawline tightened even more, as if she were resisting some kind of emotion.

"Professor Lynch," Professor McGonagall replied, "thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to assist me with my student supervision."

Her response was brief and cold. After the Halloween troll incident, her trust in Jim Lynch had plummeted, so although she said thank you, there was a clear sense of distance between them.

Lynch seemed completely unconcerned by the aloofness in her tone, his gaze following Harry's daring dive and ascent.

"No need to thank me... just consider this my apology." Lin Qi didn't beat around the bush.

He stated directly why he volunteered for the job.

Professor McGonagall turned her head, her sharp gaze piercing through her glasses as she looked at Lynch with a scrutinizing expression: "If you think I'll overlook your outrageous behavior, Professor Lynch, you're mistaken."

"Please don't misunderstand me, Professor McGonagall." Lynch met her gaze, his usual warm smile fading slightly. "I'm not apologizing for standing by that day; I'm apologizing for not informing you beforehand."

As the school's vice principal, you were standing right next to me that day. I could have easily told you my intentions and acted only after obtaining your permission.

But I overlooked the difference between today and the past, and followed my old habits, acting on any opportunity I saw.

That led to an unpleasant incident between us that day, for which I apologize.

Professor McGonagall paused slightly, a flash of offended anger crossing her eyes: "Is this why you're apologizing?"