HP: The Duelist of Hogwarts - 409

Chapter 409: Reorganization

Fleur’s striking features and her experience as a Triwizard Champion drew cheers from the students at her introduction. Hearing the welcome, Fleur rose from her seat at the staff table, inclined her head to everyone in greeting, and was met with even louder applause.

Watching Fleur, Sean noticed out of the corner of his eye that Umbridge, seated beside Dumbledore, was staring at her with thinly veiled disgust and jealousy, as though resentful that Fleur had stolen her spotlight.

At that moment, Umbridge slowly stood. Under the faculty’s surprised gazes, she launched into a long, contentless, sleep-inducing speech.

Almost everyone tuned out, though a very small handful did listen through to the end—Hermione, and Sean among them.

In short, Umbridge’s message was that she intended to represent the Ministry in interfering with Hogwarts’ operations. Sean thought Fudge must have gone mad. Otherwise, he would not have forgotten that Hogwarts was independent of the Ministry and not directly under its control.

Of course, if a certain Headmaster intended to indulge this—to let Fudge sprint headlong down a path of self-destruction, feign weakness, allow Fudge and Umbridge to throw Hogwarts into chaos, and then deliver a decisive blow—then Sean had said nothing.

Sean regarded the woman who had just delivered that long passage in a sharp, girlish voice. Umbridge had ambition, initiative, ruthlessness, and decisiveness, but she lacked wisdom. She had plenty of petty cunning, yet completely failed to understand the larger currents.

In any case, none of that had much to do with Sean. As long as Umbridge did not provoke him, he could not be bothered to concern himself with her. Dumbledore would handle her. Sean only needed to continue with his own plans. By the time he finished his exams and entered the Ministry formally, Fudge’s time in office would likely be near its end.

When Umbridge’s speech finally ended, it was time for the students to return to their Houses.

The Prefects of all four Houses stood and began leading their first-years out of the Great Hall toward their common rooms, explaining Hogwarts and offering key reminders along the way. The sight brought Sean back to his own arrival at Hogwarts. In the blink of an eye, five years had passed.

Watching the new students with interest, Sean also saw this year’s fifth-year Prefects from each House.

For Gryffindor, the prefects were—unsurprisingly—Harry and Hermione. They were the standouts among the fifth years, especially after the special training they’d received from Sean.

For Ravenclaw, the prefects were Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil. Unlike the other Houses, Ravenclaw weighed academic results more heavily when selecting prefects. Last year, Padma and Anthony earned excellent marks and ranked among the top five in their House, which led Ravenclaw students to choose them as fifth-year prefects.

For Hufflepuff, there were no surprises: Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott. Both were standouts among the fifth years.

Having looked over the other Houses’ Prefects, Sean turned to see Slytherin’s. He expected them to be Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson—after all, Snape and Malfoy had a very good relationship.

But when he saw who stood, even Sean could not help showing a trace of surprise.

Marcellus Bulstrode and Pansy Parkinson.

So Marcellus was still at Hogwarts?

He had thought he was gone. It had been years since he had shown up in anything of note.

Sean glanced at Marcellus and Pansy, then turned away. He no longer cared about such small matters as whether Marcellus became a Prefect. But just as he turned, Marcellus looked at Sean. Hatred flashed in Marcellus’s eyes, but he quickly hid it and went on with the reluctant Pansy to organize the first-years for the trip to the Slytherin common room.

Pansy liked Malfoy. That was an open secret in Slytherin.

Malfoy, however, had little interest in her. Pansy had thought she might serve as Prefect with Malfoy—if not Malfoy, then perhaps Sean. She had no feelings for Sean, but his ability and other qualities spoke for themselves, and working with him would have been fine.

She had not expected, after all her hopes, to be paired with Marcellus. Naturally, she could not muster any enthusiasm.

Marcellus, of course, noticed Pansy’s mood, but he did not care. After escorting the first-years to the common room, he immediately sounded her out.

“Pansy, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

Pansy looked at Marcellus. She felt nothing for him personally, but lately, Marcellus’s father, Boreal, had taken a seat on the Wizengamot and now controlled the Bulstrode family. The Parkinsons were not a large family, and it was worth showing a little courtesy.

They sat in a corner of the common room. Marcellus looked at her and said, “Pansy, I think you can see the situation clearly. Some things are no longer the same. I have received support to come to Hogwarts and reorganize the Slytherin Brotherhood’s reserve chapter. I want to invite you, as well as Malfoy, Goyle, and Crabbe, to join. I hope you can act as a go-between and bring the invitation to Malfoy and the others. Would that be possible?”

At the words “reorganize the Slytherin Brotherhood reserve,” surprise flashed across Pansy’s face. But quickly her expression blossomed into a bright smile. “Marcellus, the support you mentioned—does it come from…”

Marcellus smiled with studied modesty, affecting a casual air. “Naturally from the true Slytherin Brotherhood. Beyond that, many pure-blood wizards have expressed approval and support. We intend to rebuild, within Hogwarts, an organization that belongs to pure-blood wizards. It is a noble and glorious endeavor. So, Pansy, will you join us?”

Pansy looked at Marcellus’s outstretched hand. After a moment’s hesitation, she extended her own and shook his.

“Of course, I will join. As for Malfoy and the others, I will relay your invitation. I imagine they will be very willing to join as well.”