After the Halloween feast, the well-fed young wizards returned to their dormitories together.
After the students had left, the professors departed as well.
In the headmaster's office, Dumbledore looked at Snape's gloomy face and asked, "Severus, what did you want to see me about?"
"It's about the matter from two weeks ago, Dumbledore." Snape slammed a gold-bordered map onto the headmaster's desk, "About Kyle Chopper selling maps in school... surely there must be a decision by now."
"Ah, that matter." Dumbledore took a calm sip of tea, "May I hear your thoughts?"
"Someone who disregards school rules like this must be expelled!" Snape burst out.
"That's not a very good joke, Severus." Dumbledore said, shaking his head, "You should know that Hogwarts rules don't actually prohibit students from selling items on school grounds. And from what I understand, these maps were sold to Slytherin by Miss Prince..."
"That's manipulation!" Snape roared, interrupting Dumbledore, "I've looked into it — all the maps came from Kyle!"
His voice was so loud that even the surrounding portraits, pretending to sleep, couldn't ignore it anymore.
A big-nosed wizard said angrily, "Boy, mind your attitude — this is the headmaster's office."
Snape completely ignored him and continued, "I should have insisted on having Kanna transfer to Slytherin, rather than listening to you and letting her stay in Hufflepuff."
"I actually think this is a good thing." Dumbledore smiled, "Don't you think Kanna was a bit too introverted before? As the only heir of the Prince family in wizarding Britain, that's not ideal. Besides, you can't protect her forever."
Snape was silent for a moment, then said impatiently, "We're talking about Kyle Chopper here. Today he dares to sell a map for five Galleons, tomorrow he'll be robbing Gringotts. Even if we don't expel him, we can't let this slide — he must be punished."
"Hmm, you have a point — five Galleons is quite expensive for first-years." Dumbledore mused, "How about this: I'll personally ask the students' opinions, and if they all feel they were cheated, I'll handle it accordingly."
"..."
Snape fell silent again.
In fact, he had already asked when he confiscated the map, and Rohl had said: "Cheated? Are you joking, Professor? It's only five Galleons, what's the big deal?"
{T/N: 5 Galleons cost approximately $47.25, based on a very simplistic calculation with adjusted inflation rates. It's not the exact price, but use it as a reference.}
Even if Dumbledore asked, the result would likely be the same.
Though if Snape wanted to, he could easily get the Slytherin students to change their view of the situation and condemn Kyle. But that would be too underhanded — he may be biased, but he hadn't completely lost his dignity.
Besides, such things are hard to keep secret, and once exposed would cause no end of trouble.
"Kyle's character is also questionable." Snape suddenly said, "I've observed him — he's very talented, but his classroom performance is quite ordinary. To be so duplicitous at such a young age — aren't you worried he'll become the next Dark Lord?"
"I prefer to call such behavior humility, Severus." Dumbledore said calmly, "It's not easy for one to shine brightly, but it's even harder to conceal one's light—this is a very rare quality."
"So..." Snape coldly looked at him, "You're not going to punish him?"
"Not if he hasn't done anything wrong."
"Very well!"
Snape's expression darkened as he whirled around, his cloak sweeping behind him as he strode toward the door.
As he turned, the hem of his cloak struck the portrait of the big-nosed wizard — whether by accident or design.
"Come back and apologize, you ill-mannered Slytherin boy!" The wizard shouted at Snape's retreating back.
Snape ignored him, but nearby, Phineas Black couldn't contain himself. He rushed over and seized the wizard's collar, "What did you just say about Slytherin?!"
"Want to fight, do you?" The enraged big-nosed wizard struck first, landing a punch squarely on Phineas's face.
The "great" Headmaster Black couldn't possibly tolerate such an insult, and the two portraits quickly descended into a brawl.
Other portraits gathered around with candies, snacks, and butterbeer, forming a circle while making half-hearted attempts to intervene:
"Stop fighting, please stop fighting!"
"Act your age, both of you! Oh — why are you kicking his leg? Pull his hair instead — look how long it is!"
"You there, knight! Hide that sword before they notice it!"
"Too late — Phineas has gone to fetch it!"
"Someone fetch the hunter from the corridor — he has an axe!"
Their commotion drew even more portraits until every frame was packed with spectators. The headmaster's office had never been so animated.
Dumbledore sat behind his desk, cheerfully adding sugar to his tea. Portrait fights weren't unusual — besides eavesdropping on gossip, they were one of the portraits' few entertainments.
He saw no reason to intervene, provided the frames and canvases remained intact.
But then Minerva's voice carried from outside.
"Minister, you're coming to see Albus at this late hour?"
The portraits' ears perked up, and, forgetting their entertainment, they hastily vacated the headmaster's office.
Before departing, the Fat Lady of Gryffindor and two knights forcibly removed the bruised and battered combatants. They couldn't let the Minister of Magic witness such an unseemly display — it would disgrace Hogwarts.
"It was unexpected, Minerva. I had no choice."
Accompanied by a deep voice, the office door swung open once more.
"Albus, it's been a while, how are you?" Cornelius Fudge approached Dumbledore with outstretched arms and an eager expression.
"It's been a while, Cornelius." Dumbledore replied, offering a brief embrace and a smile, "Would you like some tea? Or perhaps pumpkin juice?"
"Tea would be fine."
Dumbledore snapped his fingers, and a steaming cup of tea materialized on the nearby table.
"Would you like sugar?" Fudge shook his head, nervously fidgeting with his bowler hat and casting frequent glances at Minerva.
"Albus, I'll take my leave then." Professor McGonagall, catching his meaning at once, turned to exit the headmaster's office.
"Albus, we can't keep it hidden anymore — those smuggled magical creatures..."
As the gargoyle slowly closed the door, Fudge's voice faded away.
Though she had caught only half a sentence, Minerva could guess why Cornelius Fudge had arrived at such a late hour.
The newly appointed Minister of Magic had a habit of concealing any news that might tarnish his reputation. Only when secrecy became impossible would he seek Dumbledore's counsel. This situation would surely follow the same pattern.
Minerva pursed her lips — Fudge's spinelessness made him a poor successor to Millicent Bagnold.
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