Chapter 275: New Professor and Neville's Parents
At this year's banquet, the old hat composed a very long song, using the departure of one of the founders, Salazar Slytherin, to warn the young wizards about the importance of unity.
After the song ended, Professor McGonagall brought the young wizards into the Great Hall.
No one noticed a dragon chatting with the hat.
"What's wrong, old hat? This isn't like you," Aiden said, chatting with it.
He watched as it was placed on various young wizards' heads one after another.
"Aiden, I have witnessed batches of young wizards leaving Hogwarts over the millennia and once felt immense pride in my work. But now, facing such a Hogwarts, I begin to wonder if it was my sorting them into different houses based on their traits that led to the current divisive situation in the wizarding world."
Though the old hat was still sorting on the surface, Aiden had connected a light cable to it, and the two were chatting together.
"Hat, do you remember the blessing they gave you when you were taken from Godric's head?" Aiden asked.
"Hmm, to discover the traits of young wizards and let them become who they want to be based on their hearts," the Sorting Hat answered.
The sorting nearby had ended, so Aiden moved over and stroked the edge of the old hat.
"So, you're just a hat. Don't fantasise about solving all problems from the root. The more you think like this, the easier it is to fall into nihilism. So don't be afraid. Besides, I'm still here, aren't I? I won't let the hard work of the four of them go to waste." Aiden smiled confidently at the old hat.
"True, it's good you're here, good that..." The old hat seemed tired and fell silent.
Soon after, Dumbledore walked up to the podium to give his opening speech to the young wizards.
"Good evening, young wizards. This year we have two staff changes. First, welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will serve as the Care of Magical Creatures professor."
Dumbledore pointed to a witch in grey robes with short grey hair, and everyone applauded in welcome.
"Also, we welcome our new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Dolores Umbridge. Of course, Filch asked me to remind you..."
Dumbledore's words were cut off by a toad-like cough.
Then Umbridge stood up from her seat and began delivering what seemed like a prepared political speech.
"Thank you, Headmaster. Thank you for your warm welcome. I believe I will get along very well with you young, vibrant, enthusiastic faces."
"You're just watching her cause trouble in the school?" Aiden asked, creating an illusion for Dumbledore.
Dumbledore maintained his composure and glanced at him. Seeing Dumbledore remain silent, Aiden said again:
"They can't discover us. I've allocated some computing power here."
"Then what else? Train the students to be soldiers to fight the Ministry? This is a school."
Dumbledore, finding that indeed no one could see anything unusual, sat directly on the platform with Aiden.
"The Ministry has always considered educating young wizards very important, and the headmasters of recent years have all been quite progressive. But now, this progress for the sake of progress must stop..."
Umbridge continued her endless speech.
Below, the sharp-nosed Hermione and Edmund simultaneously sensed the Ministry's intention to interfere with school teaching.
"Recent headmasters... that's directly insulting people by name," Aiden sneered.
Dumbledore innocently shrugged and reached for the coconut ice cream Aiden handed him.
"Let us maintain what we should maintain, perfect what we should perfect, and abandon what we should abandon."
Umbridge hunched her neck and chuckled, then returned to her seat.
"Let the feast begin," Dumbledore's illusion announced.
"Clichéd, very hollow, full of political meaning, hollowing out authority so she can interfere with Hogwarts affairs at will. Standard politician tactics. You shouldn't be stupid enough to let them do whatever they want to this school, should you?" Aiden critiqued sharply.
But he found Dumbledore didn't respond.
Aiden stared silently. "..."
"You know, I don't have that much energy anymore. If someone can help manage this school, why not?" Dumbledore said, his eyelid twitching slightly at Aiden.
"I guarantee they will absolutely destroy this school," Aiden said with a frown.
"But the hidden founder wouldn't watch his life's work have problems," Dumbledore said, determined to pass the buck.
"This is an irresponsible attitude!!!" The dragon began to panic.
"Sigh, moralising is ineffective..." The old bee prepared to slip away.
That night, on the Gryffindor side, Harry and Seamus had a conflict, which Ron quelled using his prefect authority.
In the Room of Requirement, Dumbledore, Madam Pomfrey, Snape, and Aiden had all arrived, with Neville being the last to arrive.
Also present were two old acquaintances: Severin Wendel and Elena Sophia.
"So you're saying you want to help mentally locked people reconstruct their minds? How is that possible?" Severin asked, finding it somewhat incredible.
"But the head of St. Mungo's dared to hand over patients to him, which shows they've recognised his abilities," Elena muttered to herself.
"So why exactly has this Ravenclaw genius called me here in the middle of the night?" Snape asked, crossing his arms.
"I need your and Madam Pomfrey's care, as well as the nursing of two St. Mungo's healers. I need to perform a little surgery on their minds." Aiden said, pinching his thumb and forefinger together.
Having communicated with Aiden before, Madam Pomfrey already knew what Aiden meant and explained:
"His surgery should affect the physical body to some extent. We need to care for them and suppress their magical outbursts."
"So, the division of labour?" Snape asked. He sensed something wrong as soon as he spoke because everyone looked at him with hopeful expressions.
"Well, Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape handle magical control, the two healers handle timely physical damage repair, and Madam Pomfrey provides backup. Is that okay?"
Aiden quickly arranged everyone's tasks. Seeing no one objected, he took Neville's hand and brought him into his parents' consciousness.
In the collective unconscious sea, two very strange islands appeared before them.
Aiden released his mythical creature form and carried Neville soaring above the islands.
Both islands were entirely black with no bubbles rising from them, covered in thick thorns.
Many parts of the islands showed gaps and inversions.
"Are you ready, Neville?" Aiden asked.
"Ready. And regardless of the outcome, I represent the Longbottom family in thanking you. Grandmother told me to say these words to you."
The first sentence made Aiden think the Gryffindor sword master was coming online, but the second sentence made him revert to his original impression.
No choice. Taking Neville with him, he broke through a crystalline barrier and entered his father's consciousness island.