With Evans' unrelenting efforts, the two sides had a cordial and friendly conversation. At the meeting, they fully exchanged views and reached a mutual understanding. By the way, Evans was the wizard who had once been a toad. After some initial confrontation, the two sides finally decided to sit down and talk properly. According to Evans, he had found this position after considerable effort and numerous contacts. Indeed, as Solim initially suspected, Evans worked for the Presbyterian Church. He had infiltrated Hogwarts for several purposes:
The first, and most important, was the primary task of this year — to protect the Philosopher's Stone and ensure it never left Hogwarts. This assignment came directly from the Executive Committee under the Presbyterian Church. As long as the Philosopher's Stone remained at Hogwarts, Evans had nothing to worry about.
The second task was a mandatory duty for anyone stationed within Hogwarts: collecting information on all the young wizards — their talents, personalities, relationships, academic performance, and activities around the school. Essentially, every piece of personal information was to be gathered. Once collected, special authorities would determine which students were potential threats and which could be cultivated. After all, there were only a few influential families in the wizarding world, like the Selwyns and the Orvises. No matter how exceptional Schuller's teaching was, he could not hope to dominate the wizarding world alone.
The third task was to spy on Dumbledore. Yes, to spy on Dumbledore. Evans did not need to act proactively; he only had to monitor and report what he observed. Dumbledore had never been a Presbyterian, nor had he ever belonged to the Council of Elders. For a powerful wizard not affiliated with the Council, surveillance was normal. The fact that the Council had left Voldemort alone did not imply disdain — Voldemort was a great wizard, after all.
The Presbyterian Church controlled all of Europe, while the Kingdom of German was merely a tiny land, a province in the European scale, remote and largely insignificant. There was a deranged murderer operating within this province, causing chaos locally. However, since this lunatic only committed crimes within this limited area, the overall impact was minimal. Therefore, from the Church's perspective, the importance of German was limited. After all, Grindelwald had wreaked havoc on a grand scale, yet the Presbyterian Council did not intervene directly. So for a small-time bandit like Voldemort, running amok in the countryside, the Church would take little notice — unless things escalated.
Regarding Dumbledore and Voldemort, two great wizards outside the Council's control, the Church's stance was simple: surveillance. In official terms, this meant they would monitor developments and intervene if necessary. In plain language, they did not concern themselves with the rivalry between Dumbledore and Voldemort. If Dumbledore killed Voldemort, all would be well. He would have contributed to the stability of the wizarding world and might even be recognized for it. If he failed, the Council would not intervene unless Voldemort's actions posed a serious threat.
Evans had been planted at Hogwarts by the Presbyterians, positioned close to Dumbledore. His role required no active participation; he simply reported his observations. At Hogwarts, this was an enviable job. He did not need to risk his life; he could live comfortably, enjoy a drink in Hogsmeade if he wished, and sleep until naturally awakened each day. The only minor effort required was maintaining his Animagus form, which was trivial compared to genuinely dangerous missions. Such a position naturally attracted attention from many wizards, but Evans' reliable connections ultimately secured him the placement. Indeed, as Solim deduced, Neville's uncle had been instrumental in this matter. Otherwise, how could an elder assign a toad to a younger generation as a pet?
Yet, Evans was not entirely content. He had expected a peaceful life at Hogwarts, but these students were far more troublesome than anticipated, especially Gryffindor. According to Evans, the Gryffindor student files were the thickest. His responsibility included tracking the students' behaviors, and the Gryffindor gang, particularly the Weasley twins and Harry Potter, were constantly in motion. Earlier, he had followed Potter and the Weasleys to Hagrid's hut, only to be intercepted before he could return to the Gryffindor common room to file his report.
"I felt something was wrong on the way," Evans admitted, glancing at his "master." "I sensed exposure."
"So, Headmaster Dumbledore knows about you?" Solim asked.
"That's right. Though he has never met me personally, Presbyterians are present in the school, and every headmaster knows this," Evans replied confidently.
"Boy of the Selwyn family," Evans continued with a smile, "I understand your worries. Your so-called 'great achievements' have already spread worldwide. You killed the heir of a wealthy family — the hottest news in German recently. But don't worry. My surname is not Rich, and I am not one of those wizards who merely eat by watching faces."
He finished with a thumbs-up, half-joking, yet genuine in his appreciation.
Snape observed silently. He knew little of what Solim had done in the past, but Evans' words indicated extraordinary deeds. Solim had no reason to lie, and if he had, it would have been easy to expose — Snape would have informed Dumbledore, and Evans would not have escaped Hogwarts.
"This conversation seems to be over," Evans said. "There is nothing more to discuss."
"I don't think so," Snape replied flatly.
Evans nodded in admiration. "It's impressive. With your level of Occlumency, I doubt even a great wizard could peer into your thoughts. You could lie in front of Voldemort without revealing yourself. For someone like him, Legilimency is instinctive. He doesn't trust anyone and always confirms the truth by reading minds."
"So, Evans, now that you've been exposed, what will you do?" Solim asked.
"What else can I do? I continue as before," Evans said casually. "My previous hope was a peaceful life at Hogwarts. The headmasters already knew about the Presbyterians, and everything was tacitly accepted. Now that this layer of secrecy has been pierced, it's no big deal. By the way, let me make it clear: my role at Hogwarts is that of a 'bystander' and 'recorder.' I don't interfere. Do you understand what I mean?"
Evans' words carried subtle meaning: he was merely a spectator, with no real involvement in Hogwarts' affairs.
"Oh, then in the coming years, your workload will probably increase significantly," Solim remarked, smiling knowingly. He understood better than anyone what might unfold at Hogwarts in the years ahead.
Evans gave a faint smile and nodded. "Then so be it. I can manage."
The atmosphere relaxed slightly. Even a wizard as extraordinary as Evans had to acknowledge the unpredictable chaos of Hogwarts. Despite the initial confrontations, mutual respect had formed. Each understood the delicate balance of surveillance, loyalty, and personal ambition — a balance that would define their roles in the years to come.
And so, Evans continued his work at Hogwarts, a silent observer amid a school of youthful brilliance, tasked with chronicling the lives of wizards who would one day shape the magical world, all while protecting the Philosopher's Stone under the discreet guidance of the Presbyterian Church.
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