By the Black Lake, Dumbledore and Crouch's group had already arrived at the scene.
On the way, Madam Hooch had briefed them on the general sequence of events.
The matter was quite simple. Madam Hooch had applied many times to replace the school brooms. The brooms provided for students during Flying Class were decades-old Comet and Shooting Star models, many of which had their tail twigs completely worn away.
Leaving aside flight speed, stability, and safety, these concerns alone were significant.
Umbridge had come to conduct an inspection. If she determined these brooms endangered students' safety, she would apply for Ministry funding.
Madam Hooch had been rather pleased, thinking Umbridge was finally doing something decent.
What she didn't know was that Umbridge had ulterior motives.
If there were genuine safety hazards, she wouldn't help replace the brooms—she'd have the Ministry cancel Flying Class outright.
As Madam Hooch conducted flying practice with first-years, Umbridge stood by the Black Lake, eagerly anticipating an accident. Even one student falling from the sky would suffice.
It was then that she failed to notice ripples disturbing the lake's calm surface.
Only when students began screaming did Umbridge turn around, but it was too late.
The giant squid's tentacle had already reached out, coiling gently around Umbridge before dragging her into the Black Lake.
After understanding the situation, even Dumbledore was at a loss for words.
He found it rather peculiar—even the squid couldn't stand Umbridge?
One must understand that the giant squid was typically quite docile. In the past, it had even returned young wizards who accidentally fell in back to shore, never having actively attacked anyone.
There was even an extremely unreliable school legend that the giant squid was Gryffindor's secret safeguard left to protect the school.
While this claim lacked evidence, the squid... did indeed have connections to Gryffindor.
Back then, Gryffindor had found the Black Lake too lifeless and brought back numerous 'marine products', including the merpeople tribe and the squid.
"Albus, what should we do now?" Madam Hooch panicked.
Nearly ten minutes had passed since she'd called for help. Had Umbridge already... expired?
Numerous first-years who'd been in the Flying Class stood nearby, terrified by the squid's sudden outburst, staring fearfully at the now-calm lake.
"Fawkes," Dumbledore called softly as flames appeared before him, from which Fawkes emerged.
"Please find Newt and bring him here as quickly as possible."
With Dumbledore's instruction, Fawkes flapped his wings and soared skyward, heading towards the Forbidden Forest.
This made sense—Newt hardly ever stayed in his assigned school office. Whether during lessons or free time, he typically took students into the forest.
Noticing Madam Hooch's distress, Dumbledore reassured her gently: "Rolanda, don't worry. The giant squid is docile and has no habit of eating people."
"Moreover, Umbridge is a witch with a wand. She can certainly protect herself."
"H-Headmaster... do you mean that wand?" A first-year piped up timidly, pointing at a small wooden stick floating on the lake's surface.
Look at that length. The only person in the entire school who'd use such a deformed wand was Umbridge.
Dumbledore: "..."
He was struggling to keep a straight face.
Madam Hooch's complexion grew even paler, but fortunately, Fawkes returned swiftly, bringing Newt along, who looked utterly bewildered.
"Dumbledore, what's so urgent?"
"Umbridge has been dragged into the lake by the giant squid. I need your help to retrieve her."
"Understood." Hearing this, Newt grasped the urgency and, without hesitation, opened his case, sticking his head inside.
Moments later, to the awed gazes of the young wizards, two Kelpies emerged.
Newt muttered a few words to them, then fed them some chunks of meat before the Kelpies plunged into the water.
While the Kelpies were busy rescuing, Newt couldn't help but ask curiously, "How did she provoke the giant squid? This is the first time I've seen it lose its temper."
"I'm not sure either." Dumbledore shook his head, lowering his voice. "Rolanda said Umbridge was just standing there, not doing anything out of the ordinary."
"That's odd—" Newt began instinctively, then trailed off as a thought struck him.
Dumbledore noticed his odd behaviour. "What's on your mind?"
"N-nothing, I don't know anything." Newt guiltily lowered his head, avoiding eye contact.
It suddenly occurred to him... could this have something to do with Wayne?
The giant squid was usually docile. For it to suddenly go berserk without provocation, there was only one possible explanation.
Someone had tampered with it.
There were only three people in Hogwarts who could befriend magical creatures, even command them—himself, Hagrid (who hadn't returned yet), and a certain outstanding yet mischievous little medic.
And given Umbridge's history with one of them, the answer was obvious.
Seeing how poorly Newt—a terrible liar—was covering up, Dumbledore immediately understood everything.
The two exchanged a glance, simultaneously flashing awkward smiles, silently agreeing to keep their suspicions to themselves.
While others didn't notice, Crouch saw it all, his expression turning peculiar.
Amidst these hidden thoughts, another fifteen minutes passed.
"They're coming up," Newt suddenly announced.
Dumbledore narrowed his eyes, casting an Eagle-Eye Charm to see clearly. At the lake's centre, a Kelpie breached the surface, a figure clinging to its back.
Soon, the Kelpie reached the shore, dumping the unconscious Umbridge onto the ground. Newt fed both Kelpies more meat and fish before returning them to his case.
The students barely glanced at Umbridge—drenched in slime and reeking of foul odour—disgustedly averting their eyes, their attention wholly captured by the magical case.
Dumbledore crouched, covering his nose as he examined her.
"She's alive. Let's get her to Madam Pomfrey, Fawkes."
"Chirp chirp chirp!" Fawkes angrily pecked off several of Dumbledore's hairs before flying away without so much as a look at Umbridge.
Dumbledore smiled wryly. He knew Fawkes was cross.
Phoenixes prized cleanliness. That Fawkes hadn't set Umbridge ablaze in her current state was only out of respect for him.
Controlling Umbridge's floating form with a spell, Dumbledore turned sideways to address Crouch: "Apologies, Barty, but you won't be taking Umbridge today. We must ensure the professor's safety."
Crouch looked troubled, hesitating before replying: "I'll speak with him and hear his opinion."
Dumbledore knew exactly who 'him' referred to and nodded before departing with Umbridge in tow.
The young wizards gathered around also dispersed, eagerly heading back towards the castle, keen to share the gossip with their friends.
...
By evening, Wayne was still wrangling with the system over the achievement names.
Bloody hell, it was nauseating.
The words 'bondage' and 'Umbridge' linked together made him want to vomit up yesterday's dinner.
But after the system obligingly took his suggestions, the revised achievement names left him seeing stars.
Terms like 'white discharge', 'tentacle assault', 'fierce battle'...
In the end, Wayne pinched his nose and accepted it.
On the Black Lake.
The boy sat atop the giant squid's head, gazing up at the stars.
"Rost, what exactly did you do to Umbridge today?"
The giant squid emitted a deep, prolonged hum. Wayne understood and wrinkled his nose in disgust.
"That's vile. I just told you to play with her, not to... ejaculate all over..."
Rost: "..."
It felt utterly wronged. Wasn't it told to give that woman proper hospitality? Now it was being called disgusting.
"Enough." Wayne patted Rost's smooth, massive head. "Go wash yourself thoroughly and eat some clean, hygienic food. I'll bring Astoria to play with you in a few days."
Another hum sounded, though this time far more subdued, as if still wounded by the rejection.
Rost approached the shore, extending a tentacle to connect with land. Wayne slid down like it was a playground slide, arriving beside Newt, who stood waiting there.
"Senior, still awake this late? That's no good for your liver."
"Easy to say when one can sleep," Newt replied, ignoring Wayne's teasing as he watched the giant squid slowly submerge into the lake.
"...Umbridge has woken up, but she's severely traumatised, screaming non-stop. Madam Pomfrey had to stun her again. She'll be sent to St Mungo's tomorrow."
"Senior, you're not actually sympathising with her, are you?" Wayne studied the older man.
Newt hesitated before nodding. "I know you two don't get along, but this... this is too cruel."
"If you disliked her, you could've just expelled her from the Ministry. With your current influence, that would've been easily done."
Wayne recognised Newt's chronic do-gooder tendencies flaring up again—the same man who'd shown mercy even to Grindelwald. Such comments were hardly surprising.
But... expelling Umbridge from the Ministry? That would hurt her more than death itself.
For power-hungry creatures like Umbridge, humiliation and injury—even mortal sacrifice—paled compared to the agony of having authority stripped away.
"Don't trouble yourself, senior." Wayne chuckled dryly. "The Ministry will give Umbridge the fairest punishment according to the rules. Wouldn't you agree, Mr Crouch?"
From behind a nearby tree, Crouch emerged, approaching the pair.
"Mr Scamander, please believe in the fairness of the Ministry of Magic and the Anti-Corruption Department. We won't let any wrongdoer escape, nor will we wrong any innocent person."
Crouch spoke with great solemnity. Seeing his righteous expression, Newt gave a slight nod.
Unfortunately, what Newt didn't know was that Crouch's definition of good and evil had already become distorted.
Everything was now determined by Lawrence's will.
If Wayne said you were black, you were black.
If Wayne said you were white, even if you cast an Unforgivable Curse in front of Crouch, he'd find a way to justify it.
The line was that flexible.
"It's getting late, Mr Crouch. You should head back now." Wayne took out a potion bottle and handed it over. Crouch accepted it with a slight bow, bid farewell to Newt, and slowly walked towards the school gates.
"Is there something wrong with his health?" Newt frowned slightly as he watched Crouch's retreating figure.
"No." Wayne shook his head with a smile. "The potion was requested for someone else."
In truth, this was a Soul-Nourishing Elixir for Mrs Crouch.
Souls weren't ghosts. According to the rules of the living world, they shouldn't remain here. Even with the Resurrection Stone as an anchor, without a physical vessel, they would gradually weaken and eventually return to that ancient path.
With this elixir, Mrs Crouch should last a few more months. Once Crouch completed his tasks, Wayne would naturally fully resurrect her.
"By the way, senior..."
"Did you bring the Wampus Cat?" Wayne suddenly asked.
Newt glanced at his suitcase and took a cautious step back. "Don't get any ideas about Charles."
Charles was the name of his Wampus Cat.
Wayne defended himself with great grievance. "No, it's just that Dumbledore wants me to teach Harry the Legilimency Spell. That's why I thought of the Wampus Cat. Lend it to me, won't you?"
Only then did Newt relax slightly.
Every Wampus Cat was a natural master of Legilimency, making them excellent trainers.
After some hesitation, Newt agreed. "I'll lend it to you, but you must return it to me afterwards."
Newt had become wary of being fleeced.
After all, the Zouwu was still in Wayne's possession.
"I promise to return it."
He said this with complete sincerity, as the Wampus Cat didn't align with Wayne's aesthetic preferences. No matter how powerful it was, he had little interest.