"Pfft!" Lucius spat in shock, nearly choking on his own saliva.
The last time I saw Ethan, he was still in perfectly human form, wasn't he? I distinctly remember him being quite a handsome young man. After not seeing him for a short while, has he somehow evolved again?
Hearing Harry's declaration, Minister Fudge's eyes went completely blank with confusion. "So it's actually some kind of magical creature... We'll need to open an entirely new classification file for it..."
The assembled Aurors exchanged uncertain glances among themselves. Should this unprecedented situation be handled by the Department for Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, or did it fall under their own jurisdiction?
They had only ever been trained to deal with arresting Dark Wizards. Nobody had ever mentioned having to capture dangerous unknown creatures as well!
Only Hagrid's eyes suddenly blazed with unmistakable excitement. He stammered eagerly to Harry: "Harry, that Mr Lamp fellow really isn't human at all?"
Harry vividly recalled that nightmarish scene of a face completely covered in blooming sunflowers and nodded with absolute solemnity.
At least Voldemort still retained four out of his five basic facial features. This blasted [Mr Lamp] had gone straight into the plant kingdom entirely.
Makes perfect sense though. Light, photosynthesis, and plants are naturally perfect matches.
Hearing this confirmation, Hagrid became even more convinced that this mysterious [Mr Lamp] must have evolved from some entirely new species of magical creature!
It could speak intelligently and demonstrate complex reasoning abilities. A genuinely intelligent species!
"No wonder he created so many supernatural phenomena. Turns out 'he' isn't human at all!" Hagrid murmured with the satisfaction of someone who had achieved great enlightenment.
He couldn't help feeling genuinely regretful about the missed opportunity. "Sigh! If only I could have accompanied Harry on this adventure! 'He' did such frightening things, but maybe 'he' was simply hungry and confused!"
Hagrid gazed at the surrounding destruction with loving, sympathetic eyes. As if the mysterious Dark entity, who seemed more evil than Voldemort himself in everyone else's minds, had suddenly transformed into a hungry little creature desperately in need of proper feeding and care.
Everyone present stared at him in disbelief. "..." Is Hogwarts operating as some kind of asylum for complete lunatics?
Only the Daily Prophet reporter continued joyfully recording every detail of this unprecedented story. His hastily scrawled notes contained phrases like "hit it off immediately", "wish they'd met sooner", and "high praise for the creature's abilities".
"Enough of this nonsense!" Fudge interrupted sharply. "Stop talking rubbish! Let's hurry and find Dumbledore!"
Ethan Vincent, just watch me report your activities properly to Dumbledore! I'll expose your evil disguise once and for all! Fudge thought with grim determination.
Concrete evidence? Who needs such trivial things when we have eyewitness testimony?
Didn't they just confirm it was some kind of 'magical creature' anyway?
If he could immediately apprehend a suitable scapegoat, it would greatly reduce public criticism of the Ministry's obvious negligence. Just like what had happened with Hagrid fifty years ago.
This [Mr Lamp] character had been lurking in the shadows for who knows how long without anyone detecting his presence. Only discovering such a dangerous entity after something catastrophic occurred!
The public would definitely express serious dissatisfaction with the Ministry's competence. After all, these were supposed to be peaceful times that nobody wanted to see disrupted. There was absolutely no room for such massive errors.
Even if Dumbledore would still protect his student out of misguided loyalty, public opinion could be easily guided and manipulated through the right channels.
That Ethan Vincent boy isn't exactly innocent either, when you examine the facts carefully.
No one will be able to shake my power and position in the government!
Fudge allowed himself a self-satisfied smirk. This kind of political manoeuvring had become second nature to him over the years.
Eagerly, under careful Auror protection, he hurried toward the headmaster's office with purposeful strides.
The stone gargoyle guarding the entrance seemed to anticipate their arrival with supernatural awareness. Without requiring any password whatsoever, it rotated directly to reveal the hidden spiral staircase.
"Headmaster Dumbledore!" Fudge burst dramatically into the office, his voice filled with rehearsed urgency. "I absolutely must tell you about—"
His accusatory words stopped abruptly mid-sentence. The deliberate anger and theatrical tension froze completely on his pale features.
What met his startled gaze was a familiar figure with his back initially turned, slowly rotating around to face the unexpected visitors.
Ethan Vincent.
At this precise moment, the very same "evil brat" he had intended to report and condemn was regarding him with a perfectly innocent smile.
Backlit by the office's warm lighting, most of Ethan's handsome face remained covered in mysterious shadow. Only those piercing cobalt-blue eyes that seemed capable of seeing through absolutely everything showed cold, terrifying gleams of amusement.
Ethan had been happily sharing his grand philosophical insights and future ambitions with Headmaster Dumbledore when the interruption occurred. Seeing additional people arrive, including the British Minister of Magic himself, his eyes immediately lit up with genuine delight!
The audience has expanded considerably! How wonderful!
So he asked with gentle curiosity: "Minister Fudge, what exactly did you want to tell us?"
Cold sweat began trickling down Fudge's temple in visible streams.
It's over. Everything is completely over.
Ethan Vincent, this absolute demon, must have seen through my entire plan long ago. That's precisely why he arrived at the headmaster's office first, positioning himself here like a patient spider waiting in its carefully constructed web.
What reporting? What using Ethan as a convenient scapegoat... How utterly foolish I've been!
That seemingly innocent question was actually a warning. Dare to say one wrong word and watch your entire career disappear!
At this moment, Ethan's handsome, innocent face appeared no different from a demon crawled directly up from the deepest pits of hell in Fudge's terrified perception.
"Hic!" In his extreme terror, Fudge couldn't prevent an undignified hiccup from escaping, his expression resembling someone on the verge of tears.
Ethan blinked in confusion. "?"
"Haha, you seem very surprised to see me here? No need to be quite so excited about it," Ethan said with warm amusement.
Fudge's face crumpled: "(╥﹏╥)?!! Waaahhh QAQ."
Behind his massive desk, Dumbledore observed this entire exchange with the wisdom of someone who understood far more than he revealed:Quite amusing, really. But considering that the Minister of Magic could be rendered so pathetically weak makes it considerably less entertaining.
In the future, won't Fudge, operating under Ethan's subtle intimidation, simply hand over his governmental position directly to Ethan without resistance?
Haha, surely I'm just joking about such possibilities.
Looking at Fudge's absolutely pitiful state, constantly hiccupping and shaking like a frightened child, Dumbledore decided to intervene diplomatically.
"Mr Vincent, perhaps you could accompany the Aurors to help revive our unconscious professors and students, and assist in repairing the school together?"
"Hogwarts has stood proudly for a thousand years, and this represents the first time it's been... shall we say, bombed quite so thoroughly. Quite the grand gesture indeed."
Behind his characteristic half-moon spectacles, Dumbledore's eyes shot two sharp beams of light, staring intently at Ethan's innocent, pure expression.
Ethan nodded with ready enthusiasm: "No problem whatsoever, Headmaster."
What a kind, helpful young wizard I am. Naturally duty-bound to assist elderly people with mobility issues in managing their educational institution.
Dumbledore sighed internally: "..." Even though Legilimency doesn't function properly on Ethan, I can tell from this child's "Oh my, aren't I just wonderfully helpful" expression that he's definitely thinking something completely outrageous.
Ethan strolled casually toward the office door with a spring in his step. As he brushed past the cowering Minister Fudge, he suddenly paused and spoke thoughtfully:
"Minister, who do you think represents the true enemy of our wizarding world?"
Fudge blinked in confusion: "?"
Before the Minister could formulate any response, a nearby Auror immediately answered with professional confidence:
"Of course it's You-Know-Who! He committed countless evil acts, bringing disaster and terror across all of Britain for years!"
"Only Hogwarts has remained as our last true sanctuary of safety and learning."
Though this mysterious [Mr Lamp] had emerged seemingly from nowhere, in terms of documented criminal credentials, it still had to be You-Know-Who who held that terrible distinction.
Only Lucius frowned thoughtfully at the question, then suddenly gasped "Ah!" in extreme shock, his pale eyes widening with dawning comprehension!
He clenched his fists so tightly that his manicured nails dug deep into his palms, desperately suppressing the excited trembling that threatened to overwhelm his composure!
A powerful shudder of recognition ran up from deep within his spine!
Ethan's true ambition is actually... how terrifying, yet how absolutely magnificent!
That's precisely right. The real enemy has always been the corrupt, incompetent Ministry of Magic itself.
Ethan thought with growing conviction. And sooner or later, I'll personally reform this broken wizarding world. Make everyone's faces show genuinely happy, blissful smiles of contentment.
Contemplating this noble goal, Ethan couldn't suppress a slight curve of his lips.
Under Minister Fudge's inexplicably terrified gaze, he departed the office without another word.
As he left, he also patted Harry's shoulder encouragingly and winked cheerfully at Hagrid.
Harry immediately felt his spirits lift considerably. He couldn't help sighing with genuine admiration: "Ethan really is such a considerate, caring person..."
As soon as he regained consciousness, his first thought was helping rebuild our damaged school.
Hagrid nodded emphatically in agreement: "Yes, Ethan's heart is truly made of pure gold!"
Not only had he saved us from those dangerous Acromantulas, but he'd also magnanimously gifted me that beautiful, magnificent bird.
What a generous, big-hearted young man!
Dobby, whose hearing remained excellently acute, listened to this praise with growing horror: "???" Has Hogwarts already fallen under the complete control of that human-skinned demon?
Damn! That demon is far too terrifyingly clever!
Dobby must find a way to warn Harry Potter about the true danger!
While Headmaster Dumbledore and Master Malfoy continued their important discussion, Dobby quietly crept closer to Harry's feet, preparing to deliver his crucial warning.
Meanwhile, in the corridor...
"Achoo!" Ethan rubbed his nose with mild annoyance.
"Sigh, it's easy to dodge an open attack, but hard to guard against hidden arrows," he mused philosophically. "A kind and outstanding young wizard like myself will naturally attract jealousy and slander from lesser individuals."
The accompanying Auror thought silently: "..." This guy really has zero self-awareness about his own reputation.
But watching Ethan skilfully wave his wand, effortlessly restoring broken stones and overturned decorative vases to their original pristine positions, they couldn't help feeling secretly impressed despite themselves.
Though completely lacking in realistic self-assessment, this student's magical abilities were indeed impressive enough to justify considerable confidence.
"Kid, ever considered becoming an Auror in the future?" One of the younger Aurors asked with genuine interest.
Hearing this suggestion, Ethan paused thoughtfully in his repair work. Looking directly at the young Auror who had spoken, he replied with profound sincerity: "Very good. You demonstrate excellent judgement in recognising talent."
The Auror blinked in confusion: "..." What's with this superior-praising-subordinate feeling I'm getting?
Seems like a small Auror position couldn't possibly contain someone of his... ambitions.
Just then, Ethan's sharp eyes suddenly caught sight of a large black shape lying motionless at the Potions classroom door. No wait, that wasn't some giant bat after all.
It was their respected Professor Snape, unconscious on the cold stone floor.
"I'll go help wake our dear professor," Ethan announced cheerfully.
"Heh, go ahead then." The Aurors watched Ethan's bouncing, enthusiastic steps and couldn't suppress slight chuckles of amusement.
Still just a child after all, despite everything...
Shaking their heads with paternal indulgence, they dispersed to handle other areas with complete peace of mind.
"Severus~" A voice sweet as silver bells rang clearly in Snape's unconscious ear.
Ah... where am I now...?
Snape slowly opened his eyes to behold that soul-stirring figure from his deepest memories. Red hair like living flame, bright emerald eyes sparkling with warmth and intelligence.
She was smiling as she held his hand gently, pulling him across sun-dappled grass under a perfect summer sky.
Snape's eyes widened slightly with recognition and longing. In the nearby lake's crystal reflection, he glimpsed his own youthful appearance, unmarked by years of bitterness and regret.
No, that's not right! This cannot be real!
Lily, she's already... she's been gone for years...
"Severus," the girl suddenly stopped walking, turning to gaze directly at him with those laughing emerald eyes that had haunted his dreams.
Instantly, Snape found himself unable to think of anything else. He stood frozen in place, staring helplessly at that vivid, beloved face.
Watching her slowly approach with that familiar graceful movement, he could almost feel that precious warmth of life returning.
She leaned close to his ear, whispering with soft, devastating cruelty: "Lily doesn't want you~"
"AH!" Snape's eyes snapped open as he bolted upright with violent force!
Crack! He immediately pulled a muscle in his back from the sudden movement. His sharp features twisted in pain as he fumbled desperately for his wand, looking around with wild wariness.
Glancing upward, he met Ethan's perfectly innocent, smiling face.
"Welcome to this layer of our shared reality, Professor Snape," Ethan said with theatrical grandeur.
Snape chose to selectively ignore Ethan's characteristic nonsense, gritting his teeth and growling each syllable with murderous precision:
"E-than-Vin-cent!"