Hogwarts: I Am an Exemplary Wizard-Chapter 609 - 607: The Expelled Dumbledore

In the days following the start of the school year, the castle was always enveloped in a strange atmosphere.

The most direct manifestation was the increased number of owls at breakfast, delivering large amounts of correspondence every day.

At this time of year, everyone usually hadn’t yet calmed down from the excitement of the holiday. There are always endless topics among friends, and the auditorium was never quiet.

But now, people were busy reading letters and replying, with no mood for chatting. One might have thought an important exam was coming tomorrow.

Moreover, this change had persisted since the day school started.

"My mom’s asking about the school situation again."

During breakfast, Justin Finch-Fletchley casually tossed aside a half-read letter, muttering quietly, "She’s written me five letters in the past few days, and my dad too. They seem to think there’s a madman in the castle about to go berserk anytime."

"Isn’t that the case?" Zacharias Smith remarked off to the side, "Senile Dumbledore, trying to attract everyone’s attention, playing nasty jokes on everyone with Harry Potter..."

He had just finished writing a brief reply and slipped the envelope into the claws of a nearby owl.

"A headmaster of great fame, yet joining in on the antics of a fraud, their worries are quite legitimate."

"I don’t think Professor Dumbledore would do such a thing," Macmillan murmured somewhat hesitantly.

His views aligned with Finch-Fletchley; both chose to trust Dumbledore, but because they were all classmates, he didn’t argue.

"In fact, my family has been reading the Daily Prophet, and they’re a bit hesitant about letting me continue here... Of course, I’m still here, I don’t want to give up magic."

Zacharias Smith continued, "But accordingly, I have to write them every day to assure them I’m safe at school."

"Well, that sounds exhausting."

Macmillan remained silent, but others did not.

Mikel couldn’t bear it any longer and sarcastically said, "If you’re that worried, you might as well stay home safely. It’d save you the cost of parchment every day too."

"I don’t mind buying a piece of parchment daily," Zacharias said. "Besides, why should I quit my studies because of two frauds? They should be the ones leaving."

"Dumbledore is not a fraud," Ryan stated earnestly. "He’s the greatest headmaster Hogwarts has ever known. My whole family chooses to believe in him."

"Me too," Mikel said.

"Suit yourselves," Zacharias responded indifferently, "The Daily Prophet has made it clear. If you choose to remain deluded, there’s nothing I can do."

"It’s you who’s deluded, choosing to believe the Daily Prophet," Mikel retorted. "That paper’s rotten, questioning Dumbledore? Ridiculous."

"Anyway, to convince me, he’d have to provide strong evidence proving the You-Know-Who’s really come back."

Zacharias Smith pushed his empty plate forward, lifting his chin defiantly, "Until then, I’m more inclined to trust the Daily Prophet."

"Oh, by the way, your trusted Dumbledore has already been expelled by Wizengamot and the International Confederation of Wizards because he’s losing his mind."

With that, he stood and left the auditorium.

The scene turned awkward, as everyone exchanged glances, unsure of what to say.

"It’s normal for some not to believe, right?" Justin Finch-Fletchley tried to ease the tension.

"Ha, who cares if he believes or not," Susan Bones remarked, pursing her lips, "Whoever expels Professor Dumbledore will definitely regret it!"

"Absolutely right."

With their encouragement, the dining table soon became lively again.

"That Zacharias Smith must have been talking nonsense earlier,"

Cedric frowned, having heard their entire conversation, "Wizengamot and the International Confederation of Wizards... how could they expel Professor Dumbledore? That’s impossible..."

"Actually, it’s true."

Kael looked at the Daily Prophet in his hand.

The front page boldly declared that Dumbledore had indeed been expelled.

The article from start to finish mocked Dumbledore as a senile fool, claiming that his expulsion was well-deserved.

Clearly, while some people unconditionally trust Dumbledore, more people, like Fudge, refuse to believe Voldemort has returned.

During the meeting at Hog’s Head Pub over the holiday, Kael had noticed that the number of attendees wasn’t actually very high, just over thirty or so.

So they took advantage of their numbers to vote and expel Dumbledore.

The International Confederation of Wizards expelling the most powerful wizard, Dumbledore... Kael had never witnessed such a magical maneuver before.

However, Dumbledore seemed to have foreseen such a result, as evidenced by what he said at the end of the start-of-term feast...

"You-Know-Who’s methods of inciting conflict and hostility are masterful. We must exhibit equally unbreakable friendship and trust..."

Perhaps Voldemort’s aim was indeed to cause Dumbledore to sever ties with most wizards; a divided magic realm is exactly what he wishes to see.

And for as long as he remains unseen, such misunderstandings cannot be resolved.

Of course, there’s another possibility, that Dumbledore was intentionally expelled.

According to the newspaper, the Wizengamot vote was 19 to 21, meaning the proposal to expel Dumbledore passed by a narrow two-vote margin.

From what Kael knows, there are fifty formal members in Wizengamot with voting rights, yet only forty voted.

Where did the remaining ten go?

Did they abstain? Or didn’t participate at all.

And similarly for the International Confederation of Wizards, insufficient numbers voted, still with only a two-vote margin.

If it was intentional, Kael couldn’t speculate what Dumbledore’s purpose was, to lull Voldemort? Or something else entirely.

Kael shook his head, choosing not to ponder further, instead focusing on an unopened letter nearby.

Sent by the Wizengamot, it was probably today’s only good news.

It was about the conclusion of the trial verdicts for Lucius, Karkaroff, Macnair, and Umbridge.

Two sheets of parchment in total, generally stating Lucius and the others voluntarily gave up their accusations yesterday.

Progress was much faster than Kael had anticipated.

Previously, the investigation of Barty Crouch had lasted for more than half a year, yet this time ended in just a few days.

As for the result... the letter mentioned Lucius and the three would publicly apologize in the newspaper, and were fined some gold.

Umbridge, however, faced no punishment, claiming in the letter she was merely deceived, and that was the end of it.

Kael felt there was an air of sweeping things under the rug.

Nevertheless...

He glanced at the name Fudge explicitly mentioned in the letter... Well, it explained everything.

"I really wonder how things will turn out," Cedric sighed, "What if the school’s board of governors also believes the Daily Prophet? I don’t want to see anyone other than Professor Dumbledore as headmaster in seventh year."

"Don’t worry about that," Kael said, "The one identity Dumbledore would never give up is headmaster of Hogwarts."