After the Halloween feast, the students, full and happy, went back to their dorms in groups.

After the students left, the professors also left one by one.

In the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore looked at Snape, who had a gloomy expression, and asked, "Severus, what do you need?"

"It's still about the incident two weeks ago, Dumbledore." Snape slapped a golden-bordered map on the Headmaster's desk. He said emotionlessly, "That Kyle Chopper is selling maps at school… the results should be in by now."

"Oh, it's about that." Dumbledore calmly took a sip of his tea. "Can I hear your thoughts?"

"Someone who ignores the school rules like that needs to be expelled!" Snape blurted out.

"That’s not a very good joke, Severus." Dumbledore shook his head, "You should know that there's no rule in Hogwarts against students selling things at school."

"Besides, I understand that this map was probably sold by Miss Prince to the Slyth…"

"That's incitement!" Snape roared, interrupting Dumbledore. "I’ve investigated. All the maps were given to her by Kyle!"

The sound was so loud that even the portraits surrounding them, who were pretending to sleep, couldn’t bear it.

A large-nosed wizard said angrily, "Boy, watch your attitude. This is the Headmaster's office."

Snape completely ignored him and continued, "I should have insisted on sorting Kanna into Slytherin. I shouldn’t have listened to you and let her stay in Hufflepuff."

"I think it’s a good thing." Dumbledore smiled faintly, "Don’t you think Kanna was a little too introverted before? As the only heir to the Prince family in the British wizarding world, this isn’t a good thing.

Besides, you can’t protect her forever."

Snape was silent for a moment. He said impatiently, "We’re talking about Kyle Chopper. He dared to sell a map for five Galleons today. Tomorrow, he’ll be robbing Gringotts. So, even if he's not expelled, we can’t just let it go. He must be punished."

"Hmm, you have a point. Five Galleons is a bit expensive for a new student." Dumbledore pondered for a moment, "Alright, I’ll go ask the students myself. If they all think they were cheated, then I’ll naturally handle it."

…

Snape fell silent again.

He had already asked about the map when he confiscated it. At the time, Rowle had said…

"Cheated? Professor, are you kidding? Only five Galleons. What’s the big deal?"

Even if Dumbledore went to ask, the result would probably be the same.

Although Snape could easily make the Slytherin students change their minds about this and criticize Kyle if he wanted to.

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But it was too low. He was just biased, he wasn’t shameless.

Besides, this kind of thing was hard to hide. If it got exposed, it would cause a lot of trouble.

"Kyle’s character is also a problem." Snape suddenly said, "I’ve observed him. He's very talented, but his performance in class is very mediocre.

He’s so hypocritical at such a young age. Aren’t you afraid that he’ll become the next Dark Lord?"

"I'd rather call this behavior humility, Severus." Dumbledore said calmly, "It's not easy for a person to shine. It's even harder to hide your light. It's a rare quality."

"So…" Snape looked coldly at Dumbledore, "You're not going to punish him?"

"If he hasn't done anything wrong."

"Good!"

Snape’s face darkened. He flicked his robe and turned to leave the Headmaster's office.

He didn’t know if it was on purpose, but when Snape turned, the hem of his robe hit the portrait of the large-nosed wizard.

The wizard was furious. He shouted at Snape’s back, "Come back and apologize. You rude Slytherin boy!"

Snape still ignored him. But Phineas Black couldn’t take it anymore. He ran over and grabbed Snape's collar, "What did you say about Slytherin?!"

"What, do you want to fight?"

The large-nosed wizard, who was furious, didn’t say anything. He punched Phineas in the face.

The “great” Headmaster Black couldn't swallow that. They quickly began to brawl.

The other portraits, seeing this, came over with candy, nuts, and butterbeer. They surrounded the two and persuaded them,

"Don't fight anymore! Don't fight anymore!"

"You’re both grown men. Can’t you be a little more civilized… Ugh, why are you hitting his leg? Grab his hair, don’t you see how long his hair is?”

"That knight over there watching the show. Quickly put away your sword. Don't let them see you!"

"No good. Felix is going to get that sword."

"Who's going to call the hunter in the corridor? I remember he has an ax."

Their voices quickly attracted more portraits. Every frame was packed. The Headmaster’s office had never been so lively.

Dumbledore sat behind his desk, happily adding sugar to his tea.

Portraits fighting was nothing unusual. Besides gossiping, it was also their only form of entertainment.

Dumbledore didn’t bother to stop them. As long as the frames and canvases were okay, it didn’t matter.

But at that moment, Professor McGonagall's voice suddenly came from outside the door.

"Minister, why are you looking for Albus so late?"

The portraits perked up. They couldn’t watch the show anymore. They quickly left the Headmaster's office.

The fat lady from Gryffindor, before leaving, forcibly took the bruised large-nosed wizard and Phineas along with two knights.

They couldn't let the Minister of Magic see them like this. Hogwarts would lose face.

"It was sudden, Minerva. I couldn’t help it."

Accompanied by a deep voice, the door to the Headmaster's office was pushed open again.

“Albus, long time no see. How are you?”

Cornelius Fudge spread his arms and walked toward Dumbledore with a look of eagerness.

“Long time no see, Cornelius." Dumbledore hugged him and smiled. "Would you like some tea? Or pumpkin juice?"

"Tea is fine."

Dumbledore snapped his fingers. A steaming cup of tea instantly appeared on the table next to them.

"Do you want sugar?"

Fudge shook his head. He seemed a bit nervous. He kept rubbing his top hat with his hands. He would occasionally glance at Professor McGonagall, who was standing nearby.

"Albus, I’m going to go now."

Professor McGonagall immediately understood Fudge's intention. She turned and left the Headmaster's office.

"Albus, we can't hide it anymore. The magical creatures that were smuggled…"

As the Griffin slowly closed the door behind him, Fudge's voice disappeared completely.

Although she only heard half a sentence, Professor McGonagall could probably guess why Fudge had come here so late.

This newly appointed Minister of Magic always liked to hide any news that was unfavorable to him. When he couldn’t hide it anymore, he would go to Dumbledore for advice.

She assumed it was the same this time.

Professor McGonagall pursed her lips. Cornelius Fudge, with his lack of responsibility, was far less impressive than Millicent Bulstrode.