"Ah, sorry." Hermione quickly said, "I thought... maybe I zoned out and didn't hear that."
"No, it's not related to you." Kael said, "They just told me about it outside; you weren't there at the time."
"That's good." Hermione said, "I'll head back first."
"Wait a minute." Kael stopped her. "I think, if you really want to change something, you can try it yourself."
"Try it myself?" Hermione was taken aback, "What do you mean?"
"Just learn more about the Ministry of Magic." Kael said, "Honestly, you're not really familiar with the current state of the Ministry of Magic, and a lot of what you think is actually wrong."
"What's wrong?" Hermione looked at Kael seriously and asked.
"A lot of things, for instance, you always habitually try to apply school logic to the Ministry of Magic."
Kael said, "But in reality, they are completely different, the Ministry of Magic is not another Hogwarts.
It's not so simple that one person's suggestion can change everything; every new law is enacted after thorough consideration."
"Also, regarding the Muggle-Worthy Excuse Committee situation you mentioned before, it's difficult to measure whether an employee is competent through straightforward academic scores like in school."
"But I really haven't seen their impact." Hermione said.
"That's because you don't actually need it." Kael said dismissively, "You are a Muggle-born wizard, whether it's you or your parents, you know how to deal with other Muggles, so when conflicts arise, you simply don't need the Ministry of Magic's help."
This time, Hermione didn't retort.
"How about this." Kael thought for a while, "If you have nothing to do this month, go volunteer at the Ministry of Magic, just consider it a prelude to getting familiar, and they're in need of people right now."
Volunteer work...
Hermione's eyes brightened, "Can I really go?"
"You certainly can't go alone." Kael said, "But I can recommend you; I know quite a few people in the Ministry, and getting them some help shouldn't be a problem.
"But I have to tell you upfront, you're volunteering with no pay, if you feel uncomfortable about it, just forget it..."
"No, I agree." Hermione said immediately, "I'm bound to work at the Ministry after I graduate next year, so I'm very willing to get familiar with the work environment there beforehand."
"That's good." Kael nodded, "You should head back for now, I'll take you there tomorrow."
"Okay." Hermione walked upstairs, but stopped after only a couple of steps.
"Wait a moment, Kael, didn't you say they wouldn't let you leave here?"
"That's true." Kael shrugged, "But as long as I don't go outside, it's fine, right?"
"How are you going to get there, this place doesn't allow Apparition and use of Portkeys, and the fireplace isn't connected to the Floo Network."
"You haven't forgotten how you left Godric's Hollow, have you?" Kael smiled.
Hermione immediately understood, then her face turned pale, "If I have to be taken by a phoenix, I'd rather not go to the Ministry of Magic."
"You-Know-Who is after me, not you." Kael casually said, "You'll be able to travel through normal means, we can meet near the Magic Fountain in the lobby."
"Okay."
By then, Kael's gaze accidentally glanced at the large portrait hanging nearby.
Phineas Black's portrait.
The painting wasn't much, Kael had gotten tired of Phineas's face back in school, but his attention was caught by the frame.
An ancient Pure-Blood Family, and a former Hogwarts headmaster, Phineas wouldn't have settled for an ordinary frame, the wood...
Thinking about it, Kael instinctively reached out and placed a hand on the frame.
The wood was indeed nice, without a crack even after hundreds of years, and smooth to the touch, like caressing a piece of warm jade.
Good stuff.
Kael's eyes lit up, if he dismantled this and made it into a perch, Fawkes would surely love it.
But then he shook his head... no, this was, after all, Sirius's great-great-grandfather's portrait, and this was the ancestral home of the Black family, it would be impolite to rashly take down someone's portrait.
...