Compensation?
What a long-forgotten word.
The Gellert who was hanging from the ceiling suddenly fell silent.
He knew that as long as his sister was willing to mention the word "compensation," it meant that he wasn't beyond saving.
Gellert perked up his ears, intending to listen to his sister's and Dumbledore's compensation proposal.
"Feel free to speak, Senior." Dumbledore naturally had no intention to oppose.
Vivi said softly, "My demand is simple. I hope I can complete my remaining studies at Hogwarts."
Dumbledore was momentarily stunned.
"I don't understand your meaning, Senior." Dumbledore said softly, "Logically, for a wizard like you, there's no need to complete your studies at Hogwarts."
"Professor, Vivi is someone who pursues perfection." Harry spoke up, "For her, getting an 'O' in N.E.W.T.s, putting a perfect end to her academic career, means more than anything."
Understood, it's just a bit of an obsession.
N.E.W.T., or Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test, is a specialized exam that seventh-year students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry need to take. It serves as an academic certification when they apply for positions after graduation—it's essentially another form of a diploma.
For instance, applying to be an Auror at the Ministry of Magic requires at least five "Outstanding" or "Exceeds Expectations" in N.E.W.T. exams.
Vivi has some degree of compulsion; if she studies and doesn't get a diploma, she'd feel at a loss.
This is irrelevant to whether she needs the diploma or not…but it is worth mentioning she really does need it, not for job hunting, but for peace of mind.
Hearing Harry's words, Vivi cast an approving glance at him.
"But for a wizard as outstanding as you, I think having that grade or not doesn't make a difference to you."
Professor Dumbledore still intended to persuade this Senior gently.
"But I think it's very important." Vivi said no more and simply expressed her insistence.
Given this, Dumbledore also didn't intend to play the bad guy any longer and straightforwardly said, "If you insist, then on behalf of all the staff and students at Hogwarts, I welcome your arrival."
A welcome from all staff and students?
Dumbledore said so, but didn't quite think so at heart.
Personally, he didn't mind Senior retaking courses…but the problem was, could the entire school staff and students really remain indifferent to Senior's surname?
"And one more request, I have a good friend named Pabi Swedding." Vivi continued, "She is a student of Hufflepuff and also the grandaunt of the two Mr. Scamanders…Harry reached an agreement with Gringotts, transferring the Lestrange Clan's and Gringotts' board seats at Hogwarts to him, and meanwhile, Harry also transferred his board seat to Pabi. We hope you can support Pabi in becoming a board member."
Gellert, hanging from the ceiling, turned dark-faced.
"Scamander, again Scamander!" he muttered under his breath.
"I will support Miss Swedding in becoming a board member." Dumbledore nodded, "I have a good personal relationship with Newt, and since Miss Swedding is his grandaunt, I have no reason to object."
Simultaneously, he added in his mind—after all, she's a Hufflepuff.
As everyone knows, Hufflepuff has almost never had dark wizards.
Vivi noticed Gellert's muttering and asked, "Does Gael have any grudge against Mr. Scamander?"
"Decades ago—when we were all young, Newt assisted me in capturing Gellert." Professor Dumbledore expressed without any attempt to hide, "Moreover, Newt assisted me multiple times in thwarting Grindelwald's evil plans."
So that's it…
Now Vivi understood why, when she first met the Scamander family, they reacted like that upon hearing her surname.
It turns out there was such a past involved…
"Ha, why don't you say that Scamander was your favorite student?" Gellert shouted.
"Newt is indeed my favorite student." Professor Dumbledore replied with a smile, "However…is that Miss Swedding also your classmate?"
"Yes, we were in the same class, all students of Hogwarts," Vivi said, "I was in Slytherin College, Pabi was in Hufflepuff, and Harry was in Gryffindor…in our time, the four houses of Hogwarts were still united."
"I know this because Phineas was everyone's common enemy."
Upon saying this, Dumbledore couldn't help but reveal a mysterious smile.
After all, he had lived through those times, knowing how "annoying" Principal Black was back then.
He emphatically commented again, "In some sense, Phineas could be said to be Hogwarts' most successful principal, as even the Four Founders couldn't achieve such cohesion among the four houses."
"Additionally." Vivi spoke once more, "I have one last request."
"Please go ahead." Dumbledore said.
"I hope Gael can come out of Nimongard," Vivi clasped her hands together with poise and elegance, "not to return him his freedom, but to let him atone for his crime of stealing from the treasury."
"Atonement?" Dumbledore asked, not immediately objecting to Vivi.
If Vivi had said she wanted Gellert to regain his freedom, then Dumbledore would absolutely not allow it.
But if it's about atonement…he was actually quite interested.
"Yes," Vivi glanced at Gellert, who was leisurely swinging from the ceiling, "while at Mr. Leme's house, I heard Mr. Scamander say that he accepted your invitation to teach at Hogwarts…so, why not let Gellert serve as an assistant to Mr. Scamander?"