"Stuff like symbols can wait until later. I'm not interested in that kind of flashy thing right now."
Link said this lightly.
Everyone else present let out a breath of relief when they heard him.
What they were afraid of was that Link might have wanted from the very beginning to follow the path of the Death Eaters or the Saints (Grindelwald's organization). That would've been really bad.
At least Sigefin couldn't accept that right now.
And seeing Link reject Newland so cleanly, Sigefin felt a bit ashamed, thinking he had judged a gentleman with a petty man's heart. He quickly added, "In that case, Lord Link Flamel, why don't you have us sign a contract like the one those people outside signed? That's the best way to ensure the members stay loyal. Don't worry, I'll sign first!"
As he spoke, Sigefin started rolling up his sleeves, looking like he couldn't wait.
But at those words, the Kennedy siblings and Newland became somewhat unwilling.
Accepting Cedric's invitation to join this D.A. group didn't mean they had any deep loyalty to Link. They were simply using each other to get what they needed.
Now that Sigefin was suggesting they sign a magical contract that might cost them their freedom, of course they didn't want that.
"I already said it, the so-called D.A. army was just established less than a day ago. There's no need for all that flashy nonsense. Let's just keep things as they are. As for whether we'll make a symbol or a member contract or whatever, we'll talk about it later."
Link waved his hand, not caring that the Kennedy siblings and Newland visibly relaxed. He turned to Newland and continued, "But I do have something else I need you to do, Newland. I wonder if you're willing?"
Newland was a bit surprised, but he reacted quickly. He immediately stepped forward and bowed to Link, "I guarantee I'll complete the mission."
"Then," Link's lips curved into a strange smile, "you're going to go and tell Umbridge that I gathered nearly a hundred people and formed a D.A. army."
"What?"
Sigefin cried out in shock.
In his mind, their little secret gathering should've been classified as the most confidential of secrets.
Earlier, in the main hall, Hermione had practically forced everyone to sign a pledge, and just now Sigefin had suggested signing member contracts, all of it was meant to prevent the secret from spreading.
Yet now Link wanted to reveal it himself?
And to Umbridge, their biggest current enemy?
Sigefin simply couldn't understand.
But Link ignored him and continued speaking to Newland, word by word, "In addition, I need you to win her trust. You should understand what I mean, right?"
A strange smile, one somewhat similar to Link's, finally bloomed on Newland's face.
He bowed again, even more elegantly and formally this time, then said, "Just wait for my good news, Lord Flamel. This is what I'm best at."
"Alright, everyone's dismissed." Link sat back down on the sofa. "If you want to attend the banquet up front, go. If not, hurry back to sleep."
"Then we'll take our leave, Link."
Cedric waved goodbye with a smile, then led the others out of the chamber, his steps a bit hurried.
But Link understood instantly, Cedric's girlfriend Cho Chang was still in the main hall, and she was with Harry and the others.
"Tsk tsk tsk…"
Clicking his tongue as he watched Cedric's departing back, Link turned to Emily, who had remained silent the whole time, "What do you think?"
"What do you mean?" Emily lay against his back, rubbing one of his strands of hair between her fingers as she spoke. "Do you mean forming this D.A. army thing, or those newcomers?"
"Talk about both."
Feeling ticklish, Link shook his head, but Emily grabbed another lock of hair and kept rubbing it as she said, "Forming a group for fun doesn't help the current situation much, but overall there are some benefits. Since that's the case, if Cedric wants to do it, let him."
"As for those newcomers… the Kennedy siblings are fine, but also the least useful. They're talented in alchemy, yes, but not at world-class level yet. With the scale of our wealth, they're basically chicken ribs, tasteless but a pity to discard."
"As for Sigefin and Newland… well, I don't know Sigefin very well, only that I've heard his brain circuits might be a bit off. But I do know Newland."
Emily paused and continued more seriously, "He's practically a celebrity in Slytherin. He's a half-blood wizard but lived entirely in the Muggle world, raised by his Muggle mother. Don't be fooled by his smiling face today or his gentle manners."
"In reality, his head is full of schemes, and when he goes crazy, very few people aren't afraid of him."
"Heh, just a self-important little schemer."
Link sneered.
His impression of Newland was actually worse than of Sigefin.
Sigefin might look like he thinks strangely, but from his fighting style, you could tell he wasn't rigid, he even had a sort of simple wisdom.
But Newland?
Everyone knows he's smart, everyone knows he's cunning, willing to use any means to reach his goal.
And yet?
He seriously thought Link wouldn't notice that he used the organization symbol to probe Link's intentions for the D.A. army's future?
To Link, Newland's tricks were childish.
"If you know that, then why send him to deal with Umbridge?" Emily asked, puzzled. "Aren't you afraid that…"
"Afraid of what? That he might go along with it and actually join Umbridge?" Link laughed.
"This is a test. The Kennedy siblings are researchers, so fine, but Sigefin went through a test before joining. How could Newland be an exception?"
"You're using something this important as a test?"
Link patted Emily's shoulder to comfort her, "Don't worry. If he follows my instructions and passes, fine. And if he's stupid enough to really join Umbridge, so what? Don't forget, we still have that recording."
At this, Emily finally relaxed, then immediately flushed with embarrassment and annoyance, glaring at Link.
Seeing this, Link laughed loudly and pulled Emily into his arms.
———
In the main hall, the cheerful banquet was drawing to a close.
George and Fred, kings of banquets, were already drunk beyond saving. Harry and Ron, who only came to eat, were no better.
If Ron's return hadn't made everyone so happy, they would've left long ago.
Cedric walked out of the passage with Sigefin and the others, didn't even bother greeting anyone, and went straight toward Cho Chang, who was laughing with Harry and the others.
Link had never mentioned it to him, but Cedric had indeed sensed that Harry seemed interested in his girlfriend.
He wasn't too annoyed by this.
After all, his girlfriend Cho Chang was Ravenclaw's star.
Having rivals was nothing strange.
Cedric had been with Cho for so long and had defeated countless competitors already.
Harry might be outstanding, but he wasn't much to Cedric.
At most, they'd just bump into each other.
Sigefin and the others didn't care about Cedric leaving.
The Kennedy siblings were already starving, and seeing that long table still piled with food, they cheered and rushed over.
Newland, meanwhile, stared at the still lively Harry and his friends, looking as if he had sunk into thought.
Suddenly, a huge force slammed into him from behind, hitting his shoulder and staggering him, snapping him out of his thoughts.
The confusion in Newland's eyes vanished instantly. He turned coldly to look at Sigefin, who had deliberately bumped him.
Sigefin didn't care. He raised his fist in warning and said, "Remember what I said, don't use your filthy tricks on these adorable juniors! Otherwise…"
He stopped mid-sentence, slung his sword on his back, and strode out of the hall like a dragon.
Newland stared at Sigefin's back until he disappeared, then withdrew the madness from his eyes and walked out calmly.
He couldn't clash with Sigefin now. Completing Link's mission was what mattered most.
Fortunately, Link had wickedly chosen the meeting spot right next door to Umbridge's office, so Newland barely had to walk anywhere. He stepped out, turned the corner, and there was her office door.
Newland stood in the shadows, waiting quietly until the guests in the main hall had all left. Then he approached.
"Whew~"
He took a deep breath, put on his refined, elegant smile again, and rang the doorbell.
———
Meanwhile inside the office, Umbridge sat behind an absurdly large desk, looking around her office with intoxicated satisfaction.
According to her taste, the office should've been filled with cat pictures and trinkets.
But she wasn't willing to move even a single chair here, because the entire office was an exact replica of Minister Fudge's office.
Only here could she indulge in fantasies of replacing Fudge.
Just then, a crisp doorbell rang.
It wasn't loud, but it jolted Umbridge out of her fantasy.
She turned her head with terror, like someone had pierced her darkest secret, then remembered, this wasn't the Ministry. The person ringing the bell couldn't be Fudge.
She exhaled deeply and hurried to put on her sugary fake smile before opening the door.
Creak~
The door opened, and two equally fake smiles met.
Seeing the familiar look on the other's face, both Umbridge and Newland froze for a moment.
After a pause, Umbridge was the first to react. In her pinched voice, she said, "Oh, so it's Newland."
As she spoke, she shifted her body back, but made no move to let him in.
In fact, there was a trace of disdain and contempt in her gaze.
Newland was well-known in Slytherin, Umbridge had heard of him too, but his reputation was all bad. People feared him at best; he wasn't respected like Link.
Worst of all, Newland was a half-blood.
And raised entirely by his Muggle mother, his wizard father had vanished. A "mongrel"...
Umbridge despised such people.
Though she herself was also a half-blood.
Having dealt with Umbridge many times, Newland naturally understood her view of him.
He didn't bother with pleasantries and said directly, "Professor Umbridge, good evening. I'm here to report something about Harry Potter and Link Flamel."
"Oh?" Umbridge's eyes lit up. "What is it?"
Newland didn't speak. He simply glanced inside the office, his meaning clear.
Annoyance flickered on Umbridge's face, but for the sake of the information, she stepped aside and said, "Look at me, my memory's getting worse and worse. Come in, quickly…"
Under her "warm" invitation, Newland finally entered.
They stepped across the wooden floor to the desk. The whole way, Newland acted extremely restrained, clearly curious about the décor but pretending he didn't dare to look around.
Seeing this, Umbridge's annoyance faded a little. She sat behind her desk, propping her hands up.
"Newland, you can tell me now, right?"
"Of course, Umbridge!" Newland suddenly snapped to attention like a child startled from daydreaming. "I'm here to say that Harry Potter and Link Flamel organized a student self-study group!"
At this, all the anticipation vanished from Umbridge's face. She pulled her lips tight in displeasure.
"I thought it was something serious. What's the big deal if they get together and discuss their studies?"
"Then what if," Newland leaned in and whispered, "they gathered nearly a hundred students, and their group is called the D.A. army?"
"What did you say?!"
Umbridge's eyes shrank sharply. She slammed the desk and stood. "The D.A. army… Dumbledore's Army? Oh! I didn't expect they'd be this bold!"
She paced excitedly around the office.
Others didn't know, but her mission at Hogwarts wasn't just to cause trouble for Dumbledore or try to get him ousted, Fudge feared that Dumbledore was secretly training an army here to overthrow him.
Now that she finally had a lead, how could she not be thrilled?
She even felt the urge to write to Fudge immediately to claim credit.
But as soon as she opened the drawer to take out paper, the heavy bag of Galleons inside made her freeze.
Her hand stiffened mid-air. She struggled internally for a long time before withdrawing it, speaking as calmly as possible, "Newland, my good child, I'm not surprised that that arrogant Harry Potter would do something like this. But Link is different. He's a student even Minister Fudge praises. How can you prove this matter actually involves him?"
Newland immediately straightened his posture again, lifting his chin and saying loudly, "Because I was right there when it happened!"
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
[email protected]/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining P@treon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through P@treon.