After December began, the whole of Hogwarts was covered in ice and snow.
The cold weather made many students naturally reduce their outdoor activities.
Especially the Hufflepuffs.
It seemed that the hibernation instinct of badgers affected them too, making them prefer curling up in their dormitories and common room to sleep or fool around.
Even Link couldn't be an exception to this.
Of course, Link felt the more likely reason was simply that the Hufflepuff common room was too comfortable.
Think about it, on one side was the cold, bone-chilling, gray-everywhere Hogwarts Castle.
On the other side was the Hufflepuff basement, warm as summer with its lit fireplace and bright colors.
Not to mention, the Hufflepuff common room was right next to the kitchens, and the house-elves would send up snacks from time to time.
If you weren't stupid, anyone would know which one to choose, right?
Ever since winter began, Link liked quietly sitting in the Hufflepuff common room in the afternoons drinking tea, occasionally watching the crackling fire in the hearth, then glancing out at the snow outside. The sharp contrast, paired with the common room's bright, Hufflepuff-style colors, always put him in a good mood.
But today, it seemed he wouldn't be able to continue enjoying that mood.
Because right after he sat down in his usual spot, Harry's trio appeared, led by Cedric.
Seeing the four of them sitting silently before him, Link's mouth twitched twice. He took a sip of his hot tea and said, "So, everyone, what's the matter?"
"You know exactly what we're here for, Link!"
Hermione leaned forward and said bluntly, "For more than a month now, we've been dropping hints at you, but you completely ignored them. So we have no choice but to say it plainly!"
Hermione lowered her voice, gritted her teeth, and continued, "When exactly is our self-study group going to officially start its first teaching session? Everyone's getting impatient! Do you know how many people came asking me about this just yesterday alone? I don't even know how to explain it to them anymore!"
As soon as she said this, Harry and the others also began looking at Link with a bit of resentment.
Back when Link gathered everyone at the M.O.M.H.L factory and gave that stirring speech, they had all been fired up, thinking they were about to accomplish something big.
But they never expected that more than a month had passed since then, and Link hadn't shown the slightest movement.
They simply couldn't understand it.
The Room of Requirement was already fully prepared, Hermione had even finished compiling teaching materials for the younger years, so what exactly was Link waiting for?
With such a good thing already set up, did he really have to make it start strong and end weak?
Not only Harry and the others, Cedric himself also had some opinions about Link.
Although compared to the outer "self-study group," Link's attitude toward the core members of the D.A. army was far more proactive.
The research funds promised to the Kennedy siblings had been sent out the day after the assembly.
He had even found for Sigefin a set of training notes said to have belonged to the great Godric Gryffindor himself.
But overall, it was still far too lazy.
On this point, Cedric's thoughts were similar to Hermione's, since Link had already taken on something this big, he should keep pushing forward, making the fire burn hotter, not treat it like children playing house, three minutes of enthusiasm then nothing.
Of course, he had also considered whether Link had other plans.
After all, Link had sent Newlan to report to Umbridge at that meeting, maybe there was some scheme behind that.
But dragging it out for more than a month… by now, Cedric was growing impatient.
Being stared at by so many pairs of eyes, Link felt helpless.
He had been hiding in the Hufflepuff common room trying not to go out, yet Cedric still brought people to find him.
After thinking for a moment, Link shifted his sitting posture and said, "I've been a bit busy lately, so I haven't gotten around to this side of things. How about this, give it a little more time and then we'll start classes. And in the meantime, you all should refine the teaching materials even more."
Hearing this, Ron, who had been awkwardly quiet, suddenly showed concern and quickly asked, "Link, what have you been busy with lately? Is it the sales situation at the M.O.M.H.L factory?"
He had been working part-time at the M.O.M.H.L factory for quite some time now, and he had already heard that the warehouse was piled with products they couldn't sell, so he was extremely worried.
After all, if the M.O.M.H.L factory really went out of business, wouldn't he lose this great job?
He had saved up all the money for the Christmas gifts for Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and even his parents this year.
But asking this question right now was really out of place.
Link could only stare at Ron with a head full of metaphorical black lines.
He couldn't understand it.
What he said was obviously just an excuse, so why was Ron taking it seriously?
Standing next to Ron, Hermione was even more furious. She slapped Ron on the shoulder and angrily said, "If you don't speak, no one will mistake you for being mute!"
Then she turned to Link and said, "What do you mean by 'a little more time'? Link, we've already prepared the teaching materials very thoroughly. You, on the other hand, today you'd better give me an actual date!"
Link looked up at Hermione but didn't answer. He simply took another sip of tea, then looked at Harry with some confusion, "Harry, wasn't your detention with Umbridge already finished? Why do you look so worn out after only a few days? Are you sick?"
Hearing this, Harry instinctively pushed his bangs down twice to cover the lightning-shaped scar on his forehead. His face a bit pale, he said, "It's nothing serious. I just haven't been sleeping well these past few days, keep having nightmares."
"That's not it at all! It's all Angelina's fault!" Ron cut in unhappily, "That woman has gone mad! Even with this awful weather she still forces Harry and the others to train outdoors! Harry must've caught a cold."
Smack!
Hermione slapped Ron hard on the back again, making him bare his teeth in pain.
Then Hermione ignored the strange looks the nearby Hufflepuffs gave her. Her anger flared as she turned toward Link, clearly ready to explode for the way he had just tried to shift the topic.
But before she could speak, a chubby Hufflepuff squeezed into the common room, struggling through the doorway, and posted a sheet of parchment on the notice board.
Seeing this, Link's eyes lit up. Ignoring the murderous glares aimed his way, he immediately walked over to look at it.
Hermione and the others originally thought this was yet another tactic from Link to divert the conversation. They hurried over as well, planning to pin things down with him today no matter what.
But when they stood behind Link, they all froze.
Because they saw that the Hufflepuff had posted a huge notice, so big it covered everything else on the board, the second-hand spellbook auction flyers, Filch's regular reminders about school rules, the Quidditch training schedules, chocolate frog card trading notes, the new M.O.M.H.L factory recruitment ad, the Hogsmeade weekend dates, and the lost-and-found slips.
The new notice was printed with big black letters, with an official-looking seal underneath and a neat, elegant signature beside it.
[Order of the Hogwarts High Inquisitor]
[Hereby dissolving all student organizations, associations, teams, or clubs.
Hereby defining organizations, associations, teams, and clubs as gatherings of three or more students held regularly.
Petition for re-formation may be submitted to the High Inquisitor (Professor Umbridge).
No student organization, association, team, or club may exist without the approval of the High Inquisitor.
If any student is found forming or participating in an organization, association, team, or club without the High Inquisitor's approval, they are to be expelled immediately.
The above regulations comply with Educational Decree No. 24.]
[Signature—
High Inquisitor
Dolores Jane Umbridge]
———
"This… how could this happen!?" Hermione reread the notice, muttering to herself.
"This isn't a coincidence," Harry said, clenching his fists tightly. "She definitely found out. That's the only reason she issued a decree specifically aimed at us!"
Ron gasped, finally reacting, "You mean someone went and tattled to Umbridge? How's that possible?! Everyone signed their names!"
"You can see their faces but not their hearts, how would you know what anyone was really thinking? And besides, some people didn't even want to join in the first place; we practically forced them into signing."
Hermione gritted her teeth. "But don't worry. No matter who the snitch is, they'll slip up soon enough! That signature they gave wasn't for nothing!"
Ron and Harry exchanged looks.
They were simple, yes, but after the fact, they had heard a few things from John and Cedric. They could roughly guess that the parchment Hermione used had probably been enchanted with some contract magic.
A lot of people would also figure that out once they thought about it.
They just didn't expect anyone would actually dare go tattle.
And listening to the three of them talk, Cedric, standing not far away, gave Link a strange look.
Because he knew.
It had been Link who personally ordered Newlan to tattle.
By now, more and more students were crowding around the notice board. Link and Cedric exchanged a glance, and Link took the group to his dormitory.
Hermione didn't object, Hogwarts girls were allowed to enter boys' dormitories freely.
And besides, she really needed to question Link about how they were going to respond to this.
In her view, if Link hadn't kept delaying, things wouldn't have escalated to this point at all.
But before Hermione could speak once they entered the dormitory, Link directly said, "Alright, weren't you all asking when I planned to officially start classes? Then it'll be tonight. To be precise, after curfew tonight. The location is the Room of Requirement."
As soon as he said this, Hermione's expression changed instantly. She urgently said, "Tonight? Link, are you crazy? Umbridge just issued that decree and you want to walk right into her trap?"
Harry also looked anxious.
Oddly enough, the ones least anxious were Cedric and Ron.
Cedric, because he knew this was all part of Link's plan. Ron, because he honestly didn't care much about this so-called self-study group.
After all, in his view, attending classes every day and working at the factory to earn money was already a perfect life; there was no need to stir up trouble.
"Well, isn't this strange. Just a moment ago you were pushing me to gather everyone sooner, and now that I've agreed, you're the one unwilling."
Link said with a laugh.
Hearing this, Hermione grew even more frantic, her eyes reddening. She was about to argue back when Link raised his hand and continued, "Alright, you don't need to worry about Umbridge. I have my own ways to handle her, I won't mess this up. Just gather everyone and have them come tonight."
"…Fine… fine. It's just that… this is too sudden." Hermione lowered her head and said softly, "I'm guessing a lot of people won't be able to make it on such short notice."
"Heh. If they don't come this time, then they needn't come again." Link sneered.
"Do they think I'm short on people here?"
Hearing this, Hermione looked conflicted.
Of course she knew Link was doing this for everyone's benefit and even paying a great cost for it. But unfortunately many people assumed Link was doing this for his own gain, how blind could they be?
Link didn't concern himself with that. He turned to Cedric and said, "Give the message to Sigefin and Newlan. Tell them to come early."
Cedric, knowing the full situation, didn't waste time like Hermione. He nodded and left the dormitory.
Seeing this, Hermione could only nod as well, then quickly left with Harry and Ron.
Only then did a faint smile appear on Link's previously serious face.
The reason he hadn't gathered the students in the Room of Requirement for so long was because he had been waiting for Newlan's situation to take shape, so he could further escalate the conflict between Umbridge and the students.
And judging from the current situation, Newlan had barely managed to do an acceptable job.
Though his loyalty was another question entirely.
With a cold smile, Link pushed open the dormitory door and headed toward the Room of Requirement.
———
At night, Link walked alone inside the Room of Requirement, which had already switched into its training-room form. He examined the surrounding bookshelves and the various instruments, Foe-glasses, secrecy sensors, and so on.
Ever since the last assembly, he had handed over control of the Room of Requirement to Hermione and Cedric and let them handle the arrangements. This was his first time returning in over a month.
And judging by what he saw, Hermione and the others had done quite well.
At the very least, all the textbooks and equipment for studying various defensive spells against the Dark Arts had been gathered.
Link even planned to give them the teaching duties for the students.
Even Sigefin and Newlan had only been promised access to advanced spell materials like Disillusionment Charm and Sectumsempra. So as for teaching the ordinary students, how could he personally do it?
At most, he would show up and give a demonstration.
Whether they could actually teach the students well, Link didn't really care.
Or rather, it didn't matter.
He never expected those students to become particularly impressive. At most, this was nothing more than "pre-battle training" for when war eventually broke out.
If a few talented students emerged from this, then great.
If some people failed to appreciate the opportunity, Link didn't mind.
After all, their lives were their own. When the war came, if they ended up dying as cannon fodder, that wouldn't be on him.
Nodding slightly, Link finished his inspection and sat back down on the sofa, pouring himself another cup of tea.
And just then, the door of the Room of Requirement opened…