"Link Flamel!"
Umbridge hissed angrily like a venomous snake.
Her toad-like face twisted, and the malice and hatred in her voice had almost taken on physical form.
For a long time now, Umbridge had already hated Link to the bone because of his constant opposition.
Not to mention that earlier this morning, Link had injured a pair of Inquisitorial Squad members right in front of everyone, dealing a serious blow to both Umbridge herself and the authority of the squad.
Umbridge had originally been too busy recruiting new squad members to deal with Link right away, but she hadn't expected him to show up again now.
As Link and the others continued to advance, the Inquisitorial Squad members around Umbridge began retreating again and again.
After witnessing so many of Link's deeds, there were very few people left at Hogwarts who were willing to stand against him.
All of this was clearly seen by Umbridge.
She roared in embarrassment and rage, "Stand your ground, all of you! What are you afraid of him for?!"
Hearing this, the older squad members who had been converted from volunteers did stop retreating and continued to cluster tightly around Umbridge.
However, their faces were still filled with panic and fear, and even the hands gripping their wands were trembling slightly.
As for the squad members who had only been recruited today, they didn't bother listening to Umbridge at all and kept retreating.
A mocking smile appeared on Link's face.
Although Umbridge's squad was large in number, most of the newcomers hadn't undergone any training at all.
Such members could at best be considered capable students, their identities hadn't yet shifted into that of soldiers, and naturally, they had little real combat power.
Link and Emily and the others slowly stopped in front of Umbridge. Facing her and the squad members around her, Link said, "Trelawney does not need to leave Hogwarts."
The moment Link said this, gasps erupted throughout the surrounding crowd.
Professor Trelawney, who had just been unconscious, now woke up in an eerie manner. She hurriedly pushed away Professor McGonagall, who had been supporting her head, and said tearfully to Link, "Is… is that really true?"
Link looked at Trelawney, a trace of disgust flashing in his eyes.
He had long since seen through the fact that Trelawney was pretending to be unconscious, or more accurately, pretending to be pitiful.
But disgust aside, at this moment Link still said expressionlessly, "Yes, Trelawney. You don't need to worry about that."
"Oh? Is that so? Link Flamel!" Umbridge took a few steps toward Link and said viciously, "And who exactly approved this?"
Link met Umbridge's gaze without backing down.
"I did. The only member of the Hogwarts Board of Governors. The sole heir of the Flamel family, Link Flamel."
"You? Oh! My dear Mr. Flamel!" Umbridge threw her head back and let out an unpleasant laugh. "Have you forgotten?"
She pulled several rolls of parchment from inside her robes and slowly spread them open. "I have here a dismissal order signed by myself and the Minister for Magic."
"According to Educational Decree Number Twenty-Three, the Hogwarts High Inquisitor has the authority to inspect, place on probation, and dismiss any teacher she believes does not meet Ministry standards. I believe Professor Trelawney is unqualified. I have dismissed her!"
Hearing this, the hope that had just reignited in Trelawney's eyes was extinguished again, and she lowered her head in despair.
Her chest rose and fell violently as she gasped for breath, as if she were on the verge of fainting once more.
Many people in the surrounding crowd behind Link also wore disappointed expressions.
In their eyes, Umbridge's actions were completely legal and reasonable. Even as a governor, Link had no way to overturn a dismissal order from the Ministry.
But there was still no sign of panic on Link's face.
Instead, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he smiled and said, "You're right, Professor Umbridge."
"As the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts, you do indeed have the authority to dismiss every professor at Hogwarts."
"But I'm afraid you do not have the authority to expel them from Hogwarts."
"As the sole member of the Hogwarts Board of Governors, I permit Trelawney to continue living in Hogwarts Castle."
At these words, Umbridge and the Inquisitorial Squad members around her all froze.
The entire entrance hall fell silent for quite some time before Umbridge stared at Link with a strange look and said, "You want to let her stay at Hogwarts?"
"Like taking in a stray dog?"
"Do you really think it's that simple?"
"Let me ask you this, when I appoint a new Divination professor and need her room, what do you plan to do with her then?"
"That's not really a problem," Link said with a smile, spreading his hands.
"In fact, I've already found a new Divination professor, and he's willing to live on the first floor."
"Look, he's already here!"
As Link finished speaking, he crooked his finger slightly, and the massive wooden doors leading outside the entrance hall flew open.
Night fog mixed with the remnants of early spring snow surged inside, accompanied by the rapid sound of hooves.
Panicked whispers rose throughout the hall. People near the doors hurriedly backed away, some even tripping as they did.
Under the gazes of fear and curiosity, a centaur with pale golden hair, bright blue eyes, and a specially tailored linen garment emerged from the mist.
"Greetings to you, Lord of the Morning Star!"
The centaur respectfully bowed to Link.
Unlike most centaurs, his gesture of respect looked more like a human bow.
Although performing such a gesture with a centaur's body looked particularly difficult, he still managed it.
Link nodded in satisfaction and then said, "Let me introduce him to you all."
"This is Firenze."
"I think you'll soon find that he's very suitable."
There wasn't much cheering from the crowd. Instead, people clustered together, whispering among themselves.
Everyone was familiar with centaurs.
They were described in detail in Care of Magical Creatures, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and even History of Magic.
Some students who liked sneaking into the Forbidden Forest had even interacted with them up close.
To be honest, people's overall impression of centaurs was fairly good.
After all, their ancestors' reputation as 'guardians of nature' was simply too strong.
But still… letting a centaur serve as a Hogwarts professor was pushing past what most students could easily accept.
Umbridge, standing in front of Link, looked like she was about to go mad. Her neatly styled hair practically exploded outward as she glared at Link and roared, "You actually… actually let a centaur become a Divination professor at Hogwarts?! This is simply..."
Before Umbridge could finish her sentence, an even more piercing wail burst out from Trelawney beside her, "No… no! I'm leaving! I'm lea, leaving Hogwarts! This is far too humiliating! I'll go… go somewhere else to make a living…"
Link's gaze snapped sharply toward Trelawney.
This time, he no longer concealed the deep disgust and beast-like malice in his eyes.
"Trelawney, are you serious?"
Link spoke slowly, his tone cold and completely flat.
The only reason he had saved Trelawney was exactly the same as Dumbledore's original intention, to keep this useful tool around so others would believe the prophecy she had just made, and eventually push that prophecy toward realization.
At the same time, he wanted to strike a blow to Umbridge's authority.
That was all.
If Trelawney dared nod even once, he wouldn't actually mind exiling her, and then sending someone to control her along the way.
After all, all he needed was a tool like Trelawney.
As for whether that tool lived at Hogwarts or in some dungeon owned by the Flamel family, Link truly didn't care.
Perhaps sensing the chill in Link's gaze, Trelawney shrank back fearfully into Professor McGonagall's arms and hurriedly muttered in a delirious voice, "I was wrong! Wrong! I won't leave… I won't leave! I'm sorry!"
Link withdrew his gaze with some regret.
Trelawney had left him with a very poor impression. To be honest, he wouldn't have minded seeing her suffer a little.
But that was fine, if she escaped this time, there would be plenty of chances to make up for it later.
At the same time, Umbridge snapped out of the shock caused by Trelawney's interruption.
She first shot an angry glare at Trelawney, then quickly turned back to Link and said, "I must remind you, Link, that as the sole governor of Hogwarts, you do indeed have the authority to dismiss professors, and even the headmaster, provided there is clear evidence of dereliction of duty!"
"But that does not mean you also have the authority to appoint professors!"
"According to Educational Decree Number Twenty-Two..."
"Yes, I know, I know," Link said impatiently, waving his hand. "Educational Decree Number Twenty-Two, the Ministry of Magic has the authority to appoint teachers."
"But please note, there is a prerequisite to that rule, only when, and only when, the headmaster cannot find a suitable candidate does the Ministry gain that authority."
Umbridge pressed on without backing down, "Even with that prerequisite, my authority as the High Inquisitor of Hogwarts is still greater than yours as the sole governor!"
"And I believe that prerequisite is fully met right now!"
"After all, with Trelawney dismissed, Divination classes must still continue. We must immediately fill the position with a new professor."
"And Dumbledore just happens to be absent from Hogwarts at the moment."
"So I have every right to..."
"That doesn't hold up," Link interrupted again. "Stop struggling, Umbridge."
"I'll say it one more time, Firenze is the best possible candidate for Divination professor."
"Don't you think so?"
"Professor Dumbledore."
"What? Dumbledore? That's impossible..."
Umbridge's face drained of color as she looked around frantically.
And in the very next moment, Dumbledore appeared at the top of the staircase the group had come down from earlier.
He descended step by step with steady, unhurried strides, while the squad members blocking the stairs hurriedly made way.
Dumbledore slowly entered the entrance hall.
As he advanced, the shadows on the staircase retreated from him like a thin veil, replaced by light.
The gold-thread embroidery on his robes reflected a soft, brilliant glow under the lights, making his entire figure seem radiant.
"You're quite right, Link. Firenze is indeed the best candidate for the Divination professor position."
Dumbledore said with a smile.
However, the look he gave Link felt unfamiliar, carrying a complexity that was hard to put into words.
Link met his gaze from afar but said nothing, only nodding slightly.
A moment later, the students in both the Great Hall and the entrance hall erupted into thunderous cheers.
Many students nearly shouted themselves hoarse.
They hadn't seen their headmaster in several months.
In stark contrast, Umbridge fell into a dazed stupor.
She stared blankly at Dumbledore, then at Link, her lips trembling as she said, "You… you're all in this together!"
"You joined forces to scheme against me!"
"No one is scheming against you, Umbridge," Dumbledore said with a smile. "In fact, if you had done nothing, none of this would have happened."
"We could have coexisted peacefully."
"Don't you agree?"
Dumbledore then turned to Professor McGonagall and to Trelawney, who had gone numb from the emotional whiplash.
"Would you please take Sybill upstairs, Professor McGonagall?"
"Of course," said McGonagall. "Come upstairs, Sybill…"
Professor Sprout hurried forward to support Trelawney's other arm.
The two of them led her past Umbridge and up the marble staircase.
Professor Flitwick followed with his wand raised. With a flick of it, Trelawney's trunks floated up behind him and followed them upstairs.
Umbridge was completely speechless.
She looked around at the newly recruited squad members, who were now cheering along with everyone else, and her eyes were instantly clouded with a darkness that could not be wiped away.
After forcing herself to burn the smiling faces around her, along with Dumbledore's and Link's expressions, deep into her memory, Umbridge angrily waved her arms and stormed off with the older squad members.
This only made the cheers in the entrance hall and Great Hall grow even louder.
Especially among the professors of the minor subjects.
They didn't have the strength or background of Professor McGonagall or Professor Snape.
During Dumbledore's absence, they had lived in constant terror under Umbridge's high-intensity inspections.
That pressure had reached its peak the moment Trelawney was dragged out.
Fortunately, Dumbledore had finally returned.
From now on, they could finally hold their heads high again.
"Link! You were amazing!"
"Yeah, Link! That was incredible!"
"You're the real hero! Seriously, Link!"
The trio, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, also crowded over to Link, their faces filled with excitement as they spoke.
From their perspective, Link had stepped in purely because he couldn't bear to watch Trelawney's tragic situation any longer, combined with their pleading.
Classic tough-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside.
However, Link had very little interest in responding to them at this moment.
He merely gave the trio a polite smile.
Then, like Emily, Cedric, and John, he continued to look toward Dumbledore.
Unlike everyone else, there was no smile on the faces of the four of them.
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