The incident ended with Slytherin and Gryffindor each losing 100 points, and Ron, Flint, and the others at the heart of the matter being confined for a week.
Argus followed the heads of the Slytherin common room. After announcing the punishment, the heads turned and left, returning to their offices to discuss how to explain the situation to the outside world.
After all, such a serious incident could not be concealed.
Having a plan in advance at least gave them room for explanation.
Argus was left alone, standing in the center of the Slytherin common room.
The Slytherin members looked ashamed.
They already knew from Professor McGonagall that Argus had taken all the blame in the infirmary.
They all had their heads down.
They didn't even dare to look at him.
Argus walked to the center with a blank expression, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
"Lift your heads up!"
Draco hesitated for a moment, then steeled himself and stepped forward.
"Argus, this is all my fault, you...you shouldn't blame them."
"I will apply to Headmaster Snape…"
"I never blamed you," Argus replied loudly.
"What really angers me is your attitude towards difficulties and setbacks!"
"If points are deducted, we'll find a way to get them back!"
"Why are you sighing and complaining here!"
The little snakes of Slytherin raised their heads, and the disappointment in their eyes gradually disappeared.
The looks in their eyes as they gazed at Argus were now tinged with fervor.
"Last school year, we made history!"
"Winning the House Cup with an unparalleled score."
Argus's clear voice echoed in the lounge.
The Slytherins' confidence returned.
They proudly raised their heads.
Everyone stared intently at the blue-eyed boy in the center of the lounge.
"If we can create it the first time, we can create it the second time!"
"Why?"
"Because we are Slytherin! The embodiment of confidence, ambition, and glory!"
"Now, look me in the eyes and tell me, do you have faith?"
"Yes!"
The little snakes of Slytherin let out an excited roar.
There was no trace of the dejection they had just shown.
"I can't hear you!"
"Yes!"
"Very good, maintain this stance, and glory will surely belong to Slytherin!"
"Yes, Chief!"
...
The events of the morning had spread throughout the British wizarding community by noon.
That afternoon, under pressure from wizards, the Hogwarts Board of Governors announced that Dumbledore, who had been suspended for less than two days, would return to the position of headmaster.
Upon hearing the news, Dumbledore rushed back from outside.
The first thing he did was to call Argus to the principal's office.
Seeing Argus's slightly guilty expression, Dumbledore's face darkened.
"Mr. Grindelwald!"
"You mean this is the way you want me to return to Hogwarts?"
Argus touched his nose guiltily.
He originally intended to influence the Hogwarts Board of Governors through Lucius and the pure-blood families who cooperated with the acolytes, so that the Board would lift the suspension order against Dumbledore.
Before he could even write his own letter, this huge incident happened.
However, since the objective was achieved and no major casualties occurred, Dumbledore had nowhere to vent his anger.
Fortunately, what's done was done, and he was past the point of no return.
"Just tell me if you're back or not!"
"You!" Dumbledore laughed at Argus's unbridled arrogance.
While he was pulling strings, he also devised many schemes to make Harry a hero in Gryffindor and deliver the House Cup to them.
Before he even started, a hundred points were deducted!
That was a perfect score!
It was easy to dock them, but how much effort would it take to add them back!
"Let's just drop this matter."
The deed was done, and Dumbledore knew that continuing to dwell on it would be pointless.
He decided to stop dwelling on it and change the subject.
"There's something I need your help with, Mr. Grindelwald."
"You are the headmaster of Hogwarts and the chief wizard of the Wizengamot. I am just a second-year wizard and cannot help you."
"If you really encounter difficulties, you might as well go to Professor McGonagall or Headmaster Snape. They are much better than a little wizard like me."
Argus knew that Dumbledore never spoke anything good.
A firm refusal!
Dumbledore's tone remained unchanged: "Wait until I finish speaking before you consider whether you want to refuse."
"I wonder what your opinion is on Mr. Weasley's matter, Argus?"
"Mr. Weasley? Ron?"
"It is his father, Mr. Arthur Weasley."
Dumbledore got a headache whenever Ron was mentioned.
He messed up Harry at school, and he messed up his own father outside.
Sure enough, the flying car incident had started up and was about to send his old man to jail.
This matter itself could be considered a big or small issue.
To put it bluntly, it was about exposing the wizarding world; to put it simply, it was just about modifying some Muggle items. Arthur was the head of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures—wait, no, the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office—so he could easily have lied about it as something he had confiscated.
But the key point was that he had just led a group to raid a large number of pure-blood homes!
This group of people were currently itching to get rid of him, and now that they had found an opportunity, they were not going to let him off easily!
In the past, Dumbledore could have used his influence over Fudge to subtly suggest that Fudge let him off the hook.
With Argus's help, Fudge believed he had control of the Auror command.
They were thinking about how to get rid of Dumbledore, so how could they possibly listen to him?
He even went so far as to help the pure-blood families because he knew Arthur was Dumbledore's man.
Left with no other option, Dumbledore had to seek help from outside sources.
Argus, who had contact with both Fudge and Lucius, became the best choice.
"Arthur Weasley…"
Argus immediately understood what Dumbledore was thinking.
However, he did not intend to take action.
To be honest, he had a good impression of Arthur, and the other man's notes had indeed given him a lot of inspiration.
Unfortunately, the other person carried too much of Dumbledore's label.
No matter how he tried to save him, he couldn't turn him from the Order of the Phoenix into an acolyte.
It was not impossible to do it himself, but... he would have to pay extra!
He shook his head and continued to refuse, saying, "Forget it, Professor Dumbledore."
"I do have a good relationship with Mr. Weasley, but unfortunately I don't, and the acolytes don't have the reach to interfere with the Ministry of Magic's choices."
"Really?" Dumbledore was skeptical.
Although he had no evidence, given the similarities between Argus and his old friend, he knew they would never have failed to place anyone in the Ministry of Magic after a year in England.
He thought for a moment, then sighed softly.
"In that case, I'll think of another way."
"Don't forget our agreement from last year. If anything happens to Harry, I hope you, Argus, can step in and correct it in time."
"Of course! Professor Dumbledore, if there's nothing else, I'll go back and check on the wounded Slytherins…"
Argus was halfway through his sentence when he suddenly realized he shouldn't have brought it up.
He looked up and met Dumbledore's resentful gaze.
Before he could finish speaking, he stormed out the door.