Although Allen didn't quite understand what was going on, he could at least tell one thing from the looks on those people's faces, this was a good thing.
However, even if the man in front of him was the headmaster, and even though Allen was currently broke as could be, he still felt the need to politely decline this "offer", in short, he wasn't interested. Uncle, we're not meeting.
Just as Allen was about to turn him down with a face full of disdain, he was abruptly ignored like a background prop, because the headmaster strode right past him, bent down behind Allen, and spoke in that greasy, sickeningly sweet voice of his, only this time, there was a hint of surprise mixed in.
"My dear girl, could you tell me your name?"
In response, he got only the back of the girl's head, Annie walked right past him, taking her place behind Allen.
It was a slightly awkward moment, but the headmaster didn't seem willing to give up. He straightened up and turned back toward Allen, half of Annie's body now hidden behind him.
"Well then, may I ask you to introduce yourself? Our little visitor from Hogwarts."
Though the question wasn't phrased very kindly, Allen still responded politely.
"My name is Allen Robint, a third-year student at Hogwarts."
Robint was the surname shared by everyone from his orphanage, taken from the old headmaster who had raised them.
"I see, Allen. Then, may I ask, who is this young lady with you?" The headmaster clearly only saw Allen as a stepping stone to reach his real target, but Allen figured it would be rude to ignore him completely on the first day, so he answered honestly.
"She's my sister. First-year student at Hogwarts."
"She's only a first-year?" the headmaster murmured, pausing for a moment, then dropped a bombshell that stunned everyone present.
"Would your sister be willing to transfer and enroll at Ilvermorny?"
You've got to be kidding.
Even though Allen had vaguely suspected something like this, hearing it outright still left him frozen in place.
This guy was making a move, right in front of everyone.
No matter the reasoning, trying to poach a student from another school so blatantly was a serious provocation. Professor McGonagall's face had already turned red with anger, and Allen had no doubt that she was about to explode, her wand was already drawn. If the headmaster of Ilvermorny didn't give her a damn good explanation, she'd end this entire event right now.
"I'm terribly sorry, I truly meant no offense," the headmaster said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "But under the current circumstances, I simply have no choice but to speak up."
"That little girl managed to trigger a reaction from all four of the sorting statues, within just a few seconds. According to Ilvermorny's founding rules, this gives her the right to choose any of the four houses. It's a sacred right that has been honored since our school's inception."
"The last person who achieved this... was Seraphina Picquery."
He paused. All around, young wizards gasped in shock.
Even though Allen recognized the name, Seraphina Picquery had been the President of MACUSA (the Magical Congress of the United States of America) in the 1920s, and had served multiple terms. Her accomplishments easily filled entire chapters in the history of magic.
"So, Headmistress Minerva McGonagall," the headmaster continued, dropping his slimy tone and speaking with solemnity, "we are prepared to make full concessions in our academic agreements in exchange for this young witch's admission to Ilvermorny."
"Absolutely not!"
Four voices rang out at once.
Allen. Annie. Professor McGonagall. And one more, from the figure just now entering the hall through the main entrance, leading a group of newcomers.
He was a tall, lean man with a thick red beard, and behind him stood several people, one of whom was an old friend of Allen's.
From their appearance, Allen immediately knew who they were, they were a squad of Aurors. Specifically, Aurors from the MACUSA of Magic.
"Headmaster Charlid, this time, you've gone too far!" the red-bearded Auror snapped as he stepped forward. His authority was clear from the moment he opened his mouth.
"There are over seventy witches and wizards here who have entered the country without Ministry authorization! That is a blatant violation of the Statute of Secrecy!"
Allen was completely blindsided. What the hell was going on?
He had already imagined plenty of sinister tension between Ilvermorny and Hogwarts, but now even the Ministry of Magic was involved?
Aurors were the Ministry's sharpest sword and strongest shield. They were practically an extension of the Ministry itself. So why were they turning against Hogwarts?
Has the British Ministry lost its mind? Did they fill their ranks with trolls' dung instead of brains?
Was this "exchange program" just a way to piss everyone off, both the grassroots and official organizations?
What kind of joke was this? If this many witches and wizards were detained for "illegal entry," it would start an all-out war in the magical world!
Especially considering how many of them were adult Slytherins. Even if the pure-blood families were losing influence along with the decline of the British Empire, they were still not to be underestimated. Just imagine what would happen if those families found out their heirs had been detained by the U.S. Ministry, on day one.
Thankfully, the Ministry wasn't entirely brainless.
The headmaster, Charlid, raised his wand, and with him, a large number of Ilvermorny students stepped forward in support.
"Marcus, this is my school. Ilvermorny was founded long before your so-called Ministry even existed! And on this land, no one lays a hand on my guests!"
He pointed at the Aurors one by one.
"Dylan, you graduated from Thunderbird House five years ago. You had just qualified as an Auror and were overjoyed. Arman, you were a prefect of Wampus House. You've always been exceptional since you arrived…"
As he called them out, the hands holding wands began to falter. The truth was, most Aurors in America had graduated from Ilvermorny. It was their alma mater.
"Marcus, go back and tell those greedy vampires in the council that Ilvermorny is an independent school of magic, not the Ministry's backyard. We are not your lapdogs!"
With most of the team losing morale, the Auror commander realized he could no longer carry out his orders. If they tried to make a move now, they'd be overwhelmed before they even finished the incantation.
Not that he needed to. His real mission was already complete, they weren't here to make arrests, just to stir up trouble.
Of course, only Marcus knew that.
"You'll regret this decision, Headmaster Charlid."
With that final warning, the Aurors left in formation.
And just like that, the last missing pieces of Allen's puzzle slid into place, just the unimportant corners now.
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