Chapter 173: The Dust Settles
"Although holding extra board seats isn't particularly useful to us," Grandmama said leisurely, "the conditions he offered were nothing more than money—and the protection of the Addams family. Naturally, I agreed."
"Even so, you should only have two seats. Then why—"
Before Lucius Malfoy could finish, Morticia Addams calmly interrupted him.
A letter appeared between her fingers, which she then placed firmly on the table.
Lucius examined the crest on the envelope, a faint sense of familiarity creeping in.
"Professor Horace Slughorn is unable to attend the Board of Governors for personal reasons," Morticia said with a soft, knowing smile. "So he entrusted me to act on his behalf."
This letter had been specially secured—thanks to Amelia, who, after learning of Russell's situation, had gone to her grandfather for help.
Lucius's face turned ashen.
What he had feared was now reality.
The vote had flipped—four to five.
He had lost.
"Very well."
He didn't lash out or make threats. Maintaining the last shred of his dignity, he turned and walked toward the door. The other board members quickly followed, offering brief farewells before hurrying out after him.
"Those who walk the right path gain many allies; those who don't are left alone. That's why the Dark Lord's followers scattered when he fell," Russell said calmly, his voice directed at Lucius's retreating back. "Mr. Malfoy, I hope you take that as a lesson."
A clean strike—not to the body, but to the pride.
Lucius's steps faltered for just a brief moment… before he walked even faster.
"Lady Addams, I…" Knight approached hesitantly with Flora, clearly shaken. After everything that had just unfolded, he had finally grasped just how powerful the Addams family truly was.
And he understood that his son had provoked the wrong people.
He wanted to apologize—but none of the Addams family paid him any attention. Only Gomez Addams offered him a faint smile.
"Mr. Rosier, is it?" Gomez said gently. "Rest assured, I have no intention of doing anything to your family. However… I do not wish to see anyone who would attack my daughter from behind remain at Hogwarts."
"Do you understand?"
His tone was warm—almost polite.
Yet Knight's face went deathly pale.
He understood perfectly.
This was not a threat of violence.
It was a decision.
Cyrian Rosier would have to leave Hogwarts… and transfer to a magical school in another country.
Knight had already anticipated this outcome. In truth, he had prepared himself for it.
But in his heart, Hogwarts was the greatest magical institution in the world.
To be forced out of it…
For the Rosier family, whose glory had already long faded, this was yet another devastating blow.
But who could he blame?
Only himself—for failing to raise his son properly.
With a heavy sigh, he turned and left, taking his wife and son with him.
If nothing unexpected happened, he would likely never return for the rest of his life.
After leaving Hogwarts, Knight turned back to look at the ancient castle that had stood for a thousand years. A surge of anger suddenly rose within him.
In his eyes, the only reason Russell had escaped punishment was because he had the Addams Family backing him.
And his own son?
All he had was the Rosier family—reduced to little more than a shadow of its former self.
If my father were still alive… if my brother and sister were still here… things would never have turned out like this.
"Wait…" Knight suddenly swallowed hard.
A thought struck him.
His brother and sister—the Rosier siblings—weren't dead.
They were imprisoned in Azkaban.
And behind them… stood that man whose name could not be spoken.
If he could gain his backing, then what were Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, or even the Addams family?
Nothing but clowns.
Lord Voldemort: Don't drag me into this—I want no part of it.
But the thought quickly deflated.
Ever since Lord Voldemort had been defeated eleven years ago by Harry Potter, he had vanished without a trace.
Even if Knight wanted to pledge allegiance… there was no way to find him.
"Wednesday, why didn't you tell us you were hurt?" Morticia Addams asked, her usually gentle smile replaced with a rare seriousness as she stood before her daughter.
"It wasn't that serious," Wednesday replied calmly. "Russell treated me immediately."
"Even so, you should have told us," Gomez Addams added. "If it had been an injury from a fair duel, I wouldn't have said a word. But a sneak attack? That's something I cannot tolerate."
"So this is what passes for 'pure-blood aristocracy' these days," Grandmama Addams scoffed, clearly disdainful.
"Is that why the Addams family prefers to live in the Muggle world, rather than associate with them?"
At some point, Albus Dumbledore had walked over.
Without ceremony, he reached into Grandmama's jar, grabbed a handful of snacks, and popped them into his mouth with a cheerful smile.
"You could say that," she replied bluntly. "But I think the reason this kind of atmosphere exists… has a lot to do with you, Dumbledore."
"Isn't that a bit harsh?" Dumbledore chuckled, his smile unfading. "Being headmaster isn't easy, you know. As you've seen, the Board of Governors is constantly pressuring me—funding issues and all."
"I don't believe something as trivial as funding could trouble you, the greatest white wizard of our time," she shot back, unimpressed.
From the ease of their exchange, it was clear their relationship ran far deeper than mere acquaintance.
"Russell, well done," Gomez said, patting him on the shoulder. "When family is harmed, retaliation should come immediately."
"If it were me, I'd have blown him straight into the sky with explosives!" Uncle Fester shouted, still clearly upset about what had happened to Wednesday.
"That's a bit… extreme, Fester," Russell said with a shake of his head.
If he had actually done that, even Dumbledore wouldn't have protected him—he might have personally sent him to Azkaban.
Russell suspected that Dumbledore's leniency this time was largely because his actions had a clear cause.
Dumbledore understood what people were capable of when their loved ones were harmed.
Just like his own father—who had once cursed Muggles in a fit of rage after his sister was attacked.
Russell, after all, was only a second-year student. Losing control in such a situation was… understandable.
In fact, if Russell had done nothing, Dumbledore might have questioned whether everything he'd shown before had just been an act.
Sirius Black didn't rush off to find Harry. Instead, he stood there with his arms crossed, listening to their conversation with keen interest.
He was clearly intrigued.
Just what kind of figure is that old woman, he wondered, to speak to Dumbledore like that?
The Addams family…
He had heard of them before—they were primarily involved in the magical funeral business.
But what he hadn't expected…
Was that they not only held seats on the Board of Governors—
But two of them.