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The next day, Monday.
The "living Moody" in the old Auror's words had once again become a model Wizard. He in the words of the people was a paragon of virtue.
Lynn on the other hand had no classes this morning, he was currently in his trunk, holding the fishing rod that had been broken in two and carefully applying some kind of gelatinous substance to it.
By the time he finished the repairs and stepped out of the trunk, he saw Edgar sitting cross-legged on the bed, holding a piece of buttered bread and talking excitedly to William.
Lynn placed the fishing rod in the corner and asked casually, "What are you guys chatting about so enthusiastically?"
As soon as Edgar saw him come out, his eyes lit up instantly, and he bounced off the bed to approach him.
"Lynn! Guess what shocking gossip I just heard?"
Lynn raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"This morning, Mad-Eye was taken away while teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts to Gryffindor!"
The smile on Lynn's face froze.
"Taken away? By whom?"
Edgar spoke even more excitedly, gesturing wildly, with spit flying everywhere.
"Taken away by Aurors from the Ministry of Magic! Several of them barged straight into the classroom and took him! They said he's suspected of a terrorist attack and needs to be investigated! Dumbledore went along too!"
A terrorist attack?
He subconsciously blurted out, "Wasn't it an act of bravery?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the dormitory instantly fell silent.
Edgar's waving hand stopped mid-air, his mouth still open, but no sound came out.
William put down the book in his hand, pushed up his glasses, and fixed his gaze on Lynn's face.
Even the usually silent Ollie looked up and glanced at him.
Three pairs of eyes stared at him in unison.
Lynn: "..."
Edgar looked surprised. "My father thinks so too. He said that if Moody hadn't been there, more people would have died. Wait... you know what happened?"
Lynn opened his mouth, but before he could think of an explanation, the ever-silent Ollie suddenly spoke.
"He is the real Moody."
As the words fell, Edgar's eyes widened instantly.
"What?! You—yesterday—you went to the Ministry of Magic?! That Moody was you?! One of those two Moodys was you?!"
Before Lynn could answer—
A burst of fire suddenly flashed in the center of the dormitory!
Gold-red flames ignited out of thin air, and a blinding light instantly filled the entire room.
The light faded.
Fawkes appeared before everyone.
It tilted its head, its eyes scanning the room, and then, without a word, landed on Lynn's shoulder.
Lynn looked down at Fawkes.
Fawkes looked back at him.
Lynn was silent for a second.
Then he turned his head to look at his three roommates, who were completely petrified.
"Um... I'm going to the Headmaster's Office first."
After saying that, he patted Fawkes's wing.
A burst of fire flared up again.
Once the light vanished, Lynn and Fawkes were gone.
Only three people remained in the dormitory, looking at each other.
After several seconds, Edgar finally spoke with difficulty, "So... Lynn went to the Ministry of Magic yesterday to carry out a terrorist attack?!"
...
Headmaster's Office.
The portraits of past Headmasters on the walls were exceptionally quiet today. Not a single one was dozing or chatting; they all had their eyes open, watching the two people in front of the desk with great interest.
Dumbledore sat behind the large desk, his hands folded on the table, his silvery-white beard shimmering softly in the firelight. But his expression was—
Serious.
Very serious.
Those eyes were currently staring unblinkingly at Lynn, who stood before the desk.
Lynn stood there, feeling a bit uncomfortable under the gaze. He scratched his cheek and spoke sheepishly, "Um... good morning, Headmaster."
Dumbledore didn't say a word. He simply continued to stare at him.
Lynn scratched his cheek again. "The weather is quite nice today..."
Dumbledore remained silent.
Lynn gave up.
"Fine," he sighed. "Just say it. I'm listening."
Dumbledore finally spoke, his tone slow and unreadable.
"Sorry, Mr. Lynn, but I might not be doing very well right now." He paused. "Can you tell me what you were doing yesterday?"
Lynn blinked.
This question... was quite skillfully put.
He thought about it and decided to tell the truth—judging by the situation, Dumbledore likely already knew most of it.
"I was performing a courageous act."
His tone was defiant despite being in the wrong.
Dumbledore was taken aback for a moment.
Then, the hundred-year-old Headmaster laughed out of exasperation.
He actually laughed.
"Performing a courageous act at Barty Crouch's funeral?"
Lynn nodded vigorously. "The Headmaster is wise."
But the expression on his face practically screamed, How did you know?
Dumbledore shook his head, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "I guessed."
He paused and added, "It seems like something you would do."
How did you guess so accurately?!
Lynn sighed and resigned himself to his fate. "Then how are you going to punish me, Headmaster? Expulsion, detention, or sending me to Azkaban?"
Dumbledore didn't answer directly. Instead, he slowly picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip.
He put down the cup.
Then he took another sip.
Lynn waited.
Dumbledore finally set down the cup and looked at him. "The Ministry of Magic has already discussed it. Professor Moody's actions have been recognized as an act of bravery. In a while, he will even be awarded an Order of Merlin."
Dumbledore looked at him, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly. "So, you don't need to worry about being expelled, being put in detention, or being sent to Azkaban."
Lynn was delighted to hear this. "Then, Headmaster, can I go back now?"
"But regarding your impersonation of Professor Moody, I still must punish you."
Lynn's expression slumped; he knew it.
"What punishment?" he asked weakly.
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, his gaze calm as he looked at him.
"You need to explain the situation to Professor Moody."
Lynn blinked.
That's it?
He almost thought he had misheard. Just going to apologize—what kind of punishment was that?
He nodded, his tone significantly lighter. "Fine, no problem. I'll go right now."
He turned to leave.
"And one more thing," Dumbledore's voice came from behind him.
Lynn stopped and turned around to look at Dumbledore.
Dumbledore's expression remained calm, but there was clearly a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"A fishing ban."
Lynn was stunned for a moment.
"What?"
Dumbledore repeated, word by word, "Until the end of the term, fishing is prohibited at Hogwarts."
Lynn's eyes widened.
"Headmaster..."
"This is a punishment," Dumbledore interrupted. "You have already accepted it."
Lynn: "..."
He stood there, feeling completely miserable.
A fishing ban.
Until the end of the term.
That would be more than two months!
Lynn felt as though his life had turned gray.
He opened his mouth, trying to put up one last struggle.
"Headmaster, isn't this punishment a bit too harsh? I didn't commit any major crime. I was just performing a courageous act and happened to borrow Professor Moody's identity. It didn't cause any serious consequences, and even the Ministry said I was acting bravely—"
Dumbledore picked up his teacup and took a slow sip.
"Mhm."
"Then why are you still—"
"You may go." Dumbledore put down the cup and waved him away. "Remember to go and apologize to Professor Moody."
Lynn: "..."
He stood there, staring at Dumbledore for several seconds.
Dumbledore looked back at him.
That gaze was calm, gentle, and unquestionable.
Lynn took a deep breath.
Then he turned and walked toward the door.
After taking two steps, he stopped again.
He turned back once more.
"Headmaster, about that fishing ban..."
"Yes?"
"Can we get a discount? One month?"
Dumbledore shook his head.
Lynn's expression slumped even further.
"Then... half a month?"
Dumbledore continued to shake his head.
Lynn gave up.
He sighed and dejectedly walked toward the door.
Reaching it, he pulled it open and was about to leave—
"Mr. Lynn."
Dumbledore's voice came from behind him.
Lynn turned back.
Dumbledore looked at him, his smile exceptionally gentle. "Next time you impersonate a Professor, it won't be as simple as a fishing ban."
Lynn was stunned for a moment.
Then he gave a sheepish laugh.
"I won't, I won't. There definitely won't be a next time."
He pulled the door open and slipped out.
The door closed behind him.
In the office, Dumbledore picked up his teacup and took another sip.
On the wall, Phineas Nigellus's voice rang out.
"Albus, you're sending him to apologize to Moody? Are you sure Moody won't hit him with a Killing Curse on the spot?"
Dumbledore shook his head.
"Moody is not that kind of person."
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