Hogwarts: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me From Studying

Chapter 1106: Chapter 193: What Did You Tell Him?

"Yes... it’s all because of my stupidity."

Hosone said only this and then fell silent.

Since becoming the Congress President... no, from long ago, he constantly paid attention to his image, making himself appear wise, strong, and reliable.

Even in front of Ezra, Hosone forced himself to not show the slightest helplessness or pain.

But at this moment, before Seraphina—this "senior" who surpassed him in age, experience, and achievements—Hosone finally revealed some genuine emotions.

The firelight in the fireplace danced in Seraphina’s eyes; she watched Hosone and did not speak for a long time.

The crackling of the fire brought ample warmth to the room, but only a chill pervaded Seraphina’s heart.

Finally, she raised her eyes and looked at Hosone frankly, her voice slightly hoarse due to her age but exceptionally clear:

"Nikolo, for so many years, I thought you had a grudge against me... that you were hindering my influence, even secretly supporting actions that undermined my reputation."

She gave a bitter smile, full of self-mockery.

"I was angry about it and thought about fighting back, but... Laira and many of my old companions believed that while you might be a bit petty, you were an impeccable leader in public service."

"I made many unjust assumptions about you, but for the sake of the American Magic World... I thought it was for the peace of the American Magic World... I decided to remain silent and endure."

"But I’m sorry, in private... it was difficult for me to tell others that I supported your actions."

The complaints and grumblings made in private were thought to be powerless vents at that time. Who knew they’d plant seeds of opposition to the Congress President in some people’s hearts?

Hosone listened quietly, showing no surprise, only a profound exhaustion and understanding on his face.

He spoke slowly, "When I was the head of the Law Enforcement Department, there was an incident I handled with Hughes concerning smuggling, and I accidentally discovered a mysterious force that has long existed in the American Magic World."

"This force secretly manipulates various illegal transactions, even cooperating with some power within the Muggles, yet it remains hidden and unharmed under the Congress’s protection."

"After becoming the Congress President, I was finally able to mobilize enough resources for an investigation... I always suspected, Madam Piqueley, that you might be the hidden hand behind the scenes—"

He spoke with a heavy expression, "The rise of the Scourers, the wavering of certain factions within the Congress, even some suppression against moderate members... the clues always seemed inadvertently to point to you, but could never be truly verified."

"I thought... you never truly relinquished power, but instead controlled everything in another way, even trampling the laws of the Magic Congress underfoot!"

Therefore... although he knew that some Aurors secretly monitored Seraphina’s manor, he turned a blind eye to it.

He even placed great trust in the person secretly arranged for surveillance—Seraphina’s own niece, Laira, considering her a person with genuine justice and integrity.

Simultaneously, having Laira handle the matter created a buffer zone between both sides in the absence of clear evidence... avoiding intensifying the conflict and causing a direct and intense clash between him and the former President’s faction.

Hosone believed that many maintained a good relationship with Seraphina due to past feelings, even if they were dissatisfied with him as President; in work, they were still diligent colleagues and shouldn’t be entirely lumped together for condemnation.

Once they obtained concrete evidence proving Seraphina as the mastermind, those upstanding officials would naturally distance themselves from this former "hero."

They stared at each other, a late but chilling understanding lingering in the air.

Seraphina slowly shook her head, fingers unconsciously stroking the warm edge of her teacup.

"It was Laira—all the information, every report, every message and document exchanged between us... they all passed through her hands."

"She selectively told us what she wanted us to know, even fabricated ambiguous clues, skillfully guiding our judgment, sowing suspicion and caution among us."

"She exploited our sense of duty, our concern for the Magic Congress, even our individual pride and principles..." Hosone’s voice held a trace of repressed pain, "turning us into pieces on her chessboard, balancing and attacking each other."

Seraphina took a deep breath, straightening her back, her gaze alight with the battle spirit she once had against Grindelwald:

"So, Nikolo, do not compromise, do not concede to her, not even an inch!"

"Retreating might be easier, but it would lead the American Magic World toward an even darker future!"

"Laira she... cough cough cough..."

Seraphina, somewhat agitated, couldn’t help but cough a few times, and when she spoke again, her voice was hoarse and sorrowful:

"Laira... she is no longer the clever, confident, proud girl I remembered."

"Power has changed her, or perhaps, released something deep inside her that I always refused to face... she has already embarked on a misguided path!"

"And at the end of that path, there will not be the bright future of the Magic Congress."

She gazed intently at Hosone, her words falling like a prophecy:

"If we don’t stop her... and them now, the price we’ll pay in the future will far exceed our imagination!"

Hosone remained silent for a long while, the firelight casting a dancing shadow on his face. He slowly picked up the cold red tea, but did not drink, merely rubbing its smooth surface with his fingertip.

"I understand now..."

After a pause, he finally spoke, his voice firm, with the fire seemingly rekindled in his eyes:

"I won’t—I can’t—so easily give up the position of Congress President, along with the responsibilities connected to it."

He raised his eyes, his gaze meeting Seraphina’s.

"But I need help, madam. Frankly, I fear I am no longer enough to turn the situation around. Laira’s web is tighter than I imagined, and she clearly doesn’t intend to give me much time."

His gaze subtly shifted towards the window, as if piercing through the manor walls to see something far beyond.

"I know you have a close relationship with Albus Dumbledore. I also know that Kingsley Shacklebolt, Alastor Moody... it’s actually you who urged these British Aurors to investigate."

Lady Seraphina was slightly taken aback, a complex expression fleeting across her aged face.

She sighed softly, "Since you knew, why didn’t you stop it? Hadn’t you always been suspicious of me before?"

Hosone shook his head, a faint, almost bittersweet smile appearing on his face.

"I didn’t stop it because I believe... I could trust Dumbledore."

He paused, speaking sincerely, "I may have misunderstood you, madam, but I do not doubt Albus Dumbledore’s character and judgment—"

"If he were a man blinded by profit, Cornelius Fudge would not have maintained his position as Minister of the Ministry of Magic those years either."

"So... if he is willing to send people across the Atlantic Ocean to come here, it must be because he believes there are matters worthy of attention and aid, and the one issuing the invitation has pure intentions."

Hosone fixed his gaze on Seraphina, saying:

"So now, I want to know one thing, madam—"

He leaned forward slightly, his voice very low:

"What exactly did you tell Dumbledore? What made him think he shouldn’t contact the Magic Congress, and needed to send someone to intervene here?"

"Crack!"

The firewood in the fireplace suddenly gave a sharp crack as it burned, the flames flickering violently, making the figures on the wall sway, as if struggling to break free from beneath their feet.

Seraphina and Hosone stared at each other, searching each other’s gaze for what they hoped to see.

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