Professor, please, don’t expel us!

Faced with Blake's "innocent" look and the torment of his own soul, even Dumbledore looked slightly embarrassed, stroking his long beard.

"Hmm... Actually, we don't dare to use the Stupefy spell," he admitted. "We're unsure whether it would interfere with the limb regeneration spell, so I can't risk casting it."

The greatest white wizard of the century was doing his best to regain his dignity.

"But—"

Blake was about to object when he caught Dumbledore's narrowed eyes.

"Hmm? Do you have any questions?" Dumbledore asked calmly.

Blake coughed and immediately changed his tone. "Ahem… You're absolutely right, Professor. One should always be cautious when treating patients."

This wasn't cowardice—just sincerity.

Dumbledore chuckled, then quickly grew serious. "According to school rules, wandering the castle at night and entering the Forbidden Forest are both strictly forbidden. Your actions tonight, Blake, Miss Granger… amount to breaking seven or eight different rules."

Hermione shivered under Dumbledore's gaze, regret washing over her. If only she had refused Blake's suggestion to explore the Forbidden Forest...

"Professor, please, don't expel us! We won't do it again!" Hermione pleaded. "It was all my idea! I read a lot about the Forbidden Forest in books and got curious. I pressured Blake into coming with me. It's entirely my fault..."

Blake, standing beside her, felt moved. Even in a panic, Hermione instinctively took responsibility for things that weren't entirely her fault. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair.

"Idiot… Dumbledore wouldn't expel us over this. Otherwise, he would've sent us straight to his office instead of having a casual conversation here. I bet Professor McGonagall is already on her way."

Hermione blinked, suddenly realizing that when Dumbledore had first arrived, he had been discussing treating a patient—not disciplinary matters. If he had truly intended to punish them severely, he wouldn't have waited until now to bring it up.

Dumbledore smiled knowingly at Blake. "I don't intend to expel you, but I never said there wouldn't be punishment."

Blake's expression stiffened.

Good grief, this old man is ruthless! He baited me into relaxing and then pulled the rug from under me!

Of course, Dumbledore wouldn't expel them, but he still had to dock a few points in accordance with the rules. However…

Blake was not one to suffer losses willingly.

"Ahem… Hermione, don't worry." Blake patted her shoulder. "Being expelled isn't the end of the world. School rules aren't actual laws, so even if we're kicked out, they can't break our wands."

Hermione looked up in confusion.

"Technically, the Ministry of Magic can break expelled students' wands," Blake clarified, "but only under serious circumstances—like violating the Statute of Secrecy or causing casualties. Since we did neither, the Ministry likely won't bother."

Blake's explanation calmed Hermione slightly, though she still seemed uneasy.

"However, it's not impossible that they might try," Blake added. "But even if they do, we still have options. The British Ministry of Magic only governs British wizards. If we're expelled, we'll be considered Muggles, and Muggles aren't under magical jurisdiction. We could simply leave the UK and go somewhere else."

Hermione stared at him, wide-eyed.

"Ever heard of Ilvermorny, the American wizarding school? I know one of their most famous graduates, Mrs. Scamander. I could use that connection to get us transferred there. Or Beauxbatons in France—my alchemy mentor, Nicolas Flamel, is their most legendary alumnus. He'd definitely vouch for me."

Blake smirked. "And if neither of those work, Austria has a new magic academy that accepts anyone as long as they're magical. I think it's called Newmont…"

Dumbledore's beard trembled in irritation.

This boy… He weighs less than a hundred pounds, but at least seventy or eighty pounds of that must be pure nerve.

In front of me, the Headmaster of Hogwarts, you're openly discussing transferring to other schools? And did you just mention Austria? Do you mean Nurmengard? Are you seriously thinking of going there?

I just wanted to deduct a few points, not drive you away!

Meanwhile, Hermione, previously terrified of being expelled, suddenly felt… hopeful?

She had been picturing a miserable, magic-less life in the Muggle world, but now—

If we get expelled… I'd have Blake all to myself!

No more annoying distractions from other witches at Hogwarts!

Hermione's mind raced with possibilities, but Dumbledore sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Blake, I'm the Headmaster, correct?"

"Yes."

"And I caught you violating school rules, correct?"

"That's right."

"Then, shouldn't you at least let me deduct some points?"

Blake winced. "Hiss… That does make sense."

"Glad we agree. Twenty points from each of your Houses."

Blake immediately objected. "Wait, no! Hermione just followed me—she shouldn't be punished!"

"She still broke the rules," Dumbledore reasoned. "What if I deduct fewer points?"

"Fine, but just a little. I don't want her to get in trouble with Professor McGonagall."

Hermione sat there in disbelief.

What is going on? When did rule-breakers start negotiating punishments with the Headmaster?

She had no idea how highly Dumbledore valued Blake. Dumbledore wasn't worried about simple rule-breaking—he was worried about Blake transferring to another school… or worse, dropping out altogether and vanishing into obscurity like a certain Dark Lord.

After all, that's how Dark Lords typically begin.

Once the discussion ended, Blake and Hermione slipped away to the Room of Requirement.

Hermione sat down, still stunned. "Blake… why do I feel like Professor Dumbledore is afraid of you transferring?"

Blake took a swig of Butterbeer and burped. "Because he is. Look at all the work I've done here. I may bend the rules, but my research is valuable. If I suddenly left, he'd lose all that progress. Plus, he knows I won't just sit in school quietly and follow rules."

Hermione frowned. "But how much does he actually know?"

Blake smirked. "Enough. But not everything. Hogwarts has spies everywhere—paintings, ghosts, even house-elves. But I have ways of keeping secrets. For example, I always enter the Mirror Dimension before opening anything valuable."

He tapped the table thoughtfully. "Dumbledore watches everything. But the things I don't want him to see? He won't."

Hermione felt a shiver down her spine. Hogwarts, she realized, was truly alive. And the Headmaster? He saw far more than he let on.

She had a feeling that, in the grand game between Blake and Dumbledore, this was only the beginning.

=============

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