Forbidden forest.
Confidence in his own strength made Lucas ignore the detection of his surroundings.
It was the same for Dumbledore.
The two stood side by side, looking at the tall trees deep in the Forbidden Forest.
"I remember that you cast Gellert's spell here in your first year. At that time, I was thinking, "I must protect such a talented and powerful child."
"Because of something that happened when I was young, I used to be too wary of Tom, which caused him to go on the path he is on now. I don't want this to happen to you as well."
"Five years have passed, but at this most critical moment, you actually abandoned the plan and returned to Nurmengard willfully."
Dumbledore's voice sounded disappointed with Lucas, which made the two people hiding not far away look happy.
It's just that the happiness of the two people is somewhat different.
Harry was simply happy because Dumbledore was disappointed in Lucas.
But Umbridge is because she knew she was going to do something good again.
If she tells Voldemort what she overheard today, she didn't know what reward she could get.
She heard that Voldemort was planning to take over the Ministry of Magic these past few days.
If it is really successful, maybe she can take the position of Minister of Magic?
Umbridge focused all her attention on the two men in the distance.
Feeling the fluctuation of magic power coming from behind, Lucas showed a trace of disdain at the corner of his mouth.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, I have already told you very clearly why I left."
"It was you who decided not to change the plan, and you have to bear full responsibility for the current situation."
Hearing those words the old man looked very angry and his powerful magic power made the hem of his clothes undulate as if there was wind.
"Then what about the invisibility cloak? I also told you very clearly that even if you get all the Deathly Hallows, you still can't stop death."
"How will you know if you don't try?" Lucas said lightly"
Dumbledore stared at the young man in front of him, and said after a long time: "So can our cooperation continue?"
This time Lucas was silent for a few minutes.
Just when the two people not far away were waiting anxiously, Lucas finally spoke.
"Of course the cooperation will continue, but the form will change. You will be in charge of Hogwarts in the future, and I will be in charge of the security of the Ministry of Magic. How about it?"
"Are you really just protecting the Ministry?" Dumbledore's eyes were full of scrutiny and it didn't look like he was very comfortable with Lucas.
"Of course, what do you think I want?"
"Okay, that's it!"
When Dumbledore said these words, Fawkes flew from afar.
He raised his hand to grab the phoenix's sharp claws, and disappeared from the place with the flames.
Umbridge and Harry had just recovered from the firelight, and found that Lucas was no longer there.
The mysterious ways of the quasi-legendary wizards once again shocked the two of them.
…
"So the two have a conflict with each other?"
In the flames of the fireplace, Umbridge humbly answered Voldemort's question.
After eavesdropping on the conversation between the two, she returned to the office as fast as her stubby toad legs could take her.
Then she used the fireplace to deliver this important information to Voldemort.
Voldemort raised his slender, pale hands, and gently stroked his chin.
"Understood, when the Ministry of Magic is under our control, I will give you a satisfactory position, you may continue with your duties."
Umbridge's excitement and joy could still be felt even through the flames.
When the fireplace returned to normal, Lucius Malfoy said softly: "Master, could it be a trap? It's impossible for two quasi-legendary wizards not to notice Umbridge, an ordinary Auror-level witch."
"Is it a trap? You can tell by experimenting. You go to do something and lure Dumbledore away in a few days. If it is really a trap, he will definitely appear when we attack the Ministry of Magic."
"If it wasn't a trap, Grindelwald alone wouldn't be able to stop me. If I wounded or even killed that kid, the Saints would probably turn against Dumbledore immediately."
Voldemort chuckled a few times, feeling full of himself. It was as if he had already seen through Lucas and Dumbledore's games.
…
The O.W.Ls exam is coming as scheduled.
As the most important exam for fifth year students, everyone must take it seriously starting today.
Harry rubbed his forehead, walking down the corridor with a sleepy face.
"Harry, what's wrong with you?"
Seeing Ron's worried gaze, Harry smiled and shook his head: "It's nothing, it's just that I keep having strange dreams these days."
"Strange dreams?"
Neville, Seamus and others all surrounded him.
Seeing the interested expressions on their faces, Harry sighed.
"Actually, I don't know what that dream means. I always dream about a dark corridor recently. At the end of the corridor is a wooden gate."
"That door looks familiar, but every time I wake up from the dream, I can't remember what the door looks like. This dream has troubled me for several days."
Several people around looked at each other before Ron said cautiously: "Harry, could it be..."
He pointed to the scar on Harry's forehead, asking if it's because of Voldemort.
In fact, Harry was skeptical too.
Apart from Voldemort, who had a special connection with him, he couldn't really think of any other reason for this to happen.
"Forget it, after today's exam is over, I'll talk to Dumbledore."
When he said this, Harry's tone seemed a little proud.
Even though Dumbledore is very kind, not everyone can go to him easily and only a handful of students have such power. And he, Harry Potter is one of them.
While talking, everyone arrived in the classroom.
The first part of the O.W.Ls exam is a written test.
The fifth-year students sat on separate tables, and following Professor McGonagall's orders, they all wrote and answered the questions on the test paper.
Surrounding the classroom were a group of aging wizards.
Some of these people were even older than Dumbledore. There was even a witch that proctored Dumbledore almost a century ago.
Even Umbridge's expression was serious and tense at the moment. This is the status of these old men and women.
After the written test, the practical test of Charms will be held immediately.
Next, the fifth year students have to take one or two assessments every day.
For example, tomorrow's test is Transfiguration.
Wednesday will be Herbology and Thursday Defense Against the Dark Arts.
On Thursday, when Harry came to the Defense Against the Dark Arts exam room, Umbridge was standing by the door gloomily, watching him.
Harry raised his eyebrows proudly at the toad.
Recently, because of the existence of these old men and women, Umbridge has restrained herself a lot.
And seeing her anxious look made Harry very happy.
But such a good mood did not last long.
Just when he walked into the gate of the examination room, he heard the proctor shouting excitedly: "Beautiful Patronus, I heard that it can kill dementors, is it true?"
Seeing Lucas nod, Professor Tofty was even more excited, and he didn't even notice that the glasses on his face slipped off.
He approached the beautiful oriental dragon with a bit of obsession in his eyes, but mostly appreciation.
"I think your spell can be regarded as an improved version of the Patronus Charm. After all, the Patronus Charm is not lethal to dementors."
"Thank you for your recognition, Professor Tofty.
Lucas' humble attitude made the old professor even more satisfied.
"Very good, very good, your exam is over."
Seeing Lucas walking towards him, Harry subconsciously stepped out of the way.
But as soon as Lucas passed, he regretted it.
Why should he take the initiative to give way to Lucas?
But at this moment he had no time to think about it, because Professor Tofty's gaze was already on him.
The defensive spell Harry cast was also a Patronus Charm.
Being able to cast a corporeal Patronus in fifth year, Harry's talent in Defense Against the Dark Arts was beyond doubt.
It's a pity that Lucas took the exam right before him, so Professor Tofty's evaluation of Harry was only good.
This made Harry angry again.
It was Lucas again, and the limelight was stolen by him again.
Harry left the examination room with a gloomy face and anyone could see that he was not happy.
"Ron, what's the next exam?"
"Drawing astrological charts, astronomy, the exam is tonight, and the place is at the astronomy tower."
Harry was taken aback when he heard that, he thought the next exam would be tomorrow.
His head started to hurt when he heard about drawing charts.
He really didn't feel anything about Jupiter and Saturn.
Just when they were planning to go to the great hall for dinner, Harry saw Dumbledore standing in the hall.
"Professor!"
Harry couldn't wait to run over.
He had a lot to say to the Headmaster, especially the strange dreams he had recently.
"Harry, how about we go for a walk together?"
Of course Harry wouldn't refuse.
The two passed through the oak gate and came outside the castle.
"Harry, I just got some very bad news, so I'm going to be away from school for a day or two."
"Promise me, no matter what happens, don't be impulsive. When I come back, if you really can't wait, go to Professor McGonagall or Lucas, understand?"
Dumbledore frowned, indicating the seriousness of the situation.
Harry nodded, and before he could say anything about his dream, Dumbledore and Fawkes disappeared before his eyes.
Sighing helplessly, he had no choice but to return to the castle for dinner.
…
At night, the observatory in the Astronomy Tower.
Fifth year students were gathered here because tonight is an astronomy exam.
The students held their telescopes, watching the changes of Jupiter in the night sky.
At this moment, Harry noticed several dark shadows appearing on the grass on the east side of the castle.
A closer look revealed that it was Umbridge who walked in the front and behind her were several Slytherin sixth year students.
"Ron, look!"
Ron put down the telescope and looked in the direction of his friend's finger.
"Merlin's beard, what does the Toad want this time? Looks like she's going to trouble Hagrid!"
Harry frowned, staring intently at the hut on the edge of the Forbidden Forest.