Harry Potter : Bloodraven

Chapter 205 - 205: The Wise Man Onboard (II) (CH - 225)

The atmosphere in the Hogwarts Headmaster's office was unusually quiet at this moment. The usual twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes was gone, replaced by a subtle crease of concern, and likewise, his deputy looked just as deep in thought, as if a thousand worries were running through her mind."...Why, Maverick?" McGonagall asked after a moment of thought, forgetting to even use the formal "Professor" as she usually did.

"You have wealth, fame, and power... so why involve yourself in the country's politics?" Her eyes studied his face, trying to make sense of the young man she had known for over two years but who suddenly felt... like a different person.

"Because I can't stand how backwards this country's magical government is, Professor. Fudge needs to step down, and a more competent minister is desperately needed."

"By competent, you mean Lord Greengrass? How are you so sure he won't be the same… or worse?" she pressed.

Maverick let out a quiet sigh. "Look, Professor, it's out of sincerity that I'm sharing this with you. Even if you choose not to persuade the votes in your faction to cooperate, I'm confident I can still secure the minimum support I need." work—first to where Black was, then to Greengrass Manor to pick up the rat—and returned to the office in less than half an hour.

---

"And who might this be, then?" McGonagall asked, her sharp eyes fixed on the unfamiliar figure who stood beside Lupin, nervously rubbing the back of his head.

"Right... I forgot," The man in question glanced down and said as he slipped a ring from his finger. Instantly, his features changed, revealing a face they all knew—wearing that all-too-familiar grin.

Seeing his true appearance, a flicker of surprise crossed the two deans' faces, and McGonagall stood from her chair and approached him.

"Uh… Professor, I hope I'm not in any trouble," Black said, swallowing nervously. Despite having graduated long ago, he still feared the stern professor. But to his surprise, she suddenly pulled him into a motherly hug and patted his back gently.

"You poor thing. I apologize for allowing you to suffer in that wretched place all these years."

Sirius flinched at the sudden embrace but then sighed and relaxed into it. "I chose to stay silent, Professor. It's nobody's fault," he said, voice more emotional than he let on.

McGonagall stepped back, then finally turned her gaze to the other man—the true culprit behind it all—locked in a small cage, chained up. "Why is he unconscious?" she asked.

"It's better if he doesn't see you both otherwise it could get complicated during the hearing." Maverick said. "But if you need to interrogate him, feel free to use Veritaserum after changing your appearance. Or I have a memory of our interrogation that you can watch."

"The memory will do…" Dumbledore said, rising from his chair. He walked over to Sirius, resting a hand on his shoulder and offering the same apology for neglecting him. Then, taking the vial Maverick had handed over, Dumbledore and McGonagall both leaned in to examine its contents without another word.

---

Half an hour later.

"Professor Caesar. And you two!"

As soon as she raised her head from the Pensieve, the stern headmistress glared sharply at the three men, eyes blazing with all the words she chose not to say aloud.

"Did you give them the wrong memory?" Sirius nudged Maverick, whispering.

"No, of course not. Probably…" Maverick mumbled, tilting his head toward the fuming lioness.

"Do you call that interrogation? Merlin… that was downright barbaric!"

Dumbledore walked back to his chair and sat down, making no move to stop his deputy's outburst. To be honest, he wasn't fond of the brutality either—the endless cycle of beating Peter Pettigrew and then healing him, repeated for over an hour, so much so they had to skip most of it.

Finally, after sizing up the two culprits—Lupin and Sirius—to her heart's content, McGonagall sank back into her seat. But not before casting a sharp glare at Maverick, clearly knowing he had allowed it to happen.

The brief episode ended quickly, and Dumbledore and McGonagall now fully grasped the clear proof and truth behind the whole incident. They talked a bit more, with the portrait of the dead headmaster joining in—rambling on at Sirius about marrying a few wives—before finally calling it a night.

With the meeting finally over, and after returning the rat and Sirius Black to where they had been picked up, Maverick and Lupin made their way back to their offices.

Settling into his chair in his own office, Maverick reflected quietly on the night's events, thinking, things had gone about as well as they could have.

The old man was on board—though not entirely convinced—but that was enough for now. The next few months until the end of the semester would hopefully pass quietly at Hogwarts. Yet beyond the school's walls, before the holidays, Maverick still had a pressing matter looming on his schedule—something not quite tied to the magical world, but destined to play a crucial part in his plans for the coming year.

Smartphones. Well, not quite smart—at least, not yet—but the world's first truly mobile phone with a color touchscreen and a built-in camera. Maverick's company on the Muggle side had been working tirelessly to bring this vision to life, pouring countless hours into research and development. Now, after months of trials, they were finally in the testing phase, with a planned launch set for late November. This wasn't just another gadget; it would be a game changer.

Though the world's technological evolution had, in some ways, raced ahead faster than Maverick remembered from his previous life, everyday inventions like public computers and cell phones followed a familiar path—a steady, predictable climb.

Therefore, he didn't need to be a Tony Stark-level genius to make a name for himself in the Muggle world. With knowledge of the future twenty years ahead, he was confident he could build a technological empire on the Muggle side just as well.

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Author's Note:

???? Drop those Power Stones! ????

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