[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hogwarts-john-wick":3,"chapter-hogwarts-john-wick-hogwarts-john-wick-chapter-279":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Hogwarts’ John Wick",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1646063,2109,"279: Dumbledore, do you bleed?","hogwarts-john-wick-chapter-279",279,"\u003Cp>\"Harry, please go back with Arthur first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But, Professor Dumbledore—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I still have some matters to deal with.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry walked out of the courtroom, turning back to glance at Dumbledore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore winked at him, just like always.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mr. Weasley was waiting outside, clearly anxious to know the outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John noticed Dumbledore hadn't left. Crouch gave John a slight nod before departing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That boy was a bit of a letdown,\" said Damocles Alex Belby with a shake of his head. He had expected the legendary savior to be something special.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, he seemed no different from an ordinary fifteen-year-old boy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two walked together toward the exit, still chatting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir Johnny Silverhand, may I have a word with you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore called out. Damocles glanced at Dumbledore, then at John, and said, \"I'll leave you two alone.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John paused mid-step. The people still inside the courtroom seemed to understand that this moment was meant for just the two of them, and quietly filed out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amelia slowed as she passed them, then quickly made her way out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only two people remained in the courtroom—John stood facing Dumbledore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Perhaps this makes you feel a bit better,\" said Dumbledore with that familiar kind expression. \"About that incident... I truly am sorry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John looked at him without responding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore went on, \"I know you've been preparing something against the Death Eaters—some rather radical methods.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I hope we can sit down and talk properly.\" He waved his hand, conjuring two soft chairs. \"Maybe all we've ever needed was one good conversation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at John hopefully, gesturing for him to sit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John lowered his gaze to the chair beside him, raising a hand to gently stroke its surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You know, Dumbledore,\" he said quietly as his fingers brushed over the chair's smooth fabric, \"these days, I've been thinking about something.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who exactly is Dumbledore?\" He slowly raised his head. \"The Headmaster of Hogwarts?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No. No, he's not.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dumbledore is a god.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, there was an unreadable look in his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He controls everything, so he should solve everything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He's full of compassion, full of mercy. He's like a saint... a god.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Woosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flames ignited where his fingers had touched the chair, gradually engulfing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fire shrouded half of the silver mask, and John's voice turned emotionless. \"We're all supposed to be like this—listening to Dumbledore, crowding around him.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"John,\" Dumbledore murmured in stunned disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But the god has grown old.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John's voice turned colder still. \"When gods bleed, the godslayers will come.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fire roared, and the chair was quickly reduced to charred black remains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You think you're a good headmaster?\" John sneered. \"The lack of internal education is a fact, Dumbledore. This isn't just me being petty—your education leaves students unable to even protect themselves.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you're a god, then you ought to show equal fairness to all living beings. And that, you have failed to do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you know what's truly pathetic?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You possess the power of a god, yet carry the heart of a man.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You try to avoid your flaws, but in doing so, you only let them grow.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You could've led the entire Ministry of Magic against Voldemort and kept casualties to a minimum.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But instead, you chose to lead a separate force, causing unnecessary tragedies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You run from yourself, yet refuse to let go of everything.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chair was completely consumed by fire, the acrid smell of burning filling the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As John spoke, he walked past the chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at this god who wanted both to escape and to hold on to everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of Dumbledore's lifelong failures stemmed from his avoidance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was true in the past, and it was true now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His leniency toward Voldemort came from that mercy—and a trace of arrogance in his own power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was Voldemort really that hard to deal with?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, not really.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All it would have taken was someone powerful enough—someone to lead the Ministry of Magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore, without question, was the best choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His strength had already been proven during the Grindelwald era, and the Ministry had once invited him to become Minister for Magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was afraid—afraid that power would corrupt him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So instead, he chose to form the Order of the Phoenix and fight back against Voldemort that way.... even forbidding the Order members to use lethal curses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The result?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He allowed Voldemort to grow unchecked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Death Eaters gained the support of more pure-blood families, becoming a force that threw the wizarding world into chaos, with many Muggles dying tragically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, the Ministry of Magic was filled with capable talent—seasoned Aurors, veterans of countless battles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People like the Longbottoms all came from that system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Dumbledore chose to rely on freshly graduated students like James Potter, Lilly Potter, Sirius Black, Arthur Weasley, etc.. unwilling to make use of the Ministry's strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of education, Dumbledore was also a complete mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knowing full well that Voldemort hadn't been truly eliminated, he still allowed the Defense Against the Dark Arts curriculum to drift without structure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each new professor restarted the subject, leading to wildly inconsistent learning progress among students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for the Constellation Society and the trio of students, John was certain this year's Hogwarts class would have gone down as the weakest in history.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mercy was always extended where it shouldn't be—a symptom of pride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your failure was born of your contradictions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>John walked past Dumbledore, speaking in a calm voice, \"A god should stay upon the altar.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brushing past him, John didn't spare a glance at the old man who stood frozen, unable to recover his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once more, John passed by that black door of the Department of Mysteries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at it for a moment, then turned and stepped into the lift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will make the god bleed the first drop of blood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crouch Sr. was in a very good mood—this time, Harry Potter had not been convicted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The matter could be made big or small, but ultimately it wasn't serious enough to warrant pressing charges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Consider it giving Dumbledore some face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More importantly, this allowed them to strip away some of Dumbledore's power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Dumbledore was still the strongest wizard in the magical world, the crown of the White King had been taken from his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for the investigator to be sent to Hogwarts...\" Crouch Sr. looked at John with anticipation. \"Sir Johnny Silverhand, who do you think should be appointed?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Crouch, you're the Minister,\" John replied with a smile tugging at his lips. \"But I do have a candidate in mind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dolores Umbridge.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Her?\" Crouch frowned. \"She used to work under Fudge.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We need someone to counterbalance Dumbledore. He's only been suspended, not removed,\" John said with a smile, waving his hand casually. \"It's not exactly a pleasant job.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crouch thought that made sense—if someone was to restrain Dumbledore, it had to be someone unafraid of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Umbridge was just such a person—or, more accurately, someone too ignorant to know fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so Crouch happily approved it, while John casually mentioned one more name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oz Hield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To reform education, we naturally also need to strengthen it,\" John said meaningfully. \"We need to show others the Ministry's determination to fix the education system.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Umbridge might be decent at managing people, but as for teaching—better not count on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crouch Sr. had no objections. After all, if Oz turned out to be a good teacher, he would eventually work for the Ministry anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When it came to education, one couldn't afford to be careless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a review process, it would be decided whether Oz Hield would be appointed as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ministry's involvement in Hogwarts' education was a double-edged sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the plus side, just as John had pointed out, Dumbledore's laissez-faire attitude toward both students and staff led to wildly inconsistent performance—students with talent thrived, but the average student floundered. This move could raise the floor for everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the downside, if a future Minister harbored ulterior motives, Hogwarts could easily become a cradle for political indoctrination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, this problem wasn't too concerning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because their goal wasn't to control Hogwarts' education—it was to strip Dumbledore of his power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore, the Hogwarts Board of Governors, and the Ministry of Magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three factions balancing each other out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crouch Sr. had never intended to become Dumbledore's mortal enemy—he only wanted to curb his authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So even though Dumbledore's authority was being trimmed, they still intended to show him respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His philosophy was the same as John's: either let Dumbledore remain a god, lofty and untouchable—or make him fully human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But not this contradiction—occupying a god's throne while acting with human flaws.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after this trial, another issue had been brought to the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dementors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Dementors have been serving the Ministry for many years,\" Crouch Sr. said with a frown. \"Dumbledore mentioned the potential threat they pose, and now it seems that threat is real.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Finding a way to remove them won't be easy in the short term.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dementors weren't just glorified prison guards—they served as a kind of suppressant, draining the will and energy of Azkaban's inmates, keeping them too lethargic to stir up trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That kind of utility was hard to replicate with any other magical creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>___________\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Read 12 Chaps ahead:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Patreon: Dragonel\u003C\u002Fp>",1558,"2026-06-06T11:45:53.361Z",1,"novelbin.me","7260bead36931e397acc781cc17a63de33a798f987910013ec2cfd79292063c4","hogwarts-john-wick-chapter-280","hogwarts-john-wick-chapter-278",577,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhogwarts-john-wick-cover.jpg"]