[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring":3,"chapter-starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-254":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Starting at Hogwarts, Logging into Elden Ring",{"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},1496147,1944,"Chapter 254: Snape: Sorry, I’m an Undercover Agent!","starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-254",254,"\u003Cp>Arthur nodded in satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Make sure you count all his past screw-ups too,\" he told Lucius. \"Like last year's Ministry break-in, and the Dementor attack on Hogwarts students.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, then added with a lazy wave, \"Basically—anything that hurts his reputation, pile it on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you're not sure how to spin it… go ask Rita Skeeter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucius quickly nodded, wiping sweat from his forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He finally understood what this really was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur wasn't trying to \"teach Fudge a lesson.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur was trying to end him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for a man addicted to power like Fudge, getting kicked out of the Minister's chair was worse than dying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucius glanced at Draco beside him and felt an odd, uneasy thought surface—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>between Arthur and the Malfoys… who was the real Slytherin here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore stepped in, frowning slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This… isn't ideal. The Ministry still needs leadership.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur shrugged. \"Then put someone else in the seat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore shook his head with a small smile. \"It's not that simple. Not just anyone can run the Ministry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn't defending Fudge out of affection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cared about one thing only:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the Ministry's stability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fudge might have been cowardly and useless during crises, but in normal administration he did keep the machine running.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur didn't respond immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He just looked at Dumbledore—silent, steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And Dumbledore suddenly felt a cold suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're not… thinking of pushing me into that position, are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore waved both hands like he was physically fending the idea off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Absolutely not. Spare my old bones. I have no interest in that seat.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minister wasn't some ceremonial crown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was seven major departments, endless documents, endless decisions, endless political rot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore wasn't stupid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur clicked his tongue. \"It's only temporary. A few years. Once Hermione graduates, you retire.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Arthur, the interim didn't matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoever sat in the chair for a short period was just keeping it warm for Hermione.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Dumbledore refused, Arthur could always shove Lucius or even Lockhart into it as a placeholder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're oversimplifying. Even if I agree, Hermione can't just graduate and become Minister the next day.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"She'll need time to build influence, connections, support. That takes years.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he added bluntly, \"And I'm not sitting in that chair for years.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur rolled his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No—you're overcomplicating it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed toward the bound heap of Voldemort and his Death Eaters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you realize what happened tonight? Hermione just earned more fame and authority in one night than most people manage in a lifetime.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he wasn't wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita had already been building Hermione's \"genius witch\" legend for years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now she'd won the Triwizard Tournament…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and—more importantly—she'd solo'd Voldemort and his Death Eaters in full public view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With enough media push, Hermione's prestige could rival Dumbledore's, maybe even surpass it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Dumbledore was old and distant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione was young, dazzling, and terrifyingly competent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore went quiet, overwhelmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tonight had hit him like a runaway train.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even had the absurd thought that he might need to dump some memories into the Pensieve just to breathe properly again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the biggest shock of all?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Voldemort had been captured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which raised an uncomfortable question:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So… what exactly had the prophecy been about?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Trelawney fooled him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was Harry really the \"only one\"?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or had the entire interpretation been wrong?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was still spiraling when Arthur's voice yanked him back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore blinked. \"Sorry—what did you say?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur repeated calmly, \"I said: what are we doing with the Dark Lord?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore hesitated, then said, \"Let me speak to him first.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur snapped his fingers, removing Voldemort's restriction to speak, then gestured politely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Be my guest.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore stepped forward. \"Tom—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Voldemort cut him off instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tom is dead! There is only Voldemort!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur muttered beside them, just loud enough for everyone to hear, \"Actually Voldemort's gone too. What we have is a new magical creature: the Pig-Nosed Snake.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few scattered laughs went around—thin, nervous, but real.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Snape's lips twitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Voldemort's head snapped toward him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Severus! You ignored my call—and you dare laugh at me?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then his gaze whipped to Lucius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"And you, Lucius! You betrayed me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Voldemort clenched his will—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and the Dark Mark flared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucius instantly grabbed his left arm and screamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mark turned from black to red, burning like molten iron beneath his skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Voldemort smiled, enjoying it… until he noticed something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snape stood perfectly calm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Voldemort stared, confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why aren't you suffering?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snape slowly lifted his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His forearm was pale and clean—no mark at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he said, flat as ice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sorry. I'm an undercover agent.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nobody knew why he phrased it like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Snape clearly thought it sounded cool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Voldemort's eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No… impossible! You can't remove my Dark Mark. I don't believe it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur snorted. \"There's a lot you don't believe. Like the fact you just got beaten by a fourth-year witch.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Voldemort's face tightened. He had no comeback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draco stepped forward, tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Arthur… can you remove it from my father too?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur pointed toward Voldemort, smiling without warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Easiest way? Kill him. All his marks will dissolve automatically.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Voldemort went rigid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared at Arthur like he'd only just realized what kind of person he was dealing with.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Draco, with frightening sincerity, asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can I kill him?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Voldemort's heart nearly stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Dumbledore desperately—expecting intervention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Expecting outrage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Expecting something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Dumbledore didn't move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that terrified Voldemort more than anything else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because if Arthur nodded…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draco might actually do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Advance Chapters Available on Patreon\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>patreon.com\u002FWhiteDevil7554\u003C\u002Fp>",924,"2026-06-06T04:19:46.382Z",1,"novelbin.me","9fb20bd2109ca6a534af68b3af108c876374cb8e4450e297e057ef088544e9c1","starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-255","starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-253",281,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-cover.jpg"]