Chapter 1280: Registration Anomalies

Percy’s heart started pounding wildly, and he could barely hold back a laugh.

“I understand, don’t worry.”

His voice was a few notches louder than usual as he reached out to open the office door and said:

“One at a time, I promise, I will seriously listen to what each of you wants to say.”

…

Colin Creevey sat on the chair, nervously handing over the letter.

Percy glanced at it, and the content was no different from what his mother had written before—

Madam Creevey repeatedly reminded her son to eat more, study well, worried he might catch a cold in the dorms, and told him to take care of his brother.

Percy would bet that she had likely written the same words twenty times on the letter paper.

He diligently noted down Colin Creevey’s name and a summary of the letter in the register, then folded the letter paper and handed it back to Colin.

“The registration is complete.” Percy smiled, “See, this is actually very simple, and it won’t harm you in any way.”

Colin Creevey clutched the letter paper and asked worriedly, “Mr. Weasley, I… I have one more thing I want to ask…”

“Go ahead,” Percy said patiently.

“It’s just… when I previously wrote back to my mom, I mentioned some of the school life… and that I met Harry Potter…”

Colin Creevey stammered, “Would that be considered leaking information?”

Percy’s expression turned slightly serious:

“Before our safety regulations were issued, even if you did that, I couldn’t punish you for it.”

“But I must ask, Mr. Creevey—”

“Did you tell your parents your classmates’ addresses? Or have you ever speculated about the exact location of Hogwarts and then boasted about it in front of your non-magical relatives?”

Colin immediately shook his head like a rattle, “Of course not! Besides, I don’t even know those! We don’t talk to our relatives about it; they would just think we’re all mad!”

“That’s good then.”

Percy gave a faint smile and said warmly:

“In the future, whether in correspondence or regular conversations, avoid including specific names or anyone’s whereabouts.”

“Your parents may have a certain right to know about the magic world, but your other relatives do not. Be cautious about that.”

“And also, take care of your magic books. Even those you no longer need, don’t let Muggles see them.”

He patiently emphasized several things, and Colin Creevey did not argue back, just nodding repeatedly, showing he had taken note of everything sincerely.

“All right, go to class.” Percy said, “And call the next student in on your way out.”

Colin Creevey stood up, walked to the door, then turned back to glance at Percy as if he wanted to say something.

“What’s the matter?” Percy asked with concern, “Is there anything else you need to add?”

Colin stammered, “Mr. Weasley, it’s… it’s about the safety regulations… I mean… aren’t they… a bit too strict?”

Percy put down his quill, the smile vanishing from his face.

He leaned back in his chair, scrutinizing Colin with a searching look, and only after a while did he say in a deep voice:

“Mr. Creevey, these regulations are rules endorsed by the Ministry of Magic! They exist to protect you!”

“Perhaps they make you feel less free than before, but equally, those with ill intentions will have nowhere to hide because of them!”

“If no one oversees things and everyone only cares about their own affairs, when the building collapses, and you find out that the ground beneath has long been riddled with holes by various bugs, it will be too late!”

“Do you understand, Mr. Creevey?”

“I, I understand…” Colin Creevey hurriedly bowed his head, stammering, “Sorry, Mr. Weasley…”

“Hmm, you may leave. Remember to call in the next person.” Percy said.

…

A girl wearing a blue scarf walked in, her eyes red, and she started sniffing as soon as she sat down.

“Name?” Percy asked.

“Sally… Sally Perks.”

Percy asked, “Miss Perks, is there something you wish to report?”

“It’s, it’s about myself…” Perks sobbed, taking out a handkerchief to wipe her eyes, and said intermittently, “I feel… I have severe psychological distress…”

“Oh?” Percy glanced at her attire, leaning slightly forward, and asked, “You’re a Ravenclaw, right? What’s causing your distress?”

The girl sniffed and spoke incoherently—

She had a fight with her roommate because the annoying roommate used her lipstick without permission and disagreed with her proposed compensation plan;

Her hamster of three years died last week; although it was of old age, Perks still felt ‘unbearable sadness’;

She also liked Cedric from Hufflepuff and plucked up the courage to write a confession letter last week, asking someone to pass it on, but Cedric rejected it;

Perks felt humiliated and was very jealous of her classmate Cho Chang, hesitating whether to break off relations with her… but Cho Chang was also very cute and had a great personality, so she was very conflicted and distressed;

Lately, her performance in Spell Class was poor, and she was having trouble sleeping due to stress, losing a bunch of hair…

Percy’s hand holding the quill was slightly trembling.

He wasn’t sitting here to register this kind of nonsense.

But according to the Safety Regulations, if Miss Perks wished to confide these troubles to him, it seemed… there was nothing wrong with that.

Percy tried hard not to let his expression show too much impatience:

“Miss Perks, these issues you mentioned are actually minor problems, and I believe you can handle your own emotions well. If you feel you need help, you can seek out your head of house, or Madam Pomfrey…”

“Talking with professors needs to be registered too, doesn’t it?”

The girl peered at Percy with one eye through her fingers and said tearfully, “I… I don’t want to tell these things twice, wouldn’t it be better to just come to Mr. Weasley…”

Percy: “…”

…

Just outside the office, the corners of Perks’ mouth involuntarily curled into a smile.

Her companion stepped forward, grabbed her hand, and asked in a low voice, “How did it go?”

Perks glanced at her story’s “annoying roommate” who used her lipstick without permission, and blinked.

“Not bad.” She whispered in a light tone, “Pouring out all the garbage in my heart, it indeed feels a lot more comfortable.”

The next student had already walked in with head held high.

Perks tensed, “Parkinson? Why is she here too? Didn’t she not attend last night’s final meeting?”

“Yes.” The companion squeezed her hand gently and said softly, “There’s nothing to worry about; isn’t this all within expectations?”

They both recalled the words Vid had said on stage in that dim activity room—

“The ideal outcome would be if no one goes to report.”