Hermione was surprised, for when she knocked on Professor Bren's office door on the third floor of the main city, there were already guests inside.
Moreover, they were the very ones that caused her conflict with Ron just then.
Professor Bren was sitting in his office, fingering his navel and looking calmly at the Slytherin students across the room, most of whom were enrolled in his PE class.
"Aha, you came quickly, Miss Granger—"
Professor Bren stretched out one hand towards Hermione, who had a flushed face and heavy breathing.
"Please wait a moment--"
Hermione nodded mutely, her lips tight, and walked towards the sofa.
As she passed by the display case, Hermione couldn't help but glance at it curiously.
The exhibit in Bren Professor's office, a bit famous among students, has more exhibits.
This is not surprising. With the new school year starting, it's certain that some students would want to be cunning and take advantage of the chaos to try and bring some dangerous items into the school.
However, among all the bizarre exhibits, the most eye-catching was still that grapevine cane belonging to Ventyra Chirona.
Hermione gave the wand a quick, respectful glance, then sat up straight on the sofa.
Malfoy and others gave Hermione a few glances with cold eyes, but then lost interest in her.
The atmosphere was somewhat tense.
Even the cool autumn wind coming in through the windows and the sound of the forest waves could not dispel the strange oppression in Professor Bren's office.
There were some files on the desk, some were school affairs, some were routine notices from the Ministry of Magic. Amortus randomly glanced at a few pages. Seeing nothing particularly important, he neatly arranged the files and threw them aside.
Crack--
The sound of the file hitting the desk made the shoulders of a few students opposite him involuntarily shake.
"Tell me what you think--"
Amortus watched the few people calmly, his tone devoid of any inflection.
"What do you mean?"
A few people hesitated for a moment, but in the end, it was still Draco who asked.
This conversation is just beginning -- breathless and focused, Hermoine thought to herself, eyes straight ahead and unwavering.
"Theoretically speaking, providing psychological counseling is not my job."
Perhaps Severus would be a better fit, but since your dissatisfaction involves me, I cannot ignore your feelings and prevent the dissatisfaction from brewing in your hearts, eventually turning into hatred and hurting myself and others.”
Amortus looked at Draco meaningfully, which caused the latter to pale instantly.
No one spoke.
This did not surprise Hermione, who had her ears pricked up, for if she had been in their shoes, she would have nothing to say either.
"It seems you're not willing to open up to me."
Amortus shook his head slightly disappointed.
"Then I'll say it, Not, and the two Greengrass girls--"
Theodore Not, as well as the sisters Daphne and Astoria, straightened up immediately, as if by instinct, once their names were called.
Looking at the two fifth-grade students who would face the OWLS exams this year, as well as the three students who had only been in school for three years, Amortus' eyesight became deeper.
"Do you hate me?"
Hermione's heart skipped a beat as she glanced at Professor Bren's expression. She had a guess about what Professor Bren was discussing with these people, but she hadn't expected him to be so direct, asking such a sharp question.
The three students named clearly surprised, they tried hard to control their expressions, not to reveal their true thoughts.
But the answer to the question was inevitable.
As the only male among the three, Theodore felt he should act more responsible.
"Not hateful, Professor Bren."
Theodore Not's face was heavy.
"Huh--"
Amortus gazed at Not.
"You and I both know that your answer is a lie, Theodore."
Theodore remained silent.
"Your father was a Death Eater, and he was discovered on the battlefield of the Battle of Diagon Alley--"
Professor Bren said calmly again, which made Hermione's heart palpitate!
She saw Theodore Not's fist clench suddenly upon hearing this, the veins on his forehead popping out, and his face terrifyingly pale!
"I may have said this may shock you, but in fact, I do not look down upon Death Eaters with contempt, but I do believe that they must pay some price for the crimes they have committed--"
Amortus' fingers crossed again, watching Theodore calmly with a composed expression.
"I think no rational and clear-minded wizard would disagree with this, of course--"
The pain in Theodore's eyes softened Amortus' heart a bit.
"I will not treat a child differently because of their parent being a dark wizard, neither will any professor at Hogwarts. This is the basic quality of a teacher--"
Hermione clapped silently in her heart for this sentence.
The students of Slytherin seemed to have turned into mouthless gourds, unable to speak; they just sat there, silent and staring at the ground.
However, Professor Bren's words did manage to soothe Theodore's agitated emotions a bit.
His eyes still contained a heavy pain, but his tightly clenched fists slightly relaxed.
"Professor--"
The hoarse voice of Theodore drew surprised glances from the students in the office.
"I heard that my father was being held in the Azkaban prison."
Theodore gritted his teeth and breathed heavily,
"There. There--"
"There. It's different from Azkaban. There are no Dementors to torment the prisoners."
Amortus said.
"But I heard there are Acromantulae there."
Theodore looked at Professor Bren with deep and intimidating eyes behind the desk, fear in his eyes was flickering.
"They--"
"The Acromantulae there are only meant to maintain order, to prevent prisoners from escaping or to deter anyone from attempting a rescue; they are not responsible for torturing prisoners--"
Amortus said.
Amortus said, "In fact, there is a fundamental difference between Azkaban and Althorn Prison. It does not use threats or torture to punish offenders. Instead, it hopes that the offenders will genuinely repent for their crimes."
"Sincere repentance?"
Theodore asked, stunned.
"That's right--"
Amortus nodded.
"Offenders will receive education on correct ideas and labor--"
"Labor?"
Hermione blurted out.
"That's right, Miss Granger--"
Amortus did not scold Hermione for interrupting; he just nodded and said,
"Just like the villagers who marched in Diagon Alley a few days ago, offenders need to work in Althorn. They need to cultivate land, raise pigs, and so on--"
The head of the famous Not family being imprisoned and cultivating land, raising pigs?
Professor Bren's solemn words nearly made Hermoine burst into laughter. She had to grip her thigh hard to prevent herself from disrupting the conversation atmosphere led by Professor Bren.
Things that are interesting to Hermione may not be for everyone else, like Draco and others. They only feel deep shame because their ancestors may one day end up in Althorn Prison, farming or raising pigs.
But upon calm reflection.
This is indeed a vast improvement over Azkaban!
Just then, Theodore's face remained pale.
The knowledge that his father wouldn't have to suffer the Dementors helped him lose some of his hatred, but being held in prison for the rest of his life, doing menial tasks, was far more difficult for him than death.
"My father."
Theodore's face turned blue and red for a moment before biting his teeth.
"I heard he was sentenced to life imprisonment. I still have a chance."
"If he behaves well in prison, I believe he has a chance to see the light of day again."
Amortus said, he tapped the desktop, and a document flew out of the drawer in the bookshelf, landing in front of Theodore instead of him.
Theodore took the document in a daze, scanning the words on the cover, and his eyes immediately focused.
"The 'Althorn Prison Regulations,' which record the criteria I have formulated for offenders to be either reduced or increased in their sentences based on their behavior in prison, whether it's good conduct or rebellion against authority."
Draco and the others also immediately turned their eyes towards the document in Theodore's hand, showing great concern.
Maybe, one day, we will all need it!
"May I send a copy of this to my father, Professor Bren?"
The thick stack of documents was not suitable for close inspection at the moment, and Theodore quickly scanned it before it was taken by Draco. He looked eagerly at Professor Bren.
"It's not necessary--"
Amortus shook his head.
"Every inmate upon entering prison is taught these things, they all understand. But whether they follow through on it is another matter. If you want your father to be released earlier, Theodore, tell him when you see him that he should accept the reform with sincerity--"
"I can still. Can still, be able to--"
Theodore opened his mouth in astonishment, and the other young wizards, including Hermione, also looked at Professor Bren with surprise.
"Of course--"
Amortus nodded calmly.
"Of course. To educate students to follow the law, cherish life, and stay away from crime, Hogwarts will organize a special educational activity this semester. All fifth-year and above young wizards can apply to visit the latest Althorn Prison--"
