Chapter 18: Everyone Awaits His Answer

“...”
“...”

After a moment, Rita finally revealed a professional smile and nodded gently. “Since that’s the professor’s intention, I am of course willing to cooperate.”

“Excellent,” Maurice smiled, pulling out a chair and sitting down, then motioned for Sean to take the seat on his other side.

Sean hesitated briefly, looking at Maurice and then at Rita, feeling somewhat at a loss.

In the end, he steeled himself, pulled out a chair, sat down, and lowered his head to place his notebook and quill on the table, nervously adjusting his breathing.

Rita cast him a sidelong glance, a faint smirk curling at the corners of her mouth, as if mocking Sean’s awkwardness. But she quickly withdrew her gaze, picked up her quill, and resumed that composed smile.

“Well then, Maurice,” Rita began first, her tone confident yet playful as always, “let’s start with the most pressing question—why did you choose to return to the wizarding society after your time in Azkaban?”

“Because the wizarding society needs me.”

As soon as he finished speaking, both Rita and Sean began recording on parchment.

Only Sean wrote manually; Rita’s quill moved automatically.

Rita’s special quill darted across the page with a faint rustling sound.

Even after Sean had put down his pen, the quill seemed to work like a living thing, tirelessly moving. He quietly cast his eyes over the words on the parchment.

Though somewhat prepared, the text exceeded Sean’s expectations.

It read:

Maurice believes that the most urgent change needed in the current wizarding society is the blind obedience to rules.

The regulations and statutes established by the Ministry of Magic for everyone to follow are not inherently problematic. In fact, the real issue lies with those who create the rules and those who, without discernment or judgment, blindly obey or execute certain commands or demands without thoroughly analyzing the logical framework and deeper implications embedded within these shared statutes and regulations as reflected in human consciousness and thinking processes.

In simple terms, Maurice thinks that everyone except himself has a problem; they are all sick.

A cold sweat broke out on Sean’s forehead.

He knew Rita’s reputation was less than stellar, but he hadn’t expected her quill to be so brazen as to blatantly distort Professor Maurice’s meaning, fabricating words he never uttered! And in such a convoluted manner! It even attacked everyone!

Almost instinctively, Sean whispered, “Ms. Skeeter, I think... Professor Maurice didn’t exactly say that.”

Without looking up, Rita raised an eyebrow and replied in a light, airy tone, “Young man, interviewing is not just recording; it also requires extracting deeper ‘truths’ from mere fragments. You’ll learn that.”

“But this...” Sean wanted to argue further, but Rita immediately moved on with the next question.

“Maurice, what do you think causes the blind obedience of those who make the rules? Is it ignorance, or something more deliberate?”

“Perhaps both. Behind blind obedience often lies an infatuation with power and a fear of change. Those elements slow the progress of the wizarding society, sometimes bringing it to a halt.”

Rita’s quill resumed its swift dance, while Sean lowered his head and quietly jotted down Maurice’s words in his notebook.

His movements were stiff, yet his mind couldn’t stop recalling the words he had just seen on Rita’s parchment. He even imagined what the quill might write next—Professor Maurice harshly condemning the Ministry’s leadership as a band of villainous fools? Claiming that the wizarding society could never advance? That the wizarding world was hoisting a rock only to drop it on its own foot? Shocking—Professor Maurice actually said that about the Minister of Magic?

“This woman is outright making things up!” he thought angrily.

Rita shifted her posture, a sly glint flickering in her eyes, clearly ready with the next question: “Maurice, since you believe the wizarding society needs you, how do you intend to make an impact? After all, you’ve just returned from Azkaban, and many remain skeptical.”

Maurice looked at her, his eyes deep and dark like a shadowed lake.

He made no other movement, simply leaning back in his chair and responding in a calm tone, “Skepticism is normal. People always fear what they do not understand, and my time in Azkaban gave them ample reason to spin their own ‘Maurice stories.’”

He paused slightly, then turned his gaze to Sean. “But I believe there are always some who won’t simply rely on others’ tales, but are willing to seek the truth themselves. Right, Mr. Phillips?”

Sean blinked, then nodded vigorously. “Yes, Professor, I believe truth is always more important than rumor.”

Rita’s smile softened somewhat, and even her quill paused momentarily, but she quickly regained composure and pressed on. “Professor, since you mentioned ‘Maurice’s stories,’ could you please clarify which rumors are false and which are true?”

“The charm of rumors lies in their balance between truth and falsehood. Rumors too true become dull, while outright lies invite disdain. Ms. Skeeter, you understand this better than I do, don’t you?”

As Maurice spoke, Sean’s thoughts drifted back—

Back then, rumors about Maurice had flooded every street and alley in the British wizarding world.

Among them, one rumor concerning Maurice’s origins was...

At this moment, Sean involuntarily linked Maurice’s answer with that particular rumor.

Could it be...

But then again—

Maurice’s words seemed equally applicable here. Thinking this, Sean covertly glanced at Rita—her smile had completely stiffened.

About three seconds passed.

Rita took a deep breath, composed herself, and smiled gently. “Professor, I only want readers to know more facts. After all, the wizarding society is still very curious about you.”

“Then let the facts speak for themselves,” Maurice said evenly. “I did not return to defend myself, nor to cater to anyone’s expectations. I have my own matters to attend to. How others think of me is their problem, not mine.”

Sean, sitting nearby, felt his heart surge and couldn’t help but look up to ask, “Professor, then... are the things you want to do related to Hogwarts?”

Maurice turned his gaze to Sean, a rare look of appreciation in his eyes.

The answer was, of course, yes.

He chose to take up a post at Hogwarts after Azkaban not merely to secure Dumbledore’s pardon, but because he wanted to.

No one ever forced him to do anything irrelevant.

He nodded slightly. “Mr. Phillips. My work is closely connected to Hogwarts and to those children who will soon become the backbone of the wizarding world.”

Rita quickly seized upon this point and immediately interjected, “So, Professor, what changes do you think you can bring to wizarding education?”

“Wizarding education needs more than just imparting knowledge; it must teach students how to think and how to choose their own paths. My duty is to provide such guidance.”

“You mentioned that wizarding education needs to guide students to choose their own paths. So, I want to ask, do you think the current wizarding society truly grants them that freedom?”

It must be said, though Rita Skeeter’s reporting was often sensationalist, her skills as a seasoned journalist were undeniable.

No matter the statements she faced, she could quickly adjust her mindset, maintain professionalism, and keenly capture deeper, more impactful questions... all to boost her own readership.

If one were to evaluate Rita Skeeter objectively, it would be that she is highly competent, sensitive to market trends, but lacking in integrity.

Maurice lifted his head slightly, his gaze passing beyond Rita to the dim window beyond.

The air was filled with the scent of aged wood, as though the entire tavern waited silently for his answer.