Chapter 1178: Falling Together
Chapter 1178: Falling Together
At the British Ministry of Magic, within the confines of a high-level conference room, Minister Scrimgeour furrowed his brow as he listened intently to Kingsley Shacklebolt, the director of the Crisis Response Team, deliver a recent report. The Death Eaters and their minions had been wreaking havoc across Britain, severely disrupting the normal functioning of the Ministry.
A large number of witches and wizards had been dispatched to deal with the messes left by these dark wizards, straining the Ministry's resources. The overwhelming workload and overtime had left everyone exhausted and drained.
Even with Scrimgeour's generous provision of overtime compensation, the fatigue could not be alleviated. Some departments had been working continuous, high-intensity overtime for two weeks straight.
"This is a deliberate strategy by the Death Eaters," Scrimgeour said, addressing the other Ministry officials in the room after hearing Kingsley's report. "They are forcing us to expend a significant amount of energy on resolving these issues. As for their motive, I believe we all can guess—they want us to expose our weaknesses so that they can more easily infiltrate the Ministry."
"They are succeeding," added Gawain Robards, his face etched with fatigue and a sense of powerlessness. "Everyone has been stretched thin lately, and I fear that the Death Eaters may have already quietly controlled some of the Ministry employees."
The atmosphere in the conference room suddenly turned tense as everyone present shared this concern. They worried about their loved ones becoming targets of threats, despite Scrimgeour's vigilant efforts to guard against Death Eater infiltration since taking office. Several of those in attendance had to admit that employees of the Ministry were still occasionally controlled by Death Eaters or had their families endangered.
"How is the protection plan progressing?" Scrimgeour asked, turning to his assistant.
"It's proceeding steadily, but the earliest it will likely be completed is after Christmas this year," Percy replied, opening a folder and extracting a document to hand to the Minister.
"Protection plan?"
The room filled with curious glances directed at Minister Scrimgeour, everyone eager to understand the nature of this plan.
"This secret must be kept confidential for now!" Scrimgeour asserted, passing the document to the side to the Director of the Auror Office. "Adhering to the principle of voluntarism, I will ask Dumbledore to act as the confidant when the time comes."
"This..."
After perusing the so-called protection plan, the group turned to Scrimgeour, surprised by the Minister's proposed course of action.
"This is a worst-case scenario, but we must acknowledge its necessity," Scrimgeour explained. "No one wants their family to be threatened. The family members of Aurors and members of the Crisis Response Team will be given priority."
"Should I ever perish in the line of duty and the Ministry falls under Death Eater control, it can also serve as a safe house to hide from their pursuit," Minister Scrimgeour continued calmly, not shying away from discussing his own mortality.
The group exchanged glances, acknowledging that Scrimgeour was undoubtedly the toughest and most ruthless Minister they had ever encountered.
Just then, the door to the conference room was knocked upon, shattering the solemn atmosphere that had prevailed.
The officials shared fleeting glances, then brandished their wands.
Percy Weasley, upon receiving Scrimgeour's permission, proceeded to open the door.
A young employee stood outside, holding a letter. Noticing the stares fixed upon him, he appeared to become somewhat agitated.
"What is it?"
Percy shifted his stance, blocking the others' line of sight as he addressed the young employee, who seemed startled.
"Sorry, an urgent notice from the International Wizarding Federation."
The wizard snapped out of his daze and hastily proffered the letter.
He was aware that this was not an opportune time for interruptions, but there was an extremely urgent matter that required the director's attention.
"Give it to me," Percy instructed, reaching out to take the letter. He closed the conference room door and handed the urgent correspondence from the International Wizarding Federation to Rufus Scrimgeour, the Director of the Department of International Magical Cooperation at the British Ministry of Magic.
"The International Wizarding Federation strongly condemns and warns British witches and wizards for flagrantly violating the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, putting the magical world at risk of exposure to Muggles," Rufus read from the letter, a hint of self-mockery in his tone. "They are demanding that we attend an emergency meeting this afternoon and provide a reasonable explanation for our actions."
"Reasonable explanation?" Scrimgeour's lips curled into a cold smile as he finished reading the written notice. "Why don't they mention how the influx of dark wizards from other countries into Britain has contributed to the current chaos?"
The turmoil they were currently experiencing could not be solely attributed to the gray-area wizards living in Britain.
It was important to remember that several waves of dark wizards had already been dealt with by the Ministry, resulting in either their execution or imprisonment in Azkaban.
"This time, I will go to Paris myself to provide them with an explanation," Scrimgeour declared, his tone tinged with sarcasm. "Gawain, prepare the latest report for me. I believe it's futile to simply let them chastise, protest, and warn us. Perhaps we should suggest that they dispatch Aurors to help address the risk of exposure in the magical world!"
There was little choice in the matter. Ever since Fudge's blunder, which had resulted in Dumbledore losing his position as Chairman of the International Wizarding Federation, the British Ministry of Magic's standing within the Federation had plummeted, and their relationship had deteriorated further.
During the time when the mysterious figure wreaked havoc in Britain, the International Wizarding Federation had not only failed to send Aurors to assist but had instead remained aloof and hurled accusations at the British Ministry of Magic for its mishandling of the situation.
The same had occurred after the previous wizarding war, leading to a tense relationship between former Minister for Magic Millicent Bagnold and the International Wizarding Federation. They had even gone so far as to criticize British witches and wizards for celebrating their victory excessively, claiming that it violated the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy.
"Do you think you can succeed?" Rufus asked, his concern evident. "Perhaps I should go instead."
"No, it's imperative that I go personally," Scrimgeour replied resolutely. "This situation needs to be resolved. If we allow these dark wizards to continue unchecked, the Ministry will surely collapse first. In light of our recent conversation with Albert, I am convinced that this is our only option at present. Now that the International Wizarding Federation has issued a stern warning, I see an opportunity."
"I understand," Rufus sighed.
"Meeting adjourned, then," Scrimgeour said. "I need to prepare the necessary documents."
"Rufus, how confident are you about this?" Rufus remained after the meeting to discuss the matter further with the Minister. He was aware of Scrimgeour's plan to seek assistance from the International Wizarding Federation, but he doubted its likelihood of success.
He felt it would be better for him, as the Director of International Magical Cooperation, to handle the negotiations rather than have the Minister go and potentially face unjust accusations.
"We need support, and I have no other choice," Scrimgeour acknowledged the low probability of success. "I don't believe anyone will want to get involved, but after speaking briefly with Albert, I realized that this is our only option right now. With the International Wizarding Federation sending this stern warning, I see a chance for us."
That afternoon, Scrimgeour, under the protection of two teams of Ministry Aurors, discreetly used the Floo Network to depart Britain and arrive in Paris, where he attended the meeting of the International Wizarding Federation.
The chairman presiding over the meeting, Babajide Agbabiaka, was taken aback by Scrimgeour's unexpected presence.
Before the members of the International Wizarding Federation could unleash their criticisms of the British Ministry of Magic, Scrimgeour took the initiative to speak.
"I am aware that the International Wizarding Federation is deeply dissatisfied with the chaotic situation in Britain," he began. "But do you truly believe that this is solely the fault of the British Ministry of Magic?
"
"It's no easy task to convince the International Wizarding Federation to lend a hand," Rufus remarked, recalling his conversation with his special advisor. Although Albert had never acknowledged the position, Rufus had to admit that Albert had helped him alleviate many troubles and was far more reliable than his other special advisor, Fudge.
"Since the Dark Lord's resurrection, a large number of dark wizards have been recruited and have poured into Britain from all over Europe, becoming followers of the Dark Lord. Even extremely dangerous giants have appeared in Britain, causing severe destruction. While we have successfully killed a small number of them, signs indicate that there are still many giants lingering in the country."
Ignoring the other members, Scrimgeour continued, his voice strong and overpowering: "You may believe that Britain is now a powder keg... To be frank, can you stop those meaningless ramblings and let me finish?"
"Minister Scrimgeour, perhaps you should calm down. This is unbecoming of your gentlemanly demeanor," one member scoffed sarcastically.
"If you had been working nonstop at a high intensity for a month like I have, instead of spewing meaningless nonsense, I'm sure your temper wouldn't be any better than mine," Scrimgeour retorted sharply, not holding back his irritation.
"Is the situation in Britain that dire?"
Babajide Agbabiaka frowned, realizing that the situation seemed even worse than he had anticipated.
"I'm afraid it's a ticking time bomb," Scrimgeour admitted bluntly. "I believe that to prevent the magical world from being completely exposed to Muggles, the International Wizarding Federation should immediately organize Aurors to go to Britain and help deal with the Dark Lord's followers, preventing the British wizarding world from losing control and being exposed."
Everyone in the room was stunned.
They had intended to rebuke the British Ministry of Magic severely, but Scrimgeour's tactics had caught them off guard.
"What about Dumbledore?"
Babajide Agbabiaka changed the subject, allowing the group to issue verbal warnings, but no one wanted to deal with the formidable problem of the Dark Lord.
"Dumbledore is helpless, too. He has helped the Ministry combat dark wizards on more than one occasion, but Britain has paid a heavy price. At present, the British Ministry is powerless to control the situation," Scrimgeour stated bluntly, holding up a document. "I have here a list of dark wizards recently executed by the Ministry, totaling nearly two hundred. The number of dark wizards currently active in Britain is far higher, and they originate from various European countries. So, you'll find that the security situation in your own countries has improved because all those troublemakers have flocked to Britain to follow the Dark Lord."
"We must make them understand that this is no longer just Britain's problem, but an issue for the entire European wizarding community. They must realize that Britain is incapable of handling the current situation alone. If the International Wizarding Federation refuses to send reinforcements, they will have to help clean up the mess later. They must comprehend that if the magical world is exposed to Muggles, it won't be because of Britain's shortcomings, but the consequence of their inaction."
Scrimgeour had to admit that such a threat would likely damage the reputation of the British wizarding world, but the situation at hand left him no choice.
Moreover, during Gellert Grindelwald's reign of terror across the globe, the British Ministry of Magic had eventually dispatched Aurors to help. Now, with the second Dark Lord wreaking havoc in Britain, the International Wizarding Federation's indifference was infuriating.
Scrimgeour swept the room with a sharp gaze, his tone threatening: "If the International Wizarding Federation refuses to send Aurors to Britain to help capture these criminals, perhaps you'll have to discuss this matter with the Dark Lord himself after he kills me and takes control of the Ministry, leading to a complete loss of control."
"This is a despicable threat!" someone shouted in outrage during the meeting.
The outburst was met with a chorus of agreement, many condemning Scrimgeour's words, but the man himself remained unmoved.
"I'm merely stating facts. Don't look at me like that. My predecessor as Minister of Magic was murdered by the Dark Lord before he even took office. I assumed the position in an emergency, and reliable intelligence indicates that the Dark Lord is currently trying to kill me. Once I'm gone, no one in Britain will be able to stop him."
"What about Dumbledore?" someone mocked, scoffing at Scrimgeour's self-importance.
"I believe Dumbledore will not stand idly by and watch the British Ministry fall under the Dark Lord's control," Scrimgeour replied.
"Yes, I think so, too," he added, surprising everyone.
However, before anyone could react, he continued: "But Dumbledore is just one man, and more than fifty malicious incidents occur in Britain every day. Do you understand what that means? So far, over a thousand Muggles have been mercilessly slaughtered, yet the International Wizarding Federation turns a blind eye."
"This is Britain's problem."
"No, it's no longer just Britain's problem. It's an issue for the entire magical community because those committing the massacres are dark wizards from all over Europe. We can't keep this under wraps for much longer, which is why I'm here seeking your help today."
"Seeking our help?" Many found this statement laughable.
"If you've been paying attention, you'll know that I've sought help from the International Wizarding Federation since I took office," Scrimgeour threatened. "If these malicious incidents continue, the British wizarding world will be unable to cover up the Death Eaters' actions. It's only a matter of time before the magical world is exposed to Muggles. Once Britain descends into complete chaos, your stern warnings and reprimands will be meaningless. Those dark wizards won't pay any heed to you, and from the number of Muggle deaths in the previous wizarding war, you should understand their attitude towards Muggles. Don't expect them to help conceal the existence of the magical world. In fact, their actions have already seriously violated the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy."
"We need to discuss this matter with the magic ministries of various countries," Babajide Agbabiaka said, his face twitching slightly. Faced with Scrimgeour's threat, they really had no good counterargument.
Scrimgeour's stance left them little room to maneuver—he seemed ready to take on the dark wizards head-on, and the list of recently executed dark wizards only reinforced his determination. They all realized that he was not joking around.
If the situation in Britain truly collapsed, they would have to step in and deal with the aftermath. The alternative was unthinkable—the magical world being completely exposed to Muggles.
This left many members of the International Wizarding Federation feeling extremely frustrated.
"You'd better hurry," Scrimgeour advised. "Our people have been working nonstop at a high intensity for several weeks now, and I don't know how much longer they can hold on." He added, "If we can eliminate this group of dark wizards, I believe it will be beneficial to maintaining stability in the European wizarding community."
(End of Chapter)
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