Chapter 439: Cornelius Fudge
Chapter 439: Cornelius Fudge
"This is truly shocking... truly shocking... Albus, you didn't tell me any of this before we came here..."
"Believe me, Cornelius, I didn't know much more than you did until recently..."
Kyle, standing at the door, heard the conversation inside and knocked on the oak door of the Headmaster's Office.
Soon, the door opened.
Inside the Headmaster's Office, Cornelius Fudge sat across from Dumbledore, looking slightly nervous.
Two days before the holiday, Dumbledore and Sirius Black finally returned. Without Kyle needing to say anything, Dumbledore wrote a letter to the Ministry of Magic, using any excuse to bring Fudge to Hogwarts.
Kyle had thought that Dumbledore would handle the rest, but just as he was about to leave, Professor McGonagall came to tell him that the Headmaster was looking for him.
Seeing Kyle at the door, Fudge frowned, "Dumbledore, this is..."
"Kyle was the first to realize that the rat was suspicious," Dumbledore said with a smile, "so I invited him as well. If there are any details I've overlooked, he can help clarify things for you."
"Oh, that's impressive..." Fudge said absentmindedly.
Kyle noticed that the Pensieve, which had always been kept in the cabinet, was taken out. Clearly, before he entered, they had already viewed Peter Pettigrew's memories.
"Albus, you've really given me a difficult problem..."
Fudge glanced at Kyle and hesitantly said, "Peter Pettigrew is a First Class Order of Merlin, and it's been twelve years.
Moreover, we've held Sirius Black for a year... If we tell everyone now that their identities were mistaken, I'll be buried under a flood of Howlers."
"Being the Minister of Magic isn't easy, I have to deal with many matters every day." Fudge twirled his Sorting Hat, "Is it possible that the rat's memory is fake... and you also said it can't change back, so no one can prove it's an illegal Animagus... right?"
"You're right, Cornelius," Dumbledore sighed and agreed, "It ate too many Mandrake leaves, and this is indeed a difficult problem. I suppose you might not have a solution either.
It's a pity for Sirius, who was not only imprisoned for twelve years but also constantly hunted by Dementors."
Fudge raised his head, looking a bit surprised.
He had thought that Dumbledore would argue with him, and he had even prepared excuses to decline. But the situation took a turn, and from what he understood, Dumbledore didn't seem to want to pursue the matter further.
Fudge thought a lot, but his expression remained unchanged.
"You must have planned this together," he said with dissatisfaction, looking at Dumbledore, "And I suspect this was your idea."
"I'm sorry, Cornelius, I don't understand what you mean," Dumbledore said in surprise, "What did we do?"
"Stop pretending, you cunning fellow," Fudge smiled, "Did you teach Kyle to say those words? They seem to praise me, but they're actually meant to make me agree to reopen Black's case.
"You misunderstand, Cornelius." Dumbledore said with a peculiar expression, "I didn't teach Kyle to say those things..."
"Oh?" Fudge smiled as if he had seen through everything, "Kyle is a good kid, he doesn't have such complicated thoughts."
Dumbledore's expression became even more peculiar.
Kyle acted as if he hadn't heard, but also seemed to agree, "Minister, that's not what I meant... I truly think you're a good Minister."
"Well, I have to admit, I was fooled." Fudge sat back in his chair and placed the Sorting Hat beside him.
"The case of Sirius Black was indeed a failure of the Ministry, and as the current Minister, I also have the responsibility to correct this mistake."
"Cornelius, do you agree to reopen the case?" Dumbledore asked.
"Isn't this what you wanted to see?" Fudge said, "But before that, we must find Sirius Black..."
Before he could finish, a raggedly-dressed person walked out from the corner of the Headmaster's Office.
It was Sirius Black.
Unconsciously, Fudge tensed up and jumped out of his chair, opening his mouth to call for help.
But he soon regained his composure, and the hand that was reaching for his wand subtly changed direction, unbuttoning a button on his collar, while giving Dumbledore a strange look, as if to say... Even though the person was found, it wasn't his idea.
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Dumbledore didn't argue, but said:
"When I found him, he was dealing with two Death Eaters..."
"Wait a moment," Fudge interrupted, asking, "Did Sirius Black steal from others?"
"Precisely because he didn't do that..." Dumbledore said, "So the process was very dangerous, but fortunately, he managed to do it..."
Sirius Black dragged two unconscious people from the corner, their faces bruised and swollen, clearly knocked out.
Fudge carefully examined them.
There were no Dark Marks on their wrists, and they probably weren't important figures. But since Dumbledore was here, it confirmed that they were indeed Death Eaters. Later, the Aurors could identify them.
"Because Sirius Black still can't move around freely..." Dumbledore said, "So Cornelius, when you return, can you help bring these two back to the Ministry of Magic? This is also Sirius Black's wish."
"Me?" Fudge's eyes lit up, "Oh, of course, no problem, it's what I should do."
He seemed very pleased, "Even though he's evading the Dementors' capture, he still remembers to fight the Death Eaters. I'm starting to believe that he was indeed wronged."
"Whether he was wronged or not, we still need to investigate clearly." Dumbledore said, "During this time, I'll take care of him, how about that."
"That's the best." Fudge said, "But how should we investigate..."
He looked at the cage on the table, "The Wizengamot won't accept the memory of a rat, and this is something I can't change even as the Minister of Magic.
Moreover, if we can't see Peter Pettigrew in person, it's useless even if Sirius Black voluntarily asks to drink Veritaserum."
"You can rest assured about this." Dumbledore said, "We've found a way to restore Peter, but it'll take some time."
"This is no problem." Fudge glanced at the two Death Eaters tied together, "If there's anything the Ministry of Magic can help with, just ask... As I said, this was a mistake made by the Ministry in the first place, and I'm willing to make up for it."
Dumbledore slightly nodded his head... From Fudge's words, it seemed like he had already determined that Sirius Black was wronged.
...
(End of Chapter)
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