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Chapter 963: Fudge's Grudge
Chapter 963: Fudge's Grudge
"I believe you are no longer fit for your current position. You will receive your transfer notice by tomorrow at the latest, so you might as well pack up and leave now."
Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, glared at the young wizard across the desk, signaling that he could scram.
The young wizard froze, staring at Fudge in disbelief. He couldn't fathom that he had just lost this promising job simply for speaking a few truths.
His lips twitched as if he wanted to say something more, but under Fudge's stare, he ultimately said nothing and silently turned to leave.
As he watched the dejected figure of the young wizard depart, a cold smile tugged at Fudge's lips.
If it weren't for the fact that this assistant had diligently served him for two years, Fudge would have had him kicked out of the Ministry of Magic altogether instead of merely transferring him.
Yes, this unlucky Ministerial assistant had lost his promising career simply because he didn't understand Fudge's thoughts.
He was competent, but so what? Fudge needed an assistant who could help him solve problems, not create them.
What nonsense was it to say that Dumbledore had no reason to spread rumors?
How dare he presumptuously offer his "wise counsel"? Fudge had dealt with Dumbledore for many years; did he think Fudge didn't understand Dumbledore's character? Did he think Fudge was unaware that Dumbledore had no interest in the position of Minister for Magic? Of course, he knew! Cornelius Fudge, more than anyone, was clear that he had become the Minister for Magic only because Dumbledore had refused the nomination.
Even after becoming the Minister, Fudge had never forgotten the amount of esteem and support Dumbledore had garnered during the election, just as he had never forgotten how admired Bartemius Crouch had been within the Ministry.
Fudge was extremely jealous of and disliked Crouch, but he had never been jealous of Dumbledore because Dumbledore was never his competitor.
He still needed to rely on Dumbledore's reputation to solidify his position as the Minister, and the elderly wizard was more than happy to lend his aid.
Thus, Fudge had always been outwardly respectful toward Dumbledore.
Dumbledore's support was crucial to him. It helped Fudge's decrees gain swift recognition, as people knew that Fudge had discussed these important matters with Dumbledore, ensuring there would be no significant issues. His political opponents wouldn't dare to blatantly disagree, either.
Maintaining a friendly relationship with Dumbledore also helped Fudge maintain his image within the Ministry. Even when he disagreed with some of Dumbledore's decisions, he chose to remain silent, such as when Dumbledore hired a werewolf as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. No matter what, the wizarding world would never accept such a thing, but Fudge ultimately kept quiet.
Well, the main reason was that even if something went wrong, it wouldn't affect Fudge himself. The worst that could happen was that Dumbledore would suffer for it, so Fudge didn't make things difficult for him.
But this time, Fudge couldn't tolerate Dumbledore's foolish suggestions and precautions. No matter how reasonable Dumbledore made it sound, Fudge would resolutely disagree because it involved his core interests. He might even be forced to step down for proposing such an idea.
Listen to this—removing the Dementors from Azkaban and sending a peace emissary to the giants?
Good heavens, didn't Dumbledore know that if the Dementors were driven away from Azkaban, how would the Ministry deal with those dangerous creatures?
Having the Dementors guard Azkaban meant they were under the Ministry's control and wouldn't cause too much trouble. The scum in Azkaban would get their just desserts, and most importantly, Azkaban would remain a deterrent to the entire British wizarding community, preventing many witches and wizards from overstepping their bounds.
Most wizards who had encountered Dementors in Azkaban would be left with psychological scars and would instinctively stay far away from the prison.
It was no exaggeration that "half the people only sleep soundly at night knowing that Dementors are standing guard in Azkaban"; it was the reality of the situation.
As for sending a peace emissary to the giants?
That was even more ridiculous; there was no basis for negotiations, to begin with.
If it were possible to negotiate with giants—those simple-minded creatures—the relationship between the two parties wouldn't be so strained. Especially after all the havoc they had wreaked during the last Wizarding War, they were despised by the entire wizarding community. And now, Dumbledore suggested sending a peace emissary?
To be honest, Fudge had never imagined that Dumbledore, known for his wisdom, would come up with such a stupid idea. Anyone could tell it was doomed to fail.
Had the old man gone senile?
Afterward, Fudge had tried to discuss it with him again, but the talks had fallen apart.
As for the matter of the Dark Lord's resurrection...
Fudge always felt that it was a huge joke.
He couldn't fathom how a wizard who had been dead for over a decade could possibly crawl out of his coffin and return from the grave.
If there were truly a chance for the Dark Lord to be resurrected, it would have happened over a decade ago. Why would it take until now?
Regarding the kidnapping of Harry Potter, Fudge believed it to be a Death Eater plot. The insane actions of those fanatics were always unpredictable.
Hadn't they done plenty of absurd things during the First Wizarding War?
Not long ago, they had also caused a ruckus at the Quidditch World Cup.
Alright, let's assume there was some extremely evil Dark magic that could bring a person back to life and that the Dark Lord had truly returned.
So what?
Cornelius Fudge had no choice but to suspect that Dumbledore was trying to pull him down and replace him with a tougher new Minister. If everyone believed Dumbledore's words, this would undoubtedly happen.
To deal with the mysterious figure, Dumbledore might even take up the position of Minister of Magic himself and lead the entire Ministry against the dark forces.
Well, he knew that Dumbledore was unlikely to become the new Minister, but that didn't stop him from considering someone similar to Barty Crouch, a hardliner who would use ruthless measures to counter the Dark Wizards.
Fudge was well aware that Dumbledore would not give up easily.
True to his expectations, not long after, Fudge received news that Dumbledore had announced to the entire school that Voldemort had returned! Upon learning of this, Fudge was furious. If the students of Hogwarts knew, it meant that half the wizarding world would soon be aware of it.
This only reinforced his belief that Dumbledore was plotting to oust him.
Fudge realized he had to counter this move and do something to make others believe that Dumbledore had gone senile. Otherwise, the entire wizarding world would descend into chaos.
Fudge quickly devised a plan. Using the influence of the Prophet, he published a clarification refuting the claim that "Voldemort had returned" and exposed the suggestions and precautions that Dumbledore had mentioned to him.
This move effectively showcased the foolishness of Dumbledore's proposals, and without much effort on Fudge's part, the wizarding world began to perceive Dumbledore as an old, confused man who had lost his touch.
Indeed, only a senile old man would come up with such suggestions.
As for the famous Harry Potter, Fudge couldn't afford to let him cause trouble either. So, he decided to use Rita Skeeter's article to guide public opinion, suggesting that Harry's scar had negatively impacted his mental health and implying that Harry might be suffering from hallucinations due to the cruel torture inflicted by Death Eaters.
This rendered Harry an unreliable witness.
Who would believe him?
At the very least, those wizards who were unwilling to accept Voldemort's return would doubt Harry's words.
As for the identities of the Death Eaters that Harry claimed had returned to Voldemort's side, what use were they without concrete evidence? It would be impossible to sentence them, and it would only bring a host of troubles.
Of course, Fudge was aware that some individuals were suspicious, but as long as they kept a low profile and didn't give others a handle against them, he didn't want to bother with them. All he wanted was to peacefully finish out his term.
Moreover, if all the wealthy pure-blood wizards were arrested, who would generously donate to their noble causes?
Could they rely on the Weasleys?
Dismissing his assistant had been satisfying, but Fudge soon encountered a problem.
Looking at the pile of work on his desk, Fudge frowned. He needed an excellent assistant to help him manage this workload.
In fact, he had high regards for that young man, but it was a shame that he lacked clarity of thought.
Putting down the file about Barty Crouch, Fudge picked up his quill and signed his name, officially concluding the investigation into Crouch.
"Crouch's assistant seems like a capable young man?"
Fudge put down the file, rubbed his temples, and glanced at Percy Weasley's personal profile. This young man had displayed outstanding work capabilities during Crouch's "madness," which was why no one had noticed that something was amiss with Crouch.
Fudge intended to meet with this young man. If he was willing to pledge his loyalty to the Ministry, he would be an excellent choice.
He knew that Arthur Weasley was on good terms with Dumbledore, so if he could use Percy Weasley to keep an eye on the Weasley family and, through them, obtain some information about Albus Dumbledore, it would be ideal.
It wasn't long before the door to the Minister's office was knocked on, and a somewhat apprehensive Percy Weasley stepped inside.
"A lot has happened lately," Fudge said to the young man before him, organizing his thoughts as he spoke. "Dumbledore believes that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has returned, and he has made some impractical suggestions to me."
"Yes, I also think it's unreasonable," Percy said, initially taken aback but quickly catching on. "The presence of Dementors effectively deters dark wizards within the country, and Azkaban also holds many dangerous Death Eaters. If the Dementors are driven away, problems will surely arise, and other wizards will certainly not agree to their removal. As for trying to ally with the giants, I think it's impossible and a waste of effort."
"Everyone feels the same way," Fudge said helplessly. "And Dumbledore claims that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has returned."
Percy hesitated for a moment, following Fudge's train of thought. "Dumbledore seems to have lost his mind. If he can't provide compelling evidence, he certainly won't be able to convince others. No one in the wizarding world will want to believe his words."
"I assume you've heard the news," Fudge said resignedly. "The entire wizarding community is in a panic because of his irresponsible remarks. Spreading rumors about the Dark Lord's return without any evidence is deliberately causing trouble. Lately, I've been receiving more howlers."
"We can consider reducing Dumbledore's influence in the wizarding world," Percy suggested after a moment's hesitation. "Through the Prophet."
Fudge sized up Percy and said suddenly, "I heard that Dumbledore has reassembled his extraordinary organization, what's it called... the Order of the Phoenix. Yes, the Order of the Phoenix. He seems to have invited your father to join."
"I'm not aware of this," Percy replied quickly. "But I think my father is loyal to the Ministry."
Recently, Fudge had flown into a rage, making it clear that anyone with any connection to Dumbledore could no longer work in the Ministry. Naturally, Percy dared not speak out of turn for fear of causing his father to lose his job.
"My previous assistant is no longer capable of performing his original duties. Are you willing to take over his position?" Fudge asked abruptly. "The investigation into Barty Crouch Jr. is concluded, and this matter is truly not your fault. Others believe that you are very capable."
"Of course, I will always be loyal to the Ministry," Percy said.
Although he had expected this, Percy Weasley was still overwhelmed by a surge of indescribable joy. He clenched his fists and immediately pledged his loyalty to Fudge.
Percy could probably guess why Fudge's previous assistant had lost his job.
"I need you to keep an eye on your family," Fudge said angrily. "If they join that so-called Order, I need you to find out what Dumbledore is up to, so he doesn't stir up more trouble. Even if he wants to deal with the dark forces, he shouldn't do it this way. By spreading rumors about the Dark Lord's return, he's causing panic. Because of him, many departments in the Ministry are now working overtime."
"No problem, I'll help keep an eye on them," Percy agreed readily.
However, no one knew what Percy was really thinking.
"Excellent, you can start tomorrow," Fudge said offhandedly. "You show promise, and I have high hopes for you."
"Thank you, Minister," Percy said excitedly as he left the Minister's office.
"An ambitious and clever young man indeed," Fudge muttered to himself.
He didn't care what Percy was thinking, as long as the young man understood his intentions and did his job well.
"Tomorrow should be a bit easier," Fudge said to himself, picking up another file and frowning slightly.
Albert Anderson had helped the Ministry capture Barty Crouch Jr., but... what reward should the Ministry give him?
Scrimgeour had dumped this big problem on him.
Fudge was displeased, but he soon understood why.
In ordinary circumstances, following the rules would have been sufficient.
If there had been a bounty on Barty Crouch Jr., they would have given the reward money to Anderson. However, there was no bounty, and so no reward money was owed. But... Fudge stared at the ornate and impressive personal profile attached to the file, suddenly realizing why Scrimgeour had passed the matter to him.
To be honest, this detailed investigation had shocked Fudge. He had never imagined that a Muggle-born wizard could achieve so much.
The man had a plethora of titles, countless accolades, maintained contact and good relations with numerous renowned wizards, not only in Britain but across Europe. He also possessed formidable combat capabilities (as the late Barty Crouch Jr. could attest), and was essentially an enhanced version of a young Albus Dumbledore. What's more, he had significant influence within the Ministry as well.
Fudge hadn't forgotten how Wizengamot had forcefully bestowed titles upon him.
He had forcefully suppressed the matter of Barty Crouch Jr., and there was no mention of a reward, not even a commendation.
If it had been an ordinary wizard, that would have been fine.
But... that man was extraordinary, and the matter couldn't end there.
"This is giving me a headache," Fudge grumbled.
He knew he would have to make some concessions on certain matters.
"Damn, is that man even human?" Fudge wondered, feeling like he had encountered someone even more terrifying than Dumbledore. If this man were to side with Dumbledore...
He shuddered at the thought, dreading what might transpire.
(End of Chapter)
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