Chapter 970: What Does Albert Have to Do With This?
Chapter 970: What Does Albert Have to Do With This?
Albert paid little mind to the uproar that A Guide to Defensive Magic was causing in the British magical community. After all, it had nothing to do with him. Fudge must have been well aware that Sirius Black was Dumbledore's man, and no matter how one looked at it, this was a signal from Dumbledore to the outside world.
A signal from Dumbledore that he intended to pull Fudge down from his position as Minister of Magic.
At least, that would be what conspiracy theorists adept at connecting the dots would believe.
As for Sirius being misled?
That was pure nonsense.
Sirius Black was an adult with his own judgment; he wasn't a three-year-old child who followed others' instructions blindly. Only arguments that resonated with him could possibly persuade him.
At most, Albert had offered a minuscule suggestion when Sirius asked for his opinion, and Black evidently found his reasoning compelling. There was always a need for someone to speak the truth, and that was the greatness of Dumbledore. They were merely helping to amplify a faint voice, and it was inevitable that they would incur the wrath of the Ministry. Even if they were willing to stay silent, Fudge wouldn't pass up the opportunity to strike at Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix.
"Did you have a hand in this?"
Isabella looked up at Albert with a peculiar expression on her face after flipping through the latest issue of A Guide to Defensive Magic. Having read the magazine, she could more or less guess the current situation in the magical community.
"This is Sirius Black's doing. It's a way for the Order of the Phoenix to make their voices heard outside Hogwarts. The editor-in-chief is Professor Lupin," Albert quickly distanced himself from the situation.
What did he have to do with Sirius Black's magazine?
"What's the Order of the Phoenix?" Katrina asked as she walked over, cradling her fat cat. Lately, she had been spending time getting to know Tom and was now enjoying a leisurely and heartwarming life of petting cats and owls.
"It's an organization founded by Professor Dumbledore specifically to resist He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named," Albert took a sip from his teacup and reminded them, "You should know that the name has been enchanted so it can't be mentioned, right?"
"Of course, we were told about this a long time ago," Katrina picked up Tom and scratched under his chin, "It's common knowledge in the wizarding world, especially in times like these when rumors are rampant. Wizarding families will definitely remind their children about this."
"Did he invite you?" Isabella asked casually, though Albert felt that she was quite concerned about this matter.
An organization specifically to resist He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?
It was obvious that it was a dangerous endeavor, and Isabella didn't want Albert to get involved in such risky business.
"Yes, but I turned him down."
"I thought you would agree," Katrina said, lightly tugging on Tom's tail as she looked up at Albert in surprise. She knew that Albert and Dumbledore had a good relationship, a very good one.
"No," Albert shook his head, "The Order of the Phoenix that Dumbledore put together is unreliable. Well, it's unsafe. I remember that many members of the previous Order met tragic ends. For my own safety, I have no intention of joining the Order of the Phoenix, and besides, it's the job of the Boy-Who-Lived to defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
"You're such a bad person!"
After reading the prophecy in A Guide to Defensive Magic, Katrina guessed who was behind this scheme.
"This is Black's magazine, and he's the one who published it," Albert said righteously, "Not everyone can be like an ostrich and bury their head in the sand. Someone has to stand up and shout, and political correctness doesn't always equate to correctness."
"What's an ostrich?" Katrina asked.
"It's a bird that's about eight feet tall, and when it encounters danger, it likes to bury its head in the sand," Albert explained briefly.
"That's quite an apt analogy," Katrina said, "But why do you think Dumbledore chose to step forward? He should've known that by speaking the truth, he would incur the wrath of the wizarding community and Cornelius Fudge, and there would be no benefit to it. He should've waited until everyone was in dire straits, and then he and Potter could've emerged as the saviors, leading everyone to victory, instead of ending up in this situation. I don't think anyone will truly appreciate him even if the truth about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's resurrection is exposed."
Upon first seeing the defamatory article about Dumbledore in the Prophet, Katrina was initially angry, but later felt mostly perplexed as to why the headmaster would take such a stance.
As one of the smartest individuals in the wizarding world, Dumbledore must have been aware of the consequences of his actions. Yet, he proceeded regardless.
"There are some things that someone has to stand up for," Isabella said meaningfully. "For Dumbledore, certain things are not as important."
"So, he's a respectable old man," Albert sighed. "I suspect that the headmaster might not have long to live."
"Are you prophesying his death?" The two looked at Albert.
"So that's why you said things will get worse," Isabella paled slightly as she seemed to realize something. They were all too aware of the potential fallout if Dumbledore were to perish.
"Even if it's you, can you not remind Dumbledore to stay away from danger?" Katrina asked in a lowered voice.
"Who knows?" Albert whispered. "I will remind him, but as for the future, who knows? I think the headmaster's greatest wish now is to clean up the mess with the Dark Lord before he dies!"
"Do you think he will succeed?" Isabella frowned, genuinely concerned about this issue, as the Dark Lord was indeed a significant problem for anyone hoping to live a peaceful life.
"It's hard to say," Albert replied. "Because the Dark Lord also wants to get rid of him, and his arch-nemesis is Harry Potter." Albert wasn't optimistic about this turn of events, though he wasn't too worried about the situation worsening, as his risk resistance had become exceptionally high.
"You think Harry Potter might defeat the Dark Lord?" Katrina, of course, knew about Harry Potter's abilities—a wizard with some talent but not particularly outstanding. If it were Albert, however, she felt it would be more likely, as this guy was mysterious, powerful, and knowledgeable.
"Because the Dark Lord chose Potter as his arch-nemesis, and it is said that it has something to do with a prophecy," Albert began, then trailed off. "Never mind, if you don't understand the relationship between prophecies and causality, it will be hard for you to comprehend no matter how much I explain."
In truth, Albert himself only had a vague understanding of prophecies and causality. Despite his outward display of being a fortune-teller, his knowledge in this area was limited.
It was a challenge, as truly skilled prophetic wizards were rare, not to mention those who delved further into its research.
"What about you?" Katrina looked at Albert complexly. "Sometimes I feel like you're pulling our legs. The things you say are like fairy tales."
"Prophecies are like that," Albert shrugged. "Most of the time, people prefer to believe what they see with their own eyes."
"When are we leaving?" Isabella suddenly asked.
"The day after tomorrow," Albert thought for a moment. "We'll go to France first. I've already informed them in advance."
He had already planned their upcoming itinerary, intending to visit the Lehmys in France first, as they were elderly and wouldn't be around for much longer, so the opportunities to meet were dwindling.
As for Bard's side, for the time being, they wouldn't be meeting, considering the other party's safety.
"By the way, have you seen the latest issue of the Prophet?" Katrina suddenly asked. "It looks like Cassandra Vablatsky, the author of Unfogging the Future, was attacked by a Dark wizard."
Albert took the newspaper from Katrina and read the section she was pointing to, a very brief paragraph that he had somehow overlooked.
For some reason, he felt that this incident was connected to the Dark Lord.
Was the Dark Lord seeking out a seer?
Was it related to Harry Potter, or did he want to foresee something through a prophetic master?
What puzzled Albert was that Cassandra Vablatsky hadn't gone missing or died.
"What's wrong?" Isabella asked, confused.
"This feels unusual," Albert stood up and headed towards his study. "I'll find someone to look into this."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
