Chapter Eighty-Eight: Broken Negotiations
It was evident that Fudge had no intention of leaving the protection of the Aurors, and after a period of struggle, he reluctantly agreed to talk to Alan, Harry, and Dumbledore about it alone.
"Let's talk about it, I think we're safe and confidential enough now" Fudge hadn't yet torn through his disguise, his expression as kind as possible.
He was in too much trouble right now, so support from Hogwarts was a must.
Alan looked at Dumbledore and saw that the Headmaster nodded, so he decided to speak up himself.
"Well, excuse me, Minister, do you have a heart disease?"
"Not really. Fudge looked confused—what was the problem?
"What about the spiritual aspect?" asked Alan again.
"No, there isn't. Fudge replied quickly, obviously not wanting Alan to dwell on such a boring question - if it weren't for Dumbledore and Harry's face, he would never have been so cooperative.
"What about mental capacity?" asked Allen a third question.
"No, nothing, I'm in good health, there's nothing to worry about, and if there are no more problems, I hope we can get down to business now. Fudge's expression was a little impatient.
"Well, plain and simple, Mr. Minister, that's all there is to it, Voldemort is back. Allen's tone was lighthearted, as if he had asked a new question.
"Oh, that's it, Voldemort—" Fudge froze.
Then his body trembled, and his ruddy complexion turned pale as if he had been struck by a curse.
"Wait, you mean, um, mystery man?" Fudge swallowed hard, sporadic "You mean—he's back?"
He looked at Dumbledore with a pleading gaze, like a sleeping student who had heard the teacher answer the question by name but didn't know anything about it, looking at his tablemate, trying to grasp the last straw.
However, his tablemate calmly told him that he wouldn't - Dumbledore nodded calmly.
"Yes, I'm sorry, I have to regret to inform you that Harry was brought here today solely for a huge plan, and that plan worked out - Voldemort was resurrected, and he had his body again. ”
Fudge was instantly startled by such an answer, as if someone had struck him head-on. He blinked in a daze, staring blankly at Dumbledore, as if he couldn't fully believe what he had just heard. He stammered, his eyes still fixed on Dumbledore.
"Mystery Man... Coming back? No kidding, Dumbledore..."
However, none of the three people present had the consciousness to laugh, it was Christmas Eve, not April Fool's Day, and no one had the intention of joking at this time.
In the midst of a long day of confusion and confusion, Fudge's face gradually changed—it was clear that he did not accept this statement.
He's in enough trouble right now, and if Voldemort is resurrected, then it's too late for him to rush back and prepare his resignation letter.
"I don't believe it—he's been gone for thirteen years, why now!" Fudge began to growl, apparently having lost his previous peace before the news of the likely end of his political career.
Luckily, there was a soundproofing magic that had been set up before, otherwise Allen's idea of discussing this matter would have been completely defeated by this nonsense.
"Calm down, Mr. Minister, we have good news beyond this bad news - Voldemort's resurrection is in serious trouble, so we can hunt him down at this time when he is at his weakest. ”
"Something went wrong?" Fudge calmed down slightly.
"Of course. Harry picked up the conversation, his tone full of confidence, "I witnessed Voldemort being reborn in a cauldron right on this island, and then he and the three Death Eaters were beaten away by me over rituals. ”
"Three Death Eaters?" Fudge's voice was full of confusion.
"Yes, three Death Eaters, they forcibly completed the resurrection ritual after being repelled by me, causing problems with Voldemort's resurrection, and then the group apparition left the island. Harry told the truth about his experience, hiding only the part of himself that he had transformed.
However, a strange smile suddenly appeared on Fudge's face.
He looked at Dumbledore with this puzzled smile, "Is it such a clumsy lie that fooled you, Dumbledore?"
Without waiting for anyone to reply, Fudge said in a very high voice as if he had found the backbone: "Such stupid words actually deceived you to Dumbledore, you trust this kid too much, he is only a thirteen-year-old child, and he doesn't even have some basic concepts." ”
Fudge smiled and spread his hands, and made a gesture around the border of Azkaban: "Where is this? This is Azkaban, there have only been two escapes in history, and none of them used apparition, no matter who he is, as long as he grew up in the wizarding world, he will know that Azkaban is completely under the control of the Ministry of Magic, and no one can apparilate on it without the approval of the Minister of Magic, just like Hogwarts - this is the most basic measure to prevent wizards from escaping in this wizarding prison." ”
He pointed at Harry, "He said Voldemort had taken three Death Eater apparitions - still on the basis of being defeated by him." ”
Fudge's expression was as if he had seen something funny.
"What are you kidding, Dumbledore!
"Well, if Azkaban isn't as seamless as you think, Voldemort has broken Azkaban from within, the Dementors are no longer credible, and even Death Eaters have been released from within. ”
"Quite the opposite - Dumbledore, the Death Eaters are still in prison, and if Voldemort had captured Azkaban, the Death Eaters would have been released long ago, not just three of them, as Potter said. ”
Fudge shook his head, clearly believing that he had been tricked—he didn't want anyone to ruin the peace he'd worked so hard to build for years, even if it was false.
And, the most important thing that allowed him to strengthen his convictions, a child who was only thirteen years old, claimed that he had not only defeated three Death Eaters, but also beat the resurrected Voldemort to the ground.
Alan shook his head slightly—the negotiations broke down.
He also plans to make a wave of transactions with the Minister of Magic through the corpse of Peter Pettigrew, but now he hasn't reached even the most basic consensus, and he's still playing hairy!