Chapter 31: The wall fell down and everyone pushed it

Barty Crouch Jr.'s Dark Devil mark in his own house succeeded in turning his father, Mr. Barty Crouch Sr., into a big joke.

This male wizard, who was still talking eloquently and righteously, made statements similar to 'hiding Death Eaters among the nobles and posing a great threat to the stability of the wizarding world', his own home has become a stronghold for harboring Death Eaters.

The reporters of the Daily Prophet were like mosquitoes that saw blood, and they swarmed to drain the water surrounding Crouch's house.

Old Barty Crouch hurried home from the Ministry of Magic, his face pale and bloodless, his whole person seemed to be twenty years old, he stood in front of everyone, for the first time abandoned his previous pride, and begged everyone to give him a little time in an almost humble tone.

Ten minutes later, he handed over his son, Barty Crouch Jr., with his own hands.

Barty Crouch Jr. was then imprisoned in Azkaban prison.

His actions were decisive, but they did not help.

、、、……

Newspaper headlines such as these instantly became popular throughout the British wizarding community.

Whether it's the Slytherin nobles taking advantage of the opportunity, or the fierce backlash of Gryffindor-born wizards feeling deceived...... In short, Barty Crouch Sr.'s life took a sharp turn for the worse.

On the first day of the second week of June, less than two days after that incident, Barty Crouch Sr. finally became overwhelmed and publicly apologized to the public: "...... I'm deeply sorry for this and I'm willing to take the responsibility I deserve, but ...... I'm just a heartbroken father......"

Old Barty, who has always followed a cold and hard style, really deserves to be a pure-blood nobleman.

When he appeared in front of the cameras of reporters with a dismal face and grief, explaining his feelings about harboring the Death Eater's son from his father's point of view, countless soft-hearted wizards felt forgivable...... In particular, he has personally sent his son to prison, which adds a lot of sadness to □□ him.

This saved a little bit of his declining popularity, but it was a drop in the bucket.

It was at this point that Cornelius Fudge stepped up.

The stocky wizard once again showed a fake, but kind-looking official smile.

He came from an ordinary wizarding family, and his personal political tendencies have never been obvious, and his attitude is mediocre and impartial. If he had been in the 'old Barty Crouch harboring Death Eaters', he would have been almost uncompetitive.

But after Barty Crouch was caught up in a scandal and Headmaster Dumbledore voluntarily refused, his position became important and unique.

Moreover, in such a chaotic situation, this 'important and only gentleman' actually stood up and said sincerely to the wizards: "Please forgive Barty, everyone can sin, let alone the fault of this kind of legal theory." A law enforcement officer may not deserve forgiveness, but a father can, and father-son affection is the most sacred and sincere emotion in the world. For the sake of old Barty's paternal love, I ask you to forgive a father for his momentary confusion......"

His speech was a success, and some of the little witches who were easily moved were swept in their eyes by the tears he said.

Even for this, Barty Crouch Sr. will have to endure his nausea, knowing that Fudge is putting on a show in politics, but he will have to stand up in embarrassment and pain, and express his gratitude to Fudge with difficulty.

The front page of that issue of Daily Prophet used this photo of 'Fudge and Barty embracing each other'.

To be honest, many Slytherin-born nobles who know the inside story are disgusted enough.

In an instant, a big drama of competition turned into a situation where the two candidates understood each other, enjoyed each other, and 'we are all good friends'.

I have to say that the profession of a politician is sometimes really unbearable.

They have always had no principles or positions to talk about, and what they do is just to align themselves with their interests.

But most of the ignorant people can't see the trick.

All at once they thought, 'Merlin, Mr. Fudge is a noble gentleman.' ’

Forgive a friend who has a little misunderstanding, maybe everyone can do it;

But to forgive a competitor - an opponent who was once hostile to each other - only those who are broad-minded and kind can do so.

"Maybe it would be a good thing to have Fudge as minister."

A Hufflepuff-born witch said, "The wizarding world is in a mess right now, I really don't want to see war anymore, I just want to grow my herbs...... By the way, is there any other way to treat the problem of crab claw orchid withering except watering more? ”

"We misunderstood him before."

The Gryffindor-born wizards also said, "We always laugh at Fudge for being as weak as the girls." But he was really brave in the matter of old Barty...... When Barty Sr. was blamed by everyone, he had the courage to stand up and say a word of justice for his opponents...... Well, he earned our respect. ”

On the third day of the second week of June, in the Daily Prophet's poll on the Minister of Magic, Fudge's approval rating soared, and nearly two-thirds of the wizarding community said they were 'very willing to accept Fudge's leadership'.

On the fourth day, there was no doubt about the election of the Minister of Magic.

Everyone knows that this short, stocky, featureless-looking mediocre wizard is about to become the supreme leader of the British wizarding world, the Minister for Magic.

In the future, we'll be calling him Minister Fudge.

On the day Fudge was officially elected as a minister.

At Malfoy Manor, Lucius Malfoy raised his glass and smiled meaningfully at Daniel Black, "Should we clink glasses now?" Celebrate? ”

Daniel happily granted his wish.

"To Barty Crouch Jr.!" Daniel said happily and loudly.

"To Barty Crouch Jr.!" Lucius replied with the same words.

The two looked at each other and smiled.

"Barty Crouch Sr. is really stupid sometimes." Lucius casually commented, "If I were him, I would never have hidden Barty Crouch Jr. in the house." If it's hidden, there's still an excuse to 'don't know'. ”

"The most dangerous place is the safest place! In fact, I suspect that old Barty has always been so determined to oppose the aristocracy, perhaps just to express his innocence and thus cover his criminal son. ”

Daniel pondered, "In fact, if we hadn't made a fuss about this, who would have thought that such a 'fighter' would harbor criminals." ”

"He's delusional. Little Barty is not a fuel-efficient lamp and will obediently stay at home and do nothing. ”

Lucius sneered and said, "Little Barty is going to make trouble sooner or later, but sooner or later." It's just that this time we helped him out and let things break out in advance. ”

"The timing was right." Daniel approving, and raised his glass slightly, "But in short, things can go so smoothly, it's still worth celebrating." ”

He thought for a while, and said abruptly, "Lucius, do you have any plans for the future?" ”

"What?" Lucius raised his head, his blue eyes looking suspiciously at his distant brother-in-law, who was becoming more and more untouchable, "What are you planning?" The last time I mortgaged the ancestral property, your sister Narcissa was so angry that she didn't want to see you a second time. And don't think I don't know about the little deal you made with Fudge in private......"

He said with a slight headache, "As far as I know, the success rate of your Diagon Alley acquisition plan is already ten percent." That's a big project...... What do you want to toss at this critical moment? ”

Daniel didn't care at all about being exposed by Lucius about 'his little secret with Fudge', but smiled very proudly, "Of course Fudge will help me, for me, it is to make money; For him, that's a political achievement. ”

"As for what else I want to toss...... Dear brother-in-law. ”

He raised two fingers and said seriously: "First, I am currently a male in the Black family, I feel a little difficult, I need a helper......"

"Do you want me to introduce you to a lady?" Malfoy interjected, "In ten or twenty years, you'll have a lot of helpers." He muttered with a hint of jealousy, "Seriously, the Black family is second only to the pure-blooded rebel Weasleys in terms of reproductive power. ”

"You're making such a joke......" Daniel scoffed.

He exclaimed, surprised, and embarrassed, "Please, Lucius, don't be kidding." Ten or twenty years, I can't wait. Can you stop messing around...... I would like to make a second point. ”

Lucius noticed that the base of his ears was a little red, and his fair complexion could not hide the thin blush on his cheeks, and he couldn't help but think amusefully: 'So shy? Is it still a virgin? ’

This male witch, who didn't have much discipline before marriage, and could even be said to have been amorous for a while, suddenly deviated from his mind with interest.

He even began to wonder: should he take this wife and brother out to meet the 'big' world?

"The second point, as the saying goes, cut the grass and eradicate the roots. I think I could have added another fire to Barty Crouch Sr., at least, I don't want him to stay in the position of head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Daniel couldn't guess his brother-in-law's crooked mind at all, and he was still explaining it seriously, "...... If these two points don't conflict with your plan, I'll do what I want. ”

"I don't have any plans for the near future, so you can just do it." Lucius Malfoy replied bluntly.

After this period of time together, he has recognized some of the abilities of the current head of the Black family, and when they get along with each other, they are also much closer.

Of course, some of Daniel's plans still seemed to him impulsive and risky.

But from the position of the head of the Malfoy family, he did not think that he was qualified to take care of the affairs of the Black family.

Moreover, the other party is currently barely qualified as an ally, which is enough, and he doesn't want to interfere too much to annoy people.

In fact, this old-school pure-blood aristocrat is also secretly watching from the sidelines, trying to see: where can Daniel go?

You know, not long ago, this guy was in front of him, and he said something nonsense, 'If one road doesn't work, change to another'......

Then, he looked down and thought for a while, and soon guessed what Daniel meant.

Think of the surviving males of the Black family, and think about who could have anything to do with Barty Crouch......

There is only one person.

Lucius frowned and asked disapprovingly, "Don't sue me, the future helper you figured out is Sirius?" ”