Study Days at Hogwarts

Chapter 967 Dumbledore’s Counterattack

Ever since Fudge became the Minister of Magic, he has never been so angry as he is now. It is not because the "Defense Guide" magazine predicts that he will be ousted by the masses next year, but because someone is trying to use the "Defense Guide" to push him out of office. He was pushed to a dead end.

Is Voldemort really back?

Fudge really didn't want to discuss this issue with anyone, because the result would have to be that "Voldemort is back" was just a lie.

This is political correctness.

After throwing a tantrum at everyone outside, Fudge slammed the door of the minister's office shut.

He angrily threw the crumpled "Defense Guide" on the ground. After stepping on it a few times, he couldn't relieve his anger, so he picked up the magazine and tore it into pieces.

What does it mean that there will be a large-scale prison break in Azkaban, and what does it mean that Cornelius Fudge will be ousted by the masses next year.

"Damn it Dumbledore, damn it, damn it!"

Fudge never imagined that Dumbledore would fight back like this.

He knew very well that assuming the news of "Voldemort's return" was true, then the magazine in front of him would completely corner him, especially as long as some of the so-called prophecies above came true, people would be interested in the things in the magazine. Believe in the content.

Will it come true?

Fudge didn't know, but he didn't want to bet, because if he lost the bet, he would really be doomed, and maybe he would be driven out of office just like the magazine predicted.

Then came the disrepute.

This is all Dumbledore's conspiracy!

Sirius Black's magazine?

Fudge wouldn't believe such nonsense. If Dumbledore hadn't controlled the situation behind his back, would Sirius Black have the brains to do this?

How dare Sirius Black spread these things without Dumbledore's permission?

It's definitely Dumbledore's conspiracy!

Just when Fudge was venting his anger, there was a knock on the office door. It was hard to believe that someone would be so ignorant as to bother his angry boss at this time.

"Minister, we have seized..." Percy looked at Fudge, glanced at the fragments of the "Defense Guide" magazine on the ground, and continued to report to the other party: "...the magazine that published the "Defense Guide" failed to We found Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. According to the descriptions of the surrounding stores, they had not appeared in the magazine for a long time, and the rent of that store was about to expire. We think this was a premeditated attack. Action, I suggest that Sirius Black and Remus Lupine be fined, and the Aurors can even be arrested and imprisoned in Azkaban Prison for several months for disturbing the peace, and punished severely. A lot of galleons."

"Just a few months?"

Fudge yelled at Percy, obviously unhappy with the result.

"Yes, a few months at most." Percy lowered his voice and explained: "Mr. Minister, they are first-time offenders. The Department of Magical Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Magic will not sentence them to serious crimes. The lightest possible penalty is a fine. However, , as long as they are fined, and if they do it again, they can be imprisoned in Azkaban in the name of being incorrigible, and then the entire magical world will be clean."

"Very well, you go and communicate with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement of the Ministry of Magic." Fudge finally agreed to Percy's proposal. Although he wanted to throw Black and Lupine into Azkaban Prison, Fudge was not overwhelmed by anger. He knew very well that even going to court would only make him a laughing stock.

"I remember Remus Lupin is a werewolf!" Fudge suddenly said when Percy turned to leave.

"Yes sir, Remus Lupin is indeed a werewolf, and he once served as Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts." Percy replied respectfully.

"Send a message to the Daily Prophet and ask them to refer this matter to the werewolves. By the way, remind them that Remus Lupin once served at Hogwarts, and... let Dolores Wu Mrich came to me.”

"I'll do it right now."

Percy wrote down a few things Fudge ordered and hurriedly left the minister's office.

"Minister, are you looking for me?"

After a while, Umbridge's high-pitched voice sounded outside the Minister of Magic's office.

"Have you read the magazine "Defense Guide"?" Fudge asked.

"I haven't seen it. However, I heard some bad rumors." Umbridge said with a fake smile on her face, following Fudge's train of thought, "I heard that this movie is called Remus. Lupine’s werewolf runs a magazine, maybe we should want him, who knows if those werewolves are engaged in any illegal underground activities.”

"Remus Lupin was a professor at Hogwarts," Fudge hinted.

"Oh, God, this is not a good idea." Umbridge said in an exaggerated tone. "Parents will definitely be very unhappy if they know about it. No one wants their children to be with a werewolf. It's too dangerous." .”

"Dumbledore is completely irresponsible to the students. I also heard that he appointed people with giant blood as Professor of Care of Magical Creatures. I really don't know what he was thinking." Fudge continued to hint.

Umbridge seemed to have guessed something, and said with a smile: "The current situation in Hogwarts is indeed disturbing."

"Dumbledore doesn't seem to have found a suitable candidate for the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. I hope you will take a job at Hogwarts and save the declining educational standards of Hogwarts." Fudge said his purpose of looking for Umbridge. He knew what kind of person Umbridge was, and he also knew that her reputation was not very good, but so what, as long as she could complete her tasks well, she would be an excellent subordinate.

Recently, Fudge found that he had few people he could trust at the Ministry of Magic.

"Oh, of course, no problem." Umbridge agreed with a smile, "However, Dumbledore may not agree."

"I will tell him about this and he will agree." Fudge said confidently.

In fact, the Ministry of Magic has wanted to install professors at Hogwarts for a long time, but Dumbledore strongly rejected all of them.

This time was a good opportunity, and he was confident that Dumbledore would compromise.

"I won't let you down." Umbridge nodded and left. Of course she knew what Fudge wanted to do, and this was also a good opportunity for her.

Umbridge saw her opportunity to climb up.

She knew exactly how to please Fudge, how to get on top of the head of the Ministry of Magic, and how to make Fudge believe that she was one of the few people he could trust.

As long as she gained Fudge's trust, she was not far away from ascending to a higher-level position in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.

Umbridge became the director of the Office for the Prohibition of Abuse of Magic before she was 30 years old, and having sat in this position for so many years, she naturally does not lack ability, means, and vision.

She was also aware that the Ministry of Magic had always wanted a foothold at Hogwarts.

12 Grimmauld Place, the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix.

Sirius and Remus were sitting at the table discussing the news in the latest issue of the Daily Prophet.

Because of the publication of the "Defense Guide", they all ran into trouble and may face heavy fines.

"I knew this would happen." Remus frowned and said, "Fudge must be mad. I wonder if this will cause trouble for Dumbledore."

"What does this have to do with Professor Dumbledore?" Ginny asked in confusion.

"No matter what happens now, Fudge will think it was Dumbledore's instigation. Come on, Remus, you think Fudge will stop slandering Dumbledore even if we don't do this? No, he won't stop, if If we do nothing, that is a sign of cowardice and incompetence. We need to let everyone understand their current situation, instead of burying their heads in the soil like Fudge, otherwise they will be dead when danger comes?" Sirius read The exaggerated report in the "Daily Prophet" didn't seem to be angry at all, but looked like it was true.

"Maybe we should try another approach." Lu Ping frowned and suggested.

"Don't worry Remus, this is just a trick of the Ministry of Magic, just a little intimidation." Sirius said lightly, not taking the content of the "Daily Prophet" seriously at all.

"Thousands of Galleons, are you sure you wrote it correctly, or has the Ministry of Magic gone completely crazy?"

Ron was shocked when he saw the news about the blocking of the "Defense Guide" newspaper and the high fines Sirius and Lupin would face. He said to Sirius in disbelief: "As far as I know, fifty galleons It’s already a hefty fine.”

"What is written here is that you may face a fine, which means that the so-called fine of thousands of galleons is just the amount of the fine that the Daily Prophet randomly guessed." Hermione took the newspaper, read it carefully and corrected Ron's wrong statement. .

"Someone once told me that the Ministry of Magic is very tolerant to first-time offenders who are not very serious, at least they will not give too serious punishment." Sirius explained to everyone with a smile, "In other words, even if we are caught now, we will not be punished too severely." If you are fined fifty galleons, it doesn't matter. I don't need this amount of money Remus. If you are really caught and fined one day, I can help you pay the fine in advance."

"That's not the problem."

"No, that's the problem, because we didn't break the law at all. Fudge deliberately caused trouble for us. He just wanted to use his power to make us surrender because he was afraid. Our magazine can send him to hell." After noticing that everyone was Looking over, Sirius shrugged and said, "At least we can let him step down with a bad reputation. Then he will never be able to raise his head again in his life."

"Isn't that too harsh?" Hermione frowned.

"Come on Hermione, do you have to have Harry imprisoned in Azkaban to wake up?" Sirius sneered, "Don't be kind to the wrong person, otherwise you may kill other people."

"Sirius." Remus glared at Sirius dissatisfied.

"I just want her to suffer less in the future. The adult world is cruel, especially if there is no one to protect her."

Hermione remembered Albert saying something similar, thinking he was too naive.

Ignoring the looks of others, Sirius continued, "This is an unequal political struggle, and political struggles are always life-and-death. It is extremely bloody. You can't have any illusions. If you pity the enemy, you are digging for yourself." grave."

"Yes, that's probably the case, so Hermione, you are too naive." Fred and George appeared out of nowhere, "And Sirius said it's not equal, that's because even if Fudge loses, he won't It's too bad. Dumbledore will let Fudge go, but Fudge won't. He will only become more and more cruel, and then Dumbledore will gradually be stripped of most of his titles, including the position of headmaster."

Whether it was Hermione, Ron or Ginny, they were all shocked by these words.

"Albert's prophecy?" Lupine asked tentatively.

"Yes." George comforted, "Also, the Ministry of Magic is actually not guilty of this crime. They probably made this stuff up for you recently, otherwise Rita Skeeter would have been sent to Azkaban Prison long ago. .”

"How did you know?" Ron couldn't help but ask.

"After staying with Albert for a long time, I am easily influenced by him." Of course, Fred and George would not say that they were still in contact with Albert.

"By the way, when will the broadcast station be ready?"

"Broadcast station?"

Ron, Hermione and Ginny looked at each other, wondering what they wanted to do.

"I'm still working on it. I've never done anything like that before." Sirius looked at his old friend and said, "You also come to help. This is very important. It is one of our external channels."

"Has the time been set?" Fred asked again.

"Are you going to make a sound through the radio?" Arthur helped Mrs. Weasley bring the soup over and heard them discussing the wizard's radio.

“The Defense Guide is banned and we need a new voice.”

"You shouldn't have published that prophecy in it. Fudge was going crazy. He even had your magazine shut down." Arthur felt that irritating Fudge like this would do no good to everyone.

"It doesn't matter, the rent is about to be due anyway, and there is nothing important in it. We have moved the printing press in advance." Sirius seemed to have known the result for a long time. He raised the corners of his mouth happily and said, "Fudge is sure The magazine will not be allowed to be published, but the more he bans it, the more it will arouse everyone's curiosity. If the content in the "Defense Guide" is false, why would Fudge ban it? You must know that people have said bad things about Fudge or the Ministry of Magic in the past. There are a lot of articles, but Fudge has never done this."

Everyone fell silent again.

"Next, the "Defense Guide" will be released privately, and in conjunction with the radio broadcast, we will definitely be able to make our own voice known to the outside world, instead of letting Fudge monopolize this aspect and continue to deceive everyone." Sirius introduced his next plan to them, " Believe me, no one wants to be a rat crossing the street. Even if we can't win more allies, we still have to keep most people neutral or leaning towards us. Especially after something happens, they will definitely be more willing to get some useful information. news, not the nonsense in the Daily Prophet.”

"Then what are we talking about on the radio?" Lupine asked with a frown. He was obviously temporarily convinced by Sirius. Now Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix need more support. They cannot face the Ministry of Magic and Death Eaters alone, otherwise it will be a disaster.

"You can talk about the Triwizard Tournament and Voldemort's resurrection, as well as some of Fudge's policies, such as sending a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor to Hogwarts, or why Barty Crouch was silenced, or how Harry became The fourth warrior."

"You have to change your voice," George reminded.

"Why?"

"Of course it is to avoid getting into trouble. Although we are not afraid of trouble, we should at least avoid it as much as possible." Fred took out two candies from his pocket and said, "However, the development of voice-changing candies is not going well. Do you want to try it? .”

"Voice-changing candy?"

Ron looked at the candy in Fred's hand suspiciously.

"Eating one pill will make your voice hoarse, and the other pill will make your voice sharp." George introduced to the two of them. "The sequelae will take time to recover. It may be a day or more. We can't find it for the time being." The solution may be to ask Albert for help after returning to school."

"You are well prepared." Arthur looked at his son, then at Sirius and Lupin, feeling that there might be something he didn't know about.

"By the way, what's the name of the platform, Wizard's Lookout Station?"

"Ten minutes of heartbeat?" said Sirius.

"Why is it called ten minutes of heartbeat?" Ron asked puzzledly. Even Lupine was a little confused. Sirius had not told him many things in advance.

"Because we only talk for ten minutes, it's so mysterious, and we have to set a password to prevent others from hearing the news on the radio."

"What if no one listens?" Arthur frowned and said, didn't he make this broadcast hoping that more people would hear it?

"There will always be people who will listen to it. You can treat it as gossip. Everyone likes to hear gossip, right? And mysterious gossip can arouse everyone's interest." Sirius was not worried at all that he had no audience, "Jins Len and you both work in the Ministry of Magic. We can also provide some interesting news. For example, Fudge was furious again today. Let us analyze some of the Ministry of Magic's actions and analyze the current situation for everyone. Believe me, some things will happen quickly. It will come true. When these truths come true, people will believe the content of our broadcast more and more. When the Dementors escape from prison and the entire magical world falls into chaos, I think all wizards in the British magical world will be willing to turn on the broadcast. Listen to the news on our radio.”

"And the Ministry of Magic can't come here and ask us to turn off the broadcast, because they can't find our specific location."

Fred and George looked at each other, and they heard someone's shadow in Sirius's words.

"Have you contacted Albert?" Hermione couldn't help but ask. Ever since she last heard that Death Eaters were looking for Albert, Hermione had been a little worried about Albert's safety.

"No, he should be hiding." Sirius comforted: "That guy is better at protecting himself than anyone else. I think he is probably hiding in a certain house protected by the Loyalty Curse. He is very safe, even Dumbledore I can’t find where he is hiding.”

"Isn't the secret keeper of the Loyalty Curse Dumbledore?" Everyone was a little surprised. The only weakness of the Loyalty Curse is the secret keeper, and Dumbledore is undoubtedly the best candidate for the secret keeper.

"No, no one knows who it is. According to Dumbledore, it is safer to not find the specific location and not know who the secret keeper is."

"Isn't he going to go to Hogwarts?" Ron raised an eyebrow and said, "Although I think it doesn't matter whether he goes or not."

"He will go to school. Albert said that Hogwarts will be very interesting this year." Fred blinked and said, "Maybe it has something to do with the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor sent by the Ministry of Magic."

"Fudge plans to send people to Hogwarts?" Arthur looked at his son in surprise. He hadn't even heard about it in the Ministry of Magic yet, so why did they act like they knew about it already. "

"Of course, it's Albert after all. Do you know it's weird?" Fred tilted his head and said, "It is said that he will be a nuisance."

"I think she's quite unlucky." George said meaningfully. "Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts is not a good position. Just look at the previous ones. Moody was imprisoned for one school year, and Remus almost entered Aziz." Caban, Lockhart turned into a fool, Quirrell died, Smith disappeared inexplicably, and only Professor Bard escaped by chance, and he resigned early and ran away. What do you think will happen to the unlucky people in the Ministry of Magic? Woolen cloth?"

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