'Someone will surely tip off Dumbledore and Watson about what we're planning!'
Upon hearing these sensitive words through the gap in the door, all three people standing outside Umbridge's office immediately perked up, their attention sharpening like hounds catching a scent. Their bodies went completely still, not wanting to make a sound that might give away their presence.
However, Arthur quickly regained his composure and sense of propriety. He was, after all, an honest man who didn't approve of eavesdropping, no matter how tempting. He glared warily at Lucius with narrowed eyes and cleared his throat forcefully, loudly, making their presence known to anyone inside.
"Minister, are you in there? Isaac from logistics told me you were here!"
The heated discussion inside the office immediately ceased abruptly. There was a moment of tense, heavy silence.
Then Fudge's guarded, suspicious voice rang out, muffled by the door.
"Who is it? Who's there?"
"Arthur Weasley, Minister—from the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office—"
Mr. Weasley called out loudly, identifying himself properly.
"I have some urgent matters I'd like to discuss with you, Minister, if you have time in your schedule. Oh, and Lucius Malfoy is also here looking for you. We both need to speak with you."
The office fell into complete silence for a moment, as if those inside were talking silently, trying to decide how to handle this interruption. Then, the sound of sharp clicking footsteps grew clearer from behind the door.
The door swung open with a creak to reveal Umbridge's toad-like, swollen face appearing before them in the gap. Her resemblance to a large toad was particularly obvious today—the bulging eyes, the wide mouth, the squat neck.
Umbridge raised her chin arrogantly and looked coldly down her stubby nose at Arthur and the somewhat timid young man standing nervously behind him.
But when her calculating eyes shifted to Lucius Malfoy, Umbridge's entire demeanor transformed completely, like magic. She became much more pleasant, almost grinning and girlish.
In her typical shrill, artificially girlish voice that grated on the ears, she said with exaggerated sweetness, "You first, Lucius—"
Mr. Weasley's face immediately darkened with anger and indignation at the blatant favoritism on display. But there was nothing he could realistically do about it without causing an unprofessional scene. He could only step aside stiffly with Percy to wait in the corridor, maintaining his composure.
Lucius was clearly not visiting Umbridge's office for the first time, so he turned a blind eye to the room's terrible, garish décor. It was like being inside a particularly nauseating birthday cake.
He saw Cornelius Fudge standing tensely beside Umbridge's cluttered desk, which was covered in neat stacks of parchment and a teacup collection. The Minister was gripping a piece of parchment tightly in his hand with his fingers clenched.
Fudge looked agitated, upset, stressed—his face was flushed and his bowler hat sat slightly tilted on his head.
When Fudge suddenly realized that Lucius's gaze was trying to peek at the parchment, trying to read what was written there in the text, he gasped audibly and quickly crumpled the letter into a tight ball with both hands. He stuffed it hastily into his pocket, out of sight and out of reach.
"What do you want, Malfoy?"
Fudge's tone was completely unlike the amiable, ingratiating manner he usually displayed when Lucius donated generous sums of money to support his political campaigns and initiatives. His voice was sharp, impatient, stressed, and borderline rude.
"The Minister and I are discussing an extremely important matter, Lucius, it is very sensitive—"
Umbridge interjected, letting out several hair-raising giggles that sounded like a girl half her age. Her attitude toward him was intimate and familiar.
"So, if you need the Ministry's support for something urgent, you'd better make it quick, Lucius—we're very busy today with critical matters—"
"Oh, thank you both so very much for receiving me despite your obviously busy schedules, Minister, Madam Umbridge—"
Lucius smoothly displayed a grateful, humble smile.
"I know your time is valuable. Actually... well, it's like this. I've noticed recently some false and inflammatory reporting in the Daily Prophet regarding the current security situation in the wizarding world.
Very troubling articles that have concerned me greatly. Rita Skeeter has even spoken recklessly in her columns, actually claiming—can you believe it that people are rapidly losing confidence in the Ministry of Magic!"
"Utter nonsense! Complete fabrication and lies!"
Fudge's face turned livid, flushing red, as he said angrily, nearly shouting.
"That woman should be arrested immediately for spreading malicious lies and causing public panic!"
"Oh, of course, Minister, I completely agree with you—"
Lucius showed an appropriately fawning, playing his part perfectly like an actor on stage.
"Those people, journalists like Skeeter simply cannot understand how incredibly difficult it is to effectively govern a country and ensure the safety and prosperity of the majority. They've never had real responsibility.
The Malfoy family as an ancient family with a long and distinguished history in Britain's wizarding world spanning centuries—we have personally witnessed firsthand how much this country has improved compared to before, compared to darker times when chaos reigned."
He paused deliberately, letting that sink in.
"After seeing those troubling, unfair reports in the Prophet, Narcissa and I unanimously decided that we need to provide some concrete, visible support for the Ministry at this critical moment in history. We plan to donate a substantial sum of money to St. Mungo's Hospital to improve healthcare for ordinary residents who are struggling with rising costs.
Of course, this money should rightfully be at the Ministry's disposal, with the Ministry deciding how it should be used most effectively for the public good—"
Umbridge's plump, toad-like face, which had been showing an expert commercial smile, instantly brightened with genuine pleasure and concealed greed. Her small eyes glittered.
Of course, she hadn't forgotten for a moment who should step forward to accept and manage this generous donation on behalf of the Minister.
She batted her sparse, stubby eyelashes flirtatiously at Cornelius Fudge, her expression was shy and suggestive.
"Is that so... how wonderfully generous of you, Lucius..."
Upon hearing Lucius's words, Fudge's tightly furrowed brow relaxed considerably. He exhaled softly, some of the tension leaving his shoulders.
Although his expression was still somewhat unpleasant and stressed, still troubled, he reached out and patted Lucius firmly on the arm with forced warmth and gratitude.
"Thank you, Lucius... You're absolutely right. The Ministry does indeed need more support right now, more than ever before. Times are difficult."
With that assertion, he sighed deeply again.
"If there were more sensible, civic-minded people like the Malfoy family in our community, if more pure-blood families showed such support, the Ministry wouldn't face such a difficult situation day after day...
Don't worry yourself, Lucius. I have indeed heard some unfavorable rumors about you recently but those are all malicious slanders without any credible evidence whatsoever. The Ministry will absolutely not change its positive view of the Malfoy family because of baseless gossip from jealous people."
"Oh, thank you so much, Minister, and Madam Umbridge! You're both so understanding!"
Lucius immediately said with exaggerated trepidation, his voice trembling slightly as if overcome with emotion and profound relief.
"This is exactly what I was worried about!!"
"As for coordinating the specific details of the donation, Lucius, you can work directly with Dolores on the arrangements. I'm afraid I won't have any time to handle this matter personally in the near future—far too many pressing issues demanding my attention."
Fudge waved his hand dismissively.
"Of course, of course—Madam Umbridge is your most capable assistant, everyone knows that. I have complete trust in her efficiency and discretion."
Lucius smoothly bowed slightly to Dolores again, showing appropriate respect.
"So, is there anything else you needed to discuss, Lucius?"
Fudge said with forced pleasantness, clearly wanting to end this interruption and return to his previous conversation.
"I'm afraid I'll have to hear what Arthur wants from me now—can't keep him waiting in the corridor indefinitely. After I send him off, I still need to continue discussing with Dolores the troubles we're currently facing."
"Oh, I didn't mean to eavesdrop on private Ministry business—it's just, just that I happened to overhear a sentence or two while waiting outside the door,"
Lucius said carefully, his tone appropriately apologetic but curious, like someone who couldn't help themselves.
"The trouble you mentioned, something about legislation... and Dumbledore and Watson being involved, so it's related to Hogwarts, isn't it?"
Fudge and Umbridge exchanged quick glances across the office, their eyes communicating silently, trying to decide how much to reveal. Then Fudge's expression darkened again.
"You know, Lucius—"
Dolores said in her typical sugary voice.
"For some considerable time now certain people at Hogwarts have been deliberately spreading absurd, ridiculous, and completely false statements about the Ministry and about recent events.
They're hoping to use these fabrications to disrupt the order and stability that the Ministry has worked so hard to maintain over the years. This is something the Ministry absolutely cannot and will not tolerate under any circumstances, so we plan to—"
"Plan to send qualified Ministry personnel to Hogwarts to properly supervise Hogwarts's daily teaching activities and ensure proper standards are maintained—"
Lucius quickly picked up the thread, finishing her sentence smoothly as if they were of one mind.
"Oh, and I heard that the person being sent is you, Madam Umbridge—what an honor for the school—"
Under Fudge and Umbridge's surprised and increasingly wary gazes, both of them perceptibly stiffening at this revelation, Lucius hastily explained with apparent complete innocence.
"Oh, don't misunderstand my meaning, Minister, Madam Umbridge... I'm not spying on the Ministry's secrets or anything underhanded like that.
It's just that I happened to visit Hogwarts yesterday evening to see Draco and check on his academic progress, and I accidentally heard about this plan from Severus while we were speaking privately. He mentioned it in passing."
"I see... that explains how you know..."
Fudge seemed to find this revelation somewhat awkward and uncomfortable. He said softly with a deeply furrowed brow, his fingers drumming on the desk.
Meanwhile, the fake, plastered smile on Umbridge's toad-like face also disappeared completely. Her expression became rather gloomy.
"If I'm not mistaken about the legal situation—"
Lucius took in both their expressions carefully, reading their reactions and body language like a book. He rolled his gray eyes thoughtfully in their sockets, and said with apparent genuine concern, as if worried for their success.
"Normally speaking, the Ministry probably doesn't have the direct authority or legal justification under current law to forcibly station personnel at Hogwarts and interfere with Hogwarts's daily teaching activities, unless... unless a new law is specifically established to ensure the legality of this matter."
Before Umbridge could open her wide mouth to respond defensively, Fudge interrupted with a bitter tone.
"That's exactly what we're planning to do right now."
His voice was gloomy, and sounded defeated.
"But this will inevitably lead to negative public opinion, Minister. You must know that. People will discuss and debate the Ministry's real purpose for doing this, and given the ridiculous statements Dumbledore has publicly proclaimed before, people will naturally suspect whether the Ministry is deliberately suppressing Dumbledore and Hogwarts out of spite or political fear."
Lucius's voice dropped, becoming more serious and graver.
"This might... this could seriously damage the Ministry's public image and credibility with ordinary citizens."
Fudge's small eyes were sinister, glittering with suppressed anger and frustration. He kept his mouth pressed shut. Clearly, he had already thought of the exact things Lucius was now mentioning.
"But we have to do this regardless, Lucius—"
It was Umbridge, who had been thrust into this controversial role as the Ministry's representative, who spoke up in a defensive shrill voice.
"We have more than sufficient reason to believe that Hogwarts has deviated from its proper educational purpose under Dumbledore's increasingly erratic leadership. It is deliberately reaching for more power and independence. If not restrained now, if we don't act, terrible things might happen!"
"Of course, of course—"
Lucius nodded in agreement, playing the concerned, supportive guy perfectly.
"I fully understand and support your difficult decision, Minister. It's absolutely necessary for the greater good. Speaking of which, Minister, Madam Umbridge, have you consulted with Hogwarts's Board of Governors about this matter?"
"The Board of Governors?!"
The small, piggy eyes on Fudge's round, flushed face suddenly widened as he cried out in alarm, as if struck by lightning. His mouth fell open.
"Of course—"
Lucius, who had been proceeding step by careful step toward this exact moment, steering the conversation like a master, felt a surge of secret, triumphant delight deep inside that he had finally led them skillfully to this crucial topic.
But his face showed only innocent surprise and helpful concern.
"Haven't the Ministry consulted the Board of Governors' opinion on this matter? Oh, perhaps you simply forgot, Minister—so many things to keep track of in your position. The Malfoy family is a member of the Board of Governors... was, I should say.
We took the fall for that terrible basilisk incident two years ago and were expelled from the Board."
He paused calculatingly, then continued in a thoughtful, helpful tone.
"But the Board of Governors does have significant legal authority to interfere with Hogwarts's teaching activities and personnel appointments….. You know, Watson was originally the special investigator dispatched by the Board of Governors to investigate the Chamber of Slytherin incident when it first occurred. The Board of Governors even has the power to dismiss Hogwarts's headmaster..."
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