"Voldemort is back!"
In the Ministry of Magic's interrogation room, a still-shaken Harry recounted the events that transpired in the graveyard:
"Peter Pettigrew, he cut my arm, took my blood, brewed a potion—he's been resurrected—"
The entire room gasped, with Dumbledore and Amelia Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, leaning forward with grave expressions.
"Jane was hiding behind the tombstone; she rushed out and dueled him—the cauldron exploded, and Voldemort turned into a very large infant—"
"Peter took Voldemort and fled, and then you finally arrived—"
The Aurors present fidgeted uneasily, everyone listening intently to Harry's account, except for Fudge:
"Nonsense! A fourth-year student, dueling?"
Jane Yu frowned, having already noticed that the Minister was unwilling to accept the fact that Voldemort had regained his body. She pointed to the wand in front of her:
"Here's his wand, I think that should serve as proof."
But Fudge shouted, still pretending Voldemort did not exist:
"His wand disappeared thirteen years ago; it's possible Peter Pettigrew stole it—"
Amelia Bones and the Aurors frowned, Madam Bones cleared her throat and said to Fudge:
"Cornelius, I think Peter Pettigrew, Barty Crouch, Voldemort's wand, and the cauldron fragments at the scene are enough to prove the point."
"Harry Potter and Jane Yu were illegally transported from Hogwarts by a Portkey; you should have seen it yourself."
Fudge's face turned red, and he said angrily:
"But I can't believe what these two kids are saying! Especially this girl, Crouch said, she has connections with the Death Eaters—"
"In my opinion, those two Death Eaters must have conspired with her!"
Everyone present couldn't believe his argument, and under the scrutiny of distrustful eyes, Fudge was sweating profusely:
"Since he mentioned dueling, we just need to check the wand."
He walked over to Jane, and she thought he would pick up the wand in front of her to examine it—
But she didn't expect him to not even dare to look at that wand, as if it were some kind of monstrous beast; instead, he suddenly reached into her pocket and pulled out her own wand!
Jane was startled!
She never expected that the Minister of Magic would do such a thing in front of everyone!
He must have lost his mind from fear!
Next time, she must tie a cord to her wand and hang it around her neck to prevent losing it!
"Prior Incantato!"
A dim, greenish glow erupted from the tip of the wand!
Everyone stood up in shock, Dumbledore's eyes widened behind his glasses.
"It's the Killing Curse!" Fudge shouted as if he had found a target to attack, "What else is there to explain? Using the Killing Curse is illegal! I can send you to Azkaban!"
Dumbledore immediately stood up, he walked over to Fudge and took Jane's wand to examine it:
"This is just an incomplete Killing Curse, it wasn't used on anyone; your accusation of breaking the law doesn't hold."
Fudge continued to argue, but Dumbledore clearly lost patience. He pinched Voldemort's wand with his fingertips:
"Prior Incantato!"
It was the same dim, greenish glow, but its light was even dimmer than Jane's.
"It's not illegal for an underage wizard to try spells in a life-threatening situation." Madam Bones countered, "It's understandable."
"I believe that when the other party casts the Killing Curse first, Miss Yu's actions to protect herself are acceptable."
Even with overwhelming evidence in front of them, and even the Aurors present basically believing Voldemort is back—
Fudge still refused to accept it.
"Impossible—there's no such thing as coming back from the dead—ridiculous—"
"Think about it, if the Dark Lord had returned, how could these two kids have come back!"
Jane realized that no one could wake someone pretending to be asleep.
Voldemort could return, but not during Fudge's term.
Unless he saw Voldemort standing in front of him, he would not accept it.
The scene fell into a stalemate, Fudge seemed to be in a world of his own, separated from the others, Madam Bones broke the silence:
"Cornelius, take a break, we have two more suspects to interrogate later."
Fudge nodded, as if his brain had disconnected from controlling his legs, and stumbled out the door.
...
After Fudge left, Madam Bones did not leave the room.
She walked over to Jane and Harry, looking seriously at Dumbledore.
"He won't believe it." She said firmly, "I know Cornelius."
Dumbledore remained calm, perhaps he had already realized that he and Fudge were on different paths:
"Someone will see the truth, I will act according to my own will."
Madam Bones did not respond, seemingly pondering something, her expression resolute and intimidating.
But when she looked down at Jane, she tried to smile.
Perhaps because she dealt with trials every day, her words were often straightforward:
"You shattered Voldemort's cauldron? With Reducto?"
Jane nodded.
"Did you dry up his potion?" She asked with interest in a deep voice, "With special flames?"
Jane continued to nod.
"He turned into an infant the size of an adult? I mean, he didn't get a normal human form?"
Jane kept nodding.
"And then you dueled him and Peter Pettigrew with the Killing Curse?"
Jane nodded so much she almost got a concussion.
Madam Bones raised her thick eyebrows high, her eyes filled with admiration:
"Amazing. Very brave, you did what adults couldn't. Do you have any plans to become an Auror in the future?"
"Ahem." Dumbledore interrupted, "This child's future path needs careful consideration."
Madam Bones nodded in understanding, she continued:
"My niece, Susan, has told me many stories about you. I thought she exaggerated out of admiration, but it turns out to be true."
"And Gemma, she's very capable, I've transferred her to be my assistant—she often mentions you, she says you're much better than her."
She then looked up at Dumbledore, saying:
"You have a good child, Albus, I believe what she says."
"In that case, we have only one common enemy."
Dumbledore looked at her steadily, seemingly not expecting to gain the support of the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement:
"Amelia, you mean—"
A glint passed over Madam Bones' glasses:
"He is back, but he is weak, now is the best opportunity."
"Without the Minister's directive, I can't act openly. But my Aurors, their private actions are permitted."
Dumbledore reached out to shake her hand.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Welcome to visit my Patreon, read the early chapters, and enjoy your reading!
patreon.com/DarkGolds