Ficool

Chapter 104 - Chapter 104: Hold Tight, The Minister of Magic Is Here!

[Note: Read up to Chapter - 154 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]

.

.

.

.

"Professor Dumbledore!" Aris quickly stood up and walked over to greet the old wizard.

He held Dumbledore in high regard, not just for his wisdom, but because he had been the first to inform him about Luna's accident. The fact that Dumbledore had left the castle and rushed over now spoke volumes of his dedication.

Given the unresolved issue with the Philosopher's Stone and the looming threat of Voldemort's lingering presence, along with Quirrell's potential plan of wreaking havoc, Dumbledore was taking a significant risk by coming here.

"It seems you've handled things rather well!" Dumbledore entered the living room, a smile of admiration on his face.

Aris smiled sheepishly. "Not quite that well!" He sighed. "The Ministry of Magic is still keeping an eye on me, though. They'll likely show up soon, asking for my cooperation with their investigation. It's all a bit of a hassle, even if I expected it."

"Actually, you don't have to worry too much," Dumbledore said with a sudden wink at Aris.

"They shouldn't make things difficult for you. In fact... they might even surprise you!"

"Surprise? People from the Ministry of Magic bringing me a surprise?" Aris looked confused.

Thanks to the influence of the Barton and Shafiq families, Aris had managed to minimise the fallout from the Malfoy Manor incident. However, someone had died, and no matter how much influence he had, the Ministry of Magic wouldn't let that go unnoticed.

The families behind those pure-blood wizards were powerful, and Aris knew there would be some behind-the-scenes manoeuvring and political games in the coming days.

Aris had prepared himself for this, anticipating the potential complications. But now, what Dumbledore had said... it didn't sound as complicated as he thought?

"You'll find out soon enough!" Dumbledore continued to smile, though he offered no further explanation.

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed from the second floor of the living room, and Harry and the others appeared at the top of the stairs.

Upon seeing Dumbledore, they instinctively shrank back.

"Professor Dumbledore? What are you doing here?" Harry asked, eyes wide with surprise.

"Merlin's beard, is he here to take us back?" Ronald muttered under his breath, quickly stepping behind Harry to avoid Dumbledore's gaze.

"Hello, Professor Dumbledore!" Cho greeted him cheerfully, a smile on her face. It seemed she hadn't expected to see him in Aris's presence after the holiday.

"You two..." Dumbledore looked at Harry and Ronald with a bemused smile. "If I remember correctly, you both applied to stay at school over the holidays, didn't you? Can you explain what you're doing here?"

"Professor..." Harry hesitated for a moment, then finally admitted, "It was because of Aris. We were really worried about him, so we went to Diagon Alley to find him. Thankfully, we found him and came here..."

"We didn't mean to sneak out," Ronald added quickly. "The news in the Daily Prophet was terrifying. They said they were going to send Aris to Azkaban. We just couldn't sit by and let that happen..."

"Alright," Dumbledore nodded, then glanced toward the door. "You lot should head back upstairs. Aris's guests have arrived."

The old wizard gave Harry and Ronald a knowing look before continuing, "We'll sort this out later, alright?"

"Yes, Professor!" The little wizards nodded and quickly scampered up to the second floor.

Meanwhile, Aris had already sensed the situation outside through the elemental array, aware of what was unfolding.

"People from the Ministry of Magic are coming!" Aris quickly turned to Dumbledore.

"Aris, those are your guests. Do you think I should step aside?" Dumbledore asked with a knowing smile.

"Of course not!" Aris shook his head, speaking with conviction. "In my heart, you're the closest family I have!"

He wasn't kidding – this was Dumbledore, after all!

One of the most influential figures in the entire wizarding world.

With his backing, even if those from the Ministry of Magic wanted to pin the blame on someone, they'd certainly think twice before making any moves.

Hold tight – how could Aris let go of such a strong ally?

"You are quite clever!" Dumbledore chuckled, shaking his head. He made his way to the sofa and plopped down. "This sofa is brilliant. It feels like sitting on cotton. The luxury of the Shafiq family is just as the rumours say..."

The old wizard muttered to himself as he admired the decorations in the living room.

"Shirley, serve Professor Dumbledore the best tea!" Aris ordered, before moving towards the guest bed.

Meanwhile, outside Shafiq Castle, five members of the Ministry of Magic had arrived.

Among them were Barty Crouch, Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and the current Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge.

"Minister Fudge, do we really want to compromise with the Shafiq family?" Crouch asked, his voice serious. "You know, several pure-blood wizards died this time. The impact of this incident is severe. If we don't punish them severely, it will definitely undermine your authority within the Ministry!"

"Why didn't you tell me that those pure-blood wizards were once Death Eaters?" Crouch continued, his tone growing more pointed. "They've concealed their crimes from the Ministry and escaped punishment. And the worst part is, the evidence is sitting on my desk—every piece of it proving your incompetence!"

Fudge snorted in displeasure and shot Crouch a glare.

"Even so, there's no need to reward Shafiq, is there?" Fudge continued. "Why should he be honoured just for killing a few former Death Eaters and humiliating a bunch of pure-blood families?"

"Mr. Minister," Crouch replied, his voice firm, "Shafiq's actions clearly show he has no respect for you whatsoever. He knows full well that you've always been friendly with pure-bloods, but this time he openly defied so many of them. What's more, his actions have been so outrageous that even the gods would find it intolerable."

"Enough!" Fudge suddenly barked, his voice rising. "There are some things you don't understand!"

He adjusted his hat, clearly agitated, and his mind drifted back to the conversation they had had with the silver-haired wizard before arriving. A fleeting look of helplessness crossed his face.

"Not to mention that all the evidence we have points in favour of the Shafiq family—though even if it didn't, I'd still have to consult that person's opinion."

"Yes, I understand!" Crouch's eyes flickered, and he quickly fell silent.

After a moment, Fudge's voice cut through the tension again, this time with a growl. "Mr. Crouch, are you absolutely certain the letter made it to Shafiq Castle?"

He glanced at the closed door in front of him, his expression hardening with displeasure. "What's going on?"

"Mr. Minister, we did deliver the letter," Crouch replied, a frown creasing his forehead as he looked at the grand, imposing manor before them, "but for some reason, no one came to greet us."

It was clear that they were thoroughly displeased with the Shafiq family's arrangement. The nerve of them, making the esteemed Minister Fudge wait outside the door—it was nothing short of disrespectful and provocative.

"Mr. Minister, please, wait here a moment. I'll see what's going on inside," one of the strikers said quickly, eager to assess the situation within the manor.

Just as he spoke, the gates of the manor creaked open on their own, slowly revealing the interior.

.

.

.

.

Drop power Powerstonessssssssss!

[Note: Read up to Chapter - 154 on P patron at: p-atreon.com/Knockturn_Alley]

More Chapters