Chapter 311: Who's Available?
Harry clenched his fists, glaring angrily at the short, stout, gray-haired man.
Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic, wore an anxious expression, yet there was a hint of smugness as he spoke in a crisp tone:
"I know, it's truly terrible, but we had no choice but to come… Peter Pettigrew, Gilderoy Lockhart, and Garr Troka are still at large, and that's truly awful… very awful… The public is in a panic, and the Ministry of Magic has to conduct a more thorough investigation…"
"So you've come for Sirius? You think he's involved in these matters?" Lupin said coldly, pushing Harry back by the shoulder, preventing him from getting involved.
Harry gritted his teeth, taking a few steps back, then quickly glanced over.
In the corner, a large black dog sat, staring at Fudge and the others with icy eyes.
At that moment, Harry felt only relief—the Ministry of Magic didn't know Sirius was an Animagus.
Even more fortunately, before the Ministry officials entered, Sirius had been in his large dog form, demonstrating the Animagus transformation process for Harry.
Knowing that Wade had successfully learned Animagus transformation, Harry was very eager to master this Magic himself.
When Sirius found out, far from thinking Harry was being overambitious, he was delighted to teach him Transfiguration.
"James also started learning Animagus transformation around this time! It took us three years to learn it! You might be even faster!" Sirius had said.
He was usually very busy, almost always out, but whenever he returned home, he would definitely transform into the large dog to play with Harry for a while.
Harry restrained himself from paying too much attention to the black dog, opened his Book of Friends, and quickly sent a message.
Dumbledore was busy with something and didn't reply for a long time.
The adult Wizards paid little mind to Harry's actions; Fudge simply scratched his hair in frustration, staring at Lupin's unyielding gaze.
"I know… I've heard you're good friends, Remus Lupin, and I hear you have a lot of influence at Aslan's Magic Workshop…"
"Yes," Lupin said, suppressing his anger. "Just a week ago, we donated the world's largest Streaming Mirror to the Ministry of Magic. Three days ago, Aslan even conducted an exclusive interview with the Minister to publicize the Ministry's recent policies."
"Yes, yes, I know, we've always cooperated very well. You're a decent man, dear Remus, so we've never doubted you." Fudge said awkwardly.
If Lupin hadn't been so deeply involved with Aslan's Magic Workshop, and if Aslan wasn't a major taxpayer for the Ministry of Magic, and had even donated limited-edition products to the Ministry and Fudge himself on several occasions…
Then Fudge would now order the Aurors to arrest Remus Lupin for investigation as well.
After all, he had also once been a close friend of Peter Pettigrew.
But now, Lupin couldn't be touched.
With him firmly blocking the way, even Sirius, the unemployed vagrant, was difficult to arrest.
"But Remus, have you never thought about it? Before this, no prisoner had ever escaped from Azkaban… but after Sirius was released, the breakouts started happening…"
"But Sirius has been out of Azkaban for almost a year! Those three you mentioned only went in after him!" Harry couldn't help but loudly retort. "How could he help them escape? Help them unlock their cells from thousands of miles away?"
"Hahahaha…" Fudge chuckled obligingly a few times, then looked at Harry with pity, as if he were an ungrateful little fool.
The Minister for Magic tried to use a gentle tone:
"Harry, perhaps Sirius exchanged some details about Azkaban with Peter or Lockhart after he was released? He spent eleven years in Azkaban; no one knows that place better than him…"
"He taught them how to escape, and even provided refuge for Peter and the others after their breakout. That would explain why we haven't been able to find any trace of those three for so long…"
"Minister Fudge, you're insulting Sirius!"
"That's impossible! Sirius hates Peter Pettigrew more than anyone; he would never do something like that!"
Lupin and Harry's angry voices rang out almost simultaneously, and the black dog in front of the fireplace bared its sharp teeth, letting out a threatening growl from its throat.
Fudge was unmoved, seeming to find their defiance somewhat amusing.
"Remus, Harry, people change… Any normal person would go mad after eleven years in Azkaban, not to mention… hmm… what truly happened between Sirius and Peter Pettigrew back then, no one really knows, do they?"
Fudge avoided Harry's burning green eyes, rubbing his cane, but his words were like the whispers of a devil.
"You see, twelve years ago, Pettigrew accused Sirius of being the traitor; a year ago, Sirius accused Pettigrew of being the traitor… It's just what they themselves say, isn't it?"
"Ah, I know you'll mention Veritaserum… but we all know some people can resist the effects of Veritaserum…"
Harry felt a lump in his throat; he trembled all over, too angry to speak.
How dare he… how dare he slander Sirius right in front of them!
He gritted his teeth and said, "If I spent every day with Sirius, and he had ill intentions, I would have been dead long ago!"
"Hmm…" Fudge said, "You used to spend all your time with Pettigrew too! You were even in the same dormitory, and he didn't lay a hand on you either… Who can really know what these people are thinking?"
The more Fudge spoke, the more convinced he became, stroking his chin thoughtfully: "Perhaps the Death Eaters have some kind of unspoken agreement—not to harm you without permission or something…"
Harry couldn't listen anymore; he turned and stomped back to his room.
Fudge didn't care; he merely thought the child had finally realized he'd trusted the wrong person and continued to persuade Lupin to hand Sirius over.
Back in his bedroom, Harry opened his Book of Friends, disappointed that Dumbledore still hadn't replied. He flipped through the thick parchment pages, wondering who else he could ask for help.
Professor McGonagall? No, she'd probably make Sirius cooperate with an investigation. Professor McGonagall always followed the rules strictly... Hermione, Ron... Wade...
—Wade?
A thought sparked in Harry's mind, and he quickly scribbled a messy line—
[Harry: The Ministry of Magic is taking Sirius away, and I can't reach Dumbledore. What should I do?]
[Wade: Elaborate?]
Harry then briefly recounted the full story.
[Wade: I understand. I'll find someone to help you. Just wait patiently.]
Wade thought for a moment, then contacted the school's House-elves—
[Wade: Lads, who's free right now?]
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