Regarding Severus, who escaped with the victim of the potion-poisoning case…
Robards and Kingsley immediately reported the matter to the Ministry of Magic.
Rufus Scrimgeour, the Head of the Auror Office, was furious upon receiving the news!
This seasoned Auror, who had dedicated himself to fighting dark wizards since the rise of Voldemort and the height of Death Eater activity, had never seen eye to eye with Dumbledore.
This was evident even in the attitude of his chosen successor, Robards.
The fact that Snape, a Death Eater who should have faced punishment and trial, had been shielded by Dumbledore only deepened Scrimgeour's resentment toward Dumbledore and his allies.
Now, Severus's actions amounted to a blatant violation of the Wizarding Law and served as undeniable proof of his direct involvement in the potion-poisoning case!
Thus, without delay, Scrimgeour and the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement went straight to the office of Minister for Magic Millicent Bagnold to secure a top-priority arrest warrant, authorizing a bounty for the capture of Severus Snape!
However, before the warrant could even be fully issued, the wizarding media had already caught wind of the situation.
The Daily Prophet, Witch Weekly, The Quibbler, The Daily Diviner, Wizarding Wireless Broadcasting…
Every newspaper, magazine, and radio station, regardless of whether they typically covered hard news, sent reporters scrambling to the scene.
Had it not been for the fact that the Wizarding Broadcasting Corporation's television program, launched in 1980, had been shut down for violating the International Statute of Secrecy, even television crews would have descended upon the Ministry.
"Mr. Scrimgeour! Mr. Scrimgeour! How does the Auror Office view this incident? Does Severus Snape's crime indicate that remnants of You-Know-Who's forces still remain active?"
"May I ask what measures will the Aurors take next? Will Snape's actions affect other former Death Eaters previously deemed harmless by the Ministry?"
"How does Minister Bagnold view this situation? With such a severe case occurring in the final year of her term, will it impact her planned retirement?"
"Does Professor Albus Dumbledore know about this? With the Head of Slytherin House at Hogwarts committing a crime and fleeing, will the Headmaster make a public statement?"
"Mr. Scrimgeour! Mr. Scrimgeour..."
As Scrimgeour strode through the Ministry's atrium with his Aurors, he was immediately swarmed by reporters, their Quick-Quotes Quills and parchment hovering around.
The Aurors tried to push through the crowd of journalists, clearing a path for Scrimgeour.
However, upon hearing Dumbledore's name, the Head of Auror Office, who was like an old lion, suddenly turned around and raised his voice.
"You-Know-Who left no remnants behind! Snape's crime will not affect any other innocent individuals! Minister Bagnold's retirement plans will proceed as scheduled! And as for Dumbledore's stance, why don't you go to Hogwarts and ask him yourselves?"
After saying this, he ignored the uproar from the reporters and strode away with his team.
He may have left, but the journalists were now in a frenzy!
Everyone was electrified!
It would have been fine if Scrimgeour had merely responded to the previous questions, but the key point was that his attitude towards Dumbledore in his last sentence carried unmistakable implications!
'The Head of the Auror Office openly challenging the Headmaster of Hogwarts?'
'The Ministry of Magic accusing Dumbledore of poor judgment and shielding a dark wizard?'
'Could Severus Snape's crimes have been carried out under Dumbledore's secret orders?'
Some reporters, upon realizing the implications, hurried after Scrimgeour, hoping to extract even bigger revelations.
Others immediately used the Ministry's Floo Network to return to their offices, as they needed to publish what they already had as soon as possible.
And then there were those who chose to head straight for Hogwarts.
Scrimgeour wasn't wrong. Compared to the Ministry of Magic, the attitude of Hogwarts at this time was more worthy of exploration for these people!
…
At the same time.
In a certain old headmaster's office…
Minerva McGonagall, Filius Flitwick, and Pomona Sprout, the three other Heads of House at Hogwarts besides Severus gathered here.
Whether it was the stern cat-loving Transfiguration Professor, the diminutive Charms Master, or the kindly Herbology witch, all of them wore deeply troubled expressions.
News of Snape's actions had already reached Hogwarts, and everyone knew what had happened.
Even the portraits of past headmasters lining the walls were whispering among themselves incessantly.
Only Dumbledore remained unperturbed, sitting calmly behind his desk, happily munching on a box of Cockroach Clusters.
"Albus, what in Merlin's name is Snape doing?!"
Finally, it was McGonagall who broke the silence first, unable to hold back any longer.
Compared to Flitwick and Sprout, she clearly knew more, especially since she personally witnessed Severus taking Harry away.
And precisely because of this, McGonagall was the most anxious and unsettled.
Under her piercing gaze, Dumbledore blinked and smiled faintly.
"I'm afraid I haven't quite reached the level of omniscience yet, my dear professor. What Severus intends to do… only he himself knows."
"But what do we do now?" Flitwick, the Head of Ravenclaw House and Charms Professor, interjected, "There are already hordes of reporters camped at the school gates! Filch is holding them off, but…"
"If they want a sensational story, why not give them one?" Dumbledore set down his box of sweets and spoke softly, "Phineas, if you would… tell Filch to let them in. I'll grant them their interview."
From one of the portraits on the wall, an old wizard with a goatee muttered something acerbic under his breath, but still obediently vanished from his frame.
Soon enough, the Headmaster's office was flooded with reporters.
They argued, shouted, and hurled sharp questions not only at Dumbledore but also at the other three Heads of House, whose expressions grew increasingly grim.
Dumbledore's face turned solemn. He stood, raising a hand to signal for silence, and gradually, the chaotic scene began to settle.
He looked at the sea of reporters before him, countless camera lenses trained on him, flashes popping incessantly.
Then, in a firm and unwavering voice, he declared:
"No matter what charges or suspicions the Ministry levels against Professor Snape…"
"Hogwarts will always believe in his innocence!"
Both the reporters and the professors stared at Dumbledore in stunned silence, as if a mass Petrificus Totalus had been cast over the room, leaving them frozen like statues.
But soon, just a few seconds later, like boiling water violently forcing its lid open-
The Headmaster's office erupted in uproar!