Chapter 70
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A person's mind could race rapidly—thoughts colliding within moments. While Malfoy's mind was surging with possibilities, the girl who had fought alongside him earlier brought the package back and placed it on the counter.
"Thank you," Malfoy said, opening the package.
The girl watched, expecting him to take out some rare magical artifact to resolve the crisis. But the moment she saw the contents clearly, her expression froze—caught between disbelief and exasperation.
"You should have one as well. Fighting is exhausting," Malfoy said as he handed her a piece of chocolate. He unwrapped one for himself and took a bite.
"What do you mean?" the girl demanded, refusing it. "What are you doing? Didn't you say you were going to cast a Banishing Charm to fix things?"
"But I don't know how to cast such a spell," Malfoy replied with a shrug.
"Then why did you—"
Before she could finish, she heard movement behind her. She spun around, wand raised—only to see several people slowly waking up, faces pale and shaken.
"Relax. They're not back," Malfoy assured her. "Actually, this"—he pointed at the chocolate—"is for them. Chocolate helps counter the after-effects of Dementors. Muggle science even has a term for it—dopamine. It affects mood. Right now, chocolate is the best thing for everyone here."
"You don't have to show off," she huffed, snatching a package from his hand. She marched into the crowd to distribute chocolate, her irritation poorly disguising her embarrassment.
Because, in truth, she was ashamed.
She had fought bravely—but had not thought of the unconscious victims at all. She had only worried about the Dementors' return… and what spell Malfoy would use to save them.
"When did I become so selfish?" she wondered.
Her impression of Malfoy improved again. He had remained calm during danger, fought skillfully, and still remembered to care for others.
"Maybe he sent me to fetch the package to protect me… in case the Dementors came back," she thought.
Once an impression formed, the mind easily exaggerated it.
In reality, Malfoy hadn't thought that far. If he could defeat Dementors alone, he would have. If the girl had been more skilled with the Patronus Charm, he would have gladly been the support instead.
As she handed out chocolate, she received grateful thanks. It made her both proud and embarrassed—after all, none of this had been her idea.
Malfoy also began distributing the remaining food, receiving similar thanks.
KRRRRR-CK!
Suddenly, the heavy silver security door—which had been shut to block the Dementors—began to tremble again. A crack formed.
Both Malfoy and the girl snapped their wands up. A few newly-awakened witches and wizards did the same.
But instead of a dark, hooded figure… a human head with curly grey hair poked through.
Seeing it was human, they lowered their wands.
"I am terribly sorry," the man said, stepping inside and bowing deeply.
Malfoy recognized him instantly from the Daily Prophet—
Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic.
He launched into a classic bureaucratic speech—introducing himself, then blaming the incident on an "unpredictable lapse in Dementor discipline." His apologetic expression soothed some of the victims, who felt he was at least brave enough to show up.
"Then you should thank these two children," a middle-aged wizard said. "If they hadn't driven the Dementors off, we'd still be unconscious."
"Yes, yes! Reward them properly," a stout witch insisted. "I don't care about apologies—politicians' words aren't worth a Knut!"
The newly awakened witches and wizards murmured their agreement.
Fudge flushed in embarrassment but forced a smile.
"Where are these brave students? I'll speak with Headmaster Dumbledore personally—have some points added to their school houses."
He naturally assumed they were from Hogwarts. Who else would be young and skilled enough?
"That won't be necessary," the girl said, pulling Malfoy forward. Malfoy disliked the attention but allowed it.
Fudge opened his mouth to praise them—but the girl spoke first. Her lovely voice might as well have been a curse to Fudge's ears.
"After such an incident at the British branch of Gringotts, I believe I will be filing a complaint with my country's International Magical Cooperation Department when I return to France."
Fudge's smile evaporated.
He had stumbled into an international incident.
With Sirius Black's escape already endangering his career, this was disastrous.
"But complaining is troublesome," the girl continued sweetly. "If I am in a good mood… perhaps I may forget about it after returning to France."
Fudge's heart skipped in terror.
"And," she said, "this entire crisis was resolved thanks to him."
She pushed Malfoy forward.
"I don't need a reward. But if you satisfy his request, then perhaps… I will forget what should be forgotten."
Malfoy stepped forward with a polite smile.
"Hello, Minister Fudge."
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