Lynn and the two Professors had just stepped out of the Minister's office when Fudge slumped to the floor, rubbing his neck incessantly, his face filled with a daze.
His mind replayed that last look Lynn had given him—cold, indifferent, and completely devoid of warmth.
Fudge felt as if he were a mere speck of dust that she could sweep away to parts unknown at any moment.
It wasn't until Umbridge knocked and entered the Minister's office that Fudge managed to snap out of it.
"Mr. Minister, have they left? If you ask me, your attitude toward them was far too mild; that's why they don't know their place."
A sickly sweet voice rang out. As soon as Umbridge entered, she saw Fudge sitting on the floor with vacant eyes.
The words she was saying caught in her throat. "Ah!"
After a short scream, she rushed forward to help Fudge up. "Mr. Minister, who did this to you? Get up, quickly. Was it Dumbledore and McGonagall who were just here? Let's go find the Aurors and arrest them immediately."
As she spoke, she tried to pull Fudge toward the office door. After being tugged twice and nearly reaching the threshold, Fudge suddenly came to his senses.
He forcefully flung off Umbridge's hand. "Find the Aurors? Find my ass!"
Fudge looked at Umbridge as if she were an idiot. "Do you think Dumbledore and McGonagall are so old they can't handle a few Aurors? Or do you think if we actually did something to them now, the people of the Wizarding World would stand on our side?"
One had to realize that not everyone in the British Wizarding World supported the Ministry of Magic, but practically everyone had attended Hogwarts.
Choosing between the two was simply too easy.
Not to mention that Hogwarts still had Dumbledore, the greatest white wizard, in residence.
Shaking off Umbridge's hand, Fudge walked back behind his desk and sat down, slowly rubbing his neck with his hand.
Of course, the most important point was that he, the Minister for Magic, had been made to look so pathetic by a low-year Hogwarts student.
If word of this got out, he wouldn't have a shred of dignity as the Minister for Magic left.
This Dolores, she knew nothing and only acted on impulse.
She truly thought the power she held, and the power he held, was unshakable.
Startled by Fudge's shout, Umbridge froze on the spot, then quickly realized she had overstepped.
She had been so focused on punishing that annoying Young Wizard and Dumbledore that she had forgotten to observe the Minister's expression.
Her nauseating face broke into a smile again as Umbridge stepped forward and showered Fudge with flattery until a smile finally returned to his face and his original confidence was restored.
"Mr. Minister, Hogwarts has seriously threatened the authority of the Ministry of Magic. And Dumbledore—his ambition is no longer even hidden."
"He must have been the one pushing those two little witches from behind. We... we can't just let this go."
"Indeed we cannot," Fudge agreed in a low voice, his fingers lightly tapping the desk in front of him.
"But Hogwarts' prestige in the British Wizarding World has been too high for too many years. Coupled with Dumbledore himself, we must find another way. We absolutely cannot go head-on."
They exchanged a look, and at that moment, the two conspirators reached a consensus.
After returning to Hogwarts from the Ministry of Magic, Lynn bid farewell to Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall before returning to the Ravenclaw Common Room as quickly as possible.
Hermione was still waiting for her, and she couldn't keep Hermione waiting. This thought flashed through her mind repeatedly until she stepped into the Ravenclaw Common Room and saw Hermione sitting on the sofa reading a book, at which point the thought finally subsided.
"You're back."
Hearing footsteps, Hermione looked up, saw it was Lynn, and closed her book with a smile.
"Yes," Lynn nodded calmly, walking over to Hermione. "I came back as quickly as I could, and I'm not hurt."
"It's good that you're okay."
Hermione stood up and gently ruffled Lynn's hair. "Was the trip successful?"
Lynn thought for a moment and said in a flat voice, "My goal was achieved. I punished Fudge and warned him not to spread rumors about Hermione, the rest of Ravenclaw, and the Professors. Headmaster Dumbledore's goal was also achieved; he warned Fudge not to choose the wrong path because of the Pure-blood families."
Hermione lowered her eyes, thought for a moment, and then shook her head. "To become the Minister for Magic, Fudge must have some political skill."
"He won't just listen to you."
"He certainly won't," Lynn's voice remained flat and emotionless. "According to a personality analysis, there is only a ten percent chance he will completely reform. The other ninety percent suggests he will choose a roundabout way to struggle against Hogwarts and us."
"Well, we just don't know what method he'll use yet," Hermione said, picking up the book she had just set down on the sofa. "But no matter what he tries, we'll just deal with it as it comes."
Hermione finished and gave a light stretch. With Lynn, Headmaster Dumbledore, the Professors, and so many students supporting them, she didn't need to worry about whatever move the Ministry of Magic might make.
"Let's go, get some rest. Oh, right, Madam Pomfrey confirmed that Harry is indeed fine and can be discharged tomorrow morning."
"That's good." Lynn followed Hermione as they walked toward their Dormitory together.
"Harry also said to thank you for saving his nimbus two thousand. He wants to thank you in person after he's discharged tomorrow."
Hermione opened the Dormitory door, and the two girls walked in silently.
"I understand."
Seeing that the bed curtains for Maranhao and Marietta were already drawn, Lynn replied in a whisper.
"Go take a shower and then rest."
Hermione closed the Dormitory door, hugged Lynn, and patted her back. "Goodnight, Lynn."
"Goodnight, Hermione."
Lynn nodded and watched Hermione walk back to her own bed and lie down.
Grabbing a change of clothes, Lynn walked into the washroom.
During breakfast the next day, Harry, who had just been discharged, immediately came to the Ravenclaw Table to find Lynn and express his gratitude solemnly.
"Thank you, Lynn. I've grown quite attached to this nimbus two thousand. Thank you for saving it; otherwise, I don't know how sad I would have been."
Harry stood before Lynn, expressing his thanks with a sincere tone.
Lynn looked at him and shook her head expressionlessly. "You're welcome. I only did what I should have—helping others when it's within my power."
With a polite smile, Harry hurried away from the Ravenclaw Table. He had to finish breakfast quickly and get to the Library.
Merlin's beard, he had spent almost half the day in the Hospital Wing yesterday, and he hadn't even started his Potion Class homework!
With elective classes starting in the third year, the schedules of the Hogwarts Young Wizards had become a bit more crowded.
But even so, the current course load wasn't even half of what Lynn had experienced back in her original world.
As such, Lynn still filled most of her spare time with self-study, extra reading, and practice.
The other portion of her free time was allocated to her friends, such as Hermione, Maranhao, and Marietta.
Chatting and walking with them, she finally felt like she had a real life outside of her studies.
Additionally, she began handling business affairs in the British Wizarding World; the production lines under her control had begun full-scale operations.
The British Wizarding World seemed to have been reset, with everything running in an orderly fashion.
It seemed as if nothing had changed, yet it also seemed as if everything had been transformed.
Everyone in the British Wizarding World who agreed to work for Lynn received a raise within a single day, as she shared more profits with those working for her.
------------------------
I've posted 70+ chapters in advance on Patreon.
Webnovel updates will still be daily, as usual.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
[email protected]/SolyuraMT
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"