"A war with the Muggles," the black Auror replied dryly. "The Queen will never forgive the wizarding world if anything happens to a member of her family. And that would most certainly constitute a breach of the Statute of Secrecy — on a global scale."
Deathly silence descended upon the office. The soft rustling and whistling noises emitted by the glass trinkets and magical instruments suddenly became audible.
"Ahem…" Dumbledore's quiet cough drew everyone's attention. "Cornelius, I presume you possess no substantial evidence upon which to accuse my student of a crime."
"I do," Fudge objected.
The Minister drew a rolled sheet of parchment from an inner pocket and unfurled it.
"Here," he declared, "a respectable wizard has described the entire criminal scheme."
Dumbledore rose from behind his desk and stepped forward. Taking the parchment from Fudge, he scanned the contents attentively. Then he looked up with a smile.
"Well," he said simply, "I fail to see any crime for which my student may be accused."
"How can you say that?!" the Minister burst out indignantly. "Everything is written there!"
Dumbledore gave a slight shake of his head and regarded the Minister with a paternal smile.
"What is written here," he replied calmly, "is that Muggles secretly remove enchanted objects from Mister Grosvenor's workshop hangar at night. That is the only fact presented, and even that is merely circumstantial, Cornelius. Everything else consists of idle speculation unsupported by anything beyond baseless accusations. As Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, let me tell you that this document is fit for little besides wiping oneself with. It cannot possibly serve as grounds for accusing the boy of a crime. Lord Grosvenor, however, would be entirely within his rights to file a lawsuit for libel against the author of this little masterpiece." The Headmaster waved the parchment before the Minister's eyes.
Suddenly, the expression on the Minister's face changed: he understood. Taking a step backwards, he muttered:
"What…? I didn't… But I was told…"
"You were misled, Cornelius," Dumbledore said.
Richard narrowed his eyes at the Minister through half-lidded slits, as though peering through the scope of a sniper blaster rifle at an enemy in some virtual team shooter game. He was troubled, anxious, frightened — yet he concealed those emotions beneath a mask of cold indifference. But one emotion dominated above all the others: anger. No, more than anger — a fury as cold as Arctic ice, which now broke through the surface.
Fudge noticed the young lord's stare, and fear gripped him. The Minister's heart skipped a beat. He saw before him only a small boy, yet every fibre of his being screamed as though he had been locked in a cage with a starving dragon eager to feast upon the flesh of an ageing wizard. Fudge looked at Richard with a strange mixture of bravado and terror.
"Kingsley!" he barked loudly. "We are leaving."
"Yes, sir," the dark-skinned Auror replied with unmistakable relief.
The Minister strode to the fireplace and cast a handful of Floo powder into the flames.
"Ministry of Magic," he announced, turning back over his shoulder.
Green fire erupted behind him in the grate.
"I shall not let this rest!" Fudge declared angrily, before spinning sharply and stepping into the flames.
The Aurors departed through the fireplace after the Minister.
Pomona Sprout let out a long sigh of relief and visibly relaxed.
Professor McGonagall no longer resembled a taut bowstring, though her face still retained a stern and displeased expression.
In a fatherly tone, Headmaster Dumbledore addressed the Heads of House:
"Pomona, Minerva, you may go. There is no need to worry for Mister Grosvenor — nothing shall happen to him while he is in my office."
"Very well, Albus," McGonagall replied, heading towards the exit.
Professor Sprout approached Richard and gently ruffled his hair.
"Everything is quite all right, my dear boy," she said with a warm smile. "Once you've spoken with the Headmaster, go straight back to your dormitory and get some rest. And if you're feeling unwell, do visit the hospital wing."
"Thank you, Professor Sprout," Richard said sincerely.
Soon the Headmaster and the young Hufflepuff were left alone in the office, save for the phoenix and the many living portraits.
"Is there nothing you wish to tell me, my boy?" Dumbledore inquired in a kindly tone.
Richard unconsciously brushed the back of his hand against his chin. He studied the Headmaster carefully, noting little details: the white stars upon his lilac robes, like some fairy-tale astrologer; the little bells woven into his beard; and the sharp eyes hidden behind half-moon spectacles.
"Magnificent beard, Headmaster Dumbledore," the boy said at last, breaking the silence. "It must be rather difficult to maintain?"
"Not easy," Dumbledore admitted, the corners of his lips curling upwards. "But magic works wonders. A few flicks of the wand in the morning, and the beard looks splendid."
Just like the criminal psychiatrist's report, Richard thought to himself. The clothes, the behaviour, the way he seized control of the conversation with the Minister. And now I'm alone with this lunatic. Brilliant… Only just managed to avoid a trip to Azkaban, and now this… Oh, I can already tell my arse is about to suffer, because there's no way the Headmaster defended me out of simple kindness. On the one hand, he demonstrated his authority within the school to the Minister. On the other, he made it appear as though he had done a great favour for a young lord, while in reality he merely fulfilled his duties as Headmaster. And although I was never truly in danger, since the accusations were laughably flimsy, to a child my age such a situation ought to seem terrifying. I'll think later about what exactly motivated the Minister. Right now, I need to understand what Dumbledore wants from me.
(End of Chapter)
Before you vanish off to your respective common rooms, a brief reminder that your support is most welcome. Power stones, reviews, and comments would be greatly appreciated.
Consider it a small bit of magic to keep the story going.
🎁 Bonus chapter at 50 power stones!