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The Daily Prophet placed this news on the front page. This issue sold extraordinarily well, almost to the point of selling out.
The paper included detailed basic information on Black: Sirius Black, a fanatical worshipper of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, had once used a single spell to kill thirteen people and blow up a street. Evil, mad, bloodthirsty, cruel, a murderer with an infamous reputation.
But none of this had anything to do with Dudley and the others. They continued living peacefully in Godric's Hollow.
The castle was very safe.
Unfortunately, a certain Minister for Magic did not think so.
In his view, Black's escape was definitely for the purpose of killing Harry Potter. Black was a die-hard follower of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and had even betrayed his best friends, the Potters, who were Harry's parents.
So he would definitely come looking for Harry.
If Harry Potter were killed by the escaped Black, Fudge's political career would be finished. He would absolutely be forced out of the position of Minister for Magic.
And so, this Minister Fudge, who had occupied his post for years with little achievement, for once began caring about the wizarding world's savior, Harry Potter.
He had originally thought Harry would be at his aunt and uncle's home. But when they reached Number Four, Privet Drive, they learned from Mrs. Dursley that Harry had long since gone off somewhere with his cousin.
This time, Fudge panicked.
"Why did you let them leave your sight?"
Fudge roared at Petunia in a fury.
As soon as he finished speaking, Fudge felt a powerful force surge over. A large, hairy hand shoved him away with force.
Vernon rushed out of the room, protected Petunia behind him, and glared fiercely at Fudge. "Hey! Fat man, stay away from my wife!"
"They aren't little children anymore, and they're wizards. Are we supposed to tie them to our side at all times?"
"When I was their age, I had already joined the Scouts."
"I don't want to see you again. Now get out of my house!"
Ever since little Lily was born, Vernon seemed to have found a new lease on life. He trained desperately. Although his fat outline had not completely disappeared, he could already be called sturdy.
At least, in terms of physique alone, he was far stronger than Fudge.
"Muggle!"
Fudge directly fell on his backside. After getting up from the ground, he was so angry that he pulled out his wand, intending to teach Vernon a lesson.
"Sir, I would not advise you to do that."
Before Fudge could cast a spell, a deep voice sounded beside him.
"I should remind you first that these two are Mr. Potter's closest relatives, and also Mr. Dursley's parents."
"If you do this, it will certainly cause dissatisfaction from both of them. I believe that is not what you wish to see."
"Wizards cannot casually cast spells on Muggles, even if you are the Minister."
The speaker had tawny hair and thick eyebrows. Behind gold-rimmed glasses were a pair of sharp yellow eyes. His expression was extremely stern, and his square face gave off an imposing feeling even without anger.
Together with that curly hair, he looked exactly like an old lion.
This was the current Head of the Auror Office, Rufus Scrimgeour.
He was responsible for the mission to capture Sirius.
As a veteran, Rufus did not call Fudge Minister, but sir.
Incidentally, Rufus himself had a fairly good relationship with the Carrow family, and Dudley had met him a few times as well.
"Dursley." Hearing this name, Fudge's movement slowed.
Fudge did not actually care much about Harry, even though rumors outside said Harry might be a wizard with powerful magic.
He did not believe that at all. He only regarded Harry as an ordinary young wizard. Mm, one with a somewhat large reputation.
But Dudley was different.
The incident in which Dudley had casually removed Lucius from his position as school governor had caused quite a sensation. Lucius himself had been mocked for some time because of it. Dudley had also left Fudge with a very deep impression. A figure who could make all of Slytherin support him was absolutely not simple.
Fudge was merely incompetent. He had not yet reached the point of stupidity.
"The Trace. Has the Ministry's Trace found any sign of them?"
After leaving Privet Drive, Fudge tried every possible method to find Harry's whereabouts. Unfortunately, Dudley had done his anti-tracking measures very well. The Ministry could not find the slightest trace.
For a full three days, there was not a single piece of news.
"Could he already have been killed? No, we must find Harry!"
Gradually, Fudge began to panic. His fat body began trembling, and he kept using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat forming on his forehead. Every minute that passed made him more anxious.
Of course, he was not worried about Harry's safety. He was worried about the ministerial chair beneath him.
"Mr. Dumbledore should know where they are. He knows everything."
Someone made this suggestion to Fudge.
If it had been the usual Fudge, he definitely would not have looked kindly on the person who suggested it.
But today was different.
"Yes, yes, yes, Dumbledore. Quick, we are going to Hogwarts." Fudge's eyes lit up when he heard Dumbledore's name. He shouted impatiently and immediately ordered his people to go with him to Hogwarts.
When undecided, look for Dumbledore. Fudge had always done this in the past.
"Cornelius, calm down. The children are all fine. Rest assured."
Dumbledore, wearing a star-covered dressing gown, looked helplessly at the intruders in his room, Fudge and his group.
It was already close to midnight. He had been preparing to sleep.
"Albus, you guarantee it!" Fudge said stubbornly.
"I guarantee it." The helplessness on Dumbledore's face became even more obvious.
Why had he never seen Fudge care so much about Harry before?
Dumbledore remembered some things from the past. When Fudge had first taken the position of Minister for Magic, he had not been like this.
Although he had little ability, he at least had self-awareness. Unfortunately, after tasting power over these years, he had changed.
He had become infatuated with power and status, and at the same time, he had grown closer to those so-called pure-blood wizards.
Did Dumbledore know where Dudley and the others were? He really did. Dudley had told him.
"Tell me, Albus. Where is he? Please."
Listening to Fudge's constant pleading made Dumbledore sigh.
"I can tell you, but Cornelius, you should go find them tomorrow morning."
After receiving Fudge's promise, Dumbledore told him where Dudley and the others were.
"That place is very safe. Er... perhaps even safer than Hogwarts." He spoke with a strange expression.
Dumbledore had originally wanted to say that its safety was second only to Hogwarts, but then he thought of all the things that had happened at Hogwarts recently: a troll intrusion, Voldemort's remnant soul, Horcruxes, two of them, and a basilisk.
In short, it absolutely had nothing to do with safety.
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