Summer, 1990. The British Ministry of Magic.
The door to the office of the Head of the Committee on Experimental Charms was shoved open, slamming against the wall with a loud bang. The noise startled several quills that were suspended in mid-air recording data, causing them to drop to the floor.
"Willy Shafiq!"
"I have evidence indicating that the serial explosions downriver on the Thames last week are linked to that alchemically modified rabbit from your committee, codenamed 'White Branch'!"
Behind the desk, a handsome man was looking down, writing something in a notebook. Upon hearing the accusation, he merely paused his pen nonchalantly and tapped the desktop lightly with his slender fingers.
William raised his head, his grey-blue eyes calmly regarding the panting wizard before him.
The wizard was Cornelius Fudge, the current Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes.
At this moment, Fudge was wearing a pinstriped suit, clutching a roll of parchment documents tightly in his hand. Beneath his dark green bowler hat, his face was flushed red with the excitement of a scheme about to succeed.
Behind him, two assistants holding wands stood guard at the door, expressionless.
"That rabbit was supposed to be destroyed last month, but it escaped, and..." Fudge waved the parchment in his hand as if brandishing a sword of authority. "You did not report this major error. As the Head of the Committee on Experimental Charms, you must take full responsibility for this matter."
The air in the office seemed to freeze. In the surrounding cubicles, many staff members poked their heads out, watching the scene nervously.
William slowly stood up, smoothing out his unwrinkled dark blue robes, his gaze sweeping over Fudge and the assistants behind him.
"So?"
Fudge froze for a moment, seemingly surprised by this reaction, but he quickly adjusted his expression and puffed out his chest. "So, until the charges against you are dropped, according to the Ministry of Magic Civil Servant Management Regulations, you are temporarily unable to hold the position of Head."
"Furthermore, I suggest you start preparing for the upcoming trial immediately."
"Trial?" The corners of William's mouth curled into a playful arc. "When?"
"July 10th," Fudge said quickly. "During this period, you are suspended pending investigation."
"July 10th... how interesting."
William chuckled lightly. He walked around the desk and leaned against the edge. "Waiting specifically until after the Minister election to hold the trial? Fudge, your scheming is so loud I can hear it from here."
Fudge's expression changed. "This is the scheduling of the Council of Magical Law..."
"As far as I know, I am not the only one who has been accused or suspended for various reasons these past few days." William interrupted him, waving his hand. "If you observe carefully, you will find that all of us share a common characteristic: we all have the same good friend, or former colleague."
By now, the corridor was packed with staff watching the drama, whispers rising and falling.
"The Head and Mr. Crouch are good friends..."
"It looks like Fudge is purging dissidents for the Minister election..."
Seeing William tear away this veil of decency in public, Fudge looked a bit flustered. He hurriedly raised his voice, "Silence, Shafiq! We have solid evidence. This is an official document approved by the Council of Magical Law. Do not confuse the public here."
"Evidence?" William narrowed his eyes slightly, his originally gentle demeanor gradually vanishing. "Then take it out and let me see how that so-called rabbit managed to cross half of London to bomb the Thames."
"The evidence has already been submitted to the Council of Magical Law to be sealed!" Fudge roared, looking fierce but inwardly weak. "Before the trial begins, as a suspect, you have no right to view it!"
"He has no right to view it, but what about me?"
An angry voice rang out.
The crowd parted automatically to the sides, and Barty Crouch Sr. strode over.
His meticulous toothbrush moustache was trembling slightly with anger, and his stiff wizarding robes snapped as he walked.
"B-Barty?" Fudge clearly hadn't expected the man himself to arrive so quickly. He subconsciously took half a step back. "You... weren't you attending the International Confederation of Wizards conference?"
"The moment I learned the Ministry was being turned into a mess, I was already on my way back."
Barty Crouch stared coldly at Fudge, his eyes sharp as knife blades. "Cornelius, to run for Minister, you would actually use such dirty tricks to fabricate charges and slander my friend and colleague? I believe the relevant reports and files are well preserved; you can check them at any time."
"Do you need me to have someone find them for you right now, Deputy Head Fudge?" William crossed his arms, looking at Fudge with interest.
Cold sweat oozed from Fudge's forehead. He looked like he was about to collapse under Barty Crouch's powerful aura. The murmurs around them grew louder; what originally seemed like righteous law enforcement instantly turned into ugly political persecution.
Just as Fudge was about to break, a sickly sweet voice abruptly cut in.
"Oh my, Mr. Crouch, you've misunderstood Cornelius."
A short, squat woman stepped out from behind Fudge. She was wearing a garish pink cardigan and a large velvet bow on her head; she looked just like a pale toad.
Dolores Umbridge.
She stood beside Fudge, a fake smile plastered on her face. "Cornelius is just following procedure. We do indeed possess the relevant documents signed by the Council of Magical Law. We are just handling things impartially, aren't we?"
William looked at the two of them echoing each other, a glint of realization in his eyes. "It seems our Senior Undersecretary has weighed the pros and cons and chosen her side."
Umbridge's appearance was within William's expectations. As the Head of the Committee on Experimental Charms—an independent department—although his rank was not as high as the Heads of the seven major Departments, it was certainly not weaker than Fudge, a Deputy Head. He didn't believe Fudge would dare to accuse him alone.
"Heh heh, Mr. Shafiq, you must be joking." Umbridge let out a string of bell-like laughter. "We are only acting for the order of the magical world. As for the Minister election, that is a major matter between the candidates; it really has nothing to do with you, or your other colleagues."
"Regardless, the document is already in effect." Fudge straightened his back as if he had grasped a life-saving straw. "We must act according to the document and temporarily suspend William Shafiq from his duties."
Although Umbridge didn't really want to offend William, a high-ranking official from a pure-blood family, she had now placed her bets on Fudge.
Through a series of backroom deals, they had managed to obtain this legal document with great difficulty. Now, they were riding a tiger and couldn't get off; they had to carry it through to the end.
There is no turning back once the arrow is on the string. Today, they must thoroughly suppress William Shafiq.