Hogwarts: Harry Returns from Azeroth

Chapter 146 145. Progress and Intensified Differences

For a moment, Fudge's face turned gloomy - even though he knew he shouldn't show such an expression at the moment, some things were still difficult to control.

All of this was so different from what he had expected. He hadn't expected that the Wizengamot people had no idea what the point was. Was the point the new magic? Wasn't the point the law and the authority of the Ministry of Magic?

What's wrong with this group of people?

With an uncertain expression on his face, Fudge was thinking. He thought that his next priority might be to win over those members of the Wizengamot and bribe some of them to become his own people... Only in this way could he make these people stand on his side instead of Dumbledore's side at some point in the future.

Free himself from the reputation of being incompetent and a puppet, and become a true Minister of Magic, with power and prestige - maybe even become a legend like Ulric Gamp.

(Note: Ulric Gamp was the first Minister of Magic after the establishment of the Ministry of Magic.)
Fudge's ambition has never faded, and the longer he stays in that position, the stronger it becomes... I'm afraid he is the only one who thinks he has hidden it well.

People always deceive themselves and only see the truth they want to see.

The Ministry of Magic employees and Wizengamot members in the stands were leaving in an orderly manner, while Harry and Dumbledore were standing near the door. He was greeting the Wizengamot members under the leadership of Dumbledore.

It wasn't as if Harry didn't notice Fudge's sour face at the top of the stands, but who would care about such an insignificant person?

In Harry's eyes, Fudge was not even a threat. He had seen countless greedy and conceited ambitious people like him. Who would regard the ambition of an ant as a threat?

That's just self-destruction.

Unless that ant is taller than a human and has established his own insect kingdom - but it is obvious that Fudge is not such a tall and strong ant.

If Fudge really did something unwise, then just kill him. People cannot be punished for mistakes they have not yet committed. Unfair and unjust laws cannot stop Harry. Death will end all of Fudge's ambitions, but before that, Harry does not think that such an insignificant ambitious person needs his painstaking efforts to deal with.

Not even an enemy.

"Mr. Potter?" Another strange wizard in purple robes stood in front of Harry. He extended his hand in a friendly manner and said, "I have read your article, and I have witnessed everything you said in the article today. I am afraid I have to apologize to you."

"Apologize?" Harry asked curiously.

"Yes, I used to think that kind of 'element' was just an unfounded fantasy, but now it seems I was wrong." The wizard sighed and said, "It's called Glimpse Potion, right? I will try it when I go back today."

"I see," Harry nodded and said, "You'll find it's a whole new world, sir."

"Thank you."

Without saying anything more, the wizard shook hands with Harry and left the Fourth Courtroom. After all, there were other people waiting for him.

"Remember to write a new paper, kid," an old wizard who looked even older than Dumbledore said rather dissatisfiedly, "I can see that you hid too much in that paper. Do a good job. The magic world needs kids like you who are keen on exploring the mysteries of magic. Wizards nowadays pay less and less attention to this..."

The old wizard was still muttering about how wizards, generation after generation, had been disappointing, his words filled with the emotion of an elderly person.

"...If I remember correctly, Mysteries of Magic hasn't published my paper yet," Harry raised his eyebrows.

"Yes, indeed not yet, Harry," said a wizard who looked to be about thirty or forty years old and had a full beard. "But you have to know who we are. Wildsmith went to almost all the families for your paper, just to make sure that what he said did not sound like the nonsense of a hypochondriac."

"Actually, that doesn't apply to all families, Valencia, you know," a wizard nearby interjected.

"That's right," the wizard named Valencia nodded and said, "Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing your next paper. After today, whether some people believe it or not, Wildsmith will probably have to publish that article as soon as possible."

"Thank you, I'll write the next one as soon as possible," Harry said with a smile.

In other words, these wizards in the Wizengamot who either had status or power had already known about the elements. No wonder they acted so calmly compared to the employees of the Ministry of Magic.

"Come on, kid. I'm looking forward to this new magic system you mentioned."

"I can't wait..."

"..."

It was just like a fan meeting, with wizards from the Wizengamot greeting Harry one after another. They were looking forward to the new magic that Harry would show them today - for these accomplished wizards, they paid more attention to magic itself than ordinary wizards.

For ordinary wizards, magic is just a tool, just like Muggles use various electrical appliances. In terms of living habits and nature, there is no difference between ordinary wizards and Muggles.

Of course, there were also constant voices greeting Dumbledore. After all, the current Wizengamot was under the leadership of Dumbledore, the chief wizard, although he was not sitting at the highest point today.

It was not until the crowd finally left that Harry and Dumbledore finally had a moment of free time.

"If you are looking for Arthur, then there is no need to waste your time, Harry," Dumbledore said jokingly, "I told him that you might be back at the Burrow a little late today. But he asked me to tell you that Molly prepared meatballs. I hope you won't miss them."

"So I'll miss it?" Harry joked.

"Of course not," Dumbledore replied without hesitation, "After all, I'm just a skinny old man, so I won't tie you up by my side, haha."

Harry also laughed, but as he laughed the smile disappeared from his face.

"It's obvious, Dumbledore," Harry said calmly as they walked together in the dark corridor, "Fudge, the man you nominated, is a little out of control. He wants more."

"Ah, I'm afraid there is a slight deviation between our understandings," Dumbledore said softly, "At least in my eyes, our Minister of Magic was never promoted by me, and I have never had the idea of manipulating him."

"Are you kidding yourself? Or are you playing some special game?" Harry said mercilessly, "Not to mention ordinary people in the wizarding world, even Fudge himself doesn't believe this kind of thing. Even kids like Ron know that when Fudge first took office, he would owl you his work every day and ask for your opinion."

"And I firmly rejected this behavior and never gave any advice," Dumbledore replied, "Fudge is governing the British wizarding world according to his own wishes."

"Then it's obvious that Fudge himself doesn't think so," Harry said bluntly, "He wants to break free from your control. I can see his desire - you don't have to repeat your words to me, and I won't punish him for something Fudge hasn't done yet."

Harry interrupted Dumbledore.

"But you also know that the enemy who hates me still has several fragments hidden somewhere. If Fudge makes a decision that will affect my peace, then I will definitely not tolerate him like you do and let him fly around in front of me like a disgusting fly."

"Harry, we must use our power carefully, especially for people like us," Dumbledore sighed and said, "If we resort to violence when we encounter something unpleasant and want to use our own power to force others to obey us, what is the difference between us and Voldemort?"

"Our greatest enemy is always ourselves, Harry, please forgive my nagging." "People like us?" Harry glanced at Dumbledore beside him strangely and snorted. "If you don't take the responsibility you should take, then the situation will be controlled by those with ulterior motives, and this will be the biggest mistake."

"Oh, Harry, I was invited to be the Minister of Magic many times when I was young, but I always refused." Dumbledore shook his head slightly and said, "I am not interested in power. I would rather teach young people in school and help them grow."

"Yes, so this is your problem," Harry continued, "You were not in the position you were supposed to be in, which led to chaos in the British wizarding world. When you were dealing with Voldemort, you even had to distract yourself from the interference of the Ministry of Magic. This happened twelve years ago. I have read the records of that year. Don't try to fool around."

"Then I'm afraid I can only answer this question, Harry, and that is that I cannot sit in that position." Dumbledore said softly, giving an unexpectedly tough answer.

That's all, no further explanation.

"Really?" Harry couldn't help but said sarcastically, "But in fact, as long as it is what you want to do, even if Fudge clearly expresses his unwillingness, he can't stop you. I can even guess what you will say - 'Oh, dear Cornelius, I'm afraid we have to do this' - Fudge can't go against your wishes at all. As many people have guessed, you can command the Ministry of Magic, or command many people in it to act."

When chatting with some of his teammates from the Kenmare Red Kestle team, a group of men sitting together would naturally talk about the situation in the wizarding world and their own views, and Harry had been listening.

"Oh, my dear Harry, I'm afraid you think too highly of me." Although Dumbledore was speaking jokingly in response to Harry's words, his face was unusually serious at this moment, and even his voice became heavy.

"I swear to you, I have no such intention."

Dumbledore said seriously.

"Really?" Harry said calmly, "I really don't know why you would bind yourself in such a way that can even be called self-deception. You drew a circle and locked yourself in it...but it's up to you."

"At least the current Ministry of Magic has not fallen to the point where I need to destroy it and rebuild it. I don't have that mindset, nor do I want to waste my time on things like managing the wizarding society."

"That's great," Dumbledore chuckled, "I'm glad you can still see the positive significance of the Ministry of Magic."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean Fudge can continue to work for much longer." Harry smiled sarcastically. "Last week's Daily Prophet published an anonymous survey on Fudge's support rate. The dissatisfaction rate was 61 percent?"

This is a very, very low number, and it can be said that he is not far from stepping down.

The Minister of Magic is an elected position, not a lifetime position.

"Fudge underestimated the impact of the whole thing," Dumbledore said after a sigh. "It was originally just a small matter of a minor casting a spell outside of school. Fudge only saw the fierce reactions of the wizards, but he never thought that those fierce reactions were essentially derived from people's resentment towards the Ministry of Magic's mistakes over the past many years."

"Accumulated public resentment," Harry concluded. "Even the orc laborers will go on strike to protest."

To clarify, although the orc laborers are called laborers, they are actually those people in the orc race who are not good at fighting, so they are sent to do hard labor. Although they are indeed not welcome among the martial orc community, orc laborers are not really slaves.

So even if they go on strike to protest, they won't pay with their lives. That's the alliance trying to be shady.

"Although I don't know what the orc labor you are talking about is, I think I understand what you mean, Harry." Dumbledore shook his head slightly and said, "But a month ago I really didn't expect you to sue the Ministry of Magic directly and tell everything through the Daily Prophet... It was unexpected."

"Because I didn't approach you about it?" Harry laughed. "If I had, you probably wouldn't have let me sue the Ministry - obviously, Dumbledore, we are very different."

In the empty corridor, there was only the sound of two people's unhurried footsteps for a long time.

"...Yes, Harry," Dumbledore said softly, "I'm afraid that is the case."

Dumbledore will not sit idly by and watch the Ministry of Magic's authority being destroyed, because he knows very well that the loss of the Ministry of Magic's authority and credibility will lead to chaos in the order of the wizarding society, so he will protect the Ministry of Magic.

But Harry wouldn't.

There was no answer. Harry and Dumbledore had already walked out of the area where the Wizengamot administration was located, and the number of people they would encounter gradually increased, making it difficult to have a conversation.

—But there won’t be any more conversation.

Once again, there was a disagreement. Although there was no hysterical roar or shouting, both Harry and Dumbledore were very clear about what the other had just said.

Such conversations had taken place several times in the past, but this time it was more formal and serious than those at Hogwarts.

Harry almost clearly drew a line with Dumbledore, that is, no matter what the reason was for Dumbledore not to be the Minister of Magic, so that the villains were now in power in the Ministry of Magic - such a Ministry of Magic and such laws could not restrain Harry.

It was even a threat on his face. As long as Fudge did something harmful, Harry would send him on his way...to the land of mystery.

This was something Dumbledore would never do, and something he would not allow anyone else to do.

Both men knew this.

Perhaps because he was walking with Dumbledore at the moment, this time Harry was not surrounded again until he walked out of the main entrance of the Ministry of Magic. Those fanatical supporters from before seemed to have been sent out by the people of the Ministry of Magic.

The official entrance to the Ministry of Magic was actually a roadside telephone booth. When Harry left the elevator and walked onto the street, he turned around and saw only an ordinary red telephone booth with rust on the surface. There was nothing unusual inside.

Amazing wizard magic.

"Just hold on to my arm, Harry." Returning to his usual smiling self, Dumbledore raised his arm and gestured, "I'll take you back to the Burrow, and you won't miss Molly's meatballs."

"Apparition?" Since Dumbledore acted as if nothing had happened, Harry wouldn't say anything. He put his hand on Dumbledore's arm and said.

What made Harry a little strange was that Dumbledore didn't seem to know that he had mastered Apparition?
Is Mr. Weasley so tight-lipped?

Just don't tell anyone else?
It was a familiar feeling, but Harry had already gotten used to the aftereffects of this space transfer. He landed steadily on the ground, and the Burrow was not far away.

"Be prepared to become a real celebrity, Harry," Dumbledore said leisurely, "not the boy who survived a disaster, but the discoverer and creator of new magic, a celebrity who will be recorded in the history of magic alone."

"Does this mean that the Christmas gifts they give me will no longer be candy and snacks, but books?" Harry joked. He still remembered the story Dumbledore had told him.

"Ah, that is indeed a very troublesome thing," Dumbledore sighed, "but you have to get used to this process. As far as I know, your friends are already giving you books, right?"

"So? Is that all the warnings you get from your elders?" Harry asked. "That's not like you."

"Then what do you think I'm going to say?" Dumbledore suddenly laughed. "Advise you to be vigilant? Be careful not to become someone else? No, no, no, I've told you a long time ago, Harry, I no longer regard you as a child."

(End of this chapter)