From Hogwarts to Strixhaven.

Chapter 338 Outside the Castle
"What on earth do those damn werewolves want to do?" The Minister of Magic was furious in his office. "First they kept writing letters to the Werewolf Office, then they started marching in Diagon Alley, and now they are setting up a company composed entirely of werewolves! If my foreign counterparts knew about this, they would definitely laugh at me!"

"To be precise, Moony Magic Unlimited is not entirely made up of werewolves, but most of its employees are werewolves." The new senior deputy minister reminded, "They don't seem to have any intention of hiding it. They walk around Diagon Alley with many wolf heads on their heads and even squeeze into Ollivander's wand shop. If you ask me, they must want to get themselves a handy wand!"

"What!" Fudge almost jumped up from his chair. "Even goblins don't have wands! Why should those damn werewolves have any right?"

"Uh..." The Senior Undersecretary was shocked by Fudge's words, "Maybe because they are still wizards when they don't transform into werewolves?"

The air in the minister's office was silent for a few seconds.

The Senior Deputy Minister then noticed that his dear Minister seemed to have decided to pretend that what happened a few seconds ago did not happen.

"Why would Dumbledore allow werewolves to live in the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts?" said Fudge. "You understand me, don't you, Thicknesse?"

"Yes, of course," Pius Thicknesse leaned forward slightly, "That would be a huge security risk, not to mention the hundreds of students in Hogwarts! If the werewolves hiding in the Forbidden Forest want to have a bite or something, we might end up with a whole graduating class made up of werewolves."

"Yes! Thicknesse! You are right." Fudge clapped his hands and shouted, "This is of course a huge hidden danger. It is very important to prevent the werewolf curse from spreading among the wizarding community! Not to mention that these guys now dare to take to the streets openly!"

"What do you think I should do with them?" Fudge asked suddenly.

"Do you mean werewolves, or Hogwarts?" Thicknesse asked.

"Both, both." Fudge found that his senior deputy minister understood what he meant and immediately sat back in his chair.

"I don't think it will be easy..." Thicknesse waited until Fudge's eyes moved to his face before continuing, "If Professor Dumbledore continues to provide shelter to the werewolves... no matter what action you take towards them, you will inevitably come into conflict with Professor Dumbledore..."

"I never thought of having a conflict with Dumbledore!" Fudge seemed eager to clarify, and then tried to prove how good his relationship with Dumbledore was. "Albus and I have been friends for many years! Moreover, he is the chief wizard of the Wizengamot and has a very high reputation in the entire British wizarding community and the entire international wizarding community!"

The minister's office fell silent again.

When Fudge gradually calmed down, Thicknesse continued softly, "But - he is old, and the wrinkles on his face are almost as many as the white beard on his chin. Even the most shrewd and powerful wizard cannot resist the power of time... We all know that letting werewolves live in the Forbidden Forest is a very dangerous thing for Hogwarts students. Maybe Professor Dumbledore is just confused and made a wrong decision..."

Fudge's eyes lit up, and a look of joy burst out on his chubby face: "You are right! Thicknesse, perhaps we must admit that Dumbledore is confused. His clever brain is filled with too many inappropriate memories, and these memories have seriously slowed down his thinking speed... Perhaps, perhaps we should let the entire British wizarding community know about Dumbledore's confused decision..."

"The entire British wizarding world..." Thicknesse showed just the right amount of surprise, as if he admired Fudge's superb political skills from the bottom of his heart. "You mean the Daily Prophet? How bold! But it also shows your courage to face the mistakes of the greatest white wizard of this century. I must admit that not everyone has the courage to point out Professor Dumbledore's mistakes."

"Really? I was almost sorted into Gryffindor by the Sorting Hat, but I couldn't afford to lose Hufflepuff's common room and dormitory next to the kitchen." Fudge said happily, but immediately a look of worry appeared on his face, "But doing this... isn't it too cruel to Dumbledore? He is my best friend!"

Thicknesse widened his eyes and suggested with a serious look: "I think only the best friends should be brave enough to point out the mistakes of another friend! Do you want to watch him continue on the wrong path? With Professor Dumbledore's power, his mistakes will have an immeasurable impact on the entire wizarding world!"

"Ah..." Fudge sighed and said weakly, "You're right, Pierce... I shouldn't have watched him make mistakes... Perhaps I was partly responsible for this mistake... I shouldn't have remained silent about many of his decisions. He hired a werewolf as a professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts... I thought an informal employee wouldn't cause any major unrest... And there's the half-giant Hagrid... They were even allowed to keep dragons inside Hogwarts..."

"Ahem..." Thicknesse's cough interrupted Fudge's recollection. "Regarding dragon breeding... This is a plan that the school board fully supports. It has little to do with Professor Dumbledore. We all believe that this will reduce the price of magical creature materials in the British wizarding world. This is a decision that is beneficial to the people's livelihood! And you signed the consent letter yourself!"

A trace of displeasure flashed across Fudge's face, but he still said, "Yes, that's right! How could I forget! It must be because I care too much about poor Albus! He has done too many wrong things in Hogwarts, such as deciding what to teach students without consulting the Ministry of Magic... Yes, we are friends, and friends should point out the mistakes of friends. I can't watch him make the same mistakes again and again."

"This undoubtedly demonstrates your magnanimity and generosity, because I guess there are many people waiting to take advantage of your misfortune," Thicknesse said tactfully.

"But... wouldn't that be too cruel?" Fudge continued with a hint of worry. "A true friend should point out his mistakes to his face... Maybe I should go to Hogwarts before publishing the article in the newspaper - and talk to him in person. If he is willing to repent, maybe we won't have to go to that point."

Thicknesse's face was filled with complete astonishment, but he adjusted his facial expression: "From what I understand, Professor Dumbledore can sometimes be quite stubborn. Quite stubborn."

"Yes, we all know that!" Fudge used a light tone again, "I can almost imagine his expression when he rejects me, but who can blame me for being Albus's most loyal friend! It's decided! I'm going to Hogwarts! When does the second task of the Triwizard Tournament start?"

“Uh—February 24, I think,” Thicknesse answered, as if sleepwalking.

"No." Fudge shook his head. "That's too late. If we leave the werewolves in the Forbidden Forest unattended, they will definitely pose a threat to the students of Hogwarts. Every day later that I take action, the students will be in more danger! But that day is quite suitable for publishing the front page headline of the Daily Prophet."

"Thickness, I hope you can quickly contact our respected editor-in-chief and ask him to write an article exposing the dangerous situation of Hogwarts students," Fudge instructed. "If nothing goes wrong, it should be published on the front page on February 24th. Ah - there are students from two other European magic schools in Hogwarts now... Although using the public media to point out Dumbledore's mistakes will destroy the reputation of Hogwarts, if these international friends really become werewolves, the entire British wizarding world will probably usher in turmoil..."

Thicknesse secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "Yes, Mr. Minister."

Fudge nodded proudly: "This is a dilemma, but I know which is more important. On one side is the thousand-year reputation of Hogwarts, and on the other side is the peace and stability of the wizarding world..." Imitating the inner monologue of a drama actor, Fudge pretended to be sad and said: "Albus... my dear friend! You have to believe that this is not my intention... I really have no choice... I can't watch... I can't watch so many lovely children become werewolves! What a blow their parents must bear!"

"Mr. Minister, if you allow me..." Thicknesse said slowly. He was stunned by Fudge's strange behavior. He had never seen such crazy behavior and words in a person who was not under the Imperius Curse. He felt that Fudge seemed to really think that Dumbledore had done many wrong things, and his loyal friend was about to set out to give him a warning. "I'm going to Diagon Alley. The editorial office of the Daily Prophet is there..."

"Go, go!" Fudge waved his hand nonchalantly and began to adjust his bow tie and top hat in front of the mirror on the table. "Go and come back soon! Thicknesse. And I am also leaving for Hogwarts. This is not a business visit, but a friendly meeting between friends."

Thicknesse walked out of the room backwards, and watched the door of the minister's office close in front of him before he completely relaxed.

"This is really crazy..." Thicknesse shook his head and muttered to himself, "That idiot might be brought down by Dumbledore, and he might succeed... But what should I do to gain the greatest benefit? I have only been a senior deputy minister for a short time. A promotion too fast will leave a label of untrustworthiness in people's minds. Perhaps a political alliance can help me..."

Thicknesse rode the Ministry's elevator down, bypassing the notes and tired colleagues on the way, and entered the green magic fire of the fireplace.

But he did not go to the editorial office of the Daily Prophet in Diagon Alley as he had told Fudge in his office. Instead, he used Apparition in an empty alley and went to Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire.

However, the dizziness from the Apparition had just ended when a flashing red beam of light hit him.

"Collapse!"

These were the last words Thicknesse heard in his waking state.

----

A large dark green snake slithered on the precious carpet of Malfoy Manor, its scarlet tongue constantly moving in and out, sniffing the fear in the air.

"Who is he, Narcissa?" A sinister voice came from the velvet sofa chair. It was a baby wrapped in a black swaddling cloth, or some curled-up creature that looked like a baby.

It has no hair, but its body is covered with many fine scales. Its skin is dark red, like tender flesh that has just been seriously injured. Its arms and legs are almost integrated into its body. Its face looks flat and terrifying, triangular like a poisonous snake, and its pair of thin eyes emit a terrifying red light.

Narcissa's body trembled: "Piers Thicknesse, Senior Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic, Lord Dark Lord."

"Senior Undersecretary?" Voldemort's voice was thoughtful. "I don't remember such a position existing there."

"It was newly established by Fudge..." Narcissa replied, "My husband said it was to demonstrate his power as a minister..."

Voldemort sneered. "You mean to say that this deputy minister is a high-ranking official? What did he say?"

"Cornelly Fudge is planning to throw dirty water on Dumbledore. He is here to seek a political alliance..." Narcissa hesitated and continued, "He hopes to help those pure-blood wizards who are gathered around Lucius in exchange for their support in the Ministry of Magic..."

"Fool!" Voldemort commented mercilessly, "If Dumbledore could really be brought down so easily by such means, I would not have fought him for so many years!"

The dark green snake passed by Narcissa's feet. The sound of its scales rubbing against the carpet made her hair stand on end. She resisted the urge to jump away and stood there trembling.

“Is it really so terrible?” said Voldemort impatiently. “I can’t do anything to you in this state! But can’t you think of something useful besides fear?”

"I'm sorry! Lord Dark Lord..." Narcissa's tone was horrified, but she felt much more relaxed in her heart, which meant that Ivy's magic props were still working. "I'm just a woman. I was taught to fully support every decision my husband made..."

"Well, Lucius, when will your husband, my loyal friend, come back?" Voldemort asked, "The Aurors surrounding your manor have finally left, and I can't wait to see him. It's a good idea to conjure up the Dark Mark at the Quidditch World Cup, but it's still too risky."

"I just……"

Before Narcissa could finish her words, Voldemort interrupted her impatiently: "Your brain is full of holes... Let me ask you something else... Have you ever seen a black notebook? More than ten years ago, in my heyday, I gave it to Lucius for safekeeping. It was a dark magic prop that could open the Chamber of Secrets..."

Narcissa's eyes widened, because she knew very well that the thing had been given to Ivy by Lucius, and the latter had also understood all the dark magic in it and completely destroyed its original purpose.

“Damn it! How could Lucius hide this from you!” Voldemort shouted angrily, but then he calmed down. “But this also shows that he kept the thing very well... Finally, there is one thing that is satisfactory...”

(End of this chapter)