Harry Potter: I started checking in from Diagon Alley

It's more like they're just handing Blake his head.

That's a jinx that can blow up an entire street with a single curse.

Upon hearing Eric's question, Fudge wiped the sweat from his face and said, "Yes, that's right. Anyway, you'll see this news in the newspaper tomorrow."

“We don’t want to cause panic among the public, but the news has clearly already spread, so there’s no need to block it.”

"Starting tomorrow, the Aurors will be moving into Diagon Alley. Hopefully, we can catch him soon."

Eric and Fudge sat at the same table, with an Auror sitting next to Fudge.

Eric laughed and said, "Minister, I believe you already understand that what happened at Flourish and Blotts has nothing to do with Black."

Fudge said sternly, "Yes, as soon as I got here, Old Tom told me everything. It was just a misunderstanding. The department won't do anything to you because of this, Eric. Can I call you Eric?" Seeing Eric nod, he continued, "We're just ruling out any possibilities. After all, you understand what happened with Blake..."

“I understand, Mr. Minister.”

Eric chuckled. If he remembered correctly, Harry Potter had by then inflated his aunt's belly and boarded the Knight Bus alone, heading towards the Leaky Cauldron.

Fudge's nervousness was clearly not just because of Eric, but also because of Harry Potter.

As a wizard, Harry himself may not have any unique talents, but his reputation is still very valuable in the wizarding world.

Especially for a politician like Fudge, if anything happens to Harry Potter, Fudge will definitely be more nervous than Dumbledore.

"Then that's settled, Eric. I'm sorry to have disturbed your rest."

Fudge stood up, dressed in a magnificent pinstripe suit robe, and spoke while buttoning his robe. His gaze was not focused on Eric at all, and he showed no sign of apology. The Auror beside him also stood up.

Seeing that they were getting up to leave, but Eric remained seated, Fudge looked over in confusion and asked, "Is there anything else, Eric?"

Eric smiled and said, "It's nothing, Minister. I just had a feeling that things wouldn't be this simple tonight."

Fudge smirked. This kid thinks things aren't chaotic enough, always bringing up the most sensitive topics.

He hesitated for a moment, but ultimately suppressed his anger, ignored Eric, and left with the Aurors.

Eric remained seated, silently counting in his mind.

A moment later, he heard the screeching of brakes from the Knight Bus and a commotion coming from the entrance of the Leaky Cauldron.

"Harry! You've arrived, Harry!"

That's Fudge's voice.

There were also the sounds of several people talking.

Eric didn't listen carefully. After a while, he saw Fudge bring in a child who was slightly older than Eric, along with Old Tom, while the Aurors remained outside.

“Give us a place to talk, Tom,” Fudge said to old Tom, gripping Harry’s shoulders tightly.

Old Tom nodded, picked up an oil lamp from the wall, and walked straight into the narrow passageway of the bar to lead the way for them.

“Let’s go, Harry,” Fudge said.

Harry didn't move, because he saw Eric sitting in the lobby, smiling and waving at him and Fudge.

To Harry Potter, this scene was extremely bizarre.

Harry had a terrible day. He unknowingly inflated his aunt with magic, then ran away from home with his luggage, was caught by the Minister of Magic at the Leaky Cauldron, and was greeted by someone who seemed to have been waiting for him there.

Before this, Harry Potter had never thought magic was such an incomprehensible thing.

Although it was just a minor incident, Harry didn't want to go any further.

"What will happen to me?"

Harry stopped in his tracks and asked tremblingly.

Fudge tried to sway Harry Potter forward, but the little Harry Potter was unusually stubborn and refused to budge an inch.

Eric smiled and said from his seat, "Let me explain to you, Harry. The man standing next to you is the current Minister of Magic, Mr. Fudge."

"The reason the Minister is here is entirely because of Sirius Black and because he is worried about your safety. It is obvious that the Minister suspects that Black is after you."

Chapter 21 Simple Reasoning

Eric's words caused everyone present to look at him with complicated expressions.

Old Tom slapped his forehead; his worst fears had finally come true.

It should be said that if Eric didn't say anything in the face of this situation, he wouldn't be the Eric that Old Tom knew.

Harry was completely baffled. He had been confined to Privet Drive by his family during the summer vacation, and apart from his two best friends Ron and Hermione, he had no other sources of information about the wizarding world.

So he still doesn't know anything about Blake, and he doesn't understand what Eric is talking about at all.

Fudge stared intently at Eric, his heart filled with both shock and anger.

He now regretted telling Eric so much about Black, though if he hadn't, he might not have had any reason to bring the Aurors to Diagon Alley at all.

Ultimately, he never intended for Harry to know about Black.

Harry might see reports about Black's escape in the newspapers in a few days, but that would at least prevent him from learning about Black's relationship with his father.

Eric's two sentences just now clearly told Harry that Black was related to him.

Fudge was surprised because Eric hadn't mentioned this relationship between Black and Harry at all during their conversation.

How exactly did Eric connect these two things?

Fudge couldn't understand it.

Few people knew that Black and Harry's father, James Potter, were originally close friends; most of them were survivors of the war or people they had met during their student days.

Judging by Eric's age, Fudge would never believe that Eric was someone who had experienced the war.

Now that Eric has brought it up, who knows what Harry will think.

Harry had just finished running away from home, and now he suddenly learned that the people who betrayed his parents were still at large. If it were any other young wizard who encountered this situation, the situation would probably still be under Fudge's and the Ministry of Magic's control.

But that's Harry Potter.

Over the course of three years, Fudge, the Minister of Magic, learned quite a bit about Harry's exploits from various sources.

Fighting the basilisk alone, venturing into the forbidden forest, confronting the dark wizard...

Harry did more and more shocking things than many seventh-graders have ever experienced.

To put it nicely, this is commendable courage.

To put it bluntly, Harry Potter was just a brute.

I still don't quite understand my own capabilities; I'm the kind of person who's full of enthusiasm and just rushes forward.

However, because of his reputation as the boy who survived a great calamity, he received extra attention from Dumbledore.

As for his behavior, Dumbledore, as the headmaster, had no objection.

It's unlikely that Fudge would have any objections, at least not openly.

He needs the support of Dumbledore and Hogwarts to secure his position as Minister of Magic.

As Minister of Magic, Fudge also had to consider this, and couldn't easily do anything to Harry.

After much deliberation, Fudge painfully realized that if Harry found out about Black and caused any more trouble, Fudge really wouldn't know what to do with him.

Fudge couldn't help but rub his forehead; his head ached, it really hurt.

"What are you talking about? Who is Black?" Harry asked, puzzled. "No, more importantly, who are you?"

Harry stared blankly at Eric, a man he had never met before.

Eric looked even younger than Harry, and from his appearance, he seemed to be a student at Hogwarts as well, though Harry had never seen him at Hogwarts.

Before Eric could answer, Fudge stepped forward, blocking Eric's view of Harry, and said sternly, "If possible, Eric, let Harry and I talk alone."

After saying that, he looked down at Harry and forced a smile, "Don't listen to him, Harry. Don't you care about how your aunt who you've been inflating is doing? I'll tell you everything you know."

Seeing Fudge's face, which was trying hard to suppress his anger, Eric stood up nonchalantly and said, "Of course, Minister, I think the experience of riding the Knight Bus is by no means pleasant, especially for a young wizard who has run away from home."

"Well then, goodnight, Harry."

Eric smiled and walked up the stairs, ignoring the two men's shocked gazes, not forgetting to say goodnight to old Tom who was standing at the top of the stairs.

Fudge's expression changed. He felt an intense throbbing pain in his head. He couldn't tell if it was because of Eric's attitude or because of his seemingly indifferent yet truthful words.

Fortunately, Harry's shout to Eric saved him in time, and Fudge's tightly held breath suddenly dissipated, giving him a feeling of relaxed pleasure.

Otherwise, Fudge was very suspicious that he would explode at any moment.

"Wait! Your name is Eric, right? How did you know I ran away from home?"

Harry called out to Eric, who was halfway upstairs.

Eric stopped and turned around, smiling. "It's just simple reasoning."

“Simple reasoning? Who are you anyway?” Harry couldn’t hold back any longer. He shook off Fudge’s hand, rushed forward, and asked, “What does this Black you mentioned have to do with me?”

Harry isn't stupid.

When he got off the Knight bus, Fudge wasn't the only one there to greet him.

There were also several wizards dressed in long robes and coats behind them.

Harry knew perfectly well that they were Aurors.

Even the Muggle prime minister doesn't go out alone.

It's not incomprehensible that Fudge, as Minister of Magic, would bring several Aurors to Diagon Alley.

Especially if the situation is indeed as Eric says, and involves that man named Blake.

So much has happened today, and Harry doesn't know the specific details.

However, he still has a basic understanding of his own position.

It's unlikely that the Minister of Magic and several Aurors would come to wait for a Hogwarts third-year student who ran away from home.

This is simply not realistic.

Combined with Eric's words, even Harry began to feel that something was wrong.

“You grew up in a Muggle family. Even if your guardian is incredibly kind, they wouldn’t agree to let you come to Diagon Alley alone. Besides, it’s not even the time when school is about to start yet,” Eric said to the group below, standing on the stairs.

“I’m about your age, Harry, and I know best what little boys this age are thinking.”