Hogwarts: Oh no, I've become Voldemort!

Cyrus took a step back in disgust, leaning back, and out of politeness, he didn't pinch his nose directly: "Who are you?"

"Heartless!" Rita said, extending her fat finger in a self-satisfied manner.

Of course she did her homework before coming.

Interviewing someone about the Ministry of Magic isn't easy, and the moment she heard the news, she already knew where to start. Interviewing a former classmate was a good option, especially since the classmate was now an Auror.

"Alright, Delis, why don't we go over there and catch up? I'd also like to ask you what you think about yesterday's events?" Rita's flamboyant manner really made Cyrus feel a little nauseous.

“Excuse me, Miss Skeeter, I have to go to work. Otherwise, I’d like to invite you to stay in Azkaban for a few days,” Cyrus said politely, and walked past her.

Rita Skeeter watched Cyrus's departing figure without a trace of anger; instead, she curled the corners of her lips into a smile.

The shorthand quill beside him was already writing furiously.

"Regarding last night's attack on the Ministry of Magic, incumbent Auror John Dexter refused to provide any information. However, his expression revealed his deep dissatisfaction with Minister Cornelius Fudge's foolish scheme. When I interviewed him, his face showed intense resentment and contempt for the Aurors who were defeated..."

"He believed that if he had been the one guarding the Ministry of Magic last night, he would never have allowed Tom Riddle to swagger in and out. Given Dwight's excellent performance in school, I, Rita Skeeter, wholeheartedly agree."

"Delix seemed to think it was utterly foolish for Fudge to send out so many Aurors to find the two fugitives, and when I asked him what he thought of Fudge sending out Dementors, he gave a disdainful sneer. Clearly, he believed that while Dementors were unpleasant, they were at least far more reliable than some other Aurors..."

Cyrus stopped in his tracks.

To be honest, he didn't care that Rita Skeeter was tarnishing the Ministry of Magic's image, nor did he care that she was using the "Dracule" identity to her advantage. After all, he wasn't a Dracule.

However, for a considerable period of time, he will likely need to rely on the identity of "Delisi" to locate the key to Vault 12. If this report is published, "Delisi" will become a celebrity in the ministry.

“Miss Rita Skeeter, I think you’d better delete some of the false statements.”

“Is that so?” Rita replied softly, but the quill pen did not stop for a moment.

"When I wrote down these true facts, Delilah angrily demanded that I delete everything, including calling it 'false information.' It's clear that, under pressure from the Minister of Magic, the speech of all employees is being controlled—"

Cyrus was a little annoyed. He turned around and was about to take a step forward when his arm was grabbed by another person who jumped out.

"Wait, Dexter, don't be impulsive." Tonks appeared out of nowhere, probably thinking Cyrus was about to hit someone, so she was very nervous. But in reality, Cyrus just wanted to reason with Rita (threaten her).

Rita Skeeter seemed unfazed.

"What do you think would happen if a serving Auror attacked an innocent, law-abiding ordinary person in front of a magic department?"

“She’s deliberately trying to provoke you!” Tonks said.

"Oh dear, a young woman, having an extramarital affair?"

"What did you say?" Tonks immediately bristled. Just moments before, she had been trying to calm Cyrus down, and she lunged at her with her claws outstretched, claw-like movements, as if she wanted to tear Rita Skeeter's gossipy mouth apart.

“No need to explain. I know this isn’t something that can be done in the open.” Rita gave a nasty smile. “Nymphadora Tonks, like her name, is a libertine—”

"Snapped!"

Rita Skeeter was speaking when the floating quill exploded, turning the parchment covered in scribbles into dust.

She was startled and stumbled. She was wearing high heels, and the narrow opening of the shoes was stretched wide by her thick instep and ankle. With this stumble, the shoes could no longer bear the weight they shouldn't have and broke instantly.

The one who did it was Cyrus.

The commotion immediately drew the attention of everyone gathered at the entrance to the Department of Magic, even leaving the furious Tonks momentarily at a loss.

"Delix, what are you doing..."

Rita Skeeter was initially taken aback and terrified, but then she immediately figured out how to exploit the situation. Unlike Lockhart, who was like a peacock who loved to be in the spotlight, she preferred to manipulate public opinion from behind the scenes and reap fame and fortune.

If an Auror were to publicly commit violence, and the public outcry were to escalate, even Fudge would likely have to offer her a mountain of Galleons to retract the report. Of course, a little Galleons wouldn't be enough for her right now.

She would make John Dexter kneel before her and kiss the back of her feet as an admission of his wrongdoing!

So she immediately put on a delicate and fragile appearance, but her glamorous and ugly demeanor looked awkward to people.

"Gentlemen, how dare an Auror from the Ministry of Magic attack a law-abiding wizard in broad daylight? Is this the Auror who is protecting us? Is this the Ministry of Magic official we have elected?"

"You think threats and intimidation can make me back down? But let me tell you, it's impossible!"

"As a renowned newspaper reporter, my social responsibility tells me that I must never yield to you!" Rita Skeeter delivered a passionate speech, portraying herself as a righteous and fearless figure who was unafraid of power.

As a result, the other reporters or others gathered at the entrance of the Department of Magic regarded Cyrus and Tonks as unreasonable villains who used their power to oppress wizards.

"I can't help but wonder, is the person standing before me an Auror or a brutal Death Eater?!"

Chapter 108 The Exposed Animagus

"I can't help but wonder, is the person standing before me an Auror or a brutal Death Eater?!"

Rita Skeeter pressed on, issuing a very stern accusation. These days, just as people rarely mention Mystic, the term Death Eater is seldom used.

Because this word represents a tragic history, a wound that has not yet healed for the families of many victims.

It's rare to even mention it, let alone make such an accusation against an individual. If the accusation is proven true, the person will face permanent residency in Azkaban.

Cyrus found it absurd, ridiculous, yet somehow somewhat reasonable that he was being labeled a Death Eater.

However, if you insist on linking him to the Death Eaters, then he is also a leader of the Death Eaters!

Of course, he had no interest in leading a herd of scavengers crawling in the gutter.

Rita Skeeter's words had exploded like a bomb.

More and more people surrounded them, completely blocking their way. Even Rita, who had seen many big scenes, felt a little apprehensive being watched by hundreds of eyes. Tonks was completely panicked, gripping Cyrus's shoulder tightly, his knuckles white.

"Delix, what should we do?" she asked in a low voice, her tone trembling as if a taut string had been pulled.

She certainly didn't think the accusations would come true, but if things escalated, the two of them might be temporarily suspended—or rather, Cyrus might be temporarily suspended.

As for her?

He was just an apprentice who wasn't even a formal Auror; they simply dismissed him with the message, "He was a temporary worker and has been fired."

Whether it was the stares from those eyes or the constantly flashing magic cameras, Tonks felt flustered and helpless.

The densely packed figures before her suddenly seemed to lose their specific faces, turning into silhouettes. These shadows surrounded her, expanding abruptly—or perhaps shrinking—Tonks felt she was about to be engulfed in endless insults and accusations.

But just then, a strong hand landed on Tonks' shoulder. That hand felt like a heavy boulder, instantly calming her anxious heart.

Tonks felt a wave of dizziness, like someone suddenly standing up after being anemic, and all the faces of those figures flew back to him at once.

She saw the short, disheveled Moody struggling to push his way through the crowd, and saw Fudge wiping away sweat while leading a plump woman in pink to drive away reporters…

And of course, there's the man who's closest to her now, protecting her from behind.

Surprisingly, Tonks could clearly see Moody's face, which was intermittently appearing and disappearing in the crowd, but when he looked at "Delix," he felt that the other person's figure and half of his face were blurry.

"Stand back." All Cyrus left her with was his back.

He tilted his head back and took a few steps forward, staring at Rita Skeeter as if she were something ridiculous.

A peacock that excels at performing.

No, at least the peacock is beautiful; Rita is at best a gaudy pheasant.

Rita was furious. She wanted to see Cyrus terrified, wanted to see him speechless: "What do you want?"

“What do I want?” Cyrus raised an eyebrow, but before he could say anything, Fudge and Moody had already squeezed in from two different directions.

"What happened?" Fudge walked in and immediately stood between Cyrus and Rita. Umbridge, who was behind him, glared at Cyrus and Tonks, as if questioning why they had caused the Ministry of Magic such trouble.

“Dear Minister of Magic, I think you’ve come at the perfect time.” Rita immediately put on what she thought was a charming smile, her bright red lips making her look extremely aggressive.

“An Auror from the Ministry of Magic attacked me—a law-abiding citizen. I think you should be able to provide an explanation.” She kept staring at Fudge, who immediately felt the pressure.

He wasn't afraid of the woman, but rather the public opinion surrounding the incident. If he didn't handle it well, his already precarious approval rating would likely plummet even further.

"Delix! What on earth is going on!" He turned to look at Cyrus, his fat features squeezed together, his eyes looking like they were about to pop out.

"Who gave you the right to attack a law-abiding citizen?" he gritted his teeth, his facial muscles trembling with each word.

“Minister…” Tonks seemed to want to say something, but Cyrus stopped him.

Cyrus was in no hurry and said slowly, "Minister, I am just fulfilling my duty, the duty of an Auror."

"What do you mean?"

Fudge was stunned.

Cyrus casually glanced at the assembled wizards, as if reminding them to listen carefully. Finally, his gaze settled on Rita, which made Rita Skeeter suddenly feel uneasy.

“Rita Skeeter, do you dare say you haven’t broken any laws right now?” Cyrus didn’t rush to tell the truth, lest the woman use the excuse that she had only recently mastered Animagus and hadn’t had time to register.

He needs to get the other party to admit that they are "completely law-abiding".

“Of course!” Rita straightened her back, puffing out her chest, looking very confident. Of course, she couldn't possibly admit to breaking the law in front of so many people.

"What trick are you playing?" Moody whispered.

He was worried that Cyrus would make things worse, which would drag down his good student.

“Perhaps Dexter does have some dirt on Rita Skeeter,” Arthur Weasley said to another Ministry of Magic official nearby. “Many of the reports about Rita Skeeter have very strange sources.”

“You say you’re completely law-abiding?” Cyrus paced slowly around Rita Skeeter.

With each step he took, Rita's confidence waned. Over the years, she couldn't have broken only the Animagus law; her heart pounded with anxiety. She wondered if Cyrus truly had something on her, or if he was just bluffing.

“Rita Skeeter, you don’t actually think you can hide the fact that you’re an illegal Animagus forever, do you?”

"What?" Fudge exclaimed, as if he had just gone deaf; his reaction was even stronger than Rita's.

“You heard me right, Minister,” Cyrus said softly. “Rita Skeeter has been an illegal Animagus, in the form of a flying beetle, for many years. Over the years, many of her reporting sources have been obtained illegally in this way.”