The Return to Hogwarts

Chapter 988: Follow the guidance

2024-06-21

Dumbledore explicitly refused to leak information to the legislature.

Upon hearing these sensitive words, the three men standing outside Umbridge's office immediately tensed up, but Arthur quickly regained his composure, giving Lucius a wary glare and clearing his throat forcefully.

"Minister, are you inside? I heard from Isaac that you were here!"

The heated discussion in the office immediately subsided, followed by Fudge's wary voice.

"who is it?"

"Arthur Weasley—"

Mr. Weasley said loudly,

"I have something I'd like to discuss with you, Minister. Oh, Lucius Malfoy is also looking for you."

The office was quiet for a moment, then a series of loud footsteps gradually became clearer from behind the door, and Umbridge's swollen, toad-like face appeared in front of them.

Umbridge tilted her chin and gave Arthur and the somewhat timid boy behind him a cold look, but when it came to Lucius Malfoy, Umbridge was much more amiable. She spoke in a sharp voice...

"You go first, Lucius—"

Mr. Weasley's face immediately darkened, but there was nothing he could do but take Percy aside and wait.

Lucius was clearly not visiting Umbridge's office for the first time, so he was oblivious to the office's terrible aesthetics. He saw Cornelius Fudge standing next to Umbridge's desk, clutching a piece of parchment tightly in his hand. When Fudge realized that Lucius's gaze was on the parchment, he panted and crumpled the letter into a ball, stuffing it into his pocket.

"What do you want, Malfoy?"

Fudge's tone was completely unlike his usual amiable manner when he offered Fudge sponsorships; he spoke impatiently.

"The minister and I are discussing something important, Lucius—"

Umbridge let out a few chilling giggles, his manner intimate.

“So, if you have anything important that requires the department’s support, do it quickly, Lucius—”

“Oh, thank you both so much for taking the time out of your busy schedules to host me, Minister, Ms. Umbridge--”

Lucius gave a polite, grateful smile.

"Actually... oh, it's like this, I noticed some inaccurate reports in the Daily Prophet about the current security situation in the wizarding world. Rita Skeeter even went so far as to claim that people are losing faith in the Ministry of Magic."

"What nonsense!"

Fudge's face turned pale, and he said angrily.

“Oh, of course, Minister—”

Lucius flashed a perfectly timed ingratiating smile.

"Those people simply cannot comprehend how difficult it is to govern a country and ensure the livelihood of the majority of its people. The Malfoy family—as one of the oldest and most influential families in the British magical world—has witnessed just how much this country has improved since it was last."

After seeing those reports, Narcissa and I decided that we needed to provide some support to the Ministry of Magic at this crucial moment. We planned to donate a sum of money to St. Mungo's to improve healthcare for ordinary residents. Of course, the Ministry of Magic should be responsible for handling this money and deciding how to use it.

Umbridge's chubby face, which was beaming with a business smile, instantly lit up. Of course, she hadn't forgotten who should accept the donation, and she fluttered her eyelashes toward Cornelius Fudge.

"Yeah."

Hearing Lucius's words, Connelly's furrowed brows relaxed. He exhaled softly, his face still pale, but he patted Lucius's arm and forced a smile.

“Thank you, Lucius. You’re right, the Ministry of Magic certainly needs more support right now.”

As he spoke, he sighed again.

“If there were more people like the Malfoy family who understood things, the Ministry of Magic wouldn’t be in such a difficult situation. Don’t worry, Lucius, I have indeed heard some bad things about you, but they are all slanders without any evidence. The Ministry of Magic will not change its opinion of the Malfoy family because of that.”

"Oh, thank you, Minister, and Ms. Umbridge!"

Lucius immediately said, trembling with fear,

"That's exactly what I was worried about!"

"As for the donation, Lucius, you and Dolores should handle it. I'm afraid I won't have time to deal with this matter anytime soon."

“Of course, Ms. Umbridge is your right-hand woman, and I trust her completely.”

Lucius then gave Dolores a polite bow.

"So, is there anything else, Lucius?" Fudge asked amiably.

"I'm afraid I have to hear what Arthur wants from me. After I get rid of him, I still need to discuss the current troubles with Dolores."

"Oh, I didn't mean to eavesdrop, I just happened to hear a sentence or two,"

Lucius said cautiously,

"The trouble you mentioned, the legislation, and Dumbledore and Blaine, so it's related to Hogwarts, is it?"

Fudge and Umbridge exchanged a glance, and then Fudge's face darkened again.

"you know--"

Dolores said in a sweet, coquettish voice,

"Recently, some people at Hogwarts have been spreading absurd and ridiculous falsehoods in an attempt to disrupt the order that the Ministry of Magic has worked so hard to maintain. This is absolutely intolerable to the Ministry of Magic, so we intend to—"

"We plan to send personnel to Hogwarts to oversee its daily teaching activities."

Lucius quickly replied,

"Oh, I heard that person was you--"

Under the astonished and wary gazes of Fudge and Umbridge, Lucius explained,

“Oh, don’t misunderstand, Minister, Ms. Umbridge. I wasn’t prying into the Ministry of Magic’s top secrets. I just happened to go to Hogwarts to visit Draco and overheard about it from Severus.”

"That's right."

Fudge seemed to find it rather unpleasant; he frowned and spoke softly, while Umbridge's fake smile vanished, replaced by a rather gloomy expression.

"If I'm not mistaken—"

Lucius took in the expressions of the two men, his gray eyes darting around in their sockets, and said worriedly,

“Normally, the Ministry of Magic probably has no right or reason to forcibly station personnel at Hogwarts and interfere with Hogwarts’ daily teaching, unless… unless a new law is enacted to ensure the legality of this matter.”

Before Umbridge could speak, Fudge said sullenly,

"That's exactly what we're planning to do now."

"But this will lead to public opinion, and people will discuss the Ministry of Magic's motives. Given the ridiculous statements Dumbledore has made in the past, people will suspect that the Ministry of Magic is intentionally trying to suppress Dumbledore and Hogwarts. This may damage the Ministry of Magic's image."

Fudge's eyes were sinister, and he remained silent. Clearly, he had already considered the things Lucius had mentioned.

“But we have to do it, Lucius—”

Umbridge, however, who had been forced into the situation, said in a sharp voice,

"We have every reason to believe that Hogwarts has strayed from its educational purpose and is intentionally encroaching on more power. If this is not stopped, something terrible may happen!"

"Of course, of course—"

Lucius nodded in approval.

“I fully understand your decision. Speaking of which, Minister, Ms. Umbridge, have you two discussed this matter with the Hogwarts Board of Governors?”

"The Board of Trustees?!"

Fuji's round face widened instantly, and he cried out in surprise.

"certainly--"

Lucius, who had been proceeding cautiously, felt a surge of secret joy; he had finally steered the conversation to this point, but his face betrayed surprise.

"Didn't the Ministry of Magic consult the Board of Governors? Oh, perhaps you've forgotten, Minister, you're a member of the Malfoy family's Board of Governors. We were the ones who took the blame for the Basilisk incident and were expelled from the Board of Governors."

However, the Board of Governors has the right to interfere in Hogwarts' teaching activities and personnel appointments. You know, Blaine was the investigator sent by the Board of Governors to Hogwarts to investigate the Chamber of Secrets in Slytherin. The Board of Governors even has the power to dismiss the Headmaster of Hogwarts…”

Chapter 989 A Mother's Love

2024-06-22

Silence fell over Umbridge's office as Fudge and Umbridge stared at each other.

"The Board of Trustees!"

Suddenly, in a split second, Fudge swung his fist hard, his excited expression like that of someone who had discovered a new continent.

"That's right, Blaine got into Hogwarts through the Board of Governors back then. They can even directly appoint and dismiss the headmaster of Hogwarts. I can't believe I forgot about that!"

Umbridge's eyes, though surrounded by swollen eyelids, kept gleaming, as if he were weighing the pros and cons of the matter.

"Lucius!"

Fudge lunged forward and grabbed Lucius's arm, his excitement evident.

"The Board of Governors can directly remove Dumbledore and Blaine, yes, that's it! You support the Ministry of Magic, don't you, dear Lucius?"

“Of course, Minister—”

Lucius concealed his disdain well, but wore a troubled expression.