Hogwarts: I'm Harry's older cousin

Chapter 187, Section 185: The Gate of Trials

Perhaps it was Dumbledore's assurance that worked, because this time Fudge listened and didn't go looking for Dudley that very night.

Instead, they waited until the next morning and brought the Aurors to their door early in the morning.

"When did these things appear here?"

Fudge gazed at the tall outer gate of the ancient castle and fell into deep thought.

He had visited Godric's Hollow more than once, and also visited the Potter family home after the Potters' tragic deaths.

Since that incident more than a decade ago, this is definitely the most desolate place in the entire Godric Valley.

Now, not only has Potter's old house been restored, but a luxurious building has also been added.

When did all this happen?

"I heard it was built with the help of the Caro family," explained a Ministry of Magic staff member standing next to Fudge.

The fact that the Carlow family and Dudley were on good terms was an open secret among the upper echelons of the English wizarding world.

The gate on the outer wall can only be described in one word.

That's what you call 'big', it's practically a small mountain.

The gates of ordinary people's villas (manors) are usually made of large iron gates with railings, such as Malfoy Manor. People standing outside can see into the garden through the gate. But the gate of this castle garden is different. It would be more appropriate to describe it as a mountain gate or a wall.

Because this thing is solid and airtight.

In other words, you can't see inside the gate at all.

It was as if a '38th parallel' had been drawn, isolating the other side of the door from the world.

But the key issue is that such a large door has no doorknob or keyhole, which is quite puzzling.

Yes, not only the castle gate, but also the gate to the outer garden of the castle has no doorknob.

However, this is not an autonomous recognition method.

How to contact Mr. Dursley? This has become the question facing Fudge and his group.

Owls delivering mail? That's not impossible, but the problem is they'll be at the door by then.

We can't just use magic to force the door open, can we?

He came to check on Harry Potter, not to trespass.

Even if you use magic, there needs to be a place to open it. There isn't even a keyhole, so the lock-picking spell is definitely useless.

Fudge was only accompanied by ordinary Aurors. Chief of Staff Rufus Scrimgeour did not come with him. If it were him, he would have had other options, but his mission was to capture Sirius Black. He was just with Fudge yesterday by chance.

Looking at the massive gate, which resembled a small mountain, Fudge suddenly had a strange feeling. The patterns on the gate looked like countless doors stacked on top of each other. Could it be that the gate was pushed open?

Fudge pushed the door hard, but it didn't budge.

"How could I have such an absurd thought?" Fudge shook his head and chuckled.

Normal humans couldn't possibly push open this door; only giants could.

What are you doing in front of someone's house?

Just as the group was debating whether they should let an owl in, a cool, slightly stern voice rang out behind them.

When Fudge and the others turned around, they were greeted by Draco, who was holding a walking stick and looking at them warily.

He went to Diagon Alley to buy materials after finishing his morning exercise, as Dudley had asked him to.

"Lucius's son, Draco Malfoy?"

Fudge looked at the other person with surprise.

He had some connection with Lucius, and naturally knew Draco as well.

"You are... Minister of Magic? Mr. Fudge?" Draco paused slightly, then widened his eyes and asked with an exaggerated and delighted expression.

He actually recognized Fudge immediately, but he pretended to examine him for a while before his attitude gradually changed.

Yes, most people enjoy this process.

Of course, this didn't stop him from thinking that the other person was a good-for-nothing.

"What are you doing here?"

Draco's attitude pleased Fudge greatly, and Fudge became much friendlier towards him.

"Oh, Draco, I'm here to see Harry, Harry Potter."

Fudge explained simply to him, "Dumbledore said he's here, so... is he here?"

"Harry? Of course he's here."

Draco stepped forward, glanced at the door, then at Fudge, and said with a darting look in his eyes, "Why don't you go in?"

"Go in?" Fudge blinked.

He didn't understand what Draco meant by "go in".

The gate was locked tight. Were they supposed to walk through the wall to get in?

"Oh, I think this must be your first time here."

Draco feigned realization, a slight smile curving his lips to reveal eight teeth in two rows.

"Yes."

Fudge suddenly had the illusion of facing a second Lucius, except that he was not at all like Lucius's aristocratic aggressiveness, but gave people the illusion of being a polite gentleman.

Yes, he looks more gentlemanly than his father, Lucius.

Do you have a key?

"It's no use, this door doesn't need a key."

"No key needed? What do you mean?"

Draco didn't rush to answer Fudge. Instead, he slowly walked to the door, knocked on the tightly closed door, and a dull thud sounded. It was undoubtedly solid. His voice slowly rang out.

"To get through here, ordinary methods won't work—keys, spells, none of those are needed."

"Brother D named it—The Gate of Trials."

"The Gate of Trials?"

"That's right, only those who pass the trial can enter, and the method of the trial is quite simple."

Draco knocked on the door with his cane as he spoke.

"Just push it away."

Is it that simple?

"I tried pushing it open, but I couldn't."

Fudge quickly said that he had tried to push the door open, but there was no reaction at all.

"I think it's because you didn't use enough force; this door is very heavy."

Upon hearing Draco's explanation, Fudge immediately gestured with his eyes for the Auror who had come with him to go up.

The Auror understood and immediately went to the gate. He wanted to make a good impression on Fudge, so he pushed the gate hard.

Unmoved

Auror was a little embarrassed, then mustered all his strength and pushed again.

Still motionless

Seeing the Auror straining with all his might, his face turning red, Fudge cast a questioning glance at Draco.

"Isn't the intensity enough? Did this Mr. Auror skip breakfast?"

When it comes to a sharp tongue, Draco is in no way inferior to his father; he truly inherited Snape's talent.

"You go too." Fudge's pride was starting to crumble, so he gestured to another Auror to help.

The two of them exerted force together.

There was still no response.

Just when Fudge thought Malfoy was playing a trick on him, the gate finally showed a slight reaction.

Before Fudge could speak, the two Aurors, having exhausted their strength, returned to their original positions.

"Did you really push it?"

Fudge was greatly shocked.

(End of this chapter)