Hogwarts: I'm Harry's older cousin

Chapter 189, Section 187: Fudge: The Ministry of Magic Must Know Harry Potter's Whereabouts

"I heard magpies calling on the branches as soon as I woke up this morning. I was wondering what happy event it was, but it turns out that a distinguished guest has come to visit."

Dali slowly swallowed a piece of fried dough stick, then drank a large gulp of soy milk, and smiled as he spoke to Fuji.

Fried dough sticks taste best when paired with soy milk.

"What do you mean?"

Fudge completely failed to understand Dudley's cryptic compliment.

He didn't even understand the culture of English wizards, and he couldn't even recognize all the magical plants, let alone know the Chinese 'metaphors'.

"Ignorance is truly terrifying."

Dudley silently repeated the same thing to himself, but said aloud, "I meant Mr. Fudge, it's a pleasure to meet you."

Fudge understood this simple and straightforward statement.

"Me too, Mr. Dursley."

Fudge laughed, and the wrinkles on his face immediately bunched up and jiggled.

"Let's have a meal together; I think you haven't eaten yet."

"I'm so sorry," Fudge said, then picked up a fried dough stick.

Although he had eaten some cereal in the morning, it wasn't very filling, and seeing how much Dali and the others were enjoying their food, he suddenly got hungry again.

The main reason I was so relieved was seeing Harry Potter; it really put my mind at ease and whetted my appetite.

Chinese cuisine is indeed vast and profound, but not everyone likes it, as tastes vary. Even within China, people can argue about whether to eat sweet or savory zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), sweet, savory, or spicy tofu pudding; the situation is even more pronounced in other regions.

Don't be fooled by how much Hermione and the others are eating; it's because they've been with Dudley since they were little, and their eating habits are similar.

Fudge only ate two bites of the fried dough stick before putting it down. He looked around and didn't seem to like the other foods much, but he was very interested in the rice noodle rolls.

He sprinkled lots and lots of white sugar on the rice noodle rolls, and then added a lot of jam and honey.

Dali's eyelids twitched as he read it.

They don't even find it too sweet.

The few Aurors and Ministry of Magic staff just stood silently behind Fudge, watching and swallowing hard, since Dudley hadn't offered them any hospitality.

There's only so much food; if we let them eat as well, it really won't be enough.

Well, the main problem is that there isn't enough Dali to eat.

The group quickly finished breakfast, and the Cornish elves cleared away the plates and served everyone a cup of tea to cleanse their palates.

The Aurors were also there this time.

Having not eaten anything to begin with, and watching Dali and the others eat for so long, plus drinking a cup of tea to cleanse their palates, made me even hungrier.

"I wonder what urgent business Mr. Fudge has come to see me so early in the morning?" Dudley asked.

His question made Fudge's face look a little awkward. He had originally thought that Dudley had taken Harry to stay at a friend's house for a while, but he did not expect that Dursley had quietly bought such a big house.

Are Dursleys really that rich?

"Mr. Dursley, I'm here to see Harry."

Fudge told Harry honestly, then looked at him: "We went to old Mr. Dursley's, only to find you weren't there. You know, you gave us a real scare. But thank goodness you're alright."

With deep concern in his voice, Fudge smiled at Harry from the edge of his teacup. His smile was kind and gentle, like an uncle looking at his beloved nephew.

"Me?" Harry pointed to himself, making sure the other person hadn't mistaken him for someone else.

He thought Fudge was looking for Dudley, but he never expected him to be looking for him.

But why would a Minister of Magic be so concerned about his own affairs?

Dudley once said, "Unsolicited kindness is either a trick or a theft."

Harry then looked at Dudley.

If you don't know, ask Brother D. There's nothing Brother D doesn't know; it's always been that way.

"It's because of Sirius's prison break, isn't it?"

Dudley was speaking to Fudge, but also to Harry.

Upon hearing the name Sirius Black, Fudge's expression clearly changed, and his wrinkles twitched a few times.

"Sirius? Who?" Harry was confused.

"A serious offender in Azkaban."

Hermione answered Harry's question. Unlike Harry, who was completely indifferent to news in the wizarding world, she, like Dudley, would spend some time each day reading about recent major events.

"So this prisoner named Sirius is connected to Harry? And he's here to take revenge on Harry?"

Hermione easily deduced that the other party was targeting Harry.

"That's a very dangerous prisoner."

Fudge didn't want to answer these questions, abruptly interrupting Hermione's analysis. He didn't want Harry to know about Sirius's relationship with their family at all.

"Evil, brutality, bloodlust, madness, and indiscriminate killing."

Fudge kept talking badly about Sirius, describing him as a neurotic serial killer.

If he could, he would even like to lock Harry Potter up to ensure his safety, at least during his time as Minister of Magic, Harry Potter must not be allowed to get into trouble.

"With two weeks left before Hogwarts starts, I think I should take Harry with me and have him protected by the Ministry of Magic in a safe place."

Fudge revealed his purpose.

He's going to take Harry away.

"Mr. Fudge, I think Harry is safe now."

How could Dudley possibly let him have his way?

Without a second thought, Fudge said, "But he's Sirius, a vicious criminal. Mr. Dursley, I think it's safer for Harry to stay at the Leaky Cauldron."

When it comes to Harry, and Fudge's hat, even if you're Dumbledore, Fudge would still dare to challenge you.

Even if Fudge thinks Dudley has a bright future, that's in the future. He can befriend him, but Fudge won't back down in a situation that concerns his job.

Having tasted the power, Fudge has become deeply enamored with the feeling.

He would consider anything that could cost him his position as Minister of Magic an enemy.

Otherwise, why do you think he brought several Aurors with him?

Are you having a party?

It means taking action when necessary.

Dudley said impatiently, "I told you, it's safe here, Mr. Fudge."

The Leaky Cauldron? You're telling me the Leaky Cauldron is safe? Even Dudley at Hogwarts didn't think it was safe.

"The Ministry of Magic must know Harry Potter's whereabouts!" Fudge's attitude was unusually firm, a stark contrast to his previous amiable demeanor.

Fudge's characteristics include a lack of self-awareness, an inability to see himself clearly, and a tendency to be easily angered.

To put it nicely, it was because the Ministry of Magic needed to know Harry Potter's whereabouts; to put it bluntly, it was surveillance or, in other words, a form of house arrest.

Only in this way will Fudge be at ease.

"The Ministry of Magic has no need to know Harry Potter's whereabouts."

Dudley stared coldly at Fudge, his attitude equally firm.

Negotiations broke down, and tensions rose sharply.

The Aurors hesitated before pulling out their wands, their gazes sweeping back and forth between Dudley and Fudge. In their eyes, Dudley and the others were still children, and even in the worst-case scenario, they shouldn't cast spells on young wizards.

What? Dali can push open three doors in one go?

That was just a kid who was a bit stronger.

(End of this chapter)