Kapitel 313: Surely, as the Minister for Magic, you understand the importance of fairness and legality.
Fudge, the Minister for Magic, looked up from his paperwork, intrigued but not alarmed.
Though he had become increasingly absorbed by his position of power over the years, he still respected Dumbledore's wisdom.
"Oh? Albus is here? Invite him in!" he responded, a little too eagerly.
The secretary hesitated, biting her lip.
Fudge frowned. "What's the matter? Why don't you bring him in? It's not the first time Albus has come by. Next time, just tell him to come in directly and wait for me in the office!"
Her nervousness piqued his curiosity. "It's not that, Minister," she said, glancing around before leaning in to whisper, "He didn't come alone."
Fudge raised an eyebrow. "Who else came with him?"
"Grindelwald…"
Fudge spat out the coffee he had just sipped, splattering it all over the secretary.
"Who?" His voice trembled in disbelief. "Who did you say came with him?"
"It's Grindelwald, sir," she repeated, unfazed by the coffee dripping down her face.
Fudge's stomach lurched at the name. Even after all these years, Grindelwald remained a figure whose legacy evoked fear and caution. His rise to power and subsequent downfall were infamous, yet hearing his name still brought chills.
Despite the anxiety gnawing at him, Fudge forced himself to regain composure. "Let them in," he ordered, trying to mask his fear with a calm tone.
Moments later, a knock echoed from the door. Fudge stood, attempting to project an air of confidence, but his pulse quickened. "Come in," he called out.
The door opened, and instead of the familiar figure of Dumbledore, it was Grindelwald who entered first. His presence was powerful, yet strangely disarming. The old man before Fudge was nothing like the menacing dark wizard he had imagined. Grindelwald's demeanour was polite, even warm, and not the cold, calculating figure Fudge had envisioned.
"Good morning, Minister Fudge!" Grindelwald greeted, extending a hand with a smile.
Fudge was momentarily thrown off. He hadn't expected such enthusiasm from the former Dark Lord. He hesitated but quickly composed himself.
"Uh… yes… good morning," he said, shaking Grindelwald's hand. "You are...?"
"Gellert Grindelwald," he said with a grin. "But please, call me Gellert. May I call you Connelly?"
Fudge blinked, caught off guard by the casual tone. "Oh… uh… of course," he stammered, not quite sure what to make of the situation.
As Fudge's gaze shifted to Dumbledore, who had just entered behind Grindelwald, he saw something he rarely saw in the old professor: discomfort. Dumbledore's usual calm, almost playful demeanour was replaced with one of seriousness and even a hint of tension.
"Good morning, Connelly," Dumbledore greeted, though his tone was far more restrained than usual.
Fudge invited them to sit, feeling a bit out of his depth. His secretary brought coffee, and as they settled into the plush chairs, Fudge's mind raced. Why was Grindelwald here? And why was Dumbledore looking so stern?
The small talk quickly subsided, and the air in the room grew heavier as the real reason for the visit began to unfold. Fudge's astonishment grew as he realized that Dumbledore and Grindelwald were not on the same page.
In fact, it seemed that Dumbledore was only here to keep an eye on Grindelwald. Fudge felt a small wave of relief wash over him, knowing Dumbledore was watching over the situation.
Without Dumbledore present, Fudge wasn't sure how he would have handled a former Dark Lord in his office.
"So, Gellert," Fudge began, trying to keep his voice steady, "what brings you here today? Are you here on behalf of the Austrian Ministry of Magic?"
Grindelwald shook his head, smiling politely. "No, not today. Though I do serve as a diplomatic representative for the Austrian Ministry, my visit today is personal. I'm here representing my family, the Grindelwald family."
Fudge blinked, slightly confused. Representing his family? What could Grindelwald possibly need that required him to involve the Ministry of Magic?
Even Dumbledore seemed uncertain. This was not what he had expected. Grindelwald had mentioned something about the Office for the Misuse of Magic earlier, but so far, he hadn't even brought it up.
"Uh… forgive me, Gellert," Fudge said cautiously, "but what kind of assistance does your family require from the British Ministry of Magic?"
Grindelwald's smile remained calm, his tone unchanging. "Well, it's rather simple, really. You see, after many years of imprisonment, I have now been released. I have paid for my crimes, served my sentence, and the Austrian Ministry of Magic has seen fit to reintegrate me into society. I now have the legal rights of any law-abiding wizard."
Fudge nodded slowly, following along.
"And as a law-abiding citizen, I have the right to reclaim my property from Gringotts. However…" Grindelwald's eyes darkened slightly, though his smile remained.
"The goblins have refused to return it to me. Apparently, ten years ago, they assumed I would never leave Nurmengard. They claimed that my assets were transferred to Gringotts."
Fudge's eyes widened. He hadn't expected that. "And you want the Ministry to step in and help you recover your assets?"
"Exactly," Grindelwald replied smoothly. "I'm simply asking for what's rightfully mine. Surely, as the Minister for Magic, you understand the importance of fairness and legality."
Fudge hesitated, glancing at Dumbledore, who remained silent but watchful. The Minister felt a chill crawl up his spine. Despite Grindelwald's pleasant demeanor, the situation was far more complicated than it appeared.
"Mr. Grindelwald," Fudge began slowly, choosing his words carefully, "while you may have served your sentence, you must understand that your past actions still weigh heavily on the wizarding world. It's not so simple to…"
Grindelwald raised a hand, cutting him off politely. "I am not asking for a pardon or forgiveness. I am asking for what is legally mine. The Ministry of Magic has a duty to uphold the law, does it not?"
Fudge fidgeted, feeling the pressure mounting. He knew that helping Grindelwald retrieve his assets could cause an uproar, both within the Ministry and among the wizarding community. But at the same time, refusing might make Grindelwald even more dangerous. He had served his time, after all.
Dumbledore finally spoke, his voice firm. "Gringotts operates with its own rules, Gellert. Even the Ministry cannot force their hand easily. There are complexities involved that go beyond simple legalities."
Grindelwald's smile faded slightly, but he remained composed. "I see. So, you believe the goblins are beyond even the Ministry's influence?"
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