Bab 8: Chapter 8: A Dark Wizard?
After purchasing cauldrons, textbooks, owls, and other necessary items, Argus took Draco to the fireplace and used Floo Powder to send him back to Malfoy Manor.
Then he went to the entrance of Diagon Alley, where he saw Vinda Rosier already waiting.
"Did you get everything?"
Argus raised his hand to indicate the suitcase in his pocket, which had been enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm.
"Got everything, and I sent Draco back."
"Now, Aunt Vinda, who sent those Aurors?"
"The head of the Auror Office at the British Ministry of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour."
Argus narrowed his eyes, slowly recalling information about the man.
Rufus Scrimgeour, a hardliner in the British Ministry of Magic, dedicated his life to capturing Dark wizards. In the original story, he had disagreements with Dumbledore and became the Minister of Magic after Fudge's resignation, later captured by Voldemort. Despite severe torture, he didn't reveal Harry's whereabouts and ultimately died from the torment. He could be considered a hero in the magical world.
"It seems our dear head thinks we're a bunch of Dark wizards!"
"Being under his watch isn't ideal for our upcoming plans," Argus muttered with a frown.
"Should we send someone to take him out?"
"No!" Argus shook his head. "Killing a high-ranking Ministry official right after arriving in Britain would surely cause panic within the Ministry of Magic."
"If that happens, it won't be just a few Aurors watching us," he continued.
"But if Scrimgeour keeps his eyes on us, it will be extremely detrimental to our subsequent plans," Vinda Rosier said with a serious tone.
Argus pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked up. "To deal with Scrimgeour, we don't necessarily have to act ourselves."
"The British Ministry of Magic only got the news of our transfer today. At their speed, they couldn't have made a decision immediately."
"Are you saying Scrimgeour acted on his own?" Vinda, who wasn't dull-witted at all, quickly grasped the implications. In fact, she was far smarter than most, which was why she had been at Grindelwald's side for so long.
"Leak the information to Fudge, hinting that Scrimgeour had long known about our arrival in Britain. Naturally, someone will cause trouble for him!" Argus said with a mischievous smile.
"Who doesn't like to see a good dogfight?"
"By the way, what did you find out about the shops in Diagon Alley?"
Vinda shook her head. "The situation isn't great. The shops in Diagon Alley are very popular; very few people are willing to sell."
"Most of these shops are controlled by pure-blood families. Especially the ones dealing with potions and flying broomsticks, which have high demand. They've been snapped up early. Even if we could buy a shop, the location wouldn't be good."
Argus couldn't help but smile. "Who said I wanted to buy a shop?"
"Not buying? Then why did we investigate these shops?" Vinda asked, puzzled.
"Investigating the shops was to understand the trading situation in Diagon Alley. A couple of shops could never supply the resources the Acolytes will need in the future."
"My goal is... to replace Diagon Alley!"
"Replace Diagon Alley?"
Now it was Vinda's turn to be stunned.
Even she had initially only thought of trading with pure-blood families, perhaps being a bit more aggressive, and maybe ousting a few families. But replacing Diagon Alley? That wasn't just taking profits from the pure-blood families; it was cutting off one of their limbs!
"Argus, be reasonable. I know you want the Alliance to develop, but we have just settled in Britain and haven't established ourselves yet. Starting a war with the pure-blood families..."
"I am very calm, Aunt Vinda." Argus sighed, patting her hand, indicating she didn't need to be so shocked.
"Replacing Diagon Alley is a long-term plan. Besides the funding issue, the resources controlled by pure-blood families are beyond our current capabilities."
"But there's no harm in planning ahead. In my mind, replacing Diagon Alley is only a short-term goal. To truly control the magical world, even the resources of ten Diagon Alleys wouldn't be enough."
"In the future, our commercial empire will span the entire world!"
...
The next day, at the British Ministry of Magic.
Rufus Scrimgeour stood with a grim expression at the door of the Minister's office.
Inside, Cornelius Fudge's eyes were bloodshot, and he was panting heavily.
"This is outrageous, absolutely outrageous!"
"Mobilizing over a dozen Aurors without informing me, the Minister of Magic, at all!"
"Scrimgeour, what are you trying to do!"
Scrimgeour did not back down. "They are the Acolytes! A group of Dark Wizards! The Austrian Ministry of Magic has had over a dozen Aurors go missing because of them!"
"An eleven-year-old child, supposedly killing over a dozen Aurors single-handedly? You believe such nonsense! I am ordering you right now, withdraw our people immediately!"
Fudge had a strong grip on power, and in his view, Scrimgeour's actions were not aimed at the Acolytes.
They were a challenge to his authority as Minister!
It was a signal that Scrimgeour was already colluding with the Austrian and German Ministries of Magic!
This was something he could not tolerate!
''No! Even if that kid didn't do it, he is definitely involved!''
"Scrimgeour!" Fudge slammed his palm on the desk, his roar filled with fury.
"I am the Minister of Magic!"
That single declaration completely silenced Scrimgeour!
Left with no choice, he reluctantly conceded, glaring at Fudge as he spat out his final words.
"Fudge, you will regret this!"
...
Time flew by, and soon it was late August.
During this period, Argus continued his intense studies, utilizing his full talents.
He had already finished the fourth-year curriculum of Hogwarts and was now reading the fifth-year "Standard Book of Spells."
In the manor, Argus sat quietly in a chair, absorbed in his book.
Next to him, Draco seemed as if he had fleas biting him, constantly fidgeting and scratching, clearly unable to sit still.
Lucius, who had arrived at the door, couldn't help but marvel every time he saw this scene, no matter how often it occurred.
The difference between people was indeed greater than the difference between people and dogs!
This seemingly gentle blue-eyed boy had, in just a month or two, transformed from an outsider with no foundation to a welcomed guest among many pure-blood families.
Tracing it back, it all started with a single invitation to a gathering from his own son!
Through Draco's gatherings, Argus gained the favor of numerous pure-blood peers, and subsequently, these peers began to idolize him, inviting him to various gatherings.
Using these peer gatherings, he built connections with various families.
Importantly, these pure-blood family fools remained utterly unaware!
It was truly impressive. As expected of Grindelwald's bloodline, this level of manipulation was far beyond ordinary people!
If he could, he truly didn't want Draco to have too much contact with him.
With the kind of naivety his son had, he would probably be happily counting the money even if he were sold!
"Draco, your father is here."
Argus noticed Lucius's arrival, closed his book, and gently reminded him.
Draco's face lit up with joy. He tossed the book in his hand and was about to leave immediately.
"Ahem!"
"Argus, I've been reading all afternoon..."
"I know. Just remember to finish the assignments I gave you. I'll check them when school starts."
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