章 308: 0307 Ministry of Magic
"Ugh!"
A slight explosion pushed aside the floating dust in the air. It was 6 o'clock in the morning, and the bustling city center was at the boundary between day and night. The energetic young people had finished their exciting nightlife and were heading home to rest, while the middle-aged people who were busy with their lives had just left their warm and comfortable beds, busy tidying up their appearances.
"It seems we're in luck, Hagrid. We didn't run into those crazy reporters--"
Bryan's gaze drifted from the imposing office buildings on both sides to the desolate street lined with long-shuttered companies and dilapidated taverns, finally resting on Hagrid, who had collapsed on the ground, vomiting.
"What's the matter, Hagrid, not used to apparating?"
Bryan raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Sorry, Professor--"
Hagrid wiped the snot and tears off his face and weakly said, "The longest mode of transportation I've used is the train or on my own foot. Apparition, to be honest, the last time I experienced this was when I was expelled from Hogwarts. Professor Dumbledore took me to the Ministry of Magic for a trial."
Bryan couldn't help but laugh. He took out his wand and helped Hagrid clean the vomit off his clothes, also covering up the smell on him.
"Now, what's next--"
Bryan looked around with a puzzled expression, searching his memory for details about the Ministry of Magic. To be honest, he hadn't been to the Ministry in two years.
The last time he visited here was right after graduation. It was his first time entering Diagon Alley's underground world. Due to a mission that required traveling abroad, he had been quite the rule-follower, coming here specifically to process his wizarding travel documents.
"This way, Professor--"
Hagrid, who often ran errands for Dumbledore all over the country, clearly had more experience. He led Bryan to a dilapidated red telephone booth--the paint on it was peeling off in large patches, most of the glass on three sides was broken, and the only receiver inside was hanging in mid-air, as if someone had tried to tear it off.
"Same as always--"
Bryan made a pained expression.
"Why doesn't anyone think about fixing it?"
"Maybe because there are wizards like me around,"
Hagrid chuckled sheepishly, "Let me tell you a secret, Professor Watson, some of those glass shards on the ground are my doing—"
A very powerful reason indeed.
Bryan thought the telephone booth wouldn't be able to accommodate both him and Hagrid, but to his surprise, the walls of the booth squeezed their bodies, but they still managed to squeeze in.
"Um, excuse me, Hagrid, raise your hand and make some space for me to dial--"
Bryan's face was squished against the inner metal, mumbling.
"Oh, sorry, Professor!"
Hagrid's body shook, and the telephone booth immediately made a creaking sound. A half piece of broken glass embedded in the window frame fell outside with a snap.
"I hope the Ministry of Magic won't make me pay for that. Let me think, 62442?"
A cold woman's voice emerged in the telephone booth.
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and the purpose of your visit."
Bryan struggled to move his face away from the cold metal plate.
"Um, Bryan A. Watson, and Rubeus Hagrid, invited to attend a press conference and award ceremony."
"Thank you--" The woman's cold voice sounded again. "Guests, please pick up your badges and pin them to the front of your clothes."
Two square silver badges slid out from the metal slot. After some effort, Bryan and Hagrid successfully attached the badges to their clothes.
Wizards seem to have a penchant for placing important institutions underground, whether it's the Ministry, goblin banks, or the underworld—all buried deep beneath the earth. The key is, the methods of entry are equally terrible.
One minute later, they stood in a long, magnificent hall. The floor was polished to a shiny, reflective wooden surface, and the peacock blue ceiling was embedded with sparkling golden symbols that were constantly moving and changing, like a huge bulletin board in the sky.
The walls on all sides were lined with shiny black marble, and many gilded fireplaces were embedded in the wood. The official employees of the Ministry of Magic mostly used these fireplaces to commute to and from work or to travel around the country and abroad.
The press conference was scheduled for 10 o'clock in the morning, and the normal working hours of the Ministry of Magic started at 8 o'clock. At this time, the Ministry's grand hall was empty, with few people in sight, except for someone dozing off at a table next to the famous Fountain of Magical Brethren.
"Huff--"
Upon entering the magnificent underground hall of the Ministry, Hagrid visibly tensed up, even though he knew he was there to receive commendation, not for a trial.
"No need to worry, Hagrid—" Bryan reassured him with a smile, "Your request is simple, Fudge will help."
Hagrid swallowed nervously and nodded, following Bryan forward.
As the two approached the Fountain of Magical Brethren, the young wizard guarding the entrance, who had a sign saying "Security Check" on his head, was more alert than expected. Originally, Bryan didn't plan to disturb him, but Hagrid's heavy footsteps woke him up.
"Hey, wait—" Eric, mentioned by Fudge as the gatekeeper, struggled to open his sleepy eyes, standing up unsteadily, "Don't forget to follow the rules, gentlemen—"
Eric yawned as he spoke to Bryan.
"Oh, sorry, I just didn't want to disturb your rest."
Bryan smiled and stepped back.
"Oh, it's you, Hagrid, no need to bother, I remember you don't have a wand."
Despite the blurry figures before him, the towering presence immediately made Eric recognize the visitor. He reached out, taking the wand Bryan offered.
He dropped the wand onto a brass balance, and the machine started to vibrate slightly. As they waited, Eric yawned again, muttering complaints about 'always being put on the night shift.'
"Oh, let me see--"
Eric rubbed his eyes and struggled to identify the wand.
"Blackthorn, twelve inches long, with a dragon heartstring core. Hmm, it has been used for twelve years."
Eric mumbled lethargically, pinning the parchment with the test results onto a brass spike, slowly handing back the wand. When his gaze followed his hand to Bryan's face, adorned with a warm smile, Eric Munch shuddered, his sleepy eyes suddenly wide with disbelief.
"My goodness!" Eric exclaimed, rubbing his eyes again, "Bryan, is that really you?"
"Yes, it's been a while, Munch. How have you been lately--"
Bryan's smile deepened, and he nodded in greeting.
"What's going on? Do you two know each other?"
Hagrid asked, puzzled, stroking his beard.
"Of course, I know Bryan, Hagrid, don't you remember? I was in the same year as Bill!"
Eric's voice trembled with suppressed excitement,
"You're the one who took down nearly a hundred werewolves, including Greyback alone, right? That's what they say at the Ministry. Merlin's Beard… that's really amazing. Among our graduates that year, you're the only one who's become such a big shot!"
Eric Munch indeed was in the same year as Bryan, but one was in Gryffindor and the other in Slytherin. The two didn't have much interaction in school, but the two houses often took Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts classes together, which made them familiar faces to each other.
"Defeating Greyback's werewolf pack wasn't my doing alone; the Ministry played a significant role."
Bryan smiled modestly.
"By the way, among our year, not many of us ended up working at the Ministry. Bill was actually invited, but unfortunately, he declined."
Eric nodded with a smile. It seemed that he didn't care at all about what Bryan was saying, but just being able to talk to him was a great honor.
"Last year, there was a reunion for Gryffindor graduates. Henry and Grace attended too. When I told them; I heard from the Ministry that you were the one who overturned the rumored Slytherin's Chamber of Secret and subdued the Basilisk, they were still shaking in their boots. Oh, Haha, it seems you really scared them good back then!"
Eric spoke enthusiastically about the past, and the two who had angered Bryan so much back then, upon hearing these name years later, only brought a knowing smile to his face.
Bryan could tell that Eric had not been having a good time at the Ministry of Magic in recent years. Otherwise, he wouldn't have caught a not-so-familiar classmate and talked non-stop for ten minutes. It made sense, considering that Eric's job was just as boring as the Centaur Office.
As Eric was quietly speaking to Bryan; he overheard from Bertha that Barty Crouch, from the International Magical Cooperation Department, had been prone to fits of rage over trivial matters lately. Just then, a stern female voice echoed from the elevator hall behind the golden door.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your reunion—"
At the sound, Eric shuddered violently and immediately fell silent.
Amelia Bones, dressed in a solemn emerald wizard robe, walked out of the elevator hall. Her gaze paused on Eric for a moment before moving away, revealing a slightly tired smile on her face. She said to Bryan,
"Cornelius said your reply stated that you would arrive at the Ministry of Magic before seven, so I came to show you the way--"
It was a great honor for Amelia Bones, who was renowned throughout the European wizarding world, to personally come and greet them. Eric immediately looked at Bryan with envy.
"Thank you, I'm indeed unfamiliar with this place—"
Bryan smiled in acknowledgment and then nodded to Eric,
"We'll talk later."
"Cornelius is waiting for you in his office. Before the official press conference begins, we need to have a brief meeting,"
Madam Bones said concisely.
This was not a good place for chatting, and Bryan didn't say much either, just nodded.
With a series of ding-ding-dong-dong and clattering sounds, an elevator emerged from the dark elevator shaft. The iron gate opened, and the three of them entered the elevator car one after another. The gate slammed shut, and the car slowly ascended with the sound of chains clanking. Before long, the indifferent cold voice of the woman from the telephone booth earlier rang out again.
"Fourth floor, Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures - Beast, Being, and Spirit Division, Goblin Liaison Office, Pest Advisory Bureau, Centaur Office, House-Elf Relocation Office, and the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures."
The elevator car stopped on the fourth floor. Outside the protective gate, a tall and stern middle-aged wizard was holding a piece of parchment and waiting for the elevator. When he saw Hagrid taking up half of the car, he hesitated and chose not to open the gate.
"Come in, Norus, there's room for you--"
Madam Bones beckoned the tall wizard outside.
The wizard named Norus hesitated for a moment, then nodded at Amelia Bones and opened the door to enter the car. His presence immediately made the car crowded, and Hagrid squeezed into a corner, wishing he could curl up into a ball.
"What floor are you going to?"
"Basement level one."
Norus glanced at Bryan and found it strange that this unfamiliar young wizard was looking at him with a strange smile. However, he immediately shifted his attention to Amelia Bones and raised the parchment in his hand.
"I previously applied for a deranged ghost from the Spirit Division. The experiment is complete, and I need to return the receipt to the Logistics Department."
After saying this, Norus fell silent.
The elevator quickly reached the basement level one. As the gate opened, Norrus strode out and headed towards the left corridor, while Bryan glanced deeply at the tall wizard who had disappeared into an office and followed Amelia Bones to the Minister's office on the right.
*******************************
For More Chapters; patreon.com/FicFrenzy
章 309: 0308 Acquaintance?
The ancient lift groaned and creaked as it rapidly descended, the rusted cables straining with the weight of its occupants. At last, it ground to a halt on the gloomy basement level one of the Ministry of Magic's subterranean offices. The wrought iron gate screeched open, and Norus, a tall, enigmatic wizard garbed in long crimson robes, strode out purposefully, not sparing a glance at his companions. His boots clicked sharply on the stone floor as he turned left, disappearing down the dimly lit corridor.
Bryan watched the mysterious figure's departure with keen interest, his eyebrows furrowed slightly. Beside him, Amelia Bones, the formidable Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, indicated with a curt nod that they should proceed to the right. With the massive form of Hagrid lumbering along behind them, Bryan fell into step beside Amelia.
"This Norus..." Bryan began, his voice low.
The atmosphere on the basement level one, where the Minister's office was located, was solemn and dignified. Invisibly, there was a heavy force suppressing people's hearts. Hagrid was obviously a little afraid of the atmosphere here, constantly wiping the cold sweat on his forehead, and followed Bryan's steady pace, his expression showing no signs of abnormality.
"Norrus Deman, from the Department of Mysteries," Amelia Bones looked at Bryan with some surprise, seemingly not understanding why he was interested in Norus. However, she still introduced him briefly.
"The Department of Mysteries, huh," Bryan murmured, a hint of a conspiratorial smile playing about his lips as they strode along the corridor flanked by offices on either side. "I've heard it's the most mysterious department in the entire Ministry."
"Indeed," Madam Bones confirmed with a solemn nod. "The Department of Mysteries is one of the most reclusive and autonomous branches within the Ministry's bureaucracy. Its members, known as Unspeakables, are seldom recruited directly from Hogwarts, but rather come from old, respected wizarding lineages. When these researchers reach retirement age or can no longer serve due to health reasons, they personally select and train successors - often descendants or protégés - to take up the mantle and continue their work in anonymity. Given the extraordinary need for secrecy surrounding their operations, the Unspeakables enjoy a remarkably high degree of autonomy. The Ministry leadership refrains from meddling overmuch in their cryptic affairs."
'Interesting'
Madam Bones led Bryan and Hagrid into the Minister's office. It was a spacious semi-circular room. Although it was located underground, there were four bright windows outside, showing a bright sunny day.
Although located deep beneath the streets above, the office was rendered airy and well-lit by four broad windows set into the curved outer wall. Bright rays of sunshine streamed through the panes, banishing any lingering gloom or shadows. The weather in the Muggle realm above seemed idyllically sunny this April day.
To their left, an immense bookshelf stretched the length of the room, packed tightly with tomes and file boxes bearing labels designating them as top-secret material. Each container was secured by locks whose eight curved golden tines resembled the grasping claws of some beast. If anyone approached them without permission, the outcome would probably not be pleasant.
Meanwhile, the rightmost wall of the office was lined with display cases containing all manner of mysterious artifacts and antiquities, each more weird than the last. These clearly represented the luxurious personal collection of Cornelius Fudge, the current Minister for Magic.
"These are Cornelius's personal collections..."
Fudge was not in his office. After directing Hagrid to sit on the sofa, Amelia Bones turned around and saw Bryan, who was familiar with her, standing in front of the shelf, admiring the displayed artworks with great interest.
Compared to outside, Amelia's face was much gentler. She smiled and walked to Bryan's side, introducing to him,
"Most of them are goblin made artifacts, and some are antiques with a long magical history."
"It seems that our Minister of Magic is an open person."
Bryan also nodded with a smile, shifting his gaze away from a golden mask with a strong ancient Egyptian style. If he remembered correctly, this thing should have been smuggled back by them from Egypt last year. He didn't know why it ended up in Fudge's hands.
Bryan's comment was met with a gentle smile from Amelia Bones, who didn't deny it, but it was clear that she didn't appreciate Fudge's style.
Before getting into the main topic, some small talk was inevitable.
"Although she didn't pass those tests of yours, Susan spoke highly of your interesting Defense Against Dark Arts practical lessons. I must say, Bryan, you have quite the imagination and courage. Few professors dare to present Inferi before young wizards, but I believe it's the right thing to do. Hogwarts bears the important responsibility of supplying talent to the Wizarding world, and in recent years, we've noticed that the young wizards graduating… As always, they are excellent, but they clearly lack some necessary qualities, such as decisiveness, resilience, and distinctiveness. These are very important issues, but some short-sighted people just don't take them seriously."
'Was she criticizing Dumbledore or hinting at something else?'
Bryan modestly defended himself, keeping a calm expression while his mind raced.
Amelia Bones held a high position in the Ministry of Magic and was also the most popular candidate for the next Minister of Magic after Fudge. In the Ministry, the only one who could compete with her on an equal footing was Barty Crouch from the International Magical Cooperation Department. However, after the events involving Sirius Black came to light, Barty Crouch was completely out of the picture and couldn't be her competitor.
"Indeed, a peaceful life can easily indulge people, blinding certain short-sighted wizards to the hidden dangers within."
Bryan smiled and agreed.
When the future war breaks out, people like Fudge will only be a burden and not of much use. At that time, Bryan hoped that someone in the Ministry would take his opinions seriously. Using force to coerce and intimidate is not advisable, as it will only lead him down the path of the "Dark Lord."
For this reason, he needed someone in the Ministry who could represent him and speak for him. Now it seemed that Amelia Bones was an excellent choice.
Bryan hoped to find an ally within the Ministry of Magic, and at present, the most suitable candidate seemed to be Amelia Bones, and he currently has The first point is the most clear and obvious, which is his position Director of the Student Safety Office at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Even without Dumbledore, Hogwarts holds a superior position in the wizarding world, and the staff at the school can be considered 'officials' to some extent. Not to mention that when Dumbledore established this position, he defined it as being on the same level as of the Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts.
The second point is the wisdom Bryan displayed in dealing with the trouble caused by Sirius Black.
The third point is even more crucial.
Compared to the Muggle world, the wizarding world still retains some characteristics of ancient human society, namely 'might makes right.'
The power Bryan displayed when dealing with the Werewolf pack exceeded the armed forces possessed by the Ministry of Magic. If it weren't for Albus Dumbledore still being there, the entire Ministry of Magic might have fallen into panic due to the sudden appearance of such powerful individual in the British wizarding world.
However, forming an alliance is also dependent on the willingness of both parties.
In Bryan's point of view, Amelia Bones has already shown a certain willingness, but she still remains cautious of him.
This is a normal; after all, the two of them had never interacted before, and now he has forcefully stood in front of the Ministry of Magic in such a prominent manner, forcing them to take notice of him and acknowledge him. Anyone would be cautious in such a situation.
"So, Amelia--"
At the request of Madam Bones, Bryan addressed her by her name directly,
"In fact, besides being invited to participate in the press conference and the award ceremony, I also have some personal matters to attend to during my visit to the Ministry. Originally, I was planning to ask Minister Fudge--"
Madam Bones blinked in surprise, then a smile appeared on her lips.
Asking someone for help is also a way to show intimacy. On the night when Greyback died, she had tentatively invited Bryan to join the Ministry, but he had rejected the olive branch she extended. This made her think that Bryan, like Dumbledore, was not very interested in getting involved in the Ministry. But now, it seems that Bryan is also seeking something.
"Is there anything I can help you with--" Madam Bones immediately said with a smile, "Don't be polite, Bryan. Even for Susan's sake, I will do my best."
She didn't mention Greyback or Sirius Black, instead bringing up Susan, a young witch at the school whom Bryan hadn't paid much attention to--, This was just a discussion of personal relations.
Dealing with smart people was indeed efficient, Bryan nodded to himself.
"Hagrid, tell me of this trouble you mentioned..."
"Uh? Wha'? Oh, righ', not tha'..." the massive man collected himself, mopping his brow nervously with a soil-stained handkerchief. "It's...it's Buckbeak I need help with!"
Nervous and flustered, Hagrid regained his senses.
Given his own troubled history of being unfairly expelled from Hogwarts during his youth, he is always particularly nervous about anything that goes against the law.
"Buckbeak is a Hippogriff, and it had an accident in the Forbidden Forest, oh... no, it, it caused an accident to Draco during class."
Hagrid's stuttering words confused Madam Bones, and she furrowed her brow in confusion,
"Lucius Malfoy's son, what happened to him?"
Bryan glanced at Hagrid, whose face had turned red, and casually said,
Bryan shot a sidelong glance toward the perspiring half-giant, his lips pursing in faint disapproval at the man's escalating agitation. With a practiced air of nonchalance, he smoothly interjected.
"It was nothing terribly serious, Amelia. Just a minor accident during one of Hagrid's lessons. Young Mister Malfoy, no doubt seeking to impress his peers with his boldness, neglected to follow proper safety protocols when approaching the hippogriff Buckbeak. The creature was provoked by the boy's reckless posturing and lashed out, inflicting little more than a scratch on his arm."
Noticing the slight frown on Madam Bones' forehead, Bryan added,
"He recovered the same day, it wasn't a serious injury."
Madam Bones's frown eased, and after a moment of thought, her eyes brightened with amusement, "Lucius making a mountain out of a molehill?"
"The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures has filed a formal lawsuit against Buckbeak, and it's very likely they'll execute the innocent creature."
Though the precise wizarding aphorism eluded Bryan's grasp, her meaning was unmistakable - the Malfoys were manufacturing a crisis out of a trifling misstep in order to bully and cajole the Ministry toward disciplining Hagrid. No doubt bribes and underhanded manipulations were being employed with Cornelius Fudge's typically pliant administration.
Bryan picked up the teacup, the red tea in the cup was crystal clear, and when the liquid was still, it looked like a ruby. But Bryan only took a sip, his face calm.
"I know this is not easy to handle--" Madam Bones was silent for a moment, while Hagrid's large hands were clenched tightly, sweating profusely, "As long as... as long as you can spare... Buckbeak, I can give up any reward!"
Madam Bones suddenly stood up from the sofa, causing Hagrid to think that he had angered her and he was about to explain, but Bryan gave him a reassuring gesture.
Madam Bones quickly walked to the assistant's desk, took out a quill from the pen holder, and quickly wrote a few words on the paper. Then, she took out her wand and tapped it, and the parchment immediately folded itslef into a paper airplane, zooming out of the office through the crack in the door.
"I've written to Macnair, asking him to reassess the situation. I don't think they'll bother you anymore, Hagrid."
Madam Bones returned to the sofa and said kindly.
Was that it? Hagrid looked bewildered; he had been tormented by this issue for half a year!
"There's one more thing, Amelia--"
Hagrid was still in a daze, while Bryan had already put this matter behind him,
"I think you might have a memory of it. Last summer, a young witch at Hogwarts applied to the Ministry for a Time-Turner for her studies."
After a brief thought, Madam Bones nodded, "There was indeed such a thing. I don't quite remember the young witch's name, but I do recall Minerva brought the child's end-of-year exam results and comments from all her professors to the Ministry for Connolly to sign the form."
"That Time-Turner broke."
Bryan took out the Time-Turner that he had broken himself from his pocket and showed it to Madam Bones.
"It broke?"
This time, Madam Bones's expression became much more solemn. Time-Turners were strictly controlled magical items, each registered and accounted for. If one broke without a valid reason, the Ministry would undoubtedly investigate thoroughly.
"Yes--" Bryan nodded, "That young witch's name is Hermione Granger—a very intelligent and hardworking young witch. She can't remember exactly how the Time-Turner broke, but it was probably on the way when she and Harry Potter were escaping from the werewolf's pursuit."
"In other words, Greyback broke it?"
Madam Bones's expression softened.
"Yes, the 'culprit' has already been punished."
Bryan said without a flush or skip of a heartbeat, framing Greyback was easy, and if anyone objected, they could ask Greyback to speak for himself.
"That makes things much easier." Madam Bones said, "Well, tell Hermione Granger to write a statement explaining the situation, have Minerva and you, both sign it, and then I will give the statement to Cornelius to sign a disclaimer and return it to the Department of Mysteries. Then, this matter will be resolved."
*******************************
For More Chapters; patreon.com/FicFrenzy
週次パワーステータス
200+ 推薦
ランキング 
28 推薦
チケット あなたも好きかも
段落コメント