บท 21: Chapter -20 Toad arrives.

Chapter 20

"Very well, Cornelius. If there is nothing further to discuss, I shall take my leave." Dumbledore, having expressed his thoughts and reached a conclusion on the matter at hand, deemed it prudent not to prolong the conversation merely to appease an individual who would ultimately act in accordance with his own judgment to protect his position.

Moreover, rather than focusing on an incident that appeared to be little more than a prank, Dumbledore recognized that he had more pressing matters to attend to at Hogwarts. He had already identified a particular individual whose actions warranted his attention for future plans, leaving little time to pursue someone who had likely stumbled upon a book related to dark magic and was now intent on sowing chaos.

"Is that so? Very well, Albus, you may go. Should you require any assistance regarding the Hogwarts facilities we discussed a few days ago, please do not hesitate to reach out to me," the old Minister said with a smile, rising from his plush chair to bid farewell to the most remarkable wizard of the current era.

Meanwhile, Rufus, having gained some insight from Dumbledore's remarks, stood and said, "Thank you, Headmaster Dumbledore, for your insights. While it may indeed be a prank or an attempt to create disorder, we will endeavor to investigate the matter thoroughly, as even seemingly trivial incidents can lead to significant consequences."

Although Rufus accepted Dumbledore's perspective, which aligned perfectly with the details at hand, he was acutely aware of the numerous anomalies he had encountered in the wizarding world. Therefore, he could not afford to dismiss this incident, particularly given its potential connection to dark magic.

In his view, it was essential to eliminate the source of trouble before it could escalate.

"Very well, everyone has their own interpretations," Dumbledore remarked, his blue eyes scanning the room before he exited with a smile.

As Cornelius was about to close the door, Rufus approached him and said, "Minister, I will also take my leave, as there is nothing further to discuss. Once the on-field Auror returns with information, I will ensure that one of them reports directly to you." With a slight nod, he departed from the Minister's office.

Left alone in his luxurious yet somber office, Fudge sighed and returned to his plush chair, deep in thought. Suddenly, he straightened in his seat, extending his toad-like hands to press a small device situated before him.

*Bzzt~*

A low buzzing sound emanated from the device, and moments later, the office door opened to reveal a stout woman clad in an unusual pink robe, resembling a toad that had spent its life in a well.

"You called for me, Minister?" the squat woman inquired, striding forward with an air of ownership over the office.

Ignoring her usual demeanor, Fudge gestured for her to take a seat, though he found her to be more dangerous than the Death Eaters, as she mirrored his own hunger for power and authority.

However, this was also the reason he felt compelled to keep someone like her close.

"Dolorus, what happened about my meeting with Lucius Malfoy? Is he planning to fulfill the donation he promised?" Fudge asked directly, getting straight to the point as she settled into her seat.

"Yes, I received a letter from Malfoy Manor this morning. he had changed the meeting location to his manor and had invited you to dinner to discuss the matter of the donation," Dolorus replied, a skeptical smile gracing her face as she produced the letter from her purse and handed it to Fudge.

Taking the letter from Dolorus's hand, Fudge could not help but sigh and mutter under his breath, "It seems Dumbledore was indeed correct about the incident." While Fudge may not have been particularly wise regarding the practicalities of wizardry, he was only a few steps behind Dumbledore when it came to understanding the human mind.

Nevertheless, the reason he had summoned her was different.

Placing the letter in the drawer, he turned to the woman, who was now attentively awaiting his instructions. "Dolorus, regarding the list I provided you last year upon assuming the role of Minister for Magic, I would like you to assign someone trustworthy to monitor those individuals for a time. At present, I wish to solidify my position in the office, and incidents like what occurred in Diagon Alley could pose significant challenges in the future, which would be detrimental to both me and someone like you, who harbors high ambitions."

"Minister, might it be prudent to leverage this opportunity to your advantage?" Dolorus, who had already formulated a plan, felt compelled to share her thoughts upon hearing the minister's instructions. However, to her surprise, Fudge dismissed her without considering her perspective or how she intended to utilize the opportunity. He simply shook his head and stated, "There is no necessity; the current issue is too minor to warrant exploitation. Should it escalate due to our avarice, we may encounter difficulties in the future. As I have mentioned, we must proceed cautiously for the time being, and if necessary, there are always scapegoats available to be sacrificed."

"Understood." Dolorus acknowledged Fudge's reasoning with a nod, simultaneously recognizing that her overly ambitious approach could limit her perspective.

Aligning their views, both individuals then shifted their focus to discuss matters that genuinely required their attention, setting aside their political ambitions for the moment.

[Meanwhile back to the knockturn alley]

"These are only a few left in this treasure trove, my friend, but you're in luck! I was just about to toss them in the 'junk' pile if they didn't sell within the next few weeks. Although, calling them junk might be a bit generous, don't you think?" Adam exclaimed, gesturing dramatically to the three dust-covered magic lanterns languishing in the corner of the storage room like they were waiting for a dramatic rescue.

"Is it really wise to share that kind of words with a customer, though? What do you think would happen if I start bargaining like a pro while clinging to your lovely 'junk' remark? Your old man might just show up and put you in a timeout for a whole week if he hears you!" Theodore teased, striding over to the magic lanterns, wand in hand for a much-needed dust-off.

"Meh, who cares? It's not like Dad's going to pop back in here after he hands me this place on a silver platter. Anyway, what's your game plan with those? doesn't Hogwarts get a fresh batch of these magic lanterns already?" Adam clicked his tongue nonchalantly, though curiosity peeked through as he pondered Theodore's intentions.

"Oh, nothing too fancy! I've got plenty of time before I hop on the Hogwarts Express, so I figured I'd jazz things up a tad as the new professor" Theodore mused, inspecting the three lanterns like a true connoisseur before finally selecting one and shooting Adam a cheeky grin.

and then quipped, "So, my dear 'shop owner', what's the going rate for this fine piece of junk?"

"Let me see…," Adam pretended to mull it over for a second, then flashed a mischievous grin, "Since you're my friend, I'll let you have this treasure for just a hundred galleons."

"Sold!" Theodore nodded enthusiastically, sealing the deal without a second thought.

Note : as always, please give me some power stones, it will motivate me to write more. [You can also share ideas if you have some] :)