Chương 72: Fudge Attitude

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Dyroth frowned for a moment, then relaxed. His earlier action had been somewhat impulsive, but thankfully, it yielded a positive result. His words from tonight would undoubtedly spread quickly throughout the UK. With the support of the British wizards behind him, even if Dumbledore wanted to oppose him, he couldn't do so openly.

Compared to Voldemort, Dumbledore's limits were still much higher. Dyroth noticed the four Heads of House standing behind Dumbledore, each with varying expressions.

Snape remained expressionless, with a hint of sarcasm on his lips.

Professor Flitwick, possessing a part of the Goblin bloodline, appeared conflicted, lowering his head in resignation.

Professor McGonagall's green eyes revealed indescribable emotions. Having lived through the Grindelwald era as a close friend of Dumbledore, she was keenly aware of how much effort Dumbledore had put into defeating him. Yet now, a new and remarkable Grindelwald was emerging—one who was still Dumbledore's best and proudest student. This made her feelings for Dyroth extremely complicated.

In contrast, Professor Sprout appeared less troubled and wore a smile. She held no prejudice against Grindelwald; she simply felt proud of her student.

"Everyone!" Dyroth turned to address the many wizards in the Ministry of Magic. "We are not here for violence; all we want is fairness and justice." He glanced at Fudge, hinting that it was time for him to take a stand.

Fudge, still feeling a twinge of guilt, subconsciously looked back to gauge Dumbledore's reaction. He snapped back to reality after hearing two light coughs from Dyroth.

"To address the misconduct of Mr. Scrimgeour, Director of Auror Command, who abused his authority and employed prohibited potions to imprison Mr. Grindelwald without authorization," Fudge declared, "the Ministry of Magic will temporarily remove Mr. Scrimgeour from his duties pending trial!"

The crowd erupted in applause.

"Well done!"

"That's how it should be!"

"The Ministry of Magic finally did something!"

As the cheers filled the hall, Fudge couldn't help but smile. This was the first time since becoming Minister of Magic that he had received such support from the wizarding community.

Secretly pleased, he couldn't help but think Dyroth was right. With this move, he could gain control of the Auror Headquarters, significantly increasing his power over the Ministry. Once he had full control, Dumbledore would no longer be able to manipulate him as before. "Dream on!"

"Ladies and gentlemen, you have seen Mr. Grindelwald. Please return to your duties," Fudge urged. "It won't be long before Mr. Grindelwald can return to school and continue his classes."

Fudge did not forget his responsibilities and quickly encouraged everyone to leave. The wizards looked at Dyroth with uncertainty, but he reassured them.

"Minister Fudge is correct. The Ministry of Magic has work to do," he said. "Much manpower and resources have been spent on my behalf, but it's the ordinary wizards like us who truly need the Ministry's help."

"Thank you for your support today. I will update you on the follow-up through the Saint's shop in Diagon Alley and the newspaper," Dyroth continued. "Everyone, please return!"

With his promise, the crowd began to disperse, using various exits from the lobby.

Many approached Dyroth to inquire about his situation or leave their names, hoping to impress him. The Saints were gaining popularity in the UK, and many wanted to join but found it challenging to get in. Now, with the chance to speak to one of their leaders, they couldn't let the opportunity slip by.

Dyroth understood their intentions and was willing to win them over with a few words. He nodded and smiled at those who came to greet him. Meanwhile, Fudge, as the Minister of Magic, stood aside, feeling somewhat overlooked and embarrassed. He only relaxed after everyone had left.

A group of wizards, led by Dumbledore, slowly approached Dyroth. Mrs. Molly came forward and examined Dyroth closely.

"Good boy, thank you for your hard work!" she said warmly. "It was Scrimgeour who locked you up, yet you ended up clearing his name."

"I'll accompany you to St. Mungo's Hospital first, and we can discuss everything when we return!" She interjected before Fudge could speak.

Dyroth felt a bit helpless but couldn't resist Mrs. Molly's persistence. He nodded in agreement, thanked everyone present, and followed her out.

---

After Dyroth departed, the others who had achieved their goals began to leave the Ministry of Magic as well. Only Dumbledore remained, heading to his office with Fudge to discuss Scrimgeour's upcoming trial.

As the chief wizard of the Wizengamot, Dumbledore knew that high-ranking officials like Scrimgeour must face judgment. His feelings toward Scrimgeour were far from positive, and he knew that Scrimgeour harbored equal disdain for him.

However, when the time comes to face Voldemort, someone like him would undoubtedly become a valuable asset, likely leading the charge in the battle.

But there was no denying the crimes the person had committed. Negotiating a lighter sentence with Fudge seemed like the only option.

Perhaps, if they played their cards right, they could secure his release from Azkaban before Voldemort's return.

As they prepared to discuss the situation, Dumbledore sat down, exhaustion evident in his old eyes. "Cornelius, what do you think about Scrimgeour?"

"What he did was witnessed by far too many people, and those in the Ministry just now are all aware. But you know how harshly Scrimgeour has dealt with dark wizards over the years. Perhaps we should consider giving him a chance" Dumbledore replied, straight to the point.

Dumbledore felt a headache forming. If only a few had known about Scrimgeour's actions, he could negotiate terms with Dyroth.

However, now that it was public knowledge, it was a different story. Tomorrow morning, every wizard in Britain would know that Scrimgeour had attempted to administer Veritaserum to an eleven-year-old boy. Defending Scrimgeour at this point would be tantamount to opposing the entire British wizarding community.

Even Fudge seemed to misunderstand Dumbledore's intentions and assumed he was looking for excuses to spare Scrimgeour.

Even so, Dumbledore still had some maneuvering room. Scrimgeour had captured many dark wizards in the past, and Dumbledore's own assurances might allow them to mitigate the punishment. The key factor was the British pure-blood families, many of whom had good relationships with Dyroth and held influential positions in the Wizengamot. Scrimgeour's actions had crossed a critical line, and they would not hesitate to act against him.

Therefore, Dumbledore's only hope lay with Fudge. If Fudge could reduce the severity of the charges, he might be able to bury some evidence and help Scrimgeour escape Azkaban before Voldemort's return.

But what Fudge said next shocked him.

"Professor Dumbledore, please forgive me for my helplessness in this matter."