Fudge pushed open the door to the Shelby pub. Maintaining his usual grace, he removed his hat and bowed politely:
"Hello, I'm Cornelius Fudge. I'm here looking for Mr. Harry Potter. Is he in in in in..."
The noise in the Shelby pub fell silent instantly.
All Shelby members held various firearms and shells, turning their gazes toward the door in unison.
After all, these things in the room couldn't see the light of day.
Whoever saw them had to die.
Bone-chilling killing intent gradually spread.
Seeing this scene, Fudge's elegant, warm tone instantly became stuttering, losing its usual composure.
As Minister of Magic, his familiarity with the Muggle world naturally exceeded ordinary wizards.
The large-caliber weapons in the pub—rather than saying they were protecting the Savior, it was more like they were preparing to attack Azkaban.
Or perhaps... the Ministry of Magic?
[Rest assured, Cornelius. Harry is in a very safe place. I guarantee it.]
Dumbledore's words quietly surfaced in his mind. But to Fudge, they were nothing but bullshit.
Harry was indeed safe. But he was in danger!
As the stares grew increasingly hostile, Fudge involuntarily stepped back several paces. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He lifted his briefcase and forced out a smile.
"Don't misunderstand, everyone."
"I'm the Minister of Magic."
"I'm here to check on Harry Potter. Look, I even brought the textbooks he'll need after school starts..."
"Minister of Magic?!"
"Oh, God!"
"Tiger, make Venom stop!"
John's somewhat dismayed voice suddenly rang out behind Fudge. Fudge's eyes widened. He spun around. His heart seized instantly.
The two Aurors who'd accompanied Fudge had somehow fallen to the ground, their fate unknown.
Another Auror was being held with mouth and nose blocked by Agony's tendrils, bound in John's arms, staring with bloodshot eyes full of terror and helplessness, trying to call to Fudge for help.
Kingsley Shacklebolt was in the worst state.
The severely injured black elite Auror was completely unconscious. The bloodstain on his chest was particularly striking, as if silently pierced by a blade.
Pitch-black tendrils tightly bound his body. His hand gripping his wand, along with the wand itself, had fallen to the ground...
Hearing John's exclamation, Venom's guillotine-like fangs instantly froze above Kingsley's head.
"Oh, damn it, John!"
"Surrey finally gets a dark chocolate bean, and you're telling me I can't eat him?!"
Venom angrily threw Kingsley Shacklebolt to the ground. The sound of bones cracking followed.
"Oh, please..."
John helplessly slapped his forehead.
A few days ago when he and Tommy attended the banquet at Nott Manor, he'd already heard that the Auror Office was directly controlled by this Minister of Magic. This was a future boss and colleague!
"Damn..."
"What the hell is that thing!"
Fudge drew his wand with a terrified expression, pointing it at Venom. Whether it was the Shelbys behind him or the terrible monster in front, both blocked him firmly inside the door.
[No, I need to escape!]
The thought flashed through his mind.
He certainly realized he'd stumbled onto a secret that couldn't be known. He could see this roomful of people weren't good people. Before he'd shouted his identity, they'd unhesitatingly wanted to kill him.
[Damn it!]
[Is Dumbledore trying to cultivate a crazier Voldemort in the Muggle world to counterattack the Ministry?!]
No denying it—the idea was highly feasible.
Fudge looked around frantically and warily. Harry Potter's thin figure was right there in the crowd.
After all, even Voldemort hadn't thought to directly eliminate the Minister of Magic back then. The Department of Mysteries held too many secrets that required the Minister's identity to access.
These people didn't care at all.
Whether about the secrets or about him as a person!
Unbearable humiliation surged like a flood through the depths of Fudge's soul.
[Damn Dumbledore...]
Fudge's face flushed red. He blamed the entire mess on the White Wizard.
"Stupefy!"
Just as Fudge prepared to wave his wand and use Apparition to escape, a whiskey bottle suddenly flew from the crowd, smashing hard into his head. Shattered glass mixed with liquor and blood splattered.
Wait, what Stupefy?
What did I just hear?!
Seeing the Minister of Magic's eyes roll back as he passed out, Harry turned to Mother Polly with a bewildered expression.
Seeing the question in Harry's eyes, Mother Polly exhaled a puff of smoke leisurely and waved dismissively:
"My wand's in the bedroom..."
With that, she looked up toward the door, glaring viciously at her two sons who'd moved too fast, and barked:
"Tiger, go get my wand!"
"It's hanging on the Mirror of Erised."
Though the incident was sudden, fortunately her Memory Charm was exceptionally proficient thanks to a certain idiot's teaching...
"Sir..."
"Sir... are you alright..."
"Can you hear me..."
The barely audible calls gradually became clear.
Fudge's eyelids trembled slightly, as if struggling to break free from darkness's grip.
With the continuous calls, he slowly opened his eyes. His temporarily unfocused pupils showed some confusion. A middle-aged man in a white coat gradually came into view.
"You are..."
Fudge asked with some difficulty.
"I'm Dr. Granger."
"Sir, how are you feeling now? Do you need further examination..."
Dr. Granger wiped his sweat discreetly.
[Thank God you finally woke up.]
Polly had already told him—if these people weren't awake by dark, he should just handle it directly.
God, he was just a doctor!
Dr. Granger was completely numb.
Perhaps seeing her father's hesitation and confusion, Hermione spoke up with unusual proficiency, mentioning terms he couldn't understand at all, and earnestly giving many instructions.
But in short, it was about connecting memories and reducing inconsistencies.
After all, this was just a dental clinic.
If by dark these people still hadn't been sent to a hospital, there'd be too many suspicious points.
Moreover, the other party was the Minister of Magic—equivalent to the Muggle Prime Minister. Tommy calling him stupid was just a figure of speech. It didn't mean the man was actually stupid...
"Oh, damn cars!"
As memories returned, Fudge gradually came to. Apart from the pain in his head, his body had regained sensation.
He sat up with difficulty, cursing bitterly at the truck driver who'd hit them. That deafening horn still echoed in his mind.
Just then, Mrs. Granger walked in from outside and nodded to Dr. Granger.
Dr. Granger breathed a deep sigh of relief.
"Sir."
"Your friends are all awake. This is a dental clinic. I can only give you simple wound treatment. Do you need to go to the hospital?"
"No, thank you."
"We still have things to do..."
Fudge shook his head gratefully.
After seeing Kingsley and the other Aurors, he said goodbye to Dr. Granger and left the dental clinic.
"Bloody hell. What a rotten day."
Walking on the cobblestone path, Fudge looked at the cars coming and going on the road with lingering fear. The Aurors behind him nodded repeatedly.
The moment the car hit them, they'd thought they were going to die.
Only Kingsley's expression was somewhat grave.
Collision injuries on his body were normal. But the scars on his chest—those caused by Death Eater torture—had mysteriously disappeared...
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