Hogwarts: I Am an Exemplary Wizard

Chapter 785: Chapter 697: Plotting Strategies and Choosing Heroes (Part 2)

”Oh, nothing?”

Fudge quickly shook his head, ”I’m saying you’ve been working hard lately. I should give you a few days off, but...”

He looked troubled, ”You probably don’t know, the department is really short-handed right now. The Death Eaters have been very active, making everyone uneasy, including me. Many people haven’t been home for three days straight.”

”I understand, Minister.” Kael said promptly, ”Besides, I’ve already taken the liberty of giving myself half a day off. As long as you don’t dock my pay.”

”Haha, that’s only right, I was planning to give you a raise.” Fudge laughed as he said, ”So do you have any good suggestions? Regarding the current situation.”

”I think we should print some booklets that teach people how to protect themselves in this critical time.” Kael pondered for a moment and said, ”Also, we need to boost everyone’s morale as quickly as possible, so they can see the determination of the Ministry of Magic.”

Fudge’s eyes lit up; he had just casually mentioned it and hadn’t expected Kael to really have a solution.

”No rush, take your time.”

He waved his wand, and a cup of Butter Beer appeared on the table instantly.

”Thanks.” Kael picked up the Butter Beer and downed it in one gulp before continuing, ”First is the self-help booklet, leave that to me. I’ll bring the written one over by tomorrow morning, and if you confirm there’s no issue, we can distribute it along with the Daily Prophet to everyone.”

”No problem,” Fudge said readily, ”then how should we boost morale?”

”How about creating some heroes?” Kael thought for a moment and said, ”People need heroes the most now.”

”I was thinking the same.” Fudge looked quite pleased. ”So do you have any candidates?”

”How about Harry Potter.” Kael said, ”Star of Salvation, it’s perfect for the current situation.”

Fudge nodded, in fact, he had been doing just that recently, with news about Harry Potter appearing in the newspaper every day.

”And Deputy Minister Umbridge...” Kael continued, ”As a spearhead against the Death Eaters, her name now inspires more morale than Harry Potter.”

”Dolores...” Fudge hesitated a bit. ”But she’s still at St Mungo’s, having suffered the Crucio Curse twice consecutively. She’s not in a good state; what if the Death Eaters go to St Mungo’s again.”

”Ah, I know.”

Kael said, ”But Minister, given the current situation, the story of a tragic hero might inspire more courage in people’s hearts than the Star of Salvation.”

Fudge seemed to have thought of something, said nothing more, and just waved his hand, saying, ”I need to think about this issue further.”

”Of course.” Kael said, ”If there’s nothing else, Minister, I’ll get back to drafting the self-help booklet.”

”Ah, go on then.” Fudge said, ”Make sure it’s detailed enough.”

”I got it.” Kael nodded.

Afterward, he left the room and returned to his office next door.

Just as Kael opened the door, two arms draped over his shoulders from either side.

”Hey, look who’s back...”

”Our Senior Ministerial Assistant...”

Fred and George squinted their eyes, looking at Kael suspiciously.

”Don’t be hasty.” Kael quickly raised his hands overhead, ”I have my reasons.”

”Explain then...”

”If you can’t satisfy us, you’re dead!”

”I’m doing this for your own good.” Kael shrugged free of their arms, explaining...defending himself, ”You’ve both graduated now; you should be thinking about your families. Your department was previously under the Department of Prohibition of Misuse of Muggle Items.”

”Think about it, if you don’t come to help at the Ministry of Magic, how much more work would Mr. Weasley have?”

Fred and George said nothing.

They’d been so busy and dizzy these days that they hadn’t even had time to eat. The Department of Prohibition of Misuse of Muggle Items only had a few people, and if everything were pushed onto them, Mr. Weasley would hardly have time to even sleep at home.

”Don’t try to trick us...” Fred said, ”This is supposed to be the Law Enforcement Department’s job.”

”Are you sure?” Kael raised an eyebrow, ”Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed; most counterfeit and inferior defense products are made using Muggle items.”

”Well, you make a good point.” Fred grumbled a bit, ”Why didn’t you tell us earlier.”

”If I told you earlier, where would the surprise be?” Kael walked to the desk and sat down. ”Besides, Cedric and I are both at the Ministry of Magic. Does it seem right for you to be out there enjoying leisure? Doesn’t your conscience feel uncomfortable?”

”Not at all.” Fred answered quickly.

George nodded, ”Our conscience is very good.”

”Then you can leave if you want.” Kael said, ”You can just start your shop in Diagon Alley tomorrow, no need to come here. As for the Minister, I’ll speak on your behalf.”

Fred and George froze for a moment, seemingly not expecting Kael to say that.

”Are you certain?”

”We can really leave the Ministry of Magic?”

”Of course.” Kael said, ”But your current tasks will have to be taken over by someone else. I can’t really push everything onto Mr. Weasley.”

Fred and George exchanged a glance.

”Well, what you said, we were just joking. How could you take it seriously?” Fred quickly wore another expression.

”Yeah.” George also smiled and said, ”It’s when the Ministry of Magic needs people the most right now; it’d be too selfish to leave at this time. No way, absolutely not.”

”Besides, you and Cedric are our best friends; how could we not help and go out there enjoying ourselves?”