Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures

“This kid is lying, Dumbledore, you don’t really think Dolores used Veritaserum on him, do you?” Fudge’s expression was quite dramatic. “A senior official of the Ministry of Magic treating a fifteen-year-old boy using Veritaserum?”

“If you’re seeking my opinion, Cornelius, I don’t think it’s entirely impossible,” said Dumbledore calmly. “As a precaution, I believe it is necessary to investigate Umbridge’s use of Veritaserum on students…”

“That’s enough, Dumbledore! I don’t need you to teach me how to do it!” Fudge shouted. “Dolores is a trained Ministry official; her character is as recognized as her ability. She will not use Veritaserum, let alone use it on a child. This is as ridiculous as every lie he’s told.”

Evan felt Fudge was getting too entangled in the Veritaserum issue, and continuing would lead to endless discussions on the topic. Not only was it a waste of time and energy, but it also wouldn’t drive Dumbledore away.

If this continued, Evan felt the need to voluntarily disclose the Dumbledore’s Army situation. Regardless of whether there were any activities, just the name had a powerful impact, something Fudge feared the most.

He feared that Dumbledore was building an army against the Ministry of Magic, plotting to overthrow him.

“I will say it again, Dolores will not use Veritaserum. This is a very cheap slander,” said Fudge gruffly. “And she has no reason to know anything from Mason; the Ministry has already investigated everything.”

No one spoke; everyone in the office was watching him.

“This girl,” Fudge pointed at Elaine behind Evan. “She’s not even a student of Nicolas Flamel.”

Elaine shrank behind Evan and showed two sharp fangs to Fudge.

“What an interesting accusation!” said Dumbledore quietly.

“Ever since you told me during the Christmas vacation that an exchange student from Beauxbatons was coming to Hogwarts, I’ve been suspicious, Dumbledore!” said Fudge, gradually regaining his composure. “Why would there be a student coming to Hogwarts for no reason? This exchange program hasn’t been carried out for many years. So, I sent someone to investigate in France, and there’s no such girl at Beauxbatons. No one has seen her; it’s strange, isn’t it?!”

“Normal suspicion,” said Dumbledore, crossing his hands again. “But you certainly haven’t spoken to Nicolas himself. Elaine has been taught by him, and she hasn’t been to Beauxbatons before. She just borrowed the name.”

Evan nodded; it seemed Dumbledore was also skilled at making up stories.

“Starting to make up stories again, Dumbledore, things are not as simple as you said. Just this morning, I got an interesting piece of information from dear Lucius…”

“Mr. Malfoy has always been concerned about Hogwarts,” said Dumbledore. “Hmm … an unusually high level of concern.”

“Mr. Minister, I think you have read this morning’s Hogwarts Magic. Harry and I have accused Lucius Malfoy; he was also present on the day Voldemort returned. He is a Death Eater,” said Evan. “This matter is not as simple as it may seem. You wouldn’t believe the words of a Death Eater, would you?”

“Foolishness! The Minister of Magic actually believes a Death Eater’s words,” the portraits of the headmasters began to comment.

“It’s a disgrace to the Ministry of Magic!”

“Has the Ministry of Magic fallen to this level now?!”

“Collaborating with a Dark wizard … In our time, such fools were usually hanged to save the food they wasted by staying alive.”

“Definitely bribed, how much gold did that Malfoy scion slip into your pockets?!”

“Shut up!” Fudge became irritable again and shouted impatiently. “Lucius is not a Death Eater. This kid is talking nonsense, and that newspaper is spreading rumors. I don’t have time to read the stories you made up. You-Know-Who has never come back, never!”

“He is back, Cornelius, or how else can you explain the Death Eaters’ breakout?” said Dumbledore calmly.

“I was just about to mention that. It was planned by those vampires, and Sirius Black was also involved,” said Fudge. “They planned the breakout together and rescued those Death Eaters. They want to rebel against the Ministry, conspiring to overthrow me!”

“Sirius would never do such a thing!” Harry angrily exclaimed.

“This is an insult to the Black family. If I were still alive, just based on that statement, I would make sure you regret it!” Phineas shouted with a louder voice. “I will complain to the council and the Wizengamot about you. I will…”

Dumbledore’s office began to become chaotic again, and Fudge’s face became increasingly ugly.

Hogwarts’ former headmasters were highly esteemed wizards in their lifetime. In terms of lineage, Fudge couldn’t argue with them, especially considering these headmasters were portraits. They couldn’t engage in rebuttal, and if word got out, it might spark a major conflict between the Minister of Magic and the portraits, with unpredictable consequences.

“Minister, serious matters are more pressing!” Percy hastily reminded, urging Fudge not to pay attention to what the portraits were saying.

“Yes, Weasley, you are right!” said Fudge with a breath, shaking his cloak. “Where was I? Those vampires planned the escape of the Death Eaters. We all know vampires are the puppet masters behind the scenes. Then I received information from Lucius that this girl had appeared in Norway…”

Umbridge had told Evan about this before. The Ministry of Magic was not all idiots; they could investigate such information.

What concerned Evan was that whatever Fudge had learned from Malfoy was definitely not that simple.

If Elaine’s identity was exposed, they would really have to run!

“Norway is the home of vampires. A girl once appeared next to the vampire leader, and it was her!” Fudge said proudly, pointing at Elaine again.

Elaine hurriedly hid behind Evan, and Hermione hurriedly held her hand to tell her not to worry.

“A very nice story, Cornelius, but as before, we need evidence,” said Dumbledore softly.

Evan knew that Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix had certainly erased all evidence, making it unlikely for them to find anything.

“We have evidence,” said Fudge, taking out a photo of Elaine when she was a child, which was the same photo that Evan had seen in the Auror office of the Ministry of Magic before. “Durmstrang once worked in the Nordic region and fought those vampires. They had investigated vampires before, and this photo was taken at that time.”

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