Just as Link had expected, that foolish and cowardly man Fudge still showed not the slightest sign of believing even a single word after hearing Dumbledore's detailed account.
He even laughed.
"Listen to me, Dumbledore," said Fudge.
"You don't actually believe all that, do you? That the one whose name must not be spoken has really come back? Don't joke around, don't joke around."
"At worst, this is nothing more than some smuggler teaming up with a bunch of dark wizards, scheming to gain more power. Nothing surprising at all."
"In fact, over the past whole year they've been quite active, it's just that those schemes were all suppressed by the Aurors."
"As for Bagman, we've already completed our investigation. That man was a thoroughly corrupt official."
"His actions have damaged the authority of the entire Ministry of Magic. Executing him early and giving the public an explanation was exactly what we needed to do."
"As for the rest of what you've said, Dumbledore, I really can't..."
"That night, Link, Harry, and Severus were all kidnapped by Voldemort," Dumbledore interrupted Fudge firmly.
"They all personally witnessed Voldemort's resurrection. That is an undeniable fact. If you still have doubts, you can come to my office, I can show you Severus's memory of that moment."
Fudge's body gave an instinctive shiver at the sound of Voldemort's name, but that strange smile still lingered on his face.
He turned his head to glance at Link and Harry, then looked back at Dumbledore and said, "So you plan to take everything they said at face value, do you, Dumbledore?"
"Of course I believe them." Dumbledore's eyes shone. "They have absolutely no reason to deceive me with a lie like that, especially Severus; he's not that childish."
The smile on Fudge's face finally vanished.
Even now, he still refused to believe that Voldemort had returned, though Dumbledore had explained everything so logically and flawlessly.
But the more logical Dumbledore sounded, the less Fudge believed him.
Dumbledore's strength and reputation far exceeded his own. Though Dumbledore had once turned down the public's proposal to make him Minister for Magic, letting Fudge pick up that position cheaply,
Fudge had never been grateful to him for it. On the contrary, for all these years Fudge had lived every moment under Dumbledore's shadow, constantly fearing that Dumbledore might one day change his mind and decide to take the Minister's seat after all, forcing him out.
And ever since Fudge had tasted the sweetness of power, that anxiety had only grown stronger.
If it had been anyone else claiming that Voldemort had come back, Fudge would have believed it immediately, three parts out of three, and would have launched a thorough investigation.
After all, such a matter was far from trivial.
But the person making the claim happened to be Dumbledore and the people from Hogwarts.
That made it impossible for Fudge to believe.
In his mind, Dumbledore was perfectly capable of fabricating something that had never happened, arranging it so flawlessly that no one could tell, and using it as a pretext to undermine him.
And now, faced with yet another round of "witnesses" brought forth by Dumbledore, Fudge instinctively turned again to look at Harry and Link, finally fixing his gaze on Link.
In his view, both Harry Potter's and Snape's testimonies could be completely ignored.
After all, one was a child full of mad talk and nonsense, and the other a former Death Eater held firmly in Dumbledore's grasp. Even if their words were made public, few would truly believe them.
But Link, heir to the Flamel family, that was different.
A testimony from someone of such high social standing, whose personal and family reputations both stood at the very top of the wizarding world, would carry tremendous weight.
Fudge's expression darkened. He couldn't understand why Link would choose to stand on Dumbledore's side.
Still, that was fine. Based on his previous friendly exchanges with Link, Fudge believed that Link wasn't someone who couldn't be reasoned, or bought, with.
Quickly forming a plan, Fudge forced a smile and said, "Ah! Dumbledore, thank you for reminding me! Besides investigating Ludo Bagman's case, I actually have another very important task for coming to Hogwarts today."
He turned to Link. "And that is to present an award to the champion of the Triwizard Tournament, the hero who saved Hogwarts, Mr. Link Flamel!"
At these sudden words, everyone present was caught off guard by the abrupt shift in topic.
Fudge himself, however, seemed perfectly at ease. With great enthusiasm, he pulled out a bulging pouch of gold Galleons and stuffed it into Link's arms.
"First of all, here is your prize money. Ah, yes, yes, I know a thousand Galleons may seem rather little to you, but please understand, this is not meant as an insult; it's simply the established rule."
"Of course, your performance this time was absolutely magnificent, especially how you defeated those dark wizards who attacked and saved Hogwarts. Such great service must not be forgotten."
"In fact, I've already prepared a ceremony in your honor. It will be held in the largest hall of the Ministry of Magic, and I've invited reporters from the Daily Prophet to attend and interview you. Through your story, we hope to inspire more young wizards to strive upward every day."
"Also, I think your mother, and indeed the entire Flamel family, deserve recognition as well. After all, they've given our country such an outstanding young man, haven't they?"
"Link, once I finish my business here at Hogwarts, why don't you come back to the Ministry with me?"
As he finished speaking, Fudge even glanced smugly at Dumbledore.
That made nearly everyone present sink inside.
The meaning of bribery and flattery in Fudge's words was far too obvious, and the benefits he offered were indeed enormous.
They were genuinely afraid that Link might change his mind on the spot. After all, heirs from pure-blood families like him were usually taught from childhood to put family interest above all else.
From that perspective, it really did seem difficult for Link to refuse Fudge.
"Link would never accept your reward! Don't even dream of it!"
Hot-tempered yet not foolish, Harry finally caught on and shouted in anger, "And besides, I saw the Death Eaters with my own eyes! I can even name them! Lucius Malfoy..."
"The Malfoy family is an old and noble one, and very devoted to worthy causes," Fudge replied lazily, unruffled by Harry's yelling.
"And according to our investigation, Lucius Malfoy was under the Imperius Curse at the time. He's already been declared innocent."
"Macnair!"
Harry kept going, refusing to give up.
"He's been cleared as well, he's currently working at the Ministry."
"Crabbe! Goyle! Nott.."
"I've had enough!" Fudge finally snapped, shouting at Harry in exasperation.
"You're just repeating the same names of those who were acquitted thirteen years ago! If you really want to know whether they're guilty or not, you can read the trial records yourself, those are public documents!"
"For Merlin's sake, Dumbledore, please keep your student in check! He actually thinks he's smarter than the trained professionals of the Ministry!"
Now truly angry, Fudge stopped paying Harry any attention, turning back to Link instead, waiting for a response.
But Link only shook his head helplessly, half amused.
Yes, Fudge's offer of benefit and exchange was certainly generous.
But he'd ignored one thing, the fact that Voldemort had really returned.
Compared to the catastrophic threat Voldemort posed, what Fudge was offering was trivial.
"Don't waste your time on meaningless gestures," Link said slowly.
"Minister Fudge, the one whose name must not be spoken has indeed returned. This attack was orchestrated and carried out by him. Instead of arguing here, perhaps you should be doing something more worthwhile."
At those words, Harry was so excited he nearly jumped up.
He knew Link couldn't possibly be tempted by such petty gains.
Fudge's face, on the other hand, flickered between emotions.
He still didn't really believe that Voldemort had come back; he simply thought Link was bargaining with him.
With that in mind, he asked blankly, "And what do you think would be something 'more worthwhile'?"
"For example," Link said, following his words, "freeing Azkaban from the control of the Dementors."
"You're mad! Dismiss the Dementors? The moment I suggested that, I'd be thrown out of the Wizengamot chamber!" Fudge exclaimed, frowning.
"Half of us can sleep peacefully at night only because we know the Dementors guard Azkaban!"
"Besides, Azkaban serving as their feeding ground is part of the agreement between the British Ministry of Magic and the entire Dementor race! You know they must feed, if I remove them from Azkaban, where do you suggest they hunt? Among Muggles?"
"You have to do it," Link said sternly.
"Creatures like Dementors are born allies to people like Voldemort. Letting them guard Azkaban is the same as handing the Death Eaters imprisoned there straight back into his arms. Or..."
Link added coldly, "if you won't remove the Dementors, then just execute all the prisoners in Azkaban. The prison sees deaths every few days anyway, kill them all, hold a quick sham funeral to cover it up, no one would care."
At those words, everyone's face changed.
Harry turned pale, staring wide-eyed at Link as if seeing him for the first time, horrified.
He truly couldn't believe such cold-blooded words had come from Link's mouth.
Those were hundreds of lives.
"Or there's a second option," Link went on, his gaze locking firmly on Fudge.
"While there's still time, send letters to all intelligent non-human beings, giants, merfolk, goblins, centaurs, extend a hand of friendship. Otherwise, Voldemort will recruit them all. Don't be surprised, he's done it before."
"You really are insane..."
Fudge muttered, but before he could finish, Dumbledore cut in beside him, "Link isn't insane. In fact, everything he just said is exactly what I've been urging you to do. Cornelius, accept reality. Stop clinging to your position, it's only clouding your judgment."
At this point, Fudge could no longer speak. He was breathing heavily, shaking his head, backing away step by step.
Suddenly, Snape burst forward from the side. Grabbing Fudge by the collar, he yanked him close.
Then Snape rolled up his sleeve, pressing his arm, bearing the Dark Mike, pulsing faintly as if alive, right before Fudge's eyes and rasped, "Look! The Dark Mike."
"It's not as clear as that night, when it turned completely black, but you can still see it, can't you? It's far more active than it's been in the past ten years! You know what that means, don't you? Can you still say that man hasn't returned?"
Fudge was terrified.
It took all his strength, his face flushing red, to wrench himself free of Snape's grip. Slowly retreating toward the door, he gasped, "You're all out of your minds. Enough, enough! I'm done talking with you lunatics. I'm leaving!"
"Cornelius!"
Dumbledore's voice rang out behind him. "If you insist on being stubborn and blind, then we'll have to part ways. You do what you think is right, and I will act according to my own will."
Dumbledore's tone was calm, without the slightest hint of threat, merely a statement of fact, but at his words, Fudge's face turned red and white by turns, as if Dumbledore had pointed a wand straight at him.
It took a long moment before Fudge recovered enough to react.
Humiliated and furious, he stepped forward a few paces, his distorted voice roaring, "Fine, Dumbledore! I've always given you full freedom and treated you with respect!"
"I may not agree with all your decisions, but I've always kept silent. Few others would have allowed you to employ a werewolf, keep Hagrid, or decide what students learn without consulting the Ministry! But if you think I'm actually afraid of you, you're gravely mistaken!"
Overcome by anger, Fudge swayed unsteadily.
When he finished shouting, he said no more and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
"Professor Dumbledore..."
Harry said worriedly.
Though he himself had stood firm just now, after seeing the Minister's furious outburst, he couldn't help feeling uneasy.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of everything," Dumbledore said, waving his hand. "You and Link should rest well, recovering your strength as soon as possible is what matters most."
After that, Dumbledore left the infirmary with McGonagall and the others, his face expressionless.
They still had a long council meeting to hold.
Watching them go, Link frowned deeply.
He had actually considered trying to change Fudge's mind, to join forces with the Ministry in resisting Voldemort.
That would have greatly delayed Voldemort's rise. After all, the Ministry of Magic, as the strongest organization in wizarding Britain, possessed formidable power.
But reality had jolted Link from that dream.
Still, using the Ministry's strength wasn't only possible through Fudge.
Since Fudge refused to see reason, Link could only resort to harsher measures.
"Phew."
Link took a deep breath and said to Harry very seriously, "Harry, you need to finish that speech of yours as soon as possible."
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