Chapter 278: Taking Advantage of the Opportunity
No matter how powerful the Ministry of Magic might be or how much they wish to interfere, as long as Dumbledore remains the Headmaster recognized by Hogwarts Castle itself, they cannot completely control this thousand-year-old institution.
Therefore, once Dumbledore is made aware of the situation, they can take appropriate countermeasures.
"Don't worry, Phineas, I already know," said Dumbledore.
He looked very tired, his voice hoarse, as though he hadn't rested properly in days.
Phineas noticed something was wrong and frowned.
"What happened, Professor?"
Dumbledore shook his head.
"It's nothing, Phineas. You should go back and rest."
But Phineas persisted.
"Professor, you know me. If I want to find something out, I have my ways—so please, just tell me."
Dumbledore sighed.
"It's about Trelawney."
Phineas immediately understood.
"Has Umbridge's review concluded?"
"Yes. The Ministry issued a probation order directly. I wasn't given a chance to intervene."
Phineas was stunned. He had guessed that the Ministry would use Professor Trelawney—widely regarded as Hogwarts' weakest link—as a pretext to interfere in school affairs and undermine Dumbledore. But to bypass the Headmaster entirely was not just interference—it was a blatant attempt to sideline him.
Still, Dumbledore's exhaustion seemed disproportionate. And it wasn't as though Trelawney was being sacked. The wizarding world knew that Divination at Hogwarts was less a curriculum and more a screening process—to discover those rare individuals with a true gift of prophecy. Trelawney's shortcomings had never warranted her replacement, since Seers were so rare, even among charlatans.
"There must be more to it than just this," Phineas said. "You wouldn't be so worn out over a single issue."
Dumbledore hesitated, then confessed:
"Because of Trelawney, I was able to delay the Ministry from implementing further decisions."
He paused.
"They've deemed Hagrid's bloodline dangerous, full of violence, and declared him unfit to teach young witches and wizards. As for Sirius, they claim his time in Azkaban has left him mentally unstable. He's also considered unfit for the position."
Phineas was confused.
"That doesn't add up. For the Ministry to make such claims, they'd have to ignore the pure-blood families and the school governors—Sirius is the heir to the House of Black. This is an insult to his family. Even Ritchie and his lot wouldn't go that far. It's too blatant."
"So the Ministry must be desperate to purge those loyal to you from Hogwarts. I'm starting to think they're no longer neutral—if they ever were. They've either been manipulated, or they're already compromised."
Dumbledore nodded slowly.
"I came to the same conclusion. I've been investigating, and I've found some individuals still loyal to Tom. But they lack the authority to make such sweeping decisions. Fudge himself seems uncorrupted."
Phineas blinked.
"So this was really Fudge's decision? Has he gone mad? Or was he always a fool?"
Dumbledore sighed.
"Perhaps I was mistaken."
Fudge had risen to power largely with Dumbledore's support.
"Though Cornelius was always a bit self-serving, he wasn't this obsessed with control…"
Dumbledore trailed off, the disappointment of a former mentor evident in his eyes.
Phineas pressed on.
"Professor, there's more, isn't there? If these were the only issues, the Order could handle them. You wouldn't be this drained."
Dumbledore nodded.
"There were two more incidents—both suppressed."
Phineas tensed.
"What happened?"
"Azkaban was attacked. Nearly every Death Eater, led by Bellatrix and Rodolphus Lestrange, escaped. The Dementors have vanished from the island."
Phineas scowled.
"So it finally happened."
Dumbledore nodded.
"Yes. We've always feared this. Dementors have no true loyalty. If fed, they'll serve anyone."
Phineas muttered darkly,
"We warned the Ministry, but clearly they never took Azkaban's security seriously."
Dumbledore continued,
"The other incident concerns you. The vampires and werewolves have joined Tom."
Phineas was stunned.
"I'm not surprised about the werewolves—Fenrir Greyback's loyalty to the Dark Lord is well known. But the vampires? What about Professor Jonathan?"
Dumbledore sighed.
"He hasn't reappeared since his disappearance. The vampire clans believe he's dead. They say he left his bloodline with you before vanishing. Because of your stance against the reformist faction, the vampires don't dare seek you out—but that same stance has earned you the enmity of the conservatives."
Phineas let out a bitter laugh.
"So, in the end, I drove the vampire clans into you-know-who's arms?"
He had once allied with the conservatives to bring down the reformists. That alliance had helped him find and destroy their strongholds. But now both sides blamed him.
"In that case, Professor, we'll need new allies."
Dumbledore nodded.
"We must win over the giants. I plan to send Hagrid—his mother is with them. She may help sway them."
Phineas agreed.
"That's a good move. And we should do it soon. Hagrid's too vulnerable to Umbridge's manipulations. It's better to have him away from Hogwarts while accomplishing something vital—and he can visit his mother too."
Then Phineas paused.
"You said the Ministry questioned Sirius's fitness to teach. Did they recommend someone to replace him? Don't tell me… Umbridge?"
Dumbledore nodded solemnly.
Phineas muttered,
"Seems the Ministry wants to control the entire wizarding world."
Dumbledore paused, reflecting. He saw what Phineas was implying.
The biggest obstacle to the Ministry's total control was the pure-blood families. Elders were few and reclusive, but the pure-blood lines still held sway. Due to centuries of inbreeding, most families had only a few heirs. A handful of underage pure-bloods remained—excluding the Weasleys, whose family was a statistical anomaly.
The Ministry couldn't attack adult pure-bloods outright. But they could target the heirs—the students.
Besides money, a family's influence in the magical world rested on power—and that meant magical strength. Among core subjects, Charms and Transfiguration were important, but only a select few could weaponize them effectively, like Dumbledore or Flitwick.
For most, combat magic came from Defense Against the Dark Arts. If the Ministry controlled that class, they could either restrict or redirect the magical education of an entire generation.
Dumbledore sighed.
"Even if that's their plan, we're limited. Sirius's blood status gives him leverage, but the curse on that position ensures he can only teach for one year. Next year, there won't be another pure-blood willing or able to take it. The Ministry will win."
Phineas nodded, then suddenly smiled.
"If they want it so badly… let them have it."
Dumbledore looked at him in surprise.
Phineas explained,
"We all know the Defense Against the Dark Arts post is cursed. Sirius can't continue next year, and neither can Umbridge."
Dumbledore blinked. He hadn't considered using the curse as a weapon.
Phineas grinned.
"And Sirius only needs to step down a week early. It's unfortunate, yes, but he can return next year. Umbridge might not even survive her term."
He paused, then added:
"Sirius won't be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts anymore. That means he can work with the Order of the Phoenix outside of Hogwarts and gather information on you-know-who's movements. And yes, if Umbridge takes over the class, the Ministry will likely avoid teaching real defensive magic. But that doesn't mean we can't teach it ourselves. Harry might not be the most powerful wizard yet, but when it comes to practical Defense Against the Dark Arts, he's more capable than most. He's the right person to guide the younger students."
"Professor, even the Chosen One can't win this war alone. He needs allies—friends he can rely on. You recognized that when you started encouraging Ron and Neville. So why not go further? Let Harry form his own group. While teaching students who truly want to learn to defend themselves, he'll also be forging bonds and building the support he needs for what's ahead."
Dumbledore thought about it, then nodded.
"What you've said makes sense. I'll speak with Sirius soon. And if it comes to it, perhaps it's time we publicly acknowledge Voldemort's return. I know it will make me a target in the eyes of the wizarding world, but if we're honest now, those young witches and wizards who choose to learn from Harry will trust us—and they'll be ready to stand against Voldemort when the time comes."
Phineas smiled. The old ones were still the wisest. He merely planted the seed—Dumbledore cultivated it.
"So, that's settled then?" Phineas asked.
Dumbledore nodded.
"I'll speak with Sirius. You came to me about the communication channels, didn't you? I understand. While we can't stop the Ministry from interfering outright, the Order of the Phoenix will begin using the Patronus Charm and Fawkes for communication from now on."
Phineas nodded. The message-casting version of the Patronus Charm was an advanced application refined by Dumbledore. Though the messages it carried had to be short and simple, it was still a highly effective method. In some cases, it could even substitute for owls when delivering small messages. Then there was Fawkes—the phoenix's ability to Apparate across great distances made him an even more efficient messenger. Though, admittedly, relying on him too much felt rather unfair.
"I've also arranged for Black's people to keep watch at the Hog's Head," Phineas added. "If the Order has anything urgent, they can reach me through that channel. It might even be faster than the Patronus route. Sirius knows every Black safehouse across Britain. He'll brief the Order members himself ."
Dumbledore checked the time and gave a tired smile.
"You should rest. Mr. Filch will be making his rounds soon."
Phineas nodded.
"Understood, Professor. But you need rest more than I do. You look terrible."
With that, he turned and left the office.
In truth, Phineas had already planned to share the Black family's safehouses with the Order of the Phoenix. In the original timeline, much of the Order's struggle stemmed from a lack of secure bases and poor communication.