The flames in the fireplace in Dumbledore's office burst into a bright emerald green, and Cornelius Fudge emerged from them, frantically adjusting his dark green hat. Close behind him was Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, wearing a monocle and a stern expression that radiated great authority, causing the portraits of former headmasters to fall silent.
Fudge had not even finished brushing the ashes off himself when his eyes fell on the figure of Sirius Black.
"By Merlin's beard!" exclaimed Fudge, taking a step back and instinctively reaching for his wand. "It's Black! They've got him! You see, Albus, I knew the Dementors would eventually force him out of hiding! Call the guards immediately, the kiss cannot wait!"
Amelia Bones did not draw her wand. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed that Black was neither bound nor struggling, then her eyes drifted to the small, trembling figure floating a few inches above Lord Gaunt's feet.
"Minister, you'd better put your wand away," said Aurelian with a calm smile. "I asked the headmaster to call him in for a correction, not an execution."
"Correction?" stammered Fudge, looking at Aurelian with a mixture of respect and confusion. "Lord Gaunt, this man is the most wanted murderer in..."
Before Fudge could finish, Hestia and Flora moved in perfect synchrony. Without saying a word, Flora cast a silencing spell on Pettigrew's sobs, while Hestia, with a sharp movement of her wand, forced the man to spin in the air, tearing the sleeve of his left robe.
"Look closely, Minister," hissed Hestia, her eyes shining with cruel satisfaction.
"See who history has been protecting," added Flora, forcing Peter's arm into the office light.
There, engraved on Peter Pettigrew's pale, sweaty skin, the Dark Mark vibrated, latent though somewhat faint. Fudge gasped as he stared at the mark. Amelia Bones stepped forward, taking Peter's arm firmly, her eyes scanning the mark with clear disbelief.
"It's real," whispered Bones. "This man... is undoubtedly Peter Pettigrew. He was supposed to have died twelve years ago."
Fudge paled, staggering slightly.
"But... but this is a disaster," muttered the Minister, thinking of the headlines if the Prophet got wind of it. "If the world finds out that Black is innocent and that a Death Eater has been free all this time... The administration will look like a bunch of incompetents!"
Aurelian stepped forward, placing himself right next to Fudge. His voice dropped to a more intimate tone, the kind of tone a king would use with one of his vassals.
"No, no... no. On the contrary, Cornelius," said Aurelian, enveloping the Minister in his magical aura. "This is not a crisis for you. It is your greatest opportunity."
Fudge looked at him, clinging to the young Lord's words like a lifeline.
"My opportunity?" he asked hopefully.
"Just think about it," Aurelian continued as Hestia and Flora positioned themselves on either side of Fudge, creating a circle that isolated Dumbledore from any interference. "You weren't the one who sent Black to Azkaban without trial. That was the work of Bagnold's administration and Bartemius Crouch's extremism. You are the man who has come to clean up the mess left by your predecessors. The man who, thanks to your insight and your alliance with the right families, has captured the real traitor, someone everyone thought was dead."
"That's right, Minister," Hestia interjected with a sweet but manipulative smile. "Imagine the headlines: 'Fudge corrects the great mistake of the past,' 'Justice for the Potters thanks to the Minister.' "
"You will be remembered as the man who brought true peace, one that is not based on lies," added Flora, nodding encouragingly.
Dumbledore, who had been watching with growing concern the way Aurelian was handling the Minister, wanted to intervene, knowing how easy it was to manipulate Fudge.
"Cornelius, we must be cautious," said the Headmaster in a grave voice. "There are many legal ramifications we must consider first, and..."
"Albus, please!" Fudge cut him off sharply, suddenly regaining his color and some of his arrogance. "Lord Gaunt and the Carrow sisters are right. This is administrative negligence that I inherited and now, at last, I can resolve. Lord Black has not had a trial in twelve years. Twelve years, Albus! It is a stain on our judicial system that I myself will erase."
Dumbledore blinked in surprise at Fudge's sudden change of heart. The Headmaster tried to speak again, but Fudge raised a hand before turning his back on him.
"Amelia," the Minister ordered a surprised Bones, who was still examining Peter's mark, "take Pettigrew to the high-security cells at the Ministry. I want an interrogation with Veritaserum prepared immediately, and Black..." Fudge looked at Sirius with some pity as he carefully chose his words. "Black will be escorted to a secure room here in the castle under the supervision of the Aurors. We will withdraw the Dementors. Tomorrow we will issue an official statement on the matter."
Aurelian exchanged a fleeting glance with the twins. The bait had been set and the fish had taken it hook. It would be easy to use the minister for his plans.
"You have made the right decision, Minister," Aurelian concluded with a slight bow. "History will treat you with the respect you deserve as a courageous leader who always seeks the best for his citizens."
Fudge puffed out his chest, completely convinced by the boy's words, while completely ignoring the warning glance Dumbledore gave him. Cornelius, now brimming with confidence and already drafting the speech he would give to the press in his mind, adjusted his robe and looked at Aurelian with his classic smile.
"Lord Gaunt," said Fudge, extending a hand toward the door, "I would be honored if you would accompany us to the Ministry immediately. Your testimony on how you facilitated this capture will be vital. A young man of your standing will give this transition of justice the weight it deserves and ensure that the best decision is made."
Aurelian nodded politely.
"It would be an honor, Minister. A matter of such magnitude requires that every detail be treated with the utmost precision," Aurelian replied warmly. Then he turned to Hestia and Flora, who stood by his side watching him with beautiful smiles.
In Hestia and Flora's eyes, you could see the devotion and love they had for him, an intensity that bordered on obsession. They didn't like to be separated from him for long, especially when he was going to a place as full of vultures and politicians as the Ministry.
Aurelian smiled at them, caressing their cheeks, taking Hestia's face and then Flora's. He leaned down to place a soft kiss on each of her lips in a gesture of farewell. However, the girls had no intention of letting him go so easily.
In perfect synchrony, both girls wrapped their arms around Aurelian's neck, pulling him toward them forcefully and deepening the kiss in a passionate and possessive manner. It was a raw and hungry display of affection that completely ignored the protocol of the place.
The silence that followed was deafening. The Aurors who had just arrived, men hardened by years of combat, looked away, visibly uncomfortable with the scene before their eyes. Amelia Bones raised an eyebrow, surprised by the bold display of affection, while Fudge raised his head and looked at the ceiling with a sudden interest in the architecture of the Hogwarts headmasters' office.
Sirius Black, who was watching the scene leaning against a bookshelf, let out a laugh so loud that it echoed throughout the room.
"Hahaha! By Merlin, Gaunt!" Sirius exclaimed with laughter, shaking his head with genuine admiration. "You certainly have style! Times at Hogwarts have definitely changed. You make me feel so old! That's what I call living life to the fullest!"
Albus Dumbledore was speechless, watching the scene with a look of bewilderment. His eyes blinked at the intensity of the Carrow twins.
Seeing that the kiss was lasting longer than etiquette (or public decency) allowed, Dumbledore cleared his throat loudly, a sharp sound that finally forced the twins to separate from him, although they did so slowly and with triumphant smiles on their lips.
"Ahem..." Dumbledore adjusted his robe, regaining his composure. "Aurelian... Misses Carrow, I believe the Minister is in a hurry, and we have much work to do here at the castle."
Aurelian, somewhat dazed by the kissing session, nodded to the headmaster and gave one last look at Hestia and Flora, who were watching the headmaster with irritation before turning their attention back to Aurelian.
"You can't come with me this time," he whispered. "Get some rest. It's been a very long night."
"Whatever you wish, my love," they replied in unison, broad smiles on their lips.
Eager to escape the awkward situation and get to his office as quickly as possible, Fudge offered Aurelian the way.
"Shall we go, Lord Gaunt? The future awaits us."
"After you, Minister," replied Aurelian.
As the group headed toward the fireplaces to depart via the Red Flu, Dumbledore turned to Remus Lupin, who remained in a corner trying to process everything that had happened.
"Remus," said the Headmaster, catching his attention. "Would you be so kind as to escort Sirius and the Aurors to a safe area? Make sure he gets what he needs. The rest of us will take care of the preparations so that everything is ready for tomorrow."
Lupin nodded, placing a hand on his old friend's shoulder. Sirius continued to smile, amused by the spectacle the young Gaunt had just given him. The two of them, along with the Aurors, left the office, leaving the twins alone under the watchful and analytical gaze of Albus Dumbledore, who for the first time in a long time felt that he was no longer in control of his own school.
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