Chapter 123: Fudge's Ridiculous Ploy
"My recommendation is as follows..." Umbridge's beady eyes darted back and forth as a plan began to form in her mind.
Fudge nodded frequently as he listened.
No one else was privy to their conversation, but the Ministerial Decrees that followed would be known by all. The series of ordinances created a shockwave within the Ministry of Magic that was only slightly less impactful than the news of Voldemort's capture.
Ministerial Decree No. 23 of 1991:
All newspapers and magazines are henceforth forbidden from mentioning the Ministry of Magic. Violators will be subject to investigation.
Ministerial Decree No. 24 of 1991:
The former Senior Undersecretary to the Minister, Dolores Jane Umbridge, is hereby promoted to the office of Deputy Minister of Magic.
Ministerial Decree No. 25 of 1991:
The private establishment of places of imprisonment within educational institutions is strictly forbidden.
Ministerial Decree No. 26 of 1991:
The Minister for Magic shall henceforth have the right to appoint teachers at all educational institutions.
Ministerial Decree No. 27 of 1991:
All arrests and trials conducted by the Ministry of Magic require a personally signed warrant from the Minister.
Ministerial Decree No. 28 of 1991...
The moment the decrees began circulating internally, Ralvin, the Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Transportation, scoffed at the entire list.
"That old fool Fudge is trying to manage wizards the way one manages Muggles," he said, gesturing to the stack of copied decrees on his desk. "No one in their right mind would issue these."
Many of the employees in his department had been promoted by Ralvin and shared his deep loyalty to Hogwarts. They all felt a sense of pride that their professors had captured Voldemort. Consequently, they were utterly baffled by the later decrees, which were so transparently aimed at Hogwarts and Dumbledore they might as well have had their names printed on them. Had Fudge lost his mind? Did he have any idea who he was dealing with?
"He issued them as Ministerial Decrees... we can't just directly oppose them," someone said. No one believed the speaker was suggesting they actually tolerate this, so they waited for him to continue. "We can't fight Fudge on our own, for now. Should we contact the school? See if there's anything we can do to help?"
Ralvin shook his head, then nodded. "We do have the ability to oppose Fudge!" he declared, his voice firm as iron. Then, he hesitated. "But... we don't know what the Headmaster and the professors have planned. We should ask them first, so we don't interfere with their strategy."
"A strategy?" someone asked.
"We've all discussed what a man like Fudge would do," Ralvin reminded them. "While our predictions weren't quite as extreme as what he's actually done, if even we could guess at his intentions, the Headmaster and professors must have anticipated this long ago."
Ralvin took out his Communicator and dialed Ryan's number.
With a soft chime, Ryan's holographic bust appeared. "Long time no see, senior. What made you think of me?"
Ralvin read out the list of not-yet-public decrees and then asked, "Do you have a contingency plan you need us to execute?"
"He actually did it," Ryan said, asking for confirmation a second time before shaking his head in disbelief. "The Headmaster and I discussed this possibility, but he just said he would handle it." He sighed. "That 'Magic is Might' statue has been in the Ministry atrium for ages. Is Fudge blind?"
"Possibly," Ralvin shrugged. "Well, if the Headmaster has his own ideas, then our actions won't need to be coordinated with his, right?"
"You're thinking...?"
"I believe we discussed this possibility during our very first conversation, did we not?" Ralvin winked. "How about we all get together this weekend?" As he spoke, he panned the Communicator around the room, showing Ryan the assembled staff.
"Of course. I see all the seniors are there," Ryan's hologram said with dawning comprehension. "This weekend it is, then. Let's all meet at the gates of Hogwarts."
"Done. It's a date."
The two ended the call.
"Boss, did you mean we have our own plan of action?" one of the staff asked.
Ralvin grinned. "I just said we have a way to deal with Fudge, didn't I? It would be a terrible waste not to use it, wouldn't it?"
"Damn right!"
"Well said!"
"That pathetic Fudge, let's get him!"
"Let's take him down together!"
Birds of a feather flock together. The fact that Ralvin and Ryan were close friends was proof enough that he was no pushover. And the Hogwarts graduates who had rallied around him were certainly not obedient little children. Every last one of them was an "outstanding graduate."
And as everyone knows, an outstanding graduate of Hogwarts is a student qualified to be fast-tracked straight to Azkaban.
With this collection of wunderkinds gathered in one place, either the Ministry of Magic or the wizarding world was about to have a very bad time.
"Among the newer generation of Ministry employees, how many are on our side?" Ralvin asked, silencing the wild laughter in the room. He didn't have to ask how many were alumni—since Britain had only one magical school, practically all of them were.
"Basically all the new hires from the last four or five years are our people," someone reported, rattling off a list of names. "Plus a few of the non-pure-bloods in their late twenties and early thirties."
"So that means we have thirty or forty people on our side..." Ralvin's eyes lit up. He hadn't realized their network was so large. The entire Ministry only had a hundred or so staff members, the majority of whom were Aurors and Hit Wizards. This network had been quietly built by Ryan, the Seer, through his various prophecies and assistance, connecting them all.
"They all bought Communicators, right?" Ralvin asked. "Ryan's team has made them so cheap, I can't imagine anyone not buying one. Get their contact information, reach out to as many as you can. I'll go find some others."
"And when we contact them, what do we say?"
"Just say Fudge is old and senile," Ralvin said with a predatory grin. "And we're going to put on a big show for him."
He wrenched the door open, and a hot, dry gust of air swirled into the room, bringing with it a tense, almost martial atmosphere. As Ralvin walked away, his back to them, his departure had the epic feel of a general marching to war. His robes billowed behind him, his steps were steady and powerful, his head held high. It felt like the opening scene of a battle.
In the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts Castle.
Ryan, who visited the office more often than his own dormitory, ended his call.
"Was that Ralvin? About Fudge's decrees... ah, I will handle it," Dumbledore said, recognizing the name of his former, brilliant student, a past Head Boy.
Fudge himself probably had no idea that Dumbledore knew about his decrees before they were even made public, thanks to the moles inside the Ministry.
Fudge: There are traitors! Traitors everywhere!
"That's right. It looks like my senior is going to put on a show for Fudge," Ryan said, pocketing his Communicator. He then turned theatrically toward the direction of the Ministry, clasped his hands together, and gave a solemn bow.
"May Merlin have mercy on his soul," he said gravely.
"By the way, Headmaster, I have a new prophecy."
~~~
Get early access to 50+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn