Chapter 779: The Minister Goes to Jail (Edited)

The past year has been a time of great events in the magical world of England.

First, Cornelius Fudge was dismissed, and then the Dementors stopped cooperating with the Ministry of Magic and vanished from Azkaban without a trace.

Just when everyone was concerned, those missing prisoners along with the Dementors suddenly appeared inside Hogwarts and joined forces with the infamous werewolf Fenrir Greyback to attack the students.

Fortunately, the Hogwarts professors responded in time, and no one was harmed.

The next day, the Daily Prophet published this news and revealed the testimony of Dolores Umbridge, who claimed that she and other prisoners were rescued by the former Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. She also claimed that the attacks on the students were instigated by him, and he introduced Greyback. The way they invaded Hogwarts was even provided by Fudge.

However, the newspaper did not mention the Dark Mark that appeared over the school.

...

Cornelius Fudge, unemployed and at home, was having breakfast while reading today's Prophet. When he saw this report, he spat out the cereal he had in his mouth.

He didn't even bother to clean up, grabbed the newspaper, and brought it close to his nose, reading it three times in a row to make sure he wasn't mistaken. Fudge knew... he was in serious trouble.

The Prophet had already suspected his connection to the departure of the Dementors. The Ministry of Magic had even sent investigators to interrogate him, but in the end, there wasn't enough evidence to bring him to trial. However, now, with the testimony provided by Dolores Umbridge, the new Minister of Magic, Pius Thicknesse, would undoubtedly not let him escape so easily.

While Umbridge was powerful and competent in terms of magical abilities and affairs, she lacked talent when it came to power struggles and ruthless politics.

Pius had just obtained his position and wasn't a popular candidate in the first place. He could only assume the position thanks to Amelia Bones' resignation. Therefore, if he managed to involve his predecessor in this matter, he would definitely be able to increase his reputation and power both inside and outside the Ministry.

However, what Fudge didn't quite understand is... Why did that despicable woman, Umbridge, blame me for that issue? Just because I was the one who sent you to Azkaban? But you were captured again by yourself, so what would I gain from that? Is it necessary for both of us to self-destruct?

"No! Even if Umbridge wants to take me down with her, I would never order another fugitive or even a werewolf to die with her!"

Amidst his confusion, Fudge gradually calmed down and began to realize the logic in those words.

He took out a handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat still dripping from his forehead, and a very bad suspicion suddenly came to his mind...

"What Dumbledore said is true... Voldemort has returned..." Only then did Fudge start to take Dumbledore's warning seriously. "Only that man can command werewolves and Dementors..."

Fudge, who finally figured it out, staggered towards his fireplace, intending to go to Hogwarts to discuss countermeasures with Dumbledore.

However, just as he reached the fireplace, before he had the chance to Floo Powder inside, a green flame erupted from the fireplace, and a group of Aurors emerged from the flames.

"Dear Mr. Cornelius Oswald Fudge, on behalf of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, we are here to bring you to trial before the Ministry of Magic."

The head Auror pulled out a parchment scroll and unfolded it in front of Fudge, on which the reason for his trial was written, along with Pius Thicknesse's signature and Fudge's all-too-familiar seal from the Minister's office.

"Wait, wait! Savage!" Fudge exclaimed alarmed. "This is not how the procedure works!"

"I'm sorry, Minister Fudge, but there's a lot at stake, and Minister Pius wants to provide an explanation to the public as soon as possible," said the stern Auror called Savage.

"No! I have been wrongly accused! I never gave Umbridge any orders to harm Harry Potter! It was He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named! Umbridge works for You-Know-Who!"

Fudge was still struggling.

He spotted among the Aurors his once most trusted guard. "Dawlish! You should know! I've never done it before! We must contact Dumbledore as soon as possible! He's the only one who can deal with You-Know-Who!"

But his pleas for help went unanswered. Dawlish simply looked at him with indifference, not the silence of the past, but with a cold and relentless refusal.

It was natural that the Aurors Thicknesse had sent here, all of them under the Imperius Curse, would not give Fudge the chance to contact Dumbledore.

"Weren't you saying just last year that Dumbledore was old and foolish and trying to control the Ministry?" Savage sneered as he stepped forward and grabbed Fudge by the arm.

Fudge ignored his taunts and looked at the very strange John Dawlish, who stood not far away.

As the Auror who had been promoted by Fudge, Dawlish had always maintained good relations with him privately, and even after Fudge resigned, they had stayed in touch, and Dawlish had sent him a Christmas gift.

That's why when Fudge noticed Dawlish's indifference, his heart sank.

However, before he could say anything else, Savage silenced him with a spell and tied his hands behind his back with a rope.

"If you have something to say, save it for the Wizengamot," Savage stabbed Fudge in the back with his wand and roughly pushed him toward the fireplace.

Fudge, who had already guessed what was happening, didn't resist but bowed his head in dismay and obediently walked into the green flames.

As Fudge had predicted, Thicknesse and a member of the Law Enforcement Division, whose name he didn't recall from before, presided over the trial without a complete jury.

The trial was as ludicrous as the charges he had brought against Harry, except this time Fudge didn't have a Dumbledore to defend his case, and the final outcome came as no surprise: Fudge was declared guilty and taken to the adjacent dungeon from the courtroom by Savage and Dawlish.

"Ahem, ahem." Umbridge smiled with satisfaction at Fudge, who was held in front of him, and coughed twice before laughing softly. "Well, well, if it isn't the 'ex' Minister Fudge. I didn't expect to find you here."

Fudge looked at Umbridge's clean cells and those of the other prisoners, with new quilts and pillows, and then at his own filthy cell, with only a mildew-smelling blanket, and he became even more certain of his suspicions...

Voldemort not only had returned to life but had also taken control of a significant number of Ministry members, including Thicknesse.

Thinking this, Fudge fell to the floor, clutching his head with his hands, filled with remorse.

If he hadn't been so blinded by his hunger for power and had not disregarded Dumbledore's warnings, the Ministry wouldn't have fallen so easily into Voldemort's hands.

Desperation coursed through Fudge's body like poison at the thought that Dumbledore might still be unaware of what was happening in the Ministry.