Chapter 297: The Break

"I saw Voldemort return with my own eyes!" Harry suddenly shouted.

"I saw the Death Eaters! I can name them! Lucius Malfoy—"

Snape twitched suddenly, but when Harry looked at him, Snape's gaze turned back to Fudge.

"Malfoy was cleared!" Fudge said, clearly offended.

"A very old family—generously donating to worthy causes—"

"Macnair!" Harry continued naming names.

"He was cleared too! He's currently working at the Ministry!"

"Avery—Nott—Crabbe—Goyle—"

"You're just repeating the names of people who were found not to be Death Eaters thirteen years ago!" Fudge said angrily.

"You can find those names in the old trial records!

For heaven's sake, Dumbledore—this boy's mind has been filled with all sorts of weird, made-up stories since last year.

His lies are getting more and more ridiculous, and you still believe him—this boy can talk to snakes, Dumbledore, and you still think he's trustworthy?"

"You fool!" Bones shouted.

"Bertha Jorkins! Mr. Crouch! Their deaths were not the random acts of a madman!"

"I don't see why not!" Fudge shouted back, his face turning purple, his temper no less fiery than that of his colleague.

"It seems to me that you're all determined to create a state of panic, to destroy everything we've worked so hard to build over the last thirteen years!"

"Is that what you think?" Bones' voice suddenly became icy, as if she were stating an undeniable fact.

"Voldemort has returned," she said.

"Fudge, if you accept this fact immediately and take the necessary actions, we may still have a chance to turn things around.

The first and most important step is to remove the Dementors from Azkaban—"

"Nonsense!" Fudge shouted again.

"Remove the Dementors? If I even suggested that, I'd be thrown out of office!

Half of us can sleep soundly at night only because we know the Dementors are guarding Azkaban!"

"If we let Voldemort's most dangerous followers guard those who would serve him at a word, then others won't sleep so soundly!" Bones said.

"Those creatures can't be loyal to us, Fudge! Voldemort can offer them far more power and pleasure than you ever could!

Once the Dementors side with Voldemort, his old followers will flock back to him, and it will be much harder to stop him from regaining the power he had thirteen years ago!"

Fudge's mouth opened and closed, as if he couldn't find the words to express his anger.

"The second thing we must do—and we must act immediately," Bones continued, "is to send envoys to the giants."

"Send envoys to the giants?" Fudge exclaimed, suddenly finding his voice again. "What madness is this?"

"Extend a hand of friendship to them while there's still time," Bones said.

"Otherwise, Voldemort will recruit them. I remember, he did it before, offering them rights and freedoms that no other wizard could!"

"You—you must be joking!" Fudge gasped, shaking his head as he backed away from Bones.

"If the wizarding world found out I was dealing with giants—people hate giants, Amelia—my career would be over—"

"Fudge, you're so obsessed with your position that you've lost your sense of judgment." Bones' voice grew louder and louder.

"If we don't act—history will remember us: it was our inaction that gave Voldemort a second chance to destroy the world we've worked so hard to rebuild!"

"Absurd," Fudge whispered, continuing to back away. "Madness..."

There was a brief silence.

Madam Pomfrey stood dumbfounded beside Harry, covering her mouth with her hand.

Alaric watched coldly from the side, while Fleur and Hermione stared at Fudge in shock.

"If you continue to be so stubborn, so blind, Fudge," Bones said, "then we will have to part ways. I will make the truth of Voldemort's return known at the Ministry.

I will ensure the Aurors take the necessary actions, and I will call for your impeachment at the Wizengamot!"

Her voice carried no threat; it sounded like a mere statement.

But Fudge flew into a rage as if she were brandishing a wand at him.

"Fine, fine, Amelia," he threatened, wagging a finger at her.

"You've finally shown your true colors. All your opposition to me—it's just been a ploy to take my place as Minister, hasn't it?

And now you're willing to spread these lies about Voldemort's return to undermine me! But I won't let you succeed!"

"I oppose only Voldemort," Madam Bones said.

"If you oppose him too, Fudge, then I won't impeach you."

Fudge seemed at a loss for words.

He stood unsteadily on his small feet, swaying back and forth for a moment, rotating his bowler hat in his hands.

Finally, he spoke, his voice carrying a hint of pleading. "He won't come back, Amelia, he can't..."

Snape strode forward, past Bones and Dumbledore.

As he walked, he lifted the left sleeve of his robe. He thrust his arm toward Fudge, who recoiled in horror.

"Do you see it," Snape said hoarsely.

"Do you see it?

The Dark Mark. It's not as clear as it was an hour ago, when it was burning black, but you can still see it.

Every Death Eater has this mark burned into them by Voldemort.

It's how we identify each other, and how Voldemort summons us to him.

When he touches one Death Eater's Mark, we must all Apparate to his side immediately."

"For a year now, the Mark has been growing clearer. Karkaroff's too. Why do you think Karkaroff fled tonight?

We both felt the Mark burning.

We both knew he was back. Karkaroff is terrified that Voldemort will seek revenge.

He betrayed many of his fellow Death Eaters; he knows he won't be welcomed back among them."

Fudge backed away from Snape.

He kept shaking his head, as if he hadn't heard a word Snape said.

His eyes were wide, clearly terrified by the ugly mark on Snape's arm.

Then he looked up at Bones and Dumbledore, and whispered, "I don't know what kind of game you're playing, but I've heard enough.

I have nothing more to say. I must return to the Ministry, Amelia, and I promise you won't get away with this."

He jammed his bowler hat onto his head, and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

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