Chapter 110: This Time, It’s My Turn, Dumbledore, to Save the Wizarding World

Support me and be 20 chapters ahead of webnovel:

patreon.com/Draco_

******

The matter had come to an end. After drinking a bottle of somewhat throat-burning invigorating potion, Peter Pettigrew's previously drowsy spirits perked up. There was no need for Harry to intervene further; it was more appropriate for Dumbledore to handle the dealings with the Ministry of Magic.

It was merely a matter of the trial and conviction process. The English wizarding community had no death penalty, with life imprisonment in Azkaban being the maximum punishment.

During the time of Harry's final exams, a tempest of public opinion erupted outside Hogwarts. The true murderer of the Potters had been found—Peter confessed to all his crimes. The previous trial of Sirius Black was rendered void; Peter had become a scapegoat, and the man who had spent a full eleven years in Azkaban was finally exonerated of his baseless accusations.

The Ministry's earlier hasty trial of Black was being revisited by those with ulterior motives.

Back then, the trial of Black had aided Cornelius Fudge's rise to power. At that time, two candidates were competing for the position of Minister of Magic: the current Minister, Cornelius Fudge, and the former head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Barty Crouch, who was widely regarded as a highly competent candidate.

However, fate did not favor Crouch. Fudge sentenced Black, adding a bold entry to his résumé, while the unfortunate Barty Crouch was undone by his own wretched son. Little Barty Crouch, a devoted follower and zealot of Voldemort, had personally destroyed all of his father's political dreams.

If it hadn't been for Barty Crouch's cold and iron-fisted demeanor—personally sentencing his son to life in Azkaban—he likely wouldn't have even been able to remain at the Ministry.

But Fudge, who successfully rose to power, was no saint. He excelled at muddying the waters, lining his pockets, and employing dirty political tactics. The Fudge family had amassed a fortune during his decade-long tenure. To maintain his grip on power, he subtly suppressed anyone who might threaten his position. Almost none of the high-ranking officials in the Ministry were truly competent; aside from Barty Crouch, who had been relegated to the Department of International Magical Cooperation, the leaders of the other departments were largely ineffective.

Under Fudge's chaotic governance, the already struggling Ministry devolved into utter incompetence. As long as he maintained a semblance of stability in the wizarding world without threatening his political rivals, he could sit comfortably in his ministerial chair. He wouldn't hesitate to bury the news of Voldemort's return to remain in power, even if it meant ignoring a grave injustice from a decade ago.

Unfortunately for him, it wasn't only Dumbledore who was delivering Peter to the Ministry. The idle Grindelwald had also decided to tag along. To secure his own position as Minister, Fudge dared to stubbornly contend with Dumbledore, but when faced with Grindelwald, the overweight, complacent middle-aged man nearly bowed down in submission.

Grindelwald had eliminated no fewer than eighty high-ranking officials in the wizarding world. Even if Merlin were to rise from the dead, should Grindelwald give the command, those fanatical Death Eaters would not hesitate to draw their wands against Merlin. In his presence, Fudge was nothing.

When it came to his position, Fudge cared more about the head on his shoulders than the chair beneath him.

With the situation requiring a resolution, Fudge found himself in a difficult position. If it were just Peter Pettigrew, he might have managed it easily, but adding Sirius Black to the mix complicated matters significantly.

The Black family, as one of the oldest in the English wizarding world, held wealth that could only be described as astronomical. Whether as headmaster of Hogwarts or Minister of Magic, the name Black had appeared on the lists of influential figures. Their influence had permeated every aspect of the English wizarding community, making the Black family immensely powerful.

While the currently prominent Malfoy family indeed possessed considerable financial resources, they were in no position to compare with the Black family of yesteryears.

When this ancient wizarding family fell from grace due to Voldemort, the once-loyal underlings revealed their sharp teeth. The transition from obedient dogs to ravenous wolves occurred in an instant. Faced with the allure of profit, these wolves exhibited their greedy and grotesque natures.

They divided up most of the Black family's real estate, consuming all their external holdings except for the ancestral home, which remained unclaimed. The Malfoy family benefited the most from this, while Fudge, who had also ascended to the position of Minister of Magic that same year, managed to take a hefty slice of the pie.

A slice of cake that nearly suffocated the Fudge family.

And now, Fudge had more than just releasing Black to contend with; he had to relinquish the wealth he had painstakingly amassed. Grindelwald's gaze, tinged with mockery, swept over him, sending a cold sweat down Fudge's back.

What Fudge didn't realize was that Grindelwald was acting on Dumbledore's behalf. Dumbledore, not wanting to see the wizarding world awash in blood, had signaled through Grindelwald, fully aware of Harry's nature and unwilling to take any risks.

Though Dumbledore had only a brief acquaintance with Harry, he understood Grindelwald very well. Despite Grindelwald's current persona as a charming, humorous, and reliable professor, it was all a facade. His inner self remained "mad"—only suppressed by the ambition he sought to fulfill.

Chaotic evil doesn't necessarily imply that a person is a madman or insane. Their actions are often driven by a desire to satisfy an inner sense of "joy," a joy that cannot be quantified. Thus, chaos becomes an outward manifestation. However, once they set their minds to something, they will employ any means necessary to attain that joy.

This includes suppressing their own chaotic impulses that may lead to discomfort.

"For the greater good"—this isn't just a hollow slogan; it's Grindelwald's oath of self-restraint.

Although Harry didn't express such sentiments explicitly, his actions spoke volumes. Keeping Peter Pettigrew alive was never Harry's desire, yet he still sent him to the Ministry. Azkaban, while perilous, paled in comparison to the "games" he and Grindelwald had previously indulged in—child's play in the grand scheme of things.

They had almost exhausted the catalog of recorded tortures throughout human history, yet even after all that, the two chaotic pranksters were still not satisfied. Their madness and depravity, perceived by others, painted a true picture of chaotic evil.

Dumbledore was puzzled about why he and Grindelwald had connected so easily. He couldn't fathom why he accepted Grindelwald's friendship, even to a degree beyond mere camaraderie. Yet, it had happened—two individuals with almost opposing personalities found themselves enjoying each other's company.

What should have been two fundamentally conflicting natures appeared strangely harmonious and complementary in their interactions.

Harry cared about Sirius. For this "greater good," he chose to spare Peter's life. In Dumbledore's eyes, Black represented Harry's restrained chaotic impulses; he understood that Black was Harry's godfather. Dumbledore believed that Black had "voluntarily" entered Azkaban out of boundless regret and despair, viewing it as a form of self-punishment.

It was he and James who, in a critical moment, decided to switch Secret Keepers. Because of that choice, James, who was like a brother to him, perished at Voldemort's hands. This unbearable guilt shattered Black's spirit, leaving him with no choice but to take the solitary path to Azkaban.

After Black's release, when he reunites with Harry, he will undoubtedly offer everything to atone for his guilt. He is Harry's godfather, yet he is responsible for the deaths of Harry's biological parents. This transgression compels him to make amends with all his strength.

His character dictates this course of action. An Animagus transformation reflects a wizard's inner self: the timid Peter is a rat, the somewhat reckless and combative James is a majestic stag, while Black's Animagus form is a powerful black dog—a symbol of loyalty and protection buried deep within his heart.

Dumbledore mentally pieced together all the possibilities. The value of Black's survival far outweighed that of Peter's death. He believed Harry felt the same way. Since this "exchange of benefits" had emerged, he hoped it would proceed perfectly.

For the sake of self-interest, chaotic pranksters could suppress their true natures, masquerading as members of the order. However, if this exchange were to fail, Dumbledore had reason to believe that those who disrupted it would face the terrifying retribution of the chaotic pranksters.

At that point, there could indeed be a scene drenched in blood, and if he waited until then to intervene, it would be too late.

After all, by then, he might not even be able to take action against Harry, especially since Grindelwald had an affection for the boy—an affection that he couldn't quite bring himself to resent.

As the wizarding world faced dire straits, he thought perhaps he should take a vacation, finding a distant place to bask in the sun and enjoy the beach.

"This time, it's my turn to save the wizarding world."

Dumbledore chuckled wryly to himself. Once the beast known as chaotic evil found a reason and excuse to be unleashed, it would be too late for regrets. Grindelwald had done it before, and so had Voldemort. Dumbledore didn't want to endure a third such miserable experience.

(End of Chapter)