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HP: The Duelist of Hogwarts - 377
🕑 Added 2025-10-18 21:32:11 +0000 UTCChapter 377: Parting Ways
"Cornelius, I believe I've already said that Hogwarts will no longer allow Dementors to enter."
"Dumbledore, I think, as Minister of Magic, I have the right to bring bodyguards, don't I?"
"Of course you can bring bodyguards, but you shouldn't indulge your bodyguards in turning an important witness into a living corpse."
Fudge looked at Dumbledore, his jowls trembling slightly, forcing out an ugly smile. "Just a corrupt member of the Ministry. Besides, he only received punishment and can no longer do evil from now on. Strictly speaking, he hasn't truly died either. Actually, whatever result he gets, he deserves it, doesn't he?"
"But this way, he can no longer testify, Cornelius."
"What could he testify to? Just an evil dark wizard."
"Cornelius, even if the Dementor extracted his soul, I don't think you should overlook his attire, right? That was Death Eater attire."
Hearing Dumbledore's words, Fudge's expression became increasingly ugly. He looked at Dumbledore, somewhat hysterically saying, "So what if his attire was Death Eater attire? A scum who imagines himself a Death Eater, commits countless evils, and even speculates that Voldemort has returned—what does it matter if he's killed?"
"That's not speculation, Cornelius. It's true."
As if frightened by Dumbledore's words, Fudge looked at him incredulously. "Dumbledore, what did you say? What's true?"
"Cornelius, stop deceiving yourself. Voldemort has returned!"
"Vol... You-Know-Who has returned?" Fudge's face showed a trace of a smile amid his panic. He smiled and said to Dumbledore, "Stop talking nonsense, Dumbledore. You-Know-Who was already killed by Harry Potter. When someone dies, how could they possibly be resurrected?"
"He didn't truly die; he just lost his body. Now he's obtained a new body, so he's returned. So stop deceiving yourself, Cornelius."
"No, no, no, Dumbledore, you don't think a crazy dark wizard's words are true, do you? They just want to attract others' attention. They're just mistaken that they received You-Know-Who's orders, right?"
Sighing, even Dumbledore was running out of ways to deal with Fudge's stubbornness. He looked at Fudge and spoke again. "Cornelius, many people witnessed Voldemort's return. Not just me, but all three Triwizard champions—they all saw it."
Dumbledore omitted the presence of the Order of the Phoenix and Gavin. He actually understood Fudge well—if he mentioned the Order was there, Fudge would be even less likely to admit Voldemort's return. He would only focus on the Order. Dumbledore knew very well that Fudge had always been wary of him, fearing he would compete for the Minister position, and thus was very wary of the Order's existence. This was why Dumbledore had once disbanded the Order.
As for Gavin, this was his own request.
Fudge shook his head, looking at Dumbledore. "I understand now. I finally understand. This must be some kind of large-scale illusion magic. Those pretending to be Death Eaters and those three champions must all be under an illusion. The You-Know-Who you think you saw might just be an ordinary dark wizard, like Scrimgeour. You probably all encountered the same person. I was the one who discovered You-Know-Who's body. How could he possibly be resurrected!"
"This is fact, Cornelius!"
"No, no, no. He won't return. He absolutely won't return."
"Cornelius, believe me. You need to face this matter, then remove Dementors from guarding Azkaban. Those creatures have probably already turned to Voldemort. Next, you need to contact the giants and stabilize them. Don't let them be recruited by Voldemort, otherwise—"
"Enough, enough, enough! Dumbledore, enough! I don't want to hear your nonsense anymore. First, You-Know-Who absolutely cannot return. Second, you want me to abandon Dementors and then contact giants... Dumbledore, you've truly gone mad!"
"Cornelius! You're too infatuated with your own power. It's made you lose your judgment, along with your flattery and indulgence of those purebloods. Most of those Death Eaters Voldemort brought were Death Eaters who escaped justice because you let them off!"
"Ridiculous!" Fudge stepped back two paces, staring at Dumbledore, growling. "You're mad. You're truly mad, Dumbledore. Everyone says you're an old lunatic. I didn't agree before; I always believed in you and was willing to consult you on matters, but you... Ridiculous, truly ridiculous!"
Dumbledore stepped forward, looking at Fudge with unprecedented seriousness. "If you persist in this obstinacy, Cornelius, from now on, we can only part ways. You go your way, I go mine."
"Fine, Dumbledore. I've always given you full freedom. Since you choose this, then... then let's part ways! After today, don't blame me, Dumbledore!"
Fudge turned and left, while Dumbledore also turned around.
Dumbledore realized that from now on, Fudge might interfere with him and Hogwarts. However, Dumbledore didn't really care about this, because he knew very well that Voldemort's personality could never remain quiet and unknown. As long as they waited for Voldemort to officially appear, then even if Fudge didn't want to admit it, he'd have to. At that time, all of Fudge's targeting of him would become a joke.
"Dumbledore, what should we do next?"
Looking at Professor McGonagall, Dumbledore smiled. "Next, of course, we celebrate Hogwarts winning the Triwizard Cup and hold the end-of-term feast."
"Dumbledore, I'm asking—"
"Minerva, no need to worry. Many things will have solutions."
Dumbledore was confident, and seeing his appearance, Professor McGonagall felt somewhat reassured.
Sean sat in the library. Blaise sat beside him, scratching his head. At the same time, he noticed that quite a few people in the library were secretly observing Sean—but this observation wasn't about admiring him for winning the Triwizard Cup, but about another matter that had been spreading wildly recently.
"Sean, that matter—is it really true?"
