Chapter 273: The Dementor and the Death Eaters Appear

Green flames surged.

John and Harry, along with three adults, stepped out of the fireplace and arrived at the Ministry of Magic.

This place is much the same as the last time we came.

Only it's not as bustling as during the holidays.

"You're here; the Minister has been waiting for a long time."

Just as they exited the fireplace, an Auror walked toward them.

And they recognized him as Kingsley.

But at this moment he was merely a businesslike Auror, showing no familiar attitude toward the group.

Then he led the group into the elevator.

After entering the private elevator, Kingsley spoke again: "Later, you two should not argue with the Minister; just go along with him and don't agree to his demands."

Those words were clearly addressed to John and Harry.

Harry nodded, and Moody behind him also spoke.

"Kingsley, how is the Ministry now? It looks less crowded."

"Everything's normal; it's just that more people are out on duties right now."

At that moment, Sirius, standing nearby, couldn't help but laugh.

"Perhaps that's why Fudge deliberately chose this less‑crowded day to summon Harry and John, so fewer people would be lost."

When that was said, everyone except Professor Moody couldn't help but smile.

Soon they reached the top floor—the elevator doors slid open with a "ding".

The group regained composure and walked toward the Minister's office.

Knock knock.

Kingsley knocked on the office door.

"Minister, Mr. Bo Te and Mr. Merick have arrived."

"Come in."

As Fudge's voice sounded, the office door opened automatically.

Fudge was seated at the desk, looking up at the group.

"Welcome, Mr. Bo Te, Mr. Merick."

Although Fudge's relationship with them was now openly hostile, as a competent politician—

he didn't immediately give Harry and John a cold shoulder.

Instead, he stood up graciously to welcome them, his face bearing a perfectly timed smile.

The two entered, while Sirius and the three others could only wait outside the door.

The door closed slowly, and Harry and John began their conversation with Fudge.

However, what they didn't know was that.

From the moment their party stepped into the Ministry of Magic, several pairs of eyes had been watching them from the shadows.

"Notify the squad leader: say the water pipe on the sixth floor burst again, send someone to fix it, and the external water gate also needs to be opened."

"Understood."

"Harry, I don't know what stimulus you received during last year's Tri‑Wizard Tournament that led you to fabricate the rumor that the mysterious man revived."

"Whether Dumbledore arranged it or you hallucinated, I don't care about any of that."

"But now, because of your single lie, the entire Britain Wizarding World is in panic, and some have abandoned their posts and fled abroad."

"Do you not feel even a hint of guilt about this?"

"Therefore, I must formally accuse you; if you do not publicly clarify those false statements, I will file a formal lawsuit against you for disturbing public order!"

Inside the Minister's office, Fudge hammered his fingertips on the desk as he spoke to Harry.

His tone shifted from earnest pleading at first to a stern warning later, applying full pressure.

Someone else might have been frightened, but Harry was not.

He simply shook his head calmly and said.

"But I didn't lie, Minister; Voldemort really has returned."

"Do not mention his name!"

As soon as Harry mentioned Voldemort, Fudge roared as if triggered.

"Why can't we mention his name!"

"If you consider him dead, why still fear his name!"

Harry also stood up directly, angrily retorting.

Fudge's face flushed to a pork‑liver hue, yet he stood, grabbed the stack of documents on the desk, and slammed them down heavily.

The pages fluttered "whoosh" and scattered before the two.

"Look for yourselves: in the past two months, no malicious incidents have occurred in society!"

"If the mysterious man truly revived, how could he be so docile!"

"It's merely a self‑produced hoax!"

"Probably even those Death Eaters who escaped from Azkaban were taken by you, just locked up elsewhere, right?"

Harry laughed in anger at those words, even blaming the escaped Death Eaters on them.

"Ha, in short, I didn't lie! Voldemort really has returned! Believe it or not!"

"I won't retract those statements!"

Harry said forcefully, giving Fudge no respect.

Fudge was so angry he trembled all over, his finger nearly poked Harry's nose tip: "Good! Very good!"

"Then I have no choice but to arrest you on the charge of disturbing public order!"

However, Harry was not pretending at all, and replied forcefully.

"Professor Dumbledore will not let you have your way!"

"Even if it's Dumbledore! He must still obey my orders!" Fudge's chest heaved violently as he roared angrily.

The two completely tore off their facades and confronted each other.

John, meanwhile, sat aside, quietly watching the documents Fudge had just thrown out.

On them was the security report of the Wizarding World for the past six months.

The data shows that in the past two months, the Wizarding World's public order has indeed become much more stable.

Only minor, petty violations remain.

There has been no serious incident such as someone disappearing, or an attack like the one on Mr. Weasley.

It should be noted that even before Voldemort's resurrection, such serious incidents would occasionally occur, let alone now that Voldemort has returned.

It truly is strange.

"Come, men!"

"First, imprison both of them! If Dumbledore continues to be this formidable, then let him try the Ministry of Magic!"

Fudge and Harry were in a full‑blown quarrel, intending to resort to force.

But before Fudge's roar could land, the office door was violently thrown open.

The people who came in were neither Sirius outside the door nor Aurors.

They were staff from the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes.

He was drenched in sweat, his face frantic, and shouted loudly.

"Bad news, Minister!"

"A massive number of Dementors have suddenly appeared in the Western Suburb of London! They are indiscriminately attacking Muggles!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.

Even the anger on Fudge's face froze instantly.

"Wha—what!?"

Fudge instantly turned pale with shock and shouted, "What on earth is happening!?"

"We don't know either; the Dementors collectively vanished for two months, and then suddenly reappeared today..."

The staff could not explain the reason.

In contrast, Sirius and the others exchanged glances, all sensing something amiss.

"Send everyone out immediately! Go to the ground to control the situation!"

"Remember! Ensure the safety of Muggle civilians!"

Fudge could no longer bother arguing with Harry and immediately issued the order.

At that moment, another person rushed over.

"Minister!"

"Someone has discovered a Death Eater who escaped from Azkaban earlier! Right in a nearby block!"