From Hogwarts to Strixhaven.

Chapter 115 The Courage of Cornelius Fudge
"Albus," Fudge called kindly, "can we talk in private?"

"About what?" Dumbledore made a listening gesture, then pretended not to notice the look Fudge gave him.

The features on Fudge's face twisted unnaturally, but he soon realized that Dumbledore was playing dumb, so he had to point it out: "Uh... about this... magical animal breeding and reproduction base..."

"I don't know what can't be said openly, Mr. Minister?" Director Nott asked coldly, and other civil servants also cast concerned glances. "If you have no objection, I think I am the Director of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, and I am just going to exercise the authority granted to me by the Ministry of Magic."

"How dare you!" The annoying Umbridge jumped out again, "Mr. Cornelius is the Minister of Magic! Watch your words! Director Nott!"

"Oh! Never mind!" Fudge was startled by Umbridge's sudden appearance. He pulled the knot of his tie nervously. "It's OK, Dolores. Director Nott has always been a loyal man, just like the other members of the Nott family. I don't mean to hinder you... I just... I just have something to say to Albus."

"If it's about the breeding and reproduction of magical creatures, just talk about it here. We'll all listen and maybe we can give you some suggestions." Director Nott glanced at Umbridge with contempt, his tone still hard.

"Well... well... if you insist..." Cornelius Fudge looked very uneasy. He clenched his handkerchief tightly and kept casting meaningful glances at Dumbledore, but Dumbledore seemed to have suddenly attracted all his attention to the unicorn in the woods.

"Acromantula!" Fudge seemed to have suddenly made up his mind and shouted this word loudly.

Dumbledore immediately turned his gaze from the unicorn back to Fudge's face. He had guessed what Fudge was going to say: "I've already told you, Cornelius, I trust Hagrid."

"But..." Fudge wiped his shiny forehead with a handkerchief, "It's not certain about the students... and their parents..."

"I don't understand..." Director Nott looked a little confused. He looked at the four-legged animals in the venue and was glad that they didn't grow four more legs. "There are no Acromantulas here?"

"The monster in the chamber of secrets is a giant eight-eyed spider!" Fudge blurted out again.

"Chamber of Secrets? Is that the legend?" Of course there are some Ministry of Magic employees who think quickly, perhaps a little too quickly.

"Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets? The chamber that is said to release monsters to wipe out all the unclean people in the castle?" The others who were reminded also reacted and started talking about it.

"About fifty years ago, the Chamber of Secrets was opened, and a female student even died in Hogwarts. After an investigation by the Ministry of Magic, people believed that the monster in the Chamber of Secrets was an eight-eyed giant spider, and the owner of the eight-eyed giant spider at the time was Rubeus Hagrid right in front of us." Fudge said everything he wanted to say in one breath, and at the end he added, "These are all recorded in the files of the Ministry of Magic!"

"That's impossible." Chief Notts frowned. "Acromantula can't live that long. If there really is a Slytherin Chamber of Secrets, the monster inside can't be an Acromantula. It can't live for a thousand years."

"But this is the result of the Ministry of Magic's investigation!" Fudge emphasized, "Perhaps Director Nott is right, the Acromantula cannot live that long, but Slytherin is a powerful wizard. Perhaps he cast a spell to preserve the Acromantula's eggs for a thousand years?"

Director Nott understood what Fudge meant. He had no intention of blocking the decision on the breeding and breeding base for magical animals, but he wanted to find a way to plant a nail in Dumbledore's heart, at least to undermine his prestige. However, this method was simply unpleasant. What made Director Nott particularly unhappy was that Fudge actually claimed that a half-blood giant was the heir of Slytherin. This was simply too ridiculous. This was very difficult for Director Nott, who also came from Slytherin, to accept.

"Hagrid is innocent," Dumbledore said again, his blue eyes blazing with anger. "I have said this too many times, Cornelius."

Even in the dark Forbidden Forest, Fudge felt hot all over, and he felt sweat running down his spine. He straightened his stomach and made the shirt fit his skin to stop the inappropriate sweat. Although he tried to hide his embarrassment with tiny movements, the sweat on his shiny forehead had already betrayed him.

"Of course I'm willing to believe you, Dumbledore." Fudge tried to make his voice calm, but even he himself didn't know if it worked. "But... I'm the Minister of Magic after all, and I have to consider other people's views. I can't do whatever I want like you."

This was a serious accusation, almost a clear statement that Dumbledore was shielding Hagrid.

Perhaps from Fudge's perspective, this is the truth. Whether it is Quirrell, who was called "a dark wizard working for Voldemort" by Dumbledore, or Hagrid, who was recorded in the Ministry of Magic files as opening the Chamber of Secrets, they are all the result of his wanton and arbitrary manipulation of power. And now, Dumbledore wants to control the Ministry of Magic through Fudge, who he personally recommended.

Cornelius Fudge, who has become the Minister of Magic, will not allow his evil plan to succeed. It's time to make a brave fight back!
When people face a powerful opponent, they always unconsciously put themselves in the position of a challenger. Some people even add a layer of martyrdom-like courage to their behavior when they make the decision to confront the strong.

In Fudge's own view, his behavior was neither betrayal nor abuse of power, but a challenge to the White Lord's reign of terror and a necessary means to rescue the Ministry of Magic from Dumbledore.

But when Fudge met Dumbledore's angry blue eyes, his little courage melted away like snowflakes in the June sun.

"…Even if Hagrid is as innocent as you said, he should stay away from magical creatures as much as possible…at least dangerous magical creatures…" Fudge looked away, "I agree to set up a magical creature breeding and reproduction base in Hogwarts…but the Ministry of Magic will not allow him to participate in this project until it is confirmed that Hagrid is completely harmless."

It seems that the effect of suggestion has ended.

Ivy's eyes flashed, and he nodded with satisfaction. He just used this second-level enchantment spell to provoke Fudge's emotions against Dumbledore. However, when the latter noticed Dumbledore's anger, Fudge immediately regarded the act of opposing Dumbledore as harmful to himself. So the effect of suggestion was immediately terminated.

It was already pretty good to be able to achieve this. Ivy thought, since the magical animal breeding and breeding base was his idea, he would definitely try to control it in his own hands, but Dumbledore was obviously not an easy target to control, so he would try his best to weaken his influence in this matter, and then there would be the school board and the Ministry of Magic left, and Ivy had plenty of ways to deal with them.

What he didn't expect was that Cornelius Fudge was such a fool. After all this time, he just wanted to use a case from fifty years ago to fight against Dumbledore. Ivy couldn't see any effect this on the latter, but Hagrid suffered an unexpected disaster.

How to make up for Hagrid can be put aside for later. After all, the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets is in Ivy's hands. It is not too easy to help Hagrid restore his reputation. But saving both Hagrid and the basilisk at the same time is what Ivy needs to consider.

(End of this chapter)