A magical journey that begins at Hogwarts

"I think so."

"Isn't it spectacular?" Aaron patted Harry on the shoulder. "The people who get judged by this lineup are all very famous. You can brag about this for a long time."

Harry smiled wryly. "I don't think there's anything to be proud of in this."

Mr. Weasley was quite famous in the Ministry of Magic, and some wizards had made a point of greeting him.

However, Genes was more popular than him; if Aaron hadn't been there, he probably would have been dragged to a bar by a bunch of people.

Percy nodded slightly to Aaron as he passed by, but completely ignored Harry and Mr. Weasley, who remained silent, showing no sign of a father-son relationship.

"What's wrong with them?" Aaron asked curiously.

“Percy is more inclined to trust the Ministry of Magic,” Harry said helplessly. “He thinks we’re making trouble out of nothing, and he doesn’t even trust Dumbledore anymore.”

“That was his own decision,” Mr. Weasley said, pursing his lips. “But I know my son; he’ll change his mind sooner or later.”

Aaron nodded in agreement. Although the Weasleys were poor, their family education was quite good.

Finally, Connelly and Umbridge emerged from the trial room, but neither of them looked particularly pleased.

“Mr. Gaius, do you have a moment?” Fudge forced a smile. “I think we can talk.”

"I'm busy," Harry said irritably. "Aaron has things to do back home!"

“I’m free, of course I’m free,” Aaron replied immediately.

"But what did you just do?" Harry blinked blankly.

"What do you know? It would be incredibly tactless to refuse an invitation personally extended by the Minister of Magic."

"But Dumbledore..."

"That's not important." Aaron waved his hand, in his opinion Fudge and Dumbledore were not even in the same league.

He could offend the Minister of Magic without any psychological burden, because he knew that no matter how dissatisfied Fudge was with him, he couldn't do anything about it.

However, he genuinely didn't want to associate with the headmaster of Hogwarts. Dumbledore hadn't lived for nothing over the past hundred years; he might accidentally be sold out and then end up counting the money for him.

Moreover, from the day he decided to go to school, his family made it clear that his guards would not enter Hogwarts. This made him feel a long-lost sense of freedom, but it also meant that his family background would not help him at all in Hogwarts, and he would have to sort everything out on his own.

Chapter 449 The Professor Arranged by the Ministry of Magic, Malfoy's Escape Plan

At the entrance to the First Trial Chamber, Aaron looked at Cornelius Fudge with a meaningful gaze. "I wonder what the Minister of Magic wants to talk to me about?"

Fudge grinned, then asked hesitantly, "Mr. Gaius, what do you think of Dumbledore?"

"Exceptionally talented, powerful, kind, gentle, wise, and possessing superb insight, however..."

With each word Aaron spoke, Fudge and Umbridge's expressions darkened, until a turning point occurred, and surprise appeared in their eyes.

"But what?" Fudge asked hastily.

“But I don’t really like him,” Aaron said, shrugging. “I know it sounds contradictory, but that’s the truth.”

Dumbledore's abilities, wisdom, and interpersonal skills are all worthy of my admiration and emulation, but he is too shrewd. Every time I deal with him, I feel that he wants to get something out of me.

Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!

Fudge clapped his hands excitedly, "As expected of the heir of the Gaius family, Aaron, your judgment is truly impeccable."

I have that feeling too, especially lately it's become so strong it's frightening me.

Hearing this, Aaron sneered inwardly.

That's incredibly shameless of him. He was making a realistic assessment, but Fudge was simply afraid that Dumbledore would take the power out of him.

“Mr. Gaius,” Fudge pointed to Umbridge, “let me introduce you to Dolores Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic. I intend to appoint her as the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Gaius.” Umbridge gave Aaron what he thought was a friendly smile, which made Aaron so disgusted that he almost threw up his breakfast.

Because this deputy minister was short and fat, and looked like a toad.

If she were just ugly and went out to scare people, that would be one thing, but Aaron could read a strong sense of insincerity in her smile, so she was definitely not a good person.

"If I may ask, does Professor Dumbledore know about this?"

"Him?" Fudge chuckled and shook his head. "I don't know yet, but I don't think he'll refuse."

“Then I have no objection,” Aaron said, raising an eyebrow.

He could see that Fudge wanted to get involved in Hogwarts, but he wasn't worried because Umbridge was going to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

However, the position of professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts is cursed, and no one has ever lasted more than a year.

Of the first four professors, one died, one was arrested, one was forced to resign, and one was imprisoned for a year. He was quite interested in the future fate of this vice minister.

“That’s great. I think you and Umbridge will work well together at Hogwarts.”

“Forget about cooperation,” Aaron said immediately. “I only have two simple requests.”

“Please speak,” Fudge said, using a respectful form of address. As long as Aaron didn’t disrupt his plans for Hogwarts, he wouldn’t mind having two more requests, let alone two.

"First of all, I have free rein over the Defense Against the Dark Arts class."

“No problem,” Umbridge said immediately. “It’s only natural to give geniuses preferential treatment.”

Aaron thought to himself that Umbridge was definitely not cut out to be a teacher.

When he made this request to Gilderoy Lockhart, he still knew to struggle to maintain his dignity as a professor, but Lockhart simply handed over the right to teach without even a moment's hesitation.

"Secondly, I can't be bothered with what the Ministry of Magic does, but they can't control me."

“This…” Umbridge paused, then turned to Fudge. “Minister, what do you think?”

“Okay.” Fudge nodded thoughtfully. He only sent Umbridge over to target Dumbledore. A student who was neither under his control nor could be controlled was no big deal.

Aaron and Fudge parted ways at the Ninth Floor Mystery Department and appeared to have no connection whatsoever.

"Young master, do you think Umbridge can't teach you?"

“Nonsense.” Aaron rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell me you can’t tell her true colors. She had one face in the courtroom, but immediately changed her face after coming out. Even Fudge can’t match her face-changing skills.”

"That's true. It's a miracle that she became the Deputy Minister of Magic."

"This only proves that there's something wrong with the leadership of the Ministry of Magic. Their disgusting faces make anyone want to vomit," Aaron sneered. "Fudge won't be Minister of Magic for much longer. He's been deceiving himself all this time, but Voldemort won't stay hidden just because of his will."

Once Voldemort appears before the public, all his efforts, including his attempts to discredit Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter, will become a joke.

"It is truly gratifying that you thought of this, young master!"

"Tch!" Aaron scoffed. "Stop treating me like a child, okay?"

"Before the young master got married and had children, you were just a child in my eyes."

"hehe!"

The two took the elevator and saw Lucius Malfoy as soon as they entered the main hall.

"Hmm...I think we can talk?"

Aaron: ......

"Interesting, really interesting, I've been quite busy today."

First Dumbledore wanted to talk to me, then Fudge wanted to talk to me, and now Uncle Lucius wants to talk to me.

If I didn't know about your relationship, I would have suspected that you two had planned this all along.

Lucius's lips twitched slightly, and he chuckled awkwardly, "Doesn't this just prove your ability?"

Aaron shrugged. "What does Uncle Lucius want to talk to me about?"

Lucius hesitated, then pursed his lips. "There are too many people around here; it would be best to find another place."

“Come to my house!” Aaron said. “Uncle Genes, please.”

"Wait, what if anyone sees me leaving with you..."

Lucius didn't finish his sentence, but they both understood what he meant.

There's a reason why the Malfoy family has been so successful; even Aaron is somewhat ashamed of his own cautious attitude.

“Uncle Lucius, if anyone informs Voldemort, tell him that you took it upon yourself to try to persuade me to submit to him, but I did not agree.”

“This…” Lucius pondered for a moment, then nodded heavily.

Genes helped Aaron into the fireplace, then grabbed Lucius's arm. "The Floo network at Gaius Castle has certain restrictions. Only authorized people can freely enter and exit through the Floo network, and they cannot Apparate unless accompanied by an authorized person."

"I see."

puff!

As green flames rose, Genes teleported away with Lucius's phantom.

The next moment, the three of them appeared together in the hall of Gaius Castle.

"Please sit down, Uncle Genes." Aaron gestured for him to sit, then snapped his fingers, and a cup of tea appeared automatically in front of Genes.

"Thank you!"

“Don’t be so formal,” Aaron said with a smile. “We don’t have Voldemort’s eyes and ears in our house. You can speak freely and say whatever you want.”

Lucius hesitated for a moment, then looked directly into Aaron's eyes. "The Mystic has been resurrected, and I am a Death Eater..."

"I know this."

“Yes, of course you know.” Lucius sighed, then pulled up his sleeve, revealing the Dark Mark clearly visible on his arm. “Narcissa and I both have this mark on our arms. We followed Voldemort for the benefit of pure-bloods.”

"But it turns out you were wrong."

“Yes.” Lucius chuckled self-deprecatingly. “We gradually came to see his true colors. He’s a madman, a madman who’s frightening.”

But even recognizing this is useless; if the Malfoy family were to leave the Death Eaters, they would face certain death.

"I understand. Circumstances are beyond our control. If we want to survive, this is the only way, even if we know it's a one-way street."

"Voldemort trusts me fairly much for now, but I know that trust won't last long."

"So you want me to help Malfoy out?" Aaron said meaningfully.

"I hesitated for a long time before deciding to ask you for help."

"If I'm not mistaken, you started thinking about the Malfoy family's future ever since you learned about Draco's relationship with me!"

Lucius nodded, without denying it.