American comics: From Hogwarts to God on Earth

Chapter 90 The Pink Toad is Here!

Why do Rune, Rita, and the others all believe that Fudge will personally go to Hogwarts to cause trouble?

Because Rune actually released many people, such as the women at the banquet and the group of soldiers. These can be easily found with a simple investigation. The culprits behind the interest groups composed of Muggles and wizards can also be easily identified, making it quite easy to target Rune.

After all, Rune was dealing with a transnational criminal organization. Such an organization must have its own people in the Muggle and wizarding communities of various countries; otherwise, it would be easy for them to find fault with it.

What is Rune's current status? He is the "Father of Eastern Mystic Potions" and the youngest recipient of the Order of Merlin.

He was also someone Dumbledore had his eye on. With such a status, if Fudge dared not to attend in person, it would be disrespectful to all Potions Masters inspired by runes, all members of Wizengamor, and Dumbledore himself.

Moreover, being able to personally try a Merlin Medal recipient would greatly enhance the minister's reputation and solidify his position, so he would definitely come in person.

If he doesn't come, it can only mean one thing: Fudge was personally involved in the wizarding human trafficking and learned about Rune's power from those wizards and Muggles. Only in this way would the minister choose to give up coming in person.

To Rune's surprise, the minister arrived the very next day, and he was very eager to come, making quite a grand entrance.

A short, stout man with graying, somewhat disheveled hair walked into Hogwarts. Behind him were reporters from the Daily Prophet and Aurors from the Ministry of Magic, and beside him was a short, stout, unattractive woman. To make matters worse, she was dressed entirely in pink—a pink headband, a pink bow, a ruffled skirt—and carried a tiny handbag, always maintaining a half-smile.

"It's Umbridge!" Ron looked at the pink-clad woman with disgust and explained to Harry and Hermione in a very low voice, "My dad hates her. He says she's a vengeful, wicked madwoman."

Harry had met Ron's father; he was kind to him and not the type to gossip. He had even fought with Lucius Malfoy once because he couldn't tolerate Lucius Malfoy insulting Hermione Granger and her family, who were Muggles. Therefore, Harry believed what he said was true. And he also felt a strange dislike for this woman.

Hermione nodded in agreement and asked, "Am I the only one who thinks she—a little—"

"Putting on airs?" one voice said, followed by a similar voice that seemed to add, "Unreasonable?"

Harry turned around and saw two familiar faces. They looked almost identical. Who else could it be but Fred and George?

Just as all the students were wondering why the Minister of Magic and the Senior Undersecretary of Magic would barge into Hogwarts' dining hall during breakfast time, Professor McGonagall raised her voice with her wand.

"Silence!" At the older catgirl's loud warning, all the noise almost immediately ceased. Fred and George, who had left their seats, could only return to their places, heads bowed, pretending not to see Professor McGonagall's glare. But judging from their practiced movements, they must have gone through this routine at least a dozen times.

Only after the sounds of plates and cutlery clattering filled the hall did Professor McGonagall nod in satisfaction. She then walked up to the two high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Magic who had appeared out of nowhere and asked, neither servile nor arrogant, "May I ask what brings you here?"

As the nominal Vice-Headmistress of Hogwarts and the de facto head of the organization, Professor McGonagall wasn't afraid of the so-called Ministry of Magic. In fact, in the eyes of the Aurors behind the Minister of Magic, Professor McGonagall was the far more formidable figure. At least, all the Aurors present had been taught by McGonagall.

Fudge didn't ascend to the Minister's position through his powerful spellcasting abilities; more accurately, he stumbled upon it by chance. There were two strong contenders: Dumbledore, who voluntarily relinquished the position out of fear of becoming the next Dark Lord; and Barty Crouch, whose reputation had plummeted after his son became a Death Eater. So, in the end, it was Fudge, whom no one expected to succeed, who took the position.

When Fudge took office, he astutely realized that his control over the Ministry of Magic was insufficient, and most people did not heed his orders. At this time, a witch extended an olive branch to him. She was not beautiful, even somewhat ugly, but her words were pleasant enough, and that was enough.

As a result, Umbridge rose through the ranks over those years, eventually becoming Deputy Minister. Meanwhile, Fudge cleverly leveraged Dumbledore's prestige, deliberately spreading rumors of his consultations with Dumbledore to enhance his own authority and control over the Ministry of Magic.

Even though Fudge has consulted Dumbledore on politics much less frequently in recent years, he still does not want a direct confrontation with Dumbledore, and he cannot tolerate even a conflict with Dumbledore's subordinates.

So, Umbridge, who had been Fudge's companion for many years and knew his character well, considerately stepped forward. This middle-aged spinster with a round face, but still pretending to be a young girl, deliberately coughed twice to attract Professor McGonagall's attention.

"We're here to see Rune Dark," she said in a high-pitched, affected voice, "We have reason to suspect that he has committed an unforgivable crime—."

"I don't believe you," Professor McGonagall interrupted Umbridge. She was dressed in a black robe, slender yet upright as a pine tree. Time had etched deep lines on her face, but her eyes remained bright and piercing. In a way, the two were like the color of their clothes—incompatible.

"I don't believe Rune committed the crimes you're claiming. This is a slander against an innocent student—"

But Umbridge calmly replied, "We don't arrest a Merlin Medal recipient without reason or grounds. In fact, someone has brought real evidence to accuse this rising star of the Potions world—"

As she spoke, the wicked woman wore a compassionate expression, her eyes even revealing a deliberately sorrowful glint, but the slight upturn of her lips betrayed her. Her gaze darted through the crowd, seemingly searching for the young Slytherin who had already received the Order of Merlin.

"In fact, we suspect that he violated the secrecy law and also harmed or even killed many wizards."

At this moment, Fudge, standing behind her, frowned slightly, a feigned seriousness in his eyes, and sighed. "Is Rune still unwilling to come out and confront us face-to-face?"