The Silent Witch of Hogwarts

Chapter 612 Surrender

"What the hell is Scrimgeour trying to do?!" Fudge roared, slamming his fist on the table in the Minister of Magic's office.

Seeing his angry expression, none of the Aurors present dared to utter a sound.

"Minister Fudge—" an Auror said, taking a deep breath, "Director Scrimgeour is thinking of wearing down those criminals over time."

"Time?" Fudge glared at the Auror and said, "You idiot!"

"We're the ones who are most short of time!"

"Do you know how many parents write to the Ministry of Magic every day? Do you know how many open letters criticizing us are written daily by the Ministries of Magic in other countries?"

"Do you know that the International Confederation of Wizards has summoned me for briefings several times these past few days?" Fudge glared at the Auror before him and berated him. "Scrimgeour isn't doing this for the Ministry of Magic at all; he's trying to oust me!"

Seeing the silent Aurors, Fudge angrily flung his hand and said, "Get out of here, all of you."

He had never thought of Umbridge as a particularly capable person before—but now, in comparison, she was actually the most obedient and easiest to use person in his eyes.

Of course—it was her stupidity that detonated the Hogwarts bomb—didn't this idiot know how difficult Hamilton was to deal with?

"Minister Fookie."

The office door was pushed open again, and the person who walked in was none other than Voldemort, or rather, Mr. Riddle, with a calm expression.

Upon seeing him, Fudge immediately stepped forward and said, "What should we do now, Mr. Riddle?!"

"Minister Fudge—do you remember what I said a few days ago?" Voldemort said calmly, "I warned you then that Scrimgeour wasn't a reliable person."

"His Aurors are the same," Voldemort said, pacing back and forth in his office before turning to Fudge. "And now, Minister Fudge?"

"————" Fudge said with his head down, his face pale, "You're right, Mr. Riddle—I was too stubborn back then."

"But it's alright, Minister Fudge," Voldemort chuckled. "Everyone makes mistakes."

"And the mistake you made is much smaller than some others," Voldemort said, shrugging. "And now you can correct it—"

There's still time.

"What do you mean?"

"Remember what I mentioned before?" Voldemort reminded him, "About Azkaban—"

"Azkaban—" Fudge still felt a slight resistance upon hearing the word. He took a deep breath and said, "Are you really confident you can make them—make them obey?"

"Of course." Voldemort smiled. "They will not only listen to me, but also to the Ministry of Magic—and to you as well."

"They will become your most loyal subordinates, your most loyal sword." Voldemort's words made Fudge take a deep breath.

"You don't have much time left, Minister Fudge," Voldemort warned, his voice slightly seductive. As he spoke, Fudge could feel the ring on his hand humming faintly.

"I—I understand." Unlike before, Fudge slowly took out a command and handed it to Voldemort.

"Please inform the Dementors of Azkaban—make them move," Fudge said slowly. "Then—then release the prisoners inside."

"I'd be happy to do it," Voldemort said with a slight smile. "Minister Fudge, you'll get what you want."

.

With that, he strode out of the Ministry of Magic, and then immediately turned into a wisp of black smoke after closing the office door.

The plume of black smoke emerged from the Ministry of Magic, swirling into the air and heading straight for Azkaban.

It took him very little time to stand quietly in front of Azkaban's gates. As he arrived, the cold wind and Dementors surrounded him.

But upon seeing him, the Dementors instinctively made way for him.

"From this day forward—you are free." Voldemort said quietly to the Dementors, "Go, go to Hogwarts—go and devour the souls you desire!"

As he spoke, he raised the Ministry of Magic's command high. The Dementors circled around it, whether they were looking at the command or simply thinking about it, but they didn't stay for long before soaring into the sky and disappearing as swirling clouds.

Watching the Dementors leave, Voldemort curled his lips into a slightly cruel smile—then he strode into Azkaban.

The departure of the Dementors was naturally noticed by the prisoners here, who immediately reached out their hands when they saw Voldemort boldly walk in.

"Let me out! Let me out!"

"I want to leave here!"

These criminals didn't recognize Voldemort, since he usually appeared with that pale face—not this unexpectedly elegant one.

He did not linger on the outskirts of Azkaban; he simply raised his wand, emitting a faint, cold light, and then walked into the depths of Azkaban under that light.

Unlike the outer areas, the depths of Azkaban were much more desolate. Voldemort's arrival seemed to have caused little commotion. Most of the prisoners had been worn down by prolonged torture, or had become consumed by hatred.

Voldemort looked at them silently, then slowly spoke: "It's been a long time, my dear compatriots—my dear friends—my dear subordinates."

"————" Voldemort's first response was cold silence, followed by a sickening clanging of chains.

Almost all the prisoners dragged their chains to the door and looked through the iron bars at the man standing in the middle of the corridor, holding a magic wand.

"Master—Master?!" Bella Lestrange was the first to recognize Voldemort, letting out a joyful scream: "You're finally back?!"

"I'm back." Voldemort nodded slightly, then smiled. "Not only that—I'm also giving you your freedom."

"Then I will have you join me in conquering the world once more."

As Voldemort spoke, he flicked his wand, and all the gates opened in an instant.

These Death Eaters, who had been imprisoned for over a decade, were released at this time, not by escaping, but by leaving Azkaban openly and honestly under the orders of the Ministry of Magic.

They stood in the corridor, looking at Voldemort with adoration, and then one by one slowly knelt down on one knee.

Looking at the Death Eaters standing in the corridor, Voldemort laughed and said, "Those who are willing to obey me will have eternal life!"

"And those who oppose me will die!"

"The others—will submit!"

"Submit to the Dark Lord!"

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