After leaving the dungeons, it was nearly ten in the morning.
Dawn had no interest in researching special patterns anymore, so he simply went to the library, borrowed a book, and returned to read.
The clock ticked steadily onward.
After lunch, Dawn chose the Gryffindor common room as his target for today's exploration.
Although the Fat Lady stubbornly refused to open the entrance for him, he still managed to slip inside by following someone else through the portrait hole.
Ignoring the resistant looks from the little lions, Dawn wandered around the common room on his own.
Whenever he encountered a magical circuit, he tried to determine what it did.
But after an entire afternoon, he still couldn't find the slightest trace of a secret chamber.
With no other choice, he shook his head and left.
By evening, most of the people who had specifically come to the castle seeking treatment from Dawn were impoverished werewolves.
They couldn't offer anything of value in return.
Even the information they had picked up was nothing more than idle gossip, and none of it had anything to do with Merlin.
It was all terribly boring.
Dawn sighed helplessly.
The only thing worth being pleased about was the gratitude and respect that grew increasingly obvious in the eyes of his patients after they recovered.
At least that let him know he had gained something from all this.
He wasn't simply wasting his time.
Dawn figured that if he started spreading a rumor right now, as long as it wasn't too outrageous, there would probably be plenty of people who believed it.
For example, if he claimed that eating a bite of Mimbulus mimbletonia every day could extend one's lifespan—
He was pretty sure quite a few people would believe it.
Still—
As things stood, he was nowhere near the level of influence he had envisioned.
His reputation and authority still needed to accumulate.
And so—
Another ordinary day passed.
The following morning, just as dawn broke, Dawn woke up from his bed, rubbing his head with bleary eyes.
As expected, he hadn't dreamed of any images the previous night.
He had only heard one or two voices from classes.
It was disappointing, but he had already expected as much, so he couldn't really call it a loss.
Dawn quickly put the matter out of his mind.
He conjured a mirror and tidied up the Invisibility Cloak that never left his side before putting his wizarding robes over it.
Then he returned to his desk and continued studying the special patterns.
It wasn't until after lunch, when he had taken another short nap, that he finally left the space created by the Secret Charm in order to continue exploring the castle.
Speaking of the Secret Charm—
The several spells he had previously published, including the Secret Charm, were now being learned by more and more people.
Under someone's subtle suggestion, the Daily Prophet had even opened a dedicated section specifically for little stories comparing the various conveniences these spells brought to people's daily lives.
Hmm.
It was somewhat like the practical application questions from the civil service examinations in his previous life's memories.
And with the reports appearing day after day, his image as a genius, a generous man, and a benevolent figure was becoming increasingly ingrained in people's minds.
Dawn had to admit that public opinion, if handled properly, really was an extremely powerful tool.
Rubbing his chin, Dawn thought about the various things that had happened recently while wandering around the castle and tapping here and there.
His eyes passed over a curtain in front of him.
It had several magical circuits engraved into it, but they only served to adjust the brightness and store images.
Dawn continued toward the next location.
However—
He hadn't been exploring for very long when something caught his attention through a window.
Down by the Black Lake, Cornelius Fudge, whom he hadn't seen for quite some time, was walking alone toward the castle at a brisk pace.
Hmm?
What does this fellow want now?
Dawn raised an eyebrow.
After thinking about it, he leaned half of his body out of the window and used magic to create a conspicuous cloud of colored mist, signaling Fudge to come up and find him.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before the Minister for Magic came hurrying up.
He lowered his head and called out, "Mr. Richter."
Before Dawn could even ask anything, Fudge quickly explained why he had come.
He had specifically come looking for Dawn.
"You mean the International Confederation of Wizards has invited the Ministers for Magic from various countries to France for a meeting, and you've come to ask whether I want to attend with you?"
Hearing this, Dawn raised his eyebrows with interest.
"What happened? Has something major happened in the wizarding world? How come I haven't heard anything about it recently?"
"No. It isn't a recent incident."
Fudge didn't even raise his head.
He repeated almost word for word what his subordinate had told him.
"It's still the aftermath of the Jerusalem incident from half a year ago."
He was extremely careful when saying this.
After all, Dumbledore's letter informing him that Dawn was still alive had specifically mentioned that what happened in Jerusalem was closely connected to Dawn.
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
Dawn hadn't expected the matter to involve him.
He stroked his chin, becoming even more interested.
Fudge hurriedly explained.
"After the Jerusalem incident, the number of young wizards entering school this year in several of the surrounding countries has dropped sharply.
Compared with previous years, the decline is extremely abnormal!"
He paused.
"Some people suspect that the Muggle governments have done something behind the scenes.
This meeting of the Confederation is being held specifically to discuss the matter."
As he spoke, Fudge pulled an unfolded letter from his sleeve and held it out respectfully with both hands.
Seeing how unusually obedient Fudge had become, no longer displaying the tactless behavior he had shown before Dawn had disciplined him, Dawn was very pleased.
He took the letter and glanced over it.
It said essentially the same thing Fudge had described, although the wording was considerably more official and cumbersome.
Dawn frowned.
At first, the idea that the Muggle governments were abducting young wizards surprised him.
But after giving it a little thought, he found it perfectly reasonable.
He and Voldemort had destroyed nearly half of Jerusalem and demonstrated the terrifying destructive power of magic.
How could the political leaders of the Muggle world possibly not become wary?
Besides—
This wasn't even the first time something like this had happened.
During the witch hunts of the past several centuries, one of the major reasons the wizarding side had suffered defeat after defeat was precisely this.
As soon as a young wizard in the Muggle world experienced their first accidental burst of magic, before they had even learned a proper spell, they could be discovered and captured.
That severely restricted the wizarding world's ability to replenish its numbers.
Thinking about this, Dawn's eyes brightened.
There was even a hint of restless excitement in them, as though he were hoping the world would descend into chaos.
"Is the wizarding world going to war with the Muggles?"
War was the fastest shortcut to gaining reputation!
During wartime, black could be turned into white and white into black.
Dawn felt that with only a little effort, he could acquire an enormous amount of prestige, far beyond what he possessed now.
"Absolutely not!"
Unfortunately, Fudge completely ignored Dawn's gleaming eyes.
He shook his head repeatedly and answered with complete certainty.
"Mr. Richter, no one wants to break the Statute of Secrecy!
Peaceful coexistence between wizards and Muggles has already become a basic consensus among the majority of wizards.
I imagine the meeting will amount to little more than going through the motions.
They'll remind the various Ministries of Magic to keep an eye on young wizards in the Muggle world, then advocate for greater communication with Muggle governments and things like that."
Fudge went on to explain the subjects discussed during several previous meetings of the Confederation.
Dawn listened, shaking his head repeatedly.
Boring!
Just a pile of repetitive bureaucratic nonsense!
It seemed that meetings were like this no matter where they were held.
Dawn rolled his eyes, tossed the letter back to Fudge, and immediately lost interest.
"How boring. You go by yourself."
He couldn't be bothered to make such a pointless trip just for the sake of exchanging meaningless formalities.
With that time, he might as well explore more of the castle.
"Yes, sir."
Fudge lowered his eyes obediently.
But inside, he was practically ecstatic.
Every organ in his body was protesting against the idea of traveling with Dawn!
It was only because the matter involved Jerusalem, and therefore potentially involved Dawn, that the Minister for Magic had felt compelled to ask.
Otherwise, he feared that he might be held responsible afterward.
But now—
Everything was wonderful!
Fudge began planning how he could stay in France for a few extra days and relax his tightly wound nerves.
He said his farewells and was just about to leave.
But suddenly—
Dawn frowned in thought for a moment.
Then he called out to the Minister for Magic, who had already started walking down the stairs.
"Wait."
Fudge's heart jolted.
Damn bastard.
Please don't tell me he's changed his mind.
Despite his inner panic, Fudge quickly turned around without allowing the slightest trace of it to appear on his face.
"Mr. Richter, is there something else you'd like me to take care of?"
Dawn didn't answer immediately.
He pressed his index finger against his temple and extracted a strand of silvery-white memory.
He placed it inside a small bottle and tossed it to Fudge.
Only then did he speak.
"Fudge, there was a Muggle couple named the Ryans in Kent. They moved away many years ago, and their whereabouts are unknown. I need you to find them for me."
The memory contained precisely the information Dawn had previously read from the minds of several Muggles when he had gone to Kent because of Lai.
Worried that Fudge wouldn't know where to start, Dawn kindly offered some advice.
"I remember the Ministry of Magic maintains connections with the Muggle government, right?
You're about to meet quite a few ministers anyway. Ask them to help me look for the couple."
Fudge was completely numb.
He swore that if he had the chance, he really wanted to throw this bastard into Azkaban and let the Dementors give him the Kiss ten thousand times over!
Find a couple who had moved away years ago somewhere in the Muggle world?
What did this monster take him for?
A magic lamp that granted wishes?!
How was he supposed to accomplish such a terrifying amount of work?
"Mr. Richter, this... this might be a little..."
Fudge's words trailed off.
He desperately wanted Dawn to come to his senses and understand that this was simply impossible.
Besides—
Why would the other Ministers for Magic listen to him?
And why would they join forces to search for a random Muggle couple?
When had he ever possessed that much influence?
Dawn shrugged.
He paid no attention to the bitterness in Fudge's eyes and casually encouraged him.
"Where there's a will, there's a way, Fudge! As the saying goes, where there's a will, there is no difficulty that cannot be overcome."
He turned his head.
A cold expression filled his crimson eyes as he asked, word by word:
"I assume you won't disappoint me, will you?"
Fudge's face was filled with misery.
But he knew perfectly well that he had no chance of refusing.
He repeatedly agreed, intending to deal with the matter somehow first and worry about the details later.
But—
Dawn glanced at him and issued another command.
"As soon as possible, Fudge."
"I-I understand."
Feeling the heat of the flame-shaped pattern on his wrist flash briefly, the Minister for Magic respectfully nodded.
Inside, however, he once again minced Dawn into a thousand pieces.
That damned bastard!
Fudge gritted his teeth.
But with his hands tied and no other choice, there was nothing he could do.
___________
Upto 20 chapters ahead on patreon :-
patreon.com/BloodAncestor