[Congratulations, host. You have successfully broken the former Headmaster's defences, eliminating the final hidden risk of being usurped. Reward: ten thousand points.]
When Wayne pushed open the door and entered the bar, Dumbledore promptly picked up his wand, startling the young man into drawing his own wand and hastily retreating.
"Professor, Mr Dumbledore, calm down, calm down."
"How can I calm down? You've caused me great suffering!"
Like an enraged lion, Dumbledore's hair and beard bristled. "How did I become Minister for Magic without my knowledge?!"
"If I hadn't seen the newspaper, I wouldn't have even known the inauguration ceremony is tomorrow!"
Immense magical power surged within the old man. If Wayne didn't provide an explanation today, old Dumbledore would likely truly lose his temper.
For Dumbledore, power was not fine wine but poison.
Having avoided it for so many years, he was now completely undermined by Wayne's prank. That he restrained himself from immediately striking was a testament to his good upbringing.
Logically, as the brother who had been so badly wronged, Aberforth should have shared his resentment. But given the relationship between the two brothers, he naturally chose to add insult to injury:
"Albus, what's the matter with you? Are you going to attack Wayne?"
"Are you even a man? Are you even an elder!? Over a hundred years old and still bullying a child – you're bringing shame upon the Dumbledore family!"
Me bullying him?
Who's bullying whom here!
Dumbledore nearly choked on his anger. Aberforth stood beside Wayne, glaring at his brother with shared indignation, while inwardly laughing hysterically.
Perhaps he should just disown this brother. After all, living over a hundred years was already a good run.
Black energy began to emanate from Dumbledore, as if he were on the verge of a dark transformation. Wayne hurriedly said, "Professor, you must consider the bigger picture."
"With Grindelwald abroad, Voldemort at home, the wizarding world filled with crises, and that Tom watching greedily from the north – under these circumstances, an ordinary person becoming Minister for Magic wouldn't be able to control the situation and might even make things worse."
"You are the most suitable candidate. I'll handle the school, but the Ministry needs a powerful figure to oversee it."
"Wouldn't it be wasteful for both of us to remain holed up at the school?"
"Then why don't you go yourself?" Dumbledore was driven to bitter laughter.
Wayne earnestly searched for excuses: "I'm still a student; I should focus on my studies. Besides, politics is too dirty – I'm afraid I wouldn't adapt well."
Boom!
Dumbledore could no longer restrain himself. His formidable magical power erupted, instantly blowing off the bar's roof. Wayne quickly raised his wand and pulled, controlling everything.
"Professor, calm down, calm down."
"There's no point in being angry now. You're the only candidate, and you've already been approved by the Ministry of Magic and the Wizengamot. They're just waiting for you to take office. Accept reality."
"That's right, Albus, accept reality," Aberforth chimed in. "Control your temper. If you damage Ariana's portrait, I'll never forgive you."
Wayne felt the system was being too stingy with points this time. Only ten thousand for driving Dumbledore to this state – were they taking kickbacks?
For a moment, Dumbledore actually felt the heartache of being betrayed by all.
"Wayne, even if you succeed now, I'll announce my resignation at tomorrow's ceremony. This is meaningless."
"Aren't you afraid of causing turmoil in the wizarding community?" Wayne retorted.
"As long as their safety is guaranteed, the panic will only be temporary. Both of us know Voldemort has left this country." Dumbledore said firmly, having already made up his mind.
"Really don't want to be Minister for Magic? Then don't blame me for using my final trump card."
Dumbledore raised his wand, glaring at the young man through gritted teeth. "Trump card? Perfect, consider it training before your duel with Voldemort."
He had long wanted to teach Wayne a proper lesson—this child was far too mischievous.
However, to both brothers' surprise, Wayne didn't raise his wand but instead shouted loudly: "Ariana! Did you hear that? Your brother actually wants to hit me!"
"Wayne, Ariana's curtain isn't drawn up." Aberforth reminded him: "She can't hear you."
The next second, the soul that drifted out from Wayne's ring struck the two centenarians like lightning, freezing them in place.
"Brother! Wayne is doing this for your own good and for the wizarding world! If you dare hit him, I'll never speak to you again!"
"Ariana!"
Dumbledore could hardly believe his eyes. Aberforth, upon seeing Ariana's soul, instantly rushed forward, passing through the ethereal spirit and nearly collapsing onto Wayne.
Wayne quickly stepped aside—his embrace was reserved only for beautiful young girls.
"Wayne, this isn't illusion magic, is it? Ariana, is it really you? It's me, Aberforth." The old man's voice trembled, terrified that this might all be the boy's prank.
"Brother, of course I remember you. You've become so old now." Ariana called out sweetly. Aberforth could no longer hold back, tears streaming down his face.
During this family reunion moment, Wayne thoughtfully withdrew Ariana first to prevent the two old men from becoming so emotional that they might faint.
Aberforth went completely mad. "Brother! Tie this boy up!"
"Let's attack together!"
Five minutes later, the two brothers glared hatefully at the smiling young man while Ariana's soul hovered behind Wayne.
Just as in ancient times, some held the emperor to command the lords; today, Lawrence was controlling a girl to threaten the old men.
With Ariana backing him, the two Dumbledores could only watch as the young man walked all over them, forced to maintain smiling faces.
For instance, the greatest white wizard of the century was currently forcing out an fawning smile never seen before: "Mr Lawrence, it's been decades since we siblings last met. Could you perhaps give us some time to properly catch up?"
"No."
Dumbledore nearly snapped the Elder Wand in half.
"Are you certain Ariana's soul won't return?" Dumbledore took a deep breath and asked, "Does the Resurrection Stone truly possess resurrection capabilities?"
"Originally it didn't, but after I used the Holy Grail to upgrade it through a wish, it gained the great power of resurrection - isn't that coincidental?"
"Holy Grail wish?" Aberforth exclaimed in disbelief: "That broken cup from last year's winner's prize? How is that possible!"
He had always thought the Holy Grail was just a gimmick, merely to make the tournament prize sound more impressive. He never imagined it was the actual Holy Grail.
"The tournament was merely the unsealing ritual." Wayne no longer feared revealing secrets, speaking truthfully: "Once the champion was determined, the Holy Grail's power was completely unsealed, though it can only grant one wish."
"One is enough, one is enough." Dumbledore trembled as he looked at Ariana, his eyes welling up again.
Wayne gestured to Ariana, and the clever girl understood immediately, saying as previously agreed: "Brother, Wayne needs your help; the wizarding world needs you too. I want my brother to be the greatest Minister for Magic in history. You can definitely do it, right?"
Aberforth whipped his head around, red-eyed and panting as he stared at him, as if ready to fight Dumbledore if he refused.
Meeting his sister's sincere gaze and the young man's triumphant smile, Dumbledore nodded firmly.
"Of course! Your brother will definitely become the greatest Minister for Magic!"
...
"I want to say that you are special in every way. Years from now, you may look back and wonder if you made the right choices."
"We share the right mission together. You will always face some unfair and unreasonable challenges, but you must lower your heads and fight, never giving up."
"Do not yield, do not retreat, never stop doing what you believe is right. Protect yourselves, protect your children, fight for justice and peace."
"We will make Britain great again. Merlin bless you all, good night."
Facing Wizarding Journalists from around the world and a large crowd of magical citizens, Dumbledore completed his inaugural speech.
As his words faded, thunderous applause erupted in the room, cheers nearly shaking the ceiling loose.
In this time of universal panic, no other Minister could reassure the public like Dumbledore. Though over the past year, Fudge had desperately slandered him and stripped him of all positions, when the truth emerged, it only enhanced his prestige further.
Among the newly announced measures, the primary ones were purging the Dark Lord's followers, rebuilding Azkaban, capturing and controlling all scattered Dementors, and ensuring basic stability in the wizarding world.
His approach was clear and practical, far more useful than the empty rhetoric of previous Ministers for Magic.
However, when the press conference ended and he returned backstage, Dumbledore seemed like a different person.
"Amelia, Barty, Greengrass, the Ministry continues as usual. Handle any matters as you see fit. If you're truly uncertain, find me at the Hog's Head.
"Oh, and Madam Greengrass, please register the Floo Network there as well."
With that, Dumbledore eagerly prepared to leave, but Bones quickly stopped him.
"Minister, won't you stay at the Ministry?"
"I have more important matters to attend to."
Dumbledore had no mind for Ministry affairs, his thoughts completely consumed by his sister. Previously, he viewed power as poison, fearing it would corrupt him.
But now?
With family restored and past mistakes rectified, who cared about power or world stability?
All he wanted now was to fulfil his deal with Wayne and serve his two and a half years as Minister for Magic.
After Wayne graduated, he would resign completely and retire to be with his family. As for the great adventure after death?
Sorry, but he preferred a stable life and disliked risk. Dumbledore was already planning to ask Nicolas Flamel for a Philosopher's Stone so that he could spend a few more decades with Ariana.
"Dumbledore, I've already submitted my resignation," Madam Greengrass said suddenly.
"Resignation?" The old wizard looked at her in surprise. "The timing isn't ideal."
"No choice," Madam Greengrass said helplessly. "Wayne has asked me to help set up his bank. As for the Department of Transportation, whether I'm there or not makes little difference now—Crockett is handling things perfectly well."
"I recommend her to take over my position."
"Since you've made up your mind, very well." Dumbledore agreed absentmindedly, adding that the report could be sent to the Hog's Head.
With that, he summoned Fawkes and hurried away, leaving the three of them exchanging bewildered glances.
Bones was deeply puzzled. "I get the feeling he isn't particularly invested in the role of Minister for Magic. So why did he run for election?"
"Our objective has been achieved—the public has settled, and the Dark Wizards have been intimidated," Crouch said. "In an emergency, we can always seek him out."
"Seems that's all we can do," Bones sighed in resignation.
...
In no time at all, the news of Dumbledore becoming Minister for Magic had spread across the world.
Ministries of Magic from many countries sent their congratulations. Keynes even came in person, hoping to enlist Dumbledore and Wayne to join forces against Grindelwald.
But with the decisive duel between Wayne and Voldemort just a month away, Dumbledore wanted to avoid further complications and politely declined for the time being.
In Albania, Voldemort—who had fled to the lair where he had hidden for over a decade—also received the news.
Staring at the newspaper photograph of Dumbledore commanding authority, Voldemort fell silent for a moment before tearing the paper to shreds.
Then he transformed into a cloud of dark mist and sped northward.