Chapter 389: Dumbledore's Choice
"Dudley."
Dumbledore called out, his tone impossible to read.
"Professor Dumbledore," Dudley replied.
"Go down. The Ministry officials have arrived."
Dumbledore glanced toward the ground.
Dudley whispered a word to Norberta, and the Norwegian Ridgeback immediately descended, carrying him toward the pitch below.
On the ground, many had already arrived.
From a distance, Dudley could see Minister of Magic Fudge and Auror Office Director Scrimgeour.
Boom!
Dumbledore transformed into a pillar of white light, striking the ground with a tremendous impact.
"I demand an explanation from the Ministry! Why did these dementors enter Hogwarts without permission?"
"And why did they actively attack Hogwarts students?"
His voice was filled with fury, leaving no room for the Ministry to save face.
Everyone fell silent, stunned. It was the first time they had ever seen Dumbledore angry.
"The dementors did not attack the students on their own. These students provoked them!"
Scrimgeour said coldly.
Bang!
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a spell struck him in the chest, sending him flying back.
The caster? None other than Dumbledore himself.
"Answer me! Why were these dementors present at Hogwarts?"
Dumbledore pointed his wand at Scrimgeour, demanding a response.
"Oh! Dumbledore, what are you doing?"
Fudge looked shocked. He had not expected Dumbledore to act directly, attacking the head of the Auror Office. This was a serious violation of the law.
"What is this? Look at what your Ministry has done!"
"You cannot catch the real criminals, and yet you send dementors to torment the children of the school."
"If it were not for my students resisting with all their strength, do you know what the consequences would have been?"
Dumbledore showed Fudge no courtesy, barely restraining himself from pointing a finger in anger.
Everyone was taken aback. Was this really the wise, calm Dumbledore they knew?
"Dumbledore! Watch how you speak!"
Fudge's temper flared.
"We sent the dementors for Hogwarts' safety, didn't we? This incident was a mistake."
"And they act under our orders. They do not attack students without cause, only if the students provoke them."
Dumbledore's blue eyes narrowed.
"So you secretly changed the orders regarding the dementors, did you?"
"As long as a dementor is attacked, it may retaliate unconditionally, correct?"
Dumbledore fixed his gaze on Fudge, icy and unwavering.
Fudge shifted nervously, taking an involuntary step back, unable to meet Dumbledore's eyes.
"We were only acting out of precaution!"
"After all, Black recently broke into Hogwarts. We did this for the safety of the school."
Fudge said it firmly.
"For the safety of Hogwarts—you actually have the nerve to say that with a straight face?"
McGonagall's anger flared.
"If it were not for my students' ability to protect themselves, how many bodies would already be lying here?"
Fudge hesitated, saying nothing further.
"The Ministry carries out its own orders. You have no right to command us."
Nearby, Scrimgeour finally rose from the ground.
Though Dumbledore had struck, his attack had been measured, not lethal.
"I demand that the wizards responsible for the dementors be punished severely, and that all the dementors be removed from Hogwarts immediately."
Dumbledore took a deep breath.
"Impossible!"
Scrimgeour snapped.
"Until Black is caught, the dementors will remain around Hogwarts."
Dumbledore's gaze swept coldly across him. The head of the Auror Office appeared irredeemable.
"Fudge, is this your decision as well?"
Dumbledore turned to the former friend.
"I'm sorry, Dumbledore. We have no choice."
Fudge said it firmly. He would not allow Dumbledore to dictate to him. After all, he was Minister of Magic.
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed, saying nothing further.
From a distance, Dudley and the others did not approach Dumbledore, but could see clearly what was happening.
"I have never seen Dumbledore this angry," Hermione whispered.
"Don't tell me," Ron said. "Even McGonagall probably hasn't seen him like this. You may not have noticed, but she was startled by him a moment ago."
Harry said nothing, looking at Dudley.
"How will this end?"
Dudley shook his head. "I don't know. Let's see what choice Dumbledore makes."
"Dumbledore's choice?"
Harry frowned.
"Whether he stands with the Ministry or with us," Dudley said.
After this large-scale conflict with the dementors, Dudley and the others had effectively torn with the Ministry.
Dudley even suspected that the Ministry's order allowing dementors to retaliate without limit had been aimed at him—after all, he was the only Hogwarts student to act against them.
They had not expected that the dementors would converge on the Quidditch pitch, letting the situation spiral out of control.
Now the scale of events had exceeded anything Dumbledore could mediate.
He had to choose: side with Dudley, or side with the Ministry.
It was an impossible task to balance both.
"But even if Dumbledore stands with us, the Ministry will not let us go easily," Ron said worriedly. "After all, Hogwarts is just a school, under the Ministry's jurisdiction."
"You're right," Dudley said.
"But Dumbledore's choice isn't for the Ministry—it's for me to see."
At that moment, Dumbledore turned his gaze toward Dudley.
"You acted to save those Slytherin students."
Dumbledore's voice reached Dudley.
"I promised I would protect Hogwarts," Dudley answered.
"Good."
Dumbledore spoke no more.