That was the truth of the matter: even if everyone was busy with the same law, it didn't mean they were on the same side.
The one who proposed and pushed the bill was Arthur Weasley, a Ministry employee in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office—a department few respected. Because of his fondness for Muggles, the Weasley family was branded "blood traitors."
Naturally, a law proposed and pushed by him would be opposed by the pure-blood families and the Ministry officials who represented them.
However, since the law aligned perfectly with Minister Fudge's preference for peace and stability, it managed to be passed—for the time being.
Among the wizards working overtime, some were genuinely helping Arthur Weasley deal with confiscated dark objects, while others were busy looking for excuses to pick holes.
In this climate, Ron Weasley taking his father's flying car without permission—and being caught—was a disaster for his dad.
Dumbledore led Louis through the bustling crowd. Each time someone noticed him, whether pure-blood or half-blood, they tipped their hats in respect.
As for Muggle-born wizards… they weren't here. Not because their status allowed them rest, but because important, credit-worthy assignments never fell to them. That was the Ministry's unspoken rule.
The Ministry of Magic was underground. Entering from the phone booth outside led directly to Level Eight; to reach other floors, one had to take a different lift.
Louis followed Dumbledore into the elevator and they went up to Level One, where the Minister's office was located. But before they could even knock, someone blocked their way.
"Oh, Dumbledore! What business brings you here so late?"
The voice was sickly sweet, cloying to the point of nausea.
A squat woman waddled forward, dressed head-to-toe in pink: pink clothes, pink hat, pink handbag. She resembled nothing so much as a pink toad.
Her face was caked with powder, her wrinkles squeezing it into ridges.
Lady, your foundation's clumping!
Louis nearly blurted it out but restrained himself. This was no harmless busybody—cross her, and she'd find a hundred petty ways to retaliate. A small-minded villain, the kind best left for darker souls to deal with, not someone destined to walk in the sunlight like "Louis Wilson."
"Umbridge, good evening. Looks like you're busy," said Dumbledore.
"Very busy, thanks to Mr. Weasley," Umbridge replied, casting a glance first at Dumbledore, then at Louis behind him. "So late at night—what brings you here?"
"There are matters I must discuss with Cornelius," Dumbledore answered evenly.
"Perhaps I can pass them along?" Umbridge's false smile oozed malice. "But if it's about a student who's twice violated the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery, then there's no need to trouble the Minister. The recommendation here is immediate expulsion."
"This matter concerns Harry Potter." Dumbledore's blue eyes locked onto hers, so deep it was as though they pierced her thoughts. "Please step aside."
The weight of that gaze was suffocating.
Umbridge instinctively stepped back, making way.
Dumbledore swept past her without a second glance. Being so thoroughly dismissed made Umbridge's face twist with fury.
A young man dressed as a secretary opened the Minister's office door and ushered them in. Behind the desk sat Cornelius Fudge, surrounded by stacks of parchment.
"Dumbledore! Ha ha, perfect timing." Fudge lit up as if seeing his long-lost father, rushing to seat him. "You've come just when I needed your advice."
Cornelius Fudge—weak, indecisive.
Louis kept quiet; this wasn't his moment. Besides, Fudge looked far too busy fawning over Dumbledore to bother with him.
The Minister immediately launched into a discussion about the new Muggle Protection Act.
Louis quietly found a chair and tuned them out. Listening was pointless. Soon enough, the pure-bloods would accuse Arthur Weasley of violating his own law, and the whole thing would be gutted.
Just another political trade: sacrifice Arthur's Muggle Protection Act to secure his job. Louis didn't even need to be a Seer to know how it would end.
Arthur would have no choice but to comply. This term's book fees alone would drain the family vault; losing his Ministry job would ruin them completely.
So debating a doomed law was meaningless.
But Dumbledore couldn't have known Arthur's well-meant law would be sabotaged by his own son. He earnestly offered Fudge suggestions.
Half an hour later, their legal discussion wound down, and the conversation turned to the Boy Who Lived.
"Cornelius, it was this young Mr. Wilson who first drew my attention to Harry Potter's miserable living conditions. He needs our help." Dumbledore introduced Louis.
"He's Harry's neighbor, and a student at Hogwarts. You should know him."
"Of course I do! Mr. Louis Wilson—pleasure, pleasure!" Fudge's smile was wide, his handshake enthusiastic, far more sincere than Umbridge's counterfeit grin.
"A descendant of Merlin, I've heard. Your name is known across the wizarding world. Meeting you confirms it—you're a fine young man indeed."
Fudge's overbearing enthusiasm nearly overwhelmed Louis. He carefully pried his hand free with just enough force not to injure the Minister, replying with a polite smile: "You flatter me, Minister."
Fudge chuckled and turned back to Dumbledore. "You said Harry Potter's living situation must be improved. Do you have any suggestions?"
"Mr. Wilson's idea was to use Muggle currency exchanged from Gringotts as compensation for Harry's guardians," said Dumbledore.
Fudge's face lit up in approval. "Excellent! Was that this young man's idea? Brilliant, truly brilliant. Have you ever considered a career in the Ministry?"
"If the chance arises," Louis answered vaguely.
"Splendid! The Ministry would be honored to welcome such talent." Fudge grinned, then frowned. "The greedy goblins may be troublesome, though, Dumbledore…"
"Use Hogwarts's allowance," Dumbledore said calmly. "But it may require your authorization to convince the Board of Governors, Cornelius."
The moment he heard it wouldn't cost the Ministry a Knut, Fudge was delighted. "No problem at all!" He immediately scribbled out an authorization.
"There is one more matter of importance," Dumbledore said. "This young Mr. Wilson is facing possible expulsion over a misunderstanding."
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