Dumbledore's magic slowed the fall, and the rain-softened grass cushioned Harry's landing, leaving him unharmed. Madam Pomfrey, however, insisted he stay in the hospital wing for two days of observation, until the weekend ended.
But compared to Harry, the Dementors suffered far worse...
The moment Harry fainted, Dumbledore's phoenix Patronus burst into the sky, boldly diving straight into the circle of Dementors. No one knew what happened after that, but when Tver looked out the window, the sky had grown noticeably brighter.
Only a few stray Dementors lingered beyond the walls. It was as if a hundred Patronuses stood guard along the ramparts—every time a Dementor drifted close, it recoiled as though shocked by electricity.
As non-beings, Dementors could never be wiped out entirely as a species, but individual ones could still be destroyed. And with Dumbledore striking in anger, destroying them was almost effortless.
"Could you stop laughing at us?" Marvolio's helpless voice came through the badge.
"Ahem… alright, go on." Tver pulled his gaze from the bright sky and settled back into his seat.
"After wiping out half the Dementors, Dumbledore apparently sent Fudge a Howler. We don't know what it said, but everyone heard a blast loud enough to blow the ceiling off!"
He claimed not to be gloating, yet Marvolio's voice shook with barely contained laughter.
"When Fudge walked out of his office, he was so embarrassed I almost wanted to toss a hood over his head."
"But I doubt he'll back down that easily. Now that he's tasted power, he'll definitely try to get back at Dumbledore somehow."
"Oh?" Tver lifted his cup, pausing mid-motion. "He's gotten that bold?"
"He wouldn't dare," Marvolio snorted. "That's why he's pushing Umbridge around in secret. As for what exactly he's up to—he's hiding it well."
"I know!" Cynthia raised her hand excitedly, like a student who knew the answer even though Tver couldn't see her.
"Umbridge pressured the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures into launching a trial over the Hippogriff incident at Hogwarts."
"That old woman even tried to drag Hagrid into it, but clearly the committee isn't brave enough to offend Dumbledore so openly."
"But Lucius didn't file a complaint, did he?" Tver asked, puzzled.
"Of course not. But under the law, the Committee has the authority to assess the danger level of any creature that injures a wizard—whether the victim files a lawsuit or not."
"This law is usually meant to protect victims who can't file their own complaints. In Hagrid's case, the whole thing is obviously suspicious."
"So even if Fudge didn't issue a direct order, it's clearly done on his behalf."
"Looks like our Minister has grown quite ambitious," Tver said with a sigh.
"You said Fudge was timid and cautious. Why does he suddenly seem so brave?"
Marvolio's voice took on an odd note, as if he'd finally caught Tver slipping.
"People change..." Tver rubbed his chin.
Those who hunger for power love to use lofty ideals to restrain the strong in peaceful times, and rely on the strong to bully the honest in times of chaos. In the end, it's nothing more than the fox borrowing the tiger's authority.
"Maybe your elite Auror gave him the confidence to challenge Dumbledore's power?"
"Enough about him. How's the face-mask business? Still running smoothly?"
He had already handed business affairs over to Cynthia; unless something arose that even she couldn't fully handle, he only needed the occasional update.
"Just as you predicted, several Muggle groups have already taken an interest in the company." Cynthia sounded anything but worried—if anything, faintly disdainful.
"And how did you deal with them?" Tver asked, intrigued.
It was a test for her. He'd warned her of the possibility, but hadn't given her any solutions. Though in reality, they had plenty.
The simplest option would've been to scare those groups off. Even under the Ministry's surveillance, Cynthia could manage that with ease.
But that wasn't what Tver wanted.
"I scared them all, planting the idea of inviolability deep in their hearts," Cynthia declared confidently.
"But that wasn't all. Afterward, I united them into an alliance—one led by us."
"I handed over all aspects of mask production, sales, and promotion to them, then allocated corresponding mask shares based on their contributions."
"Simultaneously, I defined their respective sales territories. Overnight, the business expanded across all of Europe!"
"At first, Lucius resented sharing our profits, but when he saw the rapidly growing returns, his discontent vanished."
Tver couldn't have been more satisfied with this answer.
Earning money alone and expanding the mask business worldwide was simple. But ultimately, only he—or rather, only the wizards—would reap the benefits.
Muggles could only ever be the ones giving. Sooner or later, countless Muggles would grow envious, and then all sorts of trouble could erupt.
This wasn't what Tver wanted, even if their power made them unconcerned about muggle tricks. Because constant opposition only breeds hostility and endless conflict.
Therefore, sharing the profits with the Muggles was the most sensible approach.
When wizards' businesses became the livelihood most muggles depended on, while a few envious muggles would still exist, wizards would gain far more muggle allies!
This resembled dividing and co-opting muggles—a strategy Tver most admired: make friends plentiful and enemies few.
As long as muggles couldn't unite against wizards, their maneuverability would increase dramatically.
Even those profiting from the trade would be less inclined than Tver to see wizards harmed. Not to mention, three Dark Lords were protecting the wizards!
Tver took a sip of Pumpkin juice, his expression peculiar.
The sight of three Dark Lords guarding wizards was something one could only witness here...
"Hey, Tver, are you still listening?" Cynthia asked with concern.
"Yes, go on..."
Little did he know, on the other side, Marvolio felt utterly helpless upon realizing this.
At first, he'd assumed Tver intended to inherit Grindelwald's legacy—overthrowing the Statute of Secrecy to become ruler over all wizards and Muggles.
Later, Tver's increasingly friendly attitude toward wizards only deepened his unease.
And now? He'd even fallen for Muggles.
Liar! He promised to be a ruler, but this? He's just some altruistic fool!
But now he was stuck on this sinking ship...
Marvolio sighed deeply.
"What are you doing?" Cynthia handed him the badge. "Anything else you want to say to Tver? Otherwise, I'll put it away."
Marvolio snatched the badge.
"No, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind!"
...
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