Chapter 232: Date Time, Surprise Visit (2/2)
”No, she did.”
”You accepted?”
”Yes, thus the date.”
”On Valentine's day.”
”Yes.”
Another series of steps climbing sounded as Marcus entered the room with a small huff. He shuffled to his study table and hung his book bag on a hook attached to the table's side.
”This week was a bit hectic, don't you think?” said Marcus. ”Too many submissions; we even got a new set of assignments. I really want a relaxed weekend. What's wrong with you?” He asked looking at Eddie, looking strangely serene.
”On Sunday, many will cry, and then they will mourn,” said Eddie, prophesizing.
”Don't exaggerate,” said Quinn.
”I'm confused. What are we talking about?” asked Marcus. He sat down on his bed.
”He's got a date.”
”What?!” Marcus all but flew off his bed. ”Who? When? Why?” he asked.
”Daphne. Valentine's day. She asked he accepted.”
Marcus gripped the hair on the top of his head and smacked his lips. ”A calm weekend, yeah right, that's not going to happen.”
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Seeing that a chunk of Quinn's time was to be subverted to spend time on a date, Quinn entered the Architect's vault early in the morning, before breakfast was served. He packed three meals and other supplies for the entire day so that he wouldn't need to emerge until he was satisfied with his work done, and if he was required, Luna was there as the point of contact. He had even made sure that those with detention with Umbridge had their doses of potions packed in unbreakable vials and just to be needlessly sure he had changed the tapes in her office.
It just turned out that when Quinn was in the flow of things, cut from the outside world, some guests decided to visit Hogwarts on an impromptu visit.
Dumbledore sat in his office, working on various school-related tasks that needed to be taken care of. He sighed as he picked up another report; there were so many of them. He had been too busy with outside matters — work had piled up in his absence.
He lightly raised his hand, and a lemon drop from a nearby glass ornated dish rose up and flew between his index finger and thumb. Dumbledore popped the lemon drop into his mouth as his aged eyes read from behind his half-moon glasses.
”As expected, nothing beats a lemon drop,” smiled Dumbledore from behind his long beard.
”Someone's at your door.”
Dumbledore glanced at the portrait of a past headmistress before gazing at the entrance to his office. They wouldn't speak if it was someone from within the school, so it was someone from outside.
To enter the headmaster's office, one had to speak the password to the stone gargoyle that would remove its wings from the way. After that, a wall behind the gargoyle would split open to reveal a stone staircase that led to a door with a griffin knocker that would finally open to his office.
He could hear the gritting stone noise of the wall splitting and the faint steps from the staircase. Dumbledore expected a knock on his door (which was there for his privacy), but contrary to his expectations, the door flew open.
The guests were people he wasn't expecting today.
”Professor Umbridge,” Dumbledore looked at her companion, ”Cornelius, to what do I owe this pleasure?”
Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, dressed in his parent green suit with a bowler hat on top, entered the Hogwart's headmaster's office with his eyes narrowed, squinting, and frowning as he gazed around the office furtively.
The last one to enter the office were two Aurors — both part of the Minister's detail. They stationed themselves on either side of the door like guards.
”Dumbledore,” said Fudge, his lips pressing into a white slash. ”How have you been?”
Dumbledore sat behind his desk, his expression serene, the tips of his long fingers together. ”I have been well, Cornelius.” He watched Fudge pace his office. ”What seems to be the matter, Cornelius. You seem to be stressed.”
”You know exactly why!” said Fudge pointedly.
”I am not sure, I understand.”
Fudge slammed his hands on Dumbledore's desk. ”I'm talking about the mass breakout in Azkaban! You're using it to spread lies about the Dark Lord's return! I want you to stop it immediately!”
”I assure you, Cornelius, but I haven't said a word of lie.”
”Stop pretending, Dumbledore!” said Fudge, his pasty white skin turning red. ”I know you're behind all the articles! I want them to stop, so make them stop!”
Ever since the Azkaban breakout, the public's view had changed. It would've been fine if the Ministry would've provided a legitimate theory behind the escape, but their official statement was full of holes, and the public could see those holes as clear as the sun in the clear noon sky. So, they turned to the next reasonable explanation, which was Dumbledore and Harry's version of the story.
The Ministry had suffered a massive dip in approval ratings, and in direct-correlation, it showed in Wizengamot. The support he had from independent seats, parts of Grey faction, estranged parts of Light faction, all who had been supporting him, suddenly went crawling back to their holes. All he had left was his own personal supporters and the Dark faction, but that wasn't enough.
”My apologies if you are facing difficulties, Cornelius, but I haven't been partaking in any of these activities that you're talking about,” said Dumbledore, inclining his head.
The portraits of old headmasters and mistresses were not shamming sleep today. All of them were watching what was happening below, severe and alert. But Dumbledore's behaviour made many light-hearted ones chuckle.
”Dumbledore, I'm warning you to make your Light faction step down,” said Fudge, ”or you are going to regret it,” Fudge leaned over Dumbledore's desk, ”you have already lost so many positions, who knows, you might just lose the position of Headmaster. I do have an able replacement lined up and a draft for a fresh Educational Decree.”
Umbridge giggled behind her hand. Standing tall behind Fudge. She knew who Fudge was talking about. Even the Aurors at the door chuckled.
”So, what's it going to be Dumbledore,” said Fudge. He was sure that this threat would work; after all, he would've taken it if it was him.
But who was going to tell Fudge that not everyone thought like him.
Dumbledore sighed. He finally had some free time after a busy past few months. He wanted to stay in Hogwarts and spend some time among the children. But, now he had to face this. There was a limit to every man, and he was very close to his.
Suddenly, the temperature in the room started to rise. The cold February office began to heat up like a tropical summer. Fudge, Umbridge looked around the office, confused about what was happening.
”Cornelius, why are we doing this,” said Dumbledore getting up. ”When did you get this childish?”
The room's temperature kicked up another notch. The office suddenly became smoldering hot.
”D-Dumbledore, what're you doing?” Fudge spluttered. ”Aurors! Arrest this man!”
When no answer came from the Aurors, Fudge turned back. ”What are you —”
There was no one behind him. Not the Aurors and not Umbridge. Instead, he saw three pairs of socks, two black, one pink, lying on the ground. He turned back to the front, and his heart almost leaped out of his throat when he saw Dumbledore standing close to him, peering down at him.
At that moment, Fudge finally realized who he was facing. This wasn't the eccentric, mild-mannered Headmaster. No, he was facing the man who defeated Gellert Grindlewald. The man only man who the Dark Lord feared.
”D-Dumbledore.”
”Cornelius, even I have a limit to my patience. You coming here isn't doing it any good.”
”I-I'm the Mi-Minister—”
”Do you have anything else remaining you wanted to tell me other than that you want me to stop the articles?”
”N-No.”
Dumbledore waved his hand, and three pairs of socks came flying into his hands.
”Then, I think it's time for you to leave,” said Dumbledore as he slipped socks into Fudge's front coat pocket. ”You know your way out, Cornelius. I won't be seeing you out.”
That day, the Minister of Magic could be seen running through the halls of Hogwarts with sweat dripping all over his body.
That day, Umbridge and the two Aurors woke up to find themselves lying on the ground just outside Hogwarts' boundary, with no idea how they got there. One second they were in Dumbledore's office, but the next, they were outside Hogwarts with the Fudge heaving while crouching on the ground.
Not a peep about the incident was heard from Fudge or from his faction.
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Quinn West - MC - It seems I have a date.
Albus Dumbledore - Headmaster - Take your socks, and get out.
Cornelius Fudge - Minister of Magic - Came in and then went out.
FictionOnlyReader - Author - I'm a monster
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