HP: The Duelist of Hogwarts - 413

Chapter 413: Leveraging Connections

Sean stared at the Daily Prophet in his hands. He truly had not expected the very thing he discussed with Dumbledore yesterday to appear in print today.

Illegal Entry into the Ministry!
Sturgis Podmore, age thirty-eight, resident of …, is scheduled to stand trial before the Wizengamot, charged with illegally entering the Ministry of Magic on September 1st and attempting robbery.

Sturgis Podmore was apprehended by Ministry watchwizard Eric Munch…

If convicted, Sturgis Podmore faces no less than six months in Azkaban.

Sean finished the article. He remembered Sturgis Podmore as a wizard with an odd sense of style, straw-like hair piled on his head, and an openly friendly manner. When they met before, Sturgis had greeted him several times and struck up conversations. Sean had a good impression of him. A man like that would not break into the Ministry unless Imperiused. If that were not the case, Sean would turn upside down.

The moment he read the Prophet’s piece, Sean headed straight for the Headmaster’s office.

“Cockroach Cluster.”

The password was correct, and Sean stepped inside.

Dumbledore did not look surprised to see him. In truth, when he saw the Prophet that morning, he knew Sean would come sooner or later. So it was, indeed.

“Professor, they are moving quickly.”

“Very quickly.”

Sean sat opposite Dumbledore. A cup of black tea appeared in front of him.

He lifted the cup, thanked Dumbledore, took a sip, and continued, “Professor, the Wizengamot trial has not begun yet. We still have time and room to act. If Sturgis Podmore is convicted, Fudge will certainly seize the chance to smear the Order of the Phoenix, and the Order will be on the back foot.”

“What do you propose, Sean?”

“Clear Sturgis Podmore’s name, because he is innocent. The means to do it already exist. The Death Eaters at large have made themselves into victims often enough. We follow the same steps and make Sturgis a victim of Death Eater activity. He was Imperiused to begin with. All we need is to persuade the Wizengamot to lift the curse and then administer Veritaserum. The truth will come out.”

“If this truly was done by Fudge, or by the pure-blood families behind him, they will not let us clear Sturgis so easily. They will certainly try to stop us.”

“Then it comes down to our ability to act.”

Dumbledore smiled faintly at Sean, nodded, and said, “Let us proceed according to your plan. The trial is at eight o’clock tonight. We have a day. But you still have classes. Can you spare the time to speak with our old friends?”

“The Time-Turner is a wonderful thing, Professor.”

At that, Dumbledore tapped his forehead lightly. “Yes, of course. The Time-Turner. I nearly forgot…

“Then let us each do our part and set things in motion. Agreed?”

“Of course, Professor.”

Sean took out his Wizengamot robes and badge from his Undetectable Extension Bag, changed into them right there in the office, then grabbed a handful of Floo powder and stepped into the Headmaster’s fireplace, bound for the Ministry.

Green flames flared. Sean stepped from the hearth. His Wizengamot robes and youthful face instantly made bystanders recognize him. Some watched him closely. Some huddled together, whispering. Some looked at him with open disdain.

Sean paid it no mind. Voldemort would return openly sooner or later. When that happened, these people would all be eating their words.

He went straight to the Wizengamot. Beginning with Ogden and Marchbanks, he called on them one by one, much as he had done before when Gavin brought him for introductions.

“You are saying Sturgis Podmore was Imperiused?”

Sean nodded to Marchbanks. “Yes. Mr. Podmore is a member of the Order of the Phoenix. He would not stroll into the Ministry to steal anything, not even when drunk. Such aberrant behavior strongly suggests he was under the Imperius Curse.”

Marchbanks’s brow furrowed. She thought for a moment, then asked, “What does Dumbledore say, Sean?”

“Professor Dumbledore went to see other friends. He asked me to give you his regards and to explain why he did not approach you himself. Since I know you as well, and this matter is urgent, he wanted to move as efficiently as possible. It is not neglect or disregard.

“As for his view, it is much the same as mine. He believes Mr. Podmore was Imperiused, and that those behind this intend to use the incident to smear the Order of the Phoenix, then strike at Professor Dumbledore and the members of the Order. In other words, we suspect Fudge’s hand in this, and that the wizards of the pure-blood families behind him very likely include Death Eaters.”

Sean did not say Voldemort’s name. In the current climate, it was still unconfirmed publicly whether Voldemort had returned. Caution had its uses.

“I will consider this carefully. It is indeed serious. Whether or not the Death Eaters did this, Dumbledore must not be slandered by them. I will contact some old friends as well. Go and see Ogden and the others. Tell them what you told me. We will help you and Dumbledore.”

“Thank you, Madam Marchbanks.”

“No need for thanks. We cannot sit by and watch in a case like this.”

Leaving Marchbanks’s office, Sean went on to visit Ogden and Dordolian. Aside from Dordolian once again trying to recommend his daughter to Sean, nothing major arose.

By the time he finished calling on them, it was already noon. Sean was about to return to school when someone came the other way and stepped in front of him.

“Sean Bulstrode, do you have time to join me for lunch?”

Seeing who it was, Sean smiled and nodded. “Of course. Lunch with Mr. Scrimgeour would be my honor.”

“Then come along. I know a Muggle restaurant with very good food.”

“All right.”

They stepped into a Floo and rode to Diagon Alley, then Apparated from there into a quiet side alley. When they emerged, they stood before the restaurant in question. Sean looked up at the large yellow M on the sign and sighed helplessly.

He should not have expected a wizard to understand Muggle life very well.

A moment ago, he had allowed himself to be curious about what this “very good” restaurant would be.

So that was it.

The Golden Arches (McDonald's).