Harry Potter and the Candy Factory

“Wait… wait a moment! The Minister is in a meeting! No one can enter!!!”

In front of the door to Fudge's office, Umbridge's round figure was like a pink meatball, her arms outstretched, blocking the path of the three.

She completely blocked the door of the Minister's office behind her, not revealing a single gap.

Rousseau's expression became strange as he looked at the person in front of him, feeling a sense of inexplicable doubt.

I encountered her last time I came; how come I see her again this time… Doesn't she have a job? She's always wandering around in the hall.

Although he thought so in his heart, he couldn't say it out loud… After all, the three of them were here to seek help from Minister Fudge to rescue Charlie, and it was not necessary to delay important matters because of this.

Ryan stopped and looked at the person in front of him… Although he hadn't been back to the wizarding world for a long time, he wasn't very familiar with the specific staff composition of the Ministry of Magic.

However, seeing this fatso blocking his way, he inexplicably felt an urge to punch her… Maybe this is fate.

Suppressing the fleeting thought in his heart, Ryan said,

“Mr. Charlie Black asked us to come… to discuss the specific 'details' after the donation with Minister Fudge.”

Seemingly to save some face for Cornelius Fudge, Ryan did not speak to Umbridge in a commanding tone, but used a subtle way of speaking, emphasizing the word "details" at the end.

However, to his surprise, after hearing Ryan's words, Umbridge didn't step aside. Instead, she frowned and asked directly,

“Mr. Black? What else does he need to see Minister Fudge for… Hasn't he donated all his money?”

As soon as these words came out, the whole place fell silent.

Ryan's eyes began to change, fluctuating several times before becoming complicated. He opened his mouth, but for a moment, he didn't know what to say.

What's wrong with this toad-like fellow?! Does she not understand anything!?

Ryan couldn't help but shout in his heart…

From the other person's dress and the exquisite name tag pinned to her chest to highlight her status, Ryan could naturally tell that the other person was a director-level figure, not an ordinary clerk.

But the words she said at this moment made Ryan feel a little confused.

How did this guy get here?! Has the level of officials in the Ministry of Magic reached this point? ? When he was in the Muggle world, he had talked with mayors and directors a lot, but he had never encountered such a strange problem.

“Hasn't he donated all his money?” Mulling over Umbridge's words, at this moment, Ryan even felt that she was actually on the second level, deliberately pretending not to understand the meaning of his words in order to keep his group out.

However, in reality, Ryan was just overthinking the problem… After Umbridge finished speaking, seeing the other party collectively stunned, and the one in the middle with a changing expression, she couldn't help but feel inexplicable.

But she still didn't forget her “duty” as Minister Fudge's most loyal lackey.

“No matter what… Whether it's Charlie Black or anyone else, anyway, Minister Fudge is busy now. If you want to see him, you must make an appointment first!”

Rousseau gritted his teeth and trembled with anger. Seeing that the fat woman in front of him didn't even say Mr. Black and dared to call out his master's full name directly, he couldn't help but raise his hand to give her a fierce blow.

Fortunately, Andre noticed Rousseau's raising hand and hurriedly bent down, reaching out to forcibly press down Rousseau, who was about to cast a spell, shaking his head vigorously at him.

“……”

Ryan looked at the guy in front of him who wouldn't listen to reason and felt a little headache.

It was a good thing he refused the suggestion to stay by Charlie's side back then and instead ran to the Muggle world to develop the market… Otherwise, just thinking about facing these kinds of guys made him feel goosebumps all over his body.

Finally, after a sigh, Ryan's thoughts stopped, and he chose a ridiculous but time-saving method.

“I'm sorry…”

He said, suddenly moving his hands.

Before Umbridge could react to what this apology meant, Ryan's hands moved quickly.

With a "swish," the wand that Andre had originally placed in his pocket was instantly in his hand, not giving any chance to react.

“Stupefy!”

A light flashed, and with the spell being cast, everything was over in less than a second.

Umbridge rolled her eyes, and with a muffled "thump," she fell to the ground.

Ryan breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't know if it was psychological, but he felt a lot more relaxed at this moment.

Andre's eyes widened like light bulbs as he watched the other person skillfully cast a Stupefy with his wand.

“You… you just now…” He was obviously frightened by Ryan's actions just now, and his speech was a little stuttering.

It was clear that he had just held Rousseau down, but the other side actually took action directly!?

Thinking about Charlie, who was still imprisoned in the American Magical Congress, he really wanted to ask, are the customs of you, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, so fierce?!?!? !

“You just stunned a director-level official from the Ministry of Magic?! And you used my wand!!!” Andre's small face turned a little pale, making him look less like a pure black person and more like a mixed-race.

“Why didn't you use your own wand! Don't you know that American wizards are subject to wand supervision when leaving the country! This one Stupefy will take me a lot of time to handle when I get back!”

However, Ryan didn't seem to care about Andre's complaint.

“I can't help it. Since I went to the Muggle world, I haven't had the habit of carrying a wand all the time.”

As he spoke, he took two steps forward and used his foot to flip the completely unconscious Umbridge to the side, then placed his hands on the office door.

With a creak, Ryan didn't bother to say anything more and exerted force with both hands.

The next second, the door was wide open. Inside the office, Cornelius Fudge, sitting behind his desk, and Barty Crouch, who seemed to be about to say something, stopped talking at the same time, turned their heads, and looked at the three people who barged in with a look of confusion and bewilderment.

“Mr. Fudge, I come on behalf of Charlie Black, and he needs your help at this moment!”

Getting straight to the point, Ryan looked directly at the fat old man wearing glasses.

Even knowing that the other party was nominally the most esteemed person in the entire British magical world, he didn't offer a single pleasantry, directly stating his purpose for coming.

Behind the desk, Fudge's eyelids trembled, the expression on his face changing repeatedly, eventually settling into a complex silence, barely managing to force a smile, stuttering slightly as he spoke,

"So, you're… Charlie's friend… Good, good. What does he need my help with? Tell me."

Barty Crouch gave Fudge a surprised glance, then remained silent, adopting a spectator's attitude.

Clearly, he knew Charlie and was very aware of what he did… After all, they both came from that era, and he had a deep impression of the young man who had been so famous back then. Although he sneered at that approach, Barty Crouch had to admit that Charlie was a bizarre genius.

Then, after the war ended, just when he thought peace had returned and that childish game couldn't continue, he actually transformed once again, taking that group of house-elves and becoming the owner of a candy factory.

So Fudge has been negotiating deals with Charlie Black all along? Crouch muttered silently in his heart… He wasn't a fool like Umbridge; he immediately understood what Laine meant by "help."

… … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … …

"I'm not sure…"

In the office of the Head of the Serious Crime Investigation Department, a somewhat gaunt old man frowned deeply, speaking with some hesitation.

He propped both elbows on the desk, unconsciously interlacing his fingers, twisting them together subconsciously as he thought.

"You shouldn't hesitate!"

Sturges stared intently at the old man, his gaze so piercing that the other man dared not meet it.

"You are a veteran Auror… Before you were injured, you were always on the front lines. It's obvious at a glance—this Charlie Black definitely has some issues. But whether it's those above or those below, everyone has the same attitude! I don't understand. Could it be that sitting in the office for so many years has smoothed out your personality completely?!"

"Barty Crouch, Jr.!"

The old man's expression became serious, and he looked at the person before him, shouting his name loudly.

Sturges's gaze did not waver in the slightest. Facing the old man's glare, he remained steadfast, as if behind his eyes, there was a raging fire burning.

Silence fell in the office…

After a long while, the old man sighed quietly, his eyelids drooping, no longer looking at Sturges, but staring complexly at the detailed information about Charlie Black on the desk.

"You haven't reached this position, you don't understand…" His tone softened, with a bit of concession and a bit of the old man's loneliness.

"When you really sit here, you'll realize that there are fewer things you can do, but more things you have to consider. This isn't just a matter of one suspect, but also involves the British and American magical worlds. It's okay for him to become a suspect in our country; no one will say anything… But if we really use Legilimency and the result is that he's not—that would be a serious diplomatic issue."

"He definitely is." Even if the old man said so, Sturges's tone did not change in the slightest.

"Are you sure?" The old man laughed, but a hint of annoyance arose in his eyes.

"Yes!" Sturges nodded.

"You can't…" The old man closed his eyes wearily. He knew that this subordinate of his was an inflexible blockhead, and it was impossible to reason with him about anything.

And this was the reason why, after so many years, despite having more seniority than anyone else, he was still just an ordinary Auror.

"This transfer order, I can't give it to you…"

He simply turned around, no longer looking at the other person.

"…" After a moment of silence, Sturges asked with some difficulty,

"Then… if I hide it from everyone and secretly use Legilimency on him without your knowledge… is that okay?"

"… You finally became flexible for once, but I didn't expect you to become flexible to this extent." The old man said, the feeling of melancholy in his tone palpable.

"Get out of my office now!!!" Suddenly, his voice rose sharply, and while shouting, he stood up from his seat, pushing Sturges, pushing him out the door.

Standing in front of the door, looking at the guy who was still a bit clueless, the old man's voice did not weaken, but became even louder.

"I will not approve it! Don't come to me again about this matter!"

After saying that, with a "Bang!" he slammed the door shut, almost hitting Sturges's nose.

Sturges blinked, looking at the already tightly closed door, as if he understood something.

It felt very strange for a moment, but it was hard to say what it was… a little sad, and a little sorrowful.

He felt that this was the first time he had so clearly understood the meaning in his superior's words… As for what to do after understanding, that was up to his own choice.

Rather than saying that the old director had just given him a chance to choose, it would be better to say that he had directly opened up a path to his goal.

As for what the end of the road would be like… no one knew.

He left, striding straight out of the Serious Crime Investigation Department, not returning to the interrogation room, but walking out of the Magical Congress building and heading outside, finally blending into the crowd.

In the director's office, the old man sighed, also constantly recalling what Sturges had just said to him…

He considered himself to have seen through Sturges, understanding what his capable subordinate, who had followed him for so many years, was really like inside.

Then, what about the other party? Had Sturges also seen through him? In fact, what he said was not wrong at all… He had really been smoothed and polished by this position, no longer having the bloodiness of the past.