HP Midnight Light

- 1993 June 6 - Ministry of Magic, London

As far as Pansy could remember, her parents didn't seem to be in any second place at the same time other than a banquet.

Therefore, Pansy felt a little awkward when they brought her to the Ministry of Magic to file the petrification incident as guardians together today.For some reason, this awkwardness reached its peak when she watched her parents sign the consent form.

When the Parkinsons were about to leave, someone stopped Edmund.

"Please stay a step, Mr. Parkinson." Cornelius Fudge came out of his office, "Can I take a step to speak?"

He had obviously been sitting on the sidelines for a long time, and Edmund had no reason or necessity to refuse: "Go ahead and wait for me." He said to Hyacinth.Pansy watched as they entered Fudge's office:

"Is that the Minister of Magic?" she couldn't help asking. "He doesn't look quite like I thought."—she thought the Minister of Magic should look more dignified.

"He's not some kind uncle next door," Hyacinth replied, "Come here."

Pansy also wanted to take a closer look at the photos hanging on the walls on both sides of the corridor, but she decided not to disagree with her mother. After the Muggle novel incident last summer, her attitude towards Hyacinth became a bit elusive.

"Why does the minister want to find Dad?"

"do not know."

But Edmund knew Fudge would come to him—he had been waiting two years for this conversation.

"I've been looking for an opportunity to have a few words with you." Fudge's opening remarks were as probing as he expected.

"For what, Minister?"

Fudge looked at him scrutinizingly: "You know why."

"I don't quite understand what you mean." Edmund smiled.

Fudge's face darkened: "I don't like deceit."

"What are you worried about?"

He didn't answer.

"Has anyone questioned your position, Minister?"

"Not yet." Fudge raised his eyes and stared at Edmund warily and suspiciously, uttering a word clearly, "But that doesn't mean there is no future."

"You are a qualified minister, I think most people think so."

"Thank you for your praise, but unfortunately I don't know if I can trust you, Edmund." Fudge coughed, and finally showed his true colors, "You are too smart, even if you tell a big lie, you can still not show your flaws. "

Edmund also asked directly: "What do you want?"

"I want to be safe." Fudge fiddled with the table decorations unnaturally, "I want to make sure that no one in this world can reveal my secret." He once colluded with the Death Eaters, and this alone was enough By ruining his career and letting him spend the rest of his life in Azkaban, Fudge never wanted to lose the rights he already had.

The malice in his eyes suddenly inspired Edmund: "How did you keep Signus silent, Connelly?"

The person being questioned straightened his back, blushing on his face: "Bost was sentenced to the Dementor's Kiss on the day after the second trial."

Edmund understood: "When did the Ministry of Magic allow you to tamper with the results of the trial?"

"I got the authorization from Mr. Crouch!" Fudge blushed, "The prisoners in Azkaban are basically either crazy or stupid, so what if there is one more Burst."

"So you killed him before he regretted speaking."

"it serves him right."

"Is his 'death' related to you?"

Under Edmund's gaze, Fudge snorted dryly: "It's my luck that Merlin took him."

"Then tell the truth, Connelly." Edmund suggested, "What are you going to threaten me with?"

"I heard some interesting rumors about you after I took office as Minister." The blush quickly faded from Fudge's face, "Not about the Death Eaters."

Edmund was in a daze: "What is that about?"

"I don't know if they are true or not." Fudge carefully observed his expression with a triumphant smile, "There are rumors that your poor wife is actually just your confinement, and you used illegal means to turn her into Parkinson's Madame and made her give birth to a child... Now you may have brainwashed her, you may have threatened her with something... I don't know. But I know—" He raised his hand and picked up a document from the table, with Edmund's name was clearly printed on it, "There is no file in this world that can withstand careful scrutiny. What do you think I can see in your file, Parkinson?"

"Perhaps you could try to piece together a new rumor?"

"Whatever you say, Edmund, you may think you have cleared away all traces, but there is no impenetrable wall in the world." Fudge stared at him closely, "Besides, if there is a mirror here, you will I found out that your expression has betrayed your heart."

"I know exactly what I think." Edmond put away his smile. "In contrast, I'm more curious about how you plan to deal with your own files?"

"I have my own considerations, but if I were you, Edmund, I would reconsider." Fudge took out a pocket watch and looked at it, "I will go to Azkaban as usual soon inspect."

Edmund waited calmly for his next words.

Fudge smiled happily. "Do you think I'll have a chance to meet someone, Mr. Parkinson?"

"Mr. Barnold." Hyacinth didn't expect to meet Spencer Barnold again in her lifetime.Hyacins recognized him as he hurried into the Enforcement Division.

The other party stared at her for several seconds, and then smiled: "Yes, we haven't seen each other for a long time."

Hyacinth was grateful that he had omitted calling her.

"You're back working at the Ministry of Magic?"

Mr. Barnold pointed to the line of small words under the badge on his chest: "That's right, but I'm currently working in the OWLs proposition team, and I just came here today to do some business."

"Didn't you just want to see those pictures?" Hyacinth turned to Pansy. "Now is a good time."

"Okay." Pansy stood up tactfully, and quickly disappeared from their sight.

"When did you come back from France?" asked Hyacins.

Mr. Barnold took a seat on the sofa next to her. "It was the summer of 1987. I am still more used to the British climate."

She smiled back.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly said, "Life is shorter than you think, Miss White."

"You don't understand, Mr. Barnold." Hyacons smiled. "There's a lot of blank time in my life."

Mr. Barnold sighed, and finally did not contradict her insistence.

"Is Mrs. Figg all right now?" Hyacinth asked back.

Mr. Barnold nodded: "She's fine."

At this time, someone came up behind her, and Mr. Barnold greeted the visitor with a smile: "Mr. Parkinson." His eyes fell on Hyacinth, "Then, we have a chance to see you again."

Edmund didn't ask how they met: "Where did Pansy go?"

"I thought you'd run into her along the way."

At this time Pansy came back from the other end of the corridor: "There are many pictures of Death Eaters there." Edmund cast a warning look, but she didn't notice, "Who is Sirius Black? He is the 'Blake's? He looks so handsome in that picture before he goes to jail!"

"he is--"

"A Gryffindor," said Hyacinth.

-June 6th - Parkinson Manor

"I have a question for you." Hyacinth knocked on Edmund's study door symbolically, "Where have you been these few days?"

"Can I understand that you care about me?"

"No." Hyacinth continued, "Tata told me that they have been depressed during dinner time these days, so I'm curious why you don't continue to play the role of a qualified 'hostess'?"

——During this time, Violet was a guest at Parkinson's Manor, and she obviously didn't adapt to or understand the magical life style of the Parkinson family.

"That's exactly what I want to tell you." Edmund motioned for her to come in, and then he closed the study door, "Fudge is trying to catch me, he dare not threaten the Death Eaters I, so..."

Hyacinth knew what he was going to say without thinking: "How did he know?"

"There is no impenetrable wall," Edmund answered her in Fudge's words.

"This is what you've been busy with recently? Find out who betrayed you?"

"No." Edmund denied, and he picked up a photo on the table and handed it to her: the burning Rozier Manor.

This unsolved case has gradually been forgotten.

"I don't think the house-elf is the real culprit for the burning of Rozier Manor. There must be other participants in this fire." Edmund said, "Including Leto's death... I don't think it was accidental either. "

"Why are you investigating this?" Hyacinth couldn't understand, "Eleven years have passed, and children of this generation may not know the surname Rozier."

"But everyone in our generation knows." Edmund looked at her fixedly, "If something in the Rozier Manor leaked Federica and Evan's affair, what would be the consequences? ? Too many people want to kill Rozier."

"Have you come up with anything from your investigation?"

"No." Edmund admitted, "but I suspect that the petrification incident at Hogwarts has something to do with it."

Hyacinth pondered for a moment, she suddenly thought of Cornelia who used to go out at midnight, but the conspirator hiding in Hogwarts was not "Rozier's heir", so, could it be Did Salazar really leave a descendant?

"I've always had a question," she asked slowly. "Is the Salazar that Signus conjured up on that Dark Arts group... real or fake?"

Edmund froze for a moment, then smiled: "That's just an advanced transfiguration." He pulled out his wand and pointed to the fireplace in the study, Hyacinth stared dumbfounded at the sudden burst of golden flames. Derek Gryffindor's face appeared in the fireplace.

And Gryffindor himself would not visit Parkinson's house unless he was crazy.

It turned out that it was just a transformation magic.

She was stunned.The spectacle she witnessed on Christmas Eve many years ago seemed to have blurred into a dream, and she began to wonder if it was just an illusion.

"Signus is not that loyal to the Dark Lord, and he is not that fanatical about the cause of the Death Eaters." Edmund said flatly, "The only thing he loves is power, so what he dreams of is to brainwash everyone else." For his own believers. The purpose of that magic group was to help him snare them from the beginning."

"But he failed."

"Yes." Edmund stared at Godric in the fireplace, expressionless, "He always likes to underestimate others."

Hyacinth looked at the fireplace and then at Edmund. She wanted to ask him if he regarded Signus as a friend, but this seemed to be an unnecessary question. No relationship can be called friendship.

"Don't you wonder why I and Signus formed the Dark Arts Group?"

"Because you have to get involved with Death Eaters sooner or later, it doesn't matter if it's earlier or later." Hyacinth said sharply suddenly, "If it wasn't for you, there wouldn't be so many people in Slytherin secretly Practicing black magic! I know where those forbidden books came from in the first place - old to new, always, but you guys made them a 'trend'!"

She trembled slightly with excitement.When Edmund replayed the transfiguration spell, she thought of someone:

Regulus.

Regulus, who was so fresh, smart, and popular, died at his best age, with no news or bones left.

"They could have had the best ending of the era," she said.

"They could have escaped the end, too," Edmund replied, flicking his wand lightly to take away the transfiguration magic. "It wasn't just the fault of a Dark Arts group or a forbidden book or two."

Hyacinth's face turned pale, and she seemed to be trying to restrain herself: "Very well, what about your reason, why did you cooperate with Signus?" When she caught a glimpse of Edmund's expression, she suddenly Laughing, "Don't say it's because of me."

Edmund shook his head: "You don't like this reason, but it's true."

"Forget it, Edmund." Hyacinth said wearily. She took a step back and opened the door of the study. "Eleven years have passed, and you still don't understand."

"Where are you going?"

"I don't know." Hyacinth suddenly stopped at the door, she turned her head, "Can you believe it, more than once I wish time could stop forever in 1972, the day I first went to Hogwarts. "

-June 7-

After a symbolic tour of Azkaban as usual, Fudge asked an unusual question: "Where is Black held?"

The warden was taken aback.

"I'd like to see his cell," demanded the new Minister for Magic uncharacteristically.

"He's locked up in the highest cell in the North Tower." Considering Fudge's status, this request doesn't seem surprising, "separated from everyone else, and he's accompanied by nothing but the dementors."

"Have you never seen him?"

"In 1982, he was taken out of his cell by the jailers because of his serious illness. I think that was the last time he had contact with a living person."

While speaking, they had arrived at the North Tower.The warden rang the dark bell to tell the guards to disperse the dementors, and then led Fudge up the steeper and narrower stairs.

I don't know how long I walked, and finally, a narrow corridor appeared in front of me.

"That's Black's cell." The warden said, pointing to the end of the corridor.

Fudge told him to stay where he was, having never met Blake before, though he was described by various rumors as a handsome and charming young man.As Emmeline Vance, who hated Blake the most, said: As cruel as his heart is, so handsome is his appearance.

Sadly though, life in Azkaban has clearly shaped the charming murderer into a demented image that befits his behavior—

Fudge was shamefully surprised to find himself taken aback by the inhuman prisoner.

The person curled up on the stone bed slowly stretched out. For a while, Fudge suspected that there was actually a skeleton wrapped under the large prison uniform. However, when Black brushed away the messy hair that reached to the elbows, Fudge I know I was wrong.

At least the skeleton's eyes don't have that longing and terrifying light.

"Cough..." Fudge cleared his throat, "Black."

"Who are you?" the prisoner asked hoarsely.

"Minister of Magic." Fudge thought it necessary to introduce himself, "Cornelly Fudge."

The prisoner casually combed his long hair with his fingers, as if trying to understand the current situation: "What time is it now?"

"April 1993, 7."

The prisoner's lips moved slightly, and after a while he said, "The last time I spoke to a living person was 12 years ago."

"But you can speak English," said Fudge without thinking, and then he regretted it.

"When I have nothing to do, I will chat with the dementor." A hoarse laughter escaped from the prisoner's throat, as if mocking Fudge's stupidity.

He stared at the dry and emaciated face, unable to imagine what Blake was like before he was imprisoned.

"Now that you're here," Blake demanded boldly instead, "can you do something nice and give me a newspaper?"

"What do you want a newspaper for?" Fudge countered alertly. "You don't need to read the news."

"I want to do the crossword puzzle above," replied the prisoner calmly. "It's so boring here."

Fudge stared at him, the words stuck in his throat: chatting with dementors, doing crossword puzzles, are all these things that a man who has been in Azkaban for ten years should do?

Absolutely not!

Fudge suddenly remembered that the prisoner in front of him had easily used a spell to blow up the Muggle streets and killed thirteen people 12 years ago.

"Don't try to contact the outside world." He threatened almost instinctively, "especially your relatives who are also imprisoned here."

"What are you afraid of?" Blake hissed. "Did you think Bellatrix and I would be kind enough to exchange cards around the holidays?"

Fudge squeezed a word through his teeth: "Don't even think about it!"

"Okay." Black said obediently, "My only dream is to have a cup of tea with Rodolphus. I wonder if you can help arrange it?"

Black grinned mischievously at Fudge's expression, but in his current state that only made him look more scary than funny.

"Crazy," Fudge mumbled, turning to leave.

"Don't forget my newspaper!" Black reminded.

"You'll get a whole newspaper!"

As he himself said, the prisoners in Azkaban were either crazy or stupid. Who would have such a clear and rational consciousness?

The author has something to say:

Note:

1. [This awkwardness... reaches its peak]: The reason is the rustiness of Hyacinth's autograph (Hyacingth Parkinson).

2. The reason why Signus was not in a hurry to overturn the case after the first trial was that he thought Voldemort would win, and after the second trial he decided to sell Fudge in exchange for freedom, but the latter was one step faster.

3. One of Mr. Barnold's relatives is the former minister Millicent Barnold. In addition, Mrs. Figg is his aunt and his personal contacts. Barnold can easily know Hyacinth things.

4. In this conversation, Mr. Barnold's implication is the same as what Margaret said before: it is useless to immerse yourself in the past. Sometimes life requires compromise and letting go.

5. It is said in "Night of Dawn" that at least during Violet's visit, the Parkinsons are never at the dinner table at the same time.

6. ["Can you believe that day..."]: On that day, although Hyacinth didn't know her later friends and didn't meet Sirius, she had a mother and was full of expectations for life at that time, and she didn't Know what the future holds.

7. ["The last time I spoke to a living person was 12 years ago"]: Sirius refers to the time when he and Hyacinth were separated by the cell door in 1981, and the previous jailer said that the last time he saw a living person was "11 Years ago", but Fudge didn't see the loophole in it

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