Dumbledore merely smiled without speaking. No, that was not quite right—he did speak. "A storm is coming... If you want to run from it, resigning would be safer. If you intend to remain in office, however, that is another matter."
Fudge's face shifted from green to red. He struggled fiercely with himself for quite some time, but in the end, a politician's ambition overcame a man's instinct for survival.
"I will not resign."
"Then congratulations, Minister... And... prepare yourself," Dumbledore said with a smile.
"If you could tell me what this so-called war is," Fudge said dryly.
"One day, you will know."
As Fudge departed, Sirius's countdown to restoring his reputation gradually began. Next came a simple Wizengamot vote, which should be easy enough.
"All right, Sirius and children, perhaps you should find somewhere else to go," Dumbledore said.
Sirius looked toward Kayson, who shrugged. "My office door isn't locked. Go ahead, but remember to lock it after you get in. Some young wizards tend to come looking for me to chat."
Soon, only three people remained in the office: Kayson, Dumbledore, and Peter Pettigrew, who was still lying on the floor, unable to move in the slightest.
Dumbledore waved his wand, and Peter Pettigrew stiffened like a mummy. Then a tall cabinet in the distance opened, and another mummy floated out from within.
Well, it was not actually a mummy. It was their old acquaintance, Karkaroff.
After tossing Peter Pettigrew into the cabinet, Dumbledore lifted the restraining spell from Karkaroff.
"I am still curious. How did you come to Hogwarts?" Dumbledore asked with a smile.
"I really only..."
Before Karkaroff could finish, Dumbledore ruthlessly cut him off. He glanced at Kayson, who awkwardly pointed at himself. "No matter how you look at me, I don't seem like someone skilled