The Order of Merlin was awarded by the Wizengamot, an organization that predated the Ministry of Magic and now served as a combination court and parliament.
Wizard,
Witenagemot,
Wizard Witenagemot—the Wizengamot.
The Chief Warlock was their highest-ranking official, and its members included many senior Ministry of Magic officials and renowned wizards.
As a wizarding court, all ten jurors were drawn from among them.
Besides its judicial functions, the Wizengamot also served as the wizarding parliament and possessed legislative authority.
For example, during the First Wizarding War, Newt Scamander had advocated the bill "Prohibiting the Breeding of Fantastic Beasts for Experimental Purposes";
and Arthur Weasley's recently submitted "Muggle Protection Act" both needed to be reviewed and amended by them before they could be implemented after final approval.
Therefore, under normal circumstances, the Minister for Magic could not directly interfere with a verdict.
If they were still worried, they could invite Dumbledore to serve as their lawyer.
Although the Chief Warlock was a mascot much like the Queen, proper respect still had to be shown.
And to keep the Wizengamot in check, the democratically elected Minister for Magic had the authority to dismiss the Chief Warlock.
So Fudge was not at all intimidated by Dumbledore; he merely needed a good reputation after taking office.
Such a major department that combined legislative and judicial authority fell under the Department of Magical Law Enforcement on the second underground level.
Besides that, the Wizengamot had two neighbors: the Improper Use of Magic Office and the Auror Command Headquarters.
The Muggle Artefacts Office was also at the end of the corridor on this floor, and it was even smaller than the broom closet opposite it.
It barely counted as a neighbor.
Not long after the meeting chaired by Fudge ended, Dumbledore happened to take