Early in the morning, Lucius arrived at the Ministry of Magic.
Fudge's meaning was clear: this matter was far too serious, and it would be difficult for him to cover it up.
Difficult, that was all. Not impossible.
"Lucius, you must understand the severity of this matter!" Fudge pretended to be furious and slammed his hand heavily onto the desk.
"If it weren't for your past contributions to the Ministry, you'd already be standing in the dock alongside Gilderoy!"
Naturally, Lucius understood how serious this was.
Ever since the British Ministry of Magic had been established, nearly every Minister had found ways to bleed ancient Pure-blood families like theirs dry.
He had no interest in knowing how much of it truly went into the Ministry. He only knew that if he did not bleed heavily today, the Malfoy Family would become a scapegoat alongside Lockhart.
"Minister Fudge, since you were willing to receive my request for a private meeting, does that mean there is no conclusive evid—"
"Lucius! Do you think we don't have any?" Fudge suddenly pulled open a drawer and threw a thick stack of parchment before him.
"The witnesses and physical evidence are all here. And the House-elf from your home has been missing for quite a while, hasn't it?"
Lucius opened the top parchment, and his expression grew increasingly unpleasant, especially when he saw the signature.
Vincent Wayne!?
Ever since his son Draco had started school, that name had appeared in nearly every letter he received.
At first, he had wanted to use his authority as a School Board Member to teach that Muggle-born a proper lesson.
But his old enemy Arthur had jumped out and turned the tables, while Dumbledore had taken a little blood from him under the pretext of student welfare.
He was