Dumbledore was a man of action. He would never put off until tomorrow what could be done today.
During the lunch break, he traveled through the Floo Network to the Ministry of Magic's entrance hall. The changes that greeted him made him frown slightly.
The former calmness and solemnity had been replaced by dazzling splendor. Any sense of urgency had vanished, and the wizards all wore smiles that came from the heart.
Dumbledore approached the reception desk, where the young female clerk greeted him with a beaming smile.
"Professor Dumbledore, I'm terribly sorry, but Minister Fudge is in a meeting. You may need to wait for a while."
"That's all right." Dumbledore went to the waiting area, where the noticeably brighter long sofas had clearly been replaced.
He turned to look at the iconic structure in the center of the hall: the Magic Brothers Fountain.
The pure gold statues emitted a faint, dazzling radiance. The circular pool at their base reflected rings of brilliant light. It had obviously been carefully decorated and looked as good as new.
It was not just the fountain. The floors, walls, ceiling ornaments, and even the inconspicuous potted plants in the corners gleamed brightly. No wonder the Ministry of Magic's recent reputation had improved. So it was all due to cosmetic work.
Dumbledore suddenly felt a little sorrowful.
Danger was closing in, yet the Ministry of Magic was immersed in the illusion of prosperity.
An hour passed, and the young female clerk who had received him earlier approached with an apologetic expression.
"Professor Dumbledore, Minister Fudge's meeting has been extended. You may need to wait a little longer."
The meeting was probably just an excuse. Fudge must have thought public support was behind him, his confidence swelling as he put on airs.
Just as before,