The Price of Power

Vincent was entering Prongs Magical Appliances for the first time, and the style here was, how should he put it, very Sirius.

The entire shop was decorated in red and gold, and the most eye-catching central display wasn't some magical appliance, but a 1979 Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a Fat Bob, nicknamed "Fat Bob."

Vincent glanced at it a few times and noticed that its engine, like the motorcycle at Black Family Manor, had a levitation device similar to a Broomstick built into it, and even had an invisibility function added.

This reminded him of the Weasley's Ford Anglia 105E, and he wondered how that elusive flying car was doing in the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts.

"Vincent?" Sirius walked over, holding a glass full of whiskey. "What brings you here? Didn't you say you were going to be a shut-in?"

"I didn't say I'd be a shut-in forever." Vincent reached out to stop him from handing him the glass. "I'll pass on that, I drove here today."

Sirius turned away with a lack of interest and walked towards Lupin, who was on the sofa communicating with someone, "Don't be a stranger here, make yourself at home."

Vincent glanced out the window. The familiar aura in the alley across the street must be Wales, and the third building to the left seemed to have someone watching him as well, but he didn't know who it was.

He approached the window and met the eyes staring at him from across the street through the glass.

The other person seemed startled and didn't dare to stare at him so blatantly anymore.

"Monitoring you?" Vincent walked towards the two on the sofa.

Sirius lightly swirled the whiskey in his glass, "Anyone associated with the Order of the Phoenix is being closely monitored by the Ministry of Magic."

Fudge was quick to react, but the news of the Order of the Phoenix's reorganization shouldn't have leaked, and no one should know that there are actually many members of the Order of the Phoenix in the Ministry of Magic.

Vincent sat down on the sofa opposite them and saw Dumbledore communicating with Lupin.

That old Dumbledore really liked to freeload. The private Magical Base Station he worked so hard to set up wasn't meant for the Order of the Phoenix to use for secret communications.

"Professor, good morning."

Dumbledore could see Vincent's resentment even through the projection screen. "My boy, your timing is perfect."

Vincent quickly stood up. "No, I should be going."

Sirius almost dropped his glass at this sight.

Dumbledore said unhurriedly, "I received news—"

Vincent stopped.

"The Ministry of Magic is discussing whether to hold a hearing regarding 'spreading rumors about Voldemort's return.'"

Telling the truth had actually become spreading rumors. Fudge was completely hopeless.

He nonchalantly sat back down on the sofa. "Professor, am I the main character in this hearing too?"

Dumbledore smiled without saying a word.

Vincent still looked resentful, as if he wasn't worried about the hearing at all.

Dumbledore was broadcasting "rumors," and he, as the owner of the dubidubi video platform, was the so-called "rumor spreader."

The Ministry of Magic was clearly holding the hearing to target the two of them, and would definitely shamelessly bring out the Eleventh Decree, the Information Security Law temporarily implemented a few days ago.

New laws and hearings, Fudge was truly going to any lengths to cover up Voldemort's return.

After a brief silence, Dumbledore said in a low voice, "The Ministry of Magic may add a law prohibiting the private establishment of personal Magical Base Stations. According to the retroactive period of the Information Security Law, Wayne Enterprises and you personally may be formally investigated."

With a retroactive law in place, the hearing was just a formality. Whether he was guilty or not was up to Fudge.

He even used the rules of the International Confederation of Wizards, and the Wizengamot trial panel attending the hearing would definitely be won over in advance.

In short, there was no chance of winning. It was in their home field, they set the rules, and even the referees were on their side. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't change the inevitable outcome of losing.

Sirius and Lupin looked at Vincent, who seemed to be planning to lie down and give up, with hesitation.

If it were them in this situation, they would already be jumping up and down in anxiety. How could he be so calm?

"Vincent," Sirius finally couldn't hold back, "You really don't have to insist. We'll figure out a way to solve all the problems. You can just say you didn't know anything at the hearing."

Vincent shook his head. "That's exactly the result they want. As long as Voldemort's return is in doubt, Professor Dumbledore will immediately be accused of trying to split the British Wizarding World."

And once Dumbledore was found guilty, Voldemort, whose whereabouts were currently unknown, would definitely come out and cause trouble.

Maybe he would even be excited enough to do a snake-like dance, waving his hands and feet while making a crazy "Ehehehe" laugh.

Sirius drank the whiskey in his glass in one gulp. "That idiot Fudge, the wizarding world will be ruined in his hands sooner or later."

The current situation in the British Wizarding World was much more severe than the wizarding war that Voldemort started in 1970. The Ministry of Magic wasn't united, and was even thinking of hiding the truth.

Without any precautions, he didn't know how many people would die in the end.

Dumbledore, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke, "The hearing may not necessarily follow Cornelius's script. Even if I am no longer the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, it doesn't mean he can control the entire Wizengamot."

The Wizengamot was the Supreme Wizarding Court, with about 50 members, mainly from four groups: Ministry of Magic officials, academic leaders, judicial and legal experts, and representatives of pure-blood families.

Such an organization encompassing social celebrities from the British Wizarding World couldn't be completely controlled by ambitious people. Fudge could at most create a time difference by suddenly convening a hearing like the International Confederation of Wizards' vote, preventing those wizards who didn't support him from attending in time.

And Dumbledore's many years as Chief Warlock weren't for nothing. Even if he was just a mascot in the Wizengamot, his connections were far greater than Fudge's.

There was a chance of winning, but Vincent still looked like he was lying down and giving up. "Professor, why don't you reconsider my suggestion? I don't want to be called to some hearing every now and then."

Dumbledore's eyes twitched visibly in the projection screen. "My boy, I've said it before, power corrupts, and I've seen too many people corrupted by it and lose their humanity."

The most typical example was Fudge, who had become so mad in order to maintain his power that he disregarded the safety of the British Wizarding World.

Vincent curled his lips. "Professor, you really are a saint. You're not the young man you used to be. How do you know that you can't soberly wield power now?"

Dumbledore's azure eyes revealed endless sorrow.

In his youth, he had pursued power alongside Grindelwald, and if not for the death of his sister, Ariana, he might never have come to his senses.

It was precisely because he had paid such a terrible price that he was so resistant to power.