Visitors

On Tuesday morning, several stern-faced visitors appeared on the bridge before Hogwarts. A short, stout wizard in dark green robes and a tall, white-haired witch in purple-red robes walked out and entered Hogwarts with their heads held high.

The young wizards who had been hurrying to class stopped one after another, watching the two adult wizards with curiosity and surprise. At the windows overlooking the gates, the students pressed their heads together and chattered at the impressive-looking adult wizards lingering at the end of the bridge.

Cyberlina was always among the last to leave the Great Hall at breakfast, but today, Senior Gemma spotted her early on the staircase leading to the classrooms.

"Good morning. You're up early today, Cyberlina."

"Good morning, Senior Gemma." Cyberlina glanced at the students discussing things all around them. "What happened?"

Gemma stepped aside and gestured toward the window behind her, which offered a view of the bridge. "The Ministry of Magic sent a whole group of Aurors. I heard Minister Fudge brought an old Wizengamot witch to see the headmaster—but that's only what I heard. I didn't see them myself."

Cyberlina stepped forward and glanced at the obviously experienced Aurors. She smiled knowingly. "They're here to show off their strength."

"Show off their strength?" Gemma was puzzled for a second, then immediately understood. "You know what happened?"

"More or less..." Cyberlina turned toward Gemma's inquisitive eyes. "Don't worry. You'll find out soon enough. But before that—"

Cyberlina glanced at the sky. Under Gemma's renewed puzzled gaze, she smiled lightly. "I hope they'll be grateful that their not-too-bright superior chose such a warm, sunny day."

In the headmaster's office, Dumbledore sat behind his desk, smiling at Cornelius Fudge, who had settled leisurely into a chair. "Cornelius, if I remember correctly, I mentioned in my letter yesterday that I would visit you today."

"Lady Bostede wanted to see an old friend first," Fudge said with an innocent smile.

Dumbledore watched Fudge for several seconds before turning to the stern-looking witch in purple-red Wizengamot robes. He smiled. "It's been a long time, Allison."

"It has, Dumbledore." Allison Bostede did not even nod. She sat perfectly straight, displaying an attitude that showed she did not take Dumbledore seriously.

Fudge gave Dumbledore an apologetic look, indicating that even he was helpless against the stubborn old witch. But Dumbledore had already noticed the amusement in his eyes.

Dumbledore showed nothing on his face, but inwardly he began to sigh. Cornelius's dissatisfaction with him was growing more serious.

Since he needed to take Cyberlina to the Ministry of Magic to clear Hagrid's name, Dumbledore had written to Fudge on Sunday to inform him. Fudge had replied with a tactful refusal and asked for the reason. After obtaining Cyberlina's consent, Dumbledore wrote back, leaving out the four-person trip to the Chamber of Secrets.

He had hesitated at first. Fudge's dissatisfaction with him was increasing by the day, and he was worried that Fudge might refuse—even though it would not greatly affect the outcome, it would certainly make things more troublesome and push the Minister of Magic even farther away.

But after hearing his concerns, Cyberlina told him that he should write the letter. He also needed to emphasize that Voldemort might possess more than one soul, make her involvement clear, and mention her admiration for the abilities displayed by Voldemort's soul fragments. Then he should send it on Monday evening.

Dumbledore immediately understood what Cyberlina meant.

Given Fudge's personality, if he learned that Voldemort had hidden means of resurrection, he would vehemently deny it for the sake of his career. At the same time, to prevent too many people from learning the news, he would quickly settle Hagrid's case. That was what Dumbledore had thought when preparing his reply.

Clearly, however, Cyberlina did not want Fudge to brush aside Voldemort's affairs so easily.

If he merely said that Cyberlina had participated in the matter, Fudge probably would not react strongly. He might even be pleased by the assistance. But if he said that she admired Voldemort, Fudge would likely be far less pleased.

Dumbledore knew very well that although Fudge had become somewhat power-hungry and arrogant, he still possessed excellent abilities and keen senses. Otherwise, he would never have taken the Minister's position and held it for so many years. Having read the Ministry's files, Fudge could not possibly lower his guard around Cyberlina.

Now that Dumbledore had identified Cyberlina and stated that her position was unclear, and that she might even lean toward Voldemort, Fudge would certainly panic and seek help. Naturally, he would not seek it from Dumbledore, who had written the letter and was clearly on good terms with Cyberlina.

Then whom would he seek?

There was no doubt about it—the respected old witches and wizards of the Wizengamot.

They possessed reputations only slightly inferior to Dumbledore's. The older ones might even know Cyberlina and help confirm whether she was truly the same person from back then. Better yet, Fudge would find someone who was not on Dumbledore's side.

Once he did that, however, the Wizengamot would certainly inquire into the matter. Voldemort's affairs could no longer be suppressed so easily, and a case that should have been tried by the Wizengamot would rise in importance again. Fudge could no longer conceal the fact that Voldemort had hidden means of resurrection on his own.

Since Dumbledore understood Cyberlina's intentions, his letter contained a few more helpless references to her stubborn old-age temper. He expressed his powerlessness in the face of her existence and his unwillingness to do anything but acknowledge it.

The letter had indeed left Fudge dazed. On top of that, Dumbledore had sent it very late, leaving Fudge little time to think. There were not many people he could seek out overnight.

The Allison Bostede before him was the first candidate Dumbledore had chosen for Fudge in his mind.

She was two years behind young Dumbledore at school, an excellent Slytherin graduate, and came from a pure-blood family. She was one of the people favored by the Ministry's pure-blood supporters. More importantly, she had challenged Dumbledore publicly many times, even contradicting every word he said and bluntly declaring that, as a wizard, he was merely mediocre.

She truly was Fudge's best choice.

It was simply a pity—

Dumbledore smiled and addressed Bostede's cold expression without concern. "But you'll have to wait a little longer. Cyber will need some time to get here."

"Waiting for her is only proper—" Bostede's voice paused. She turned coldly toward Dumbledore. "What did you call her?"

"'Cyber.'" Dumbledore blinked innocently. "We've been good friends for so many years. What's wrong with calling her that?"

"She is your profes-sor." Bostede stared at Dumbledore and spoke each word clearly. "You should respectfully call her 'Professor Sekerei.' You cannot behave so disrespectfully."

"But Cyber asked me to call her 'Cyber.' If I have Cyber's permission, why can't I call her 'Cyber'?" Dumbledore smiled and popped a purple fruit drop into his mouth. He had not eaten breakfast yet!

"Dumbledore!" Bostede pressed her lips together, her freckled face reddening with anger.

Fudge hurried forward to placate her. "Lady Bostede, please don't be angry. Don't take him seriously. It wouldn't do to harm your health."

"That's right. Don't be angry, Allison." Dumbledore opened his hand and extended several fruit drops toward Bostede, who was sitting far away. "Have a sweet. Cyber made them herself."

Bostede trembled with anger.

Fudge was delighted to see the two of them quarrel. He was just about to continue his gleeful attempts at persuasion when Bostede stretched out a hand toward him.

"?" Fudge was confused.

"Go and bring them to me." Bostede was concise.

Fudge said, "...What?"

"Go and bring me the sweets." Bostede looked at Fudge as though he were an idiot. "Do you understand now?"

"Oh! I understand!"

Fudge understood what he was supposed to do, but not why. Under Dumbledore's amused gaze, he took two sweets—

"Bring them all."

Fudge immediately gathered all the sweets from Dumbledore's palm and handed them to Bostede. He then looked on in confusion as she put them into her pocket.

Dumbledore's smile deepened, and the grape flavor in his mouth grew even richer and sweeter.

It was simply a pity—the reason she had always been at odds with him was that he was Cyberlina's acknowledged, personally accepted student. His relationship with her was different from the ordinary teacher-student relationship between Bostede and Cyberlina.

When Bostede had been at school, Cyberlina had been her favorite professor!

As the three of them each pondered their own thoughts, the office door suddenly opened. A girl's voice came from the doorway. "Albus, who else is going to the Ministry of Magic besides us today?"

Bostede abruptly stood. She coughed lightly, raised her chin, and adjusted her perfectly arranged hair and purple-red Wizengamot hat. Then she clasped her hands over her abdomen. When the girl turned and saw her, Bostede smiled and said elegantly, "It's been a long time, Professor Sekerei."

"Ahem—" Dumbledore coughed, drawing the attention of all three. He immediately raised a hand and waved it in front of himself as if to cover up the laughter everyone could hear in his voice. "It's nothing, nothing—I just found the sweet a little too sugary."

Merlin, how many years had it been since he had seen Allison smile? He really should call young Bostede up and let her know that her great-grand-aunt could still smile.

"Be polite, Albus." Cyberlina helplessly turned her head, then smiled at Bostede. "It really has been a long time, little Allison. I told you that even when you reached a hundred, you would still be a beautiful and elegant woman."

Though age had caused Bostede's muscles to shrink, her tall build was still evident. When she had been young, her height and sturdy frame had made her the object of ridicule among her peers from other families. But those amusing remarks had vanished after she followed Cyberlina's advice—joining the Quidditch team as a Beater and beating several sharp-tongued young wizards with her fists at pure-blood gatherings during the holidays.

Professor Sekerei had said that elegance had nothing to do with body shape. She would always be the most elegant person! Even now!

Seeing the proud expression on Bostede's face, Fudge understood.

He had brought the wrong person!

His sudden visit the previous night had indeed been rude and unfriendly, but Bostede had agreed immediately after hearing his brief explanation. He had even secretly rejoiced that she and Dumbledore truly did not get along. But who could have expected that she had been so eager to see Professor Sekerei?

"This is—" Cyberlina's gaze shifted to Fudge.

Fudge immediately composed himself, extended his hand, and smiled. "A pleasure to meet you. Cornelius Fudge, current Minister of Magic for Britain."

"Oh, Minister." Cyberlina smiled and shook his hand. "A pleasure."

Looking at that sincere smile, Fudge decided that Cyberlina's first impression of him was probably still favorable.

"Minister, are those Aurors outside the school here with you?"

Fudge, who had specially brought several battle-hardened Aurors along to display the Ministry's strength, said proudly, "Yes, Professor Sekerei."

"Oh... Then, Minister, which wicked wizard has entered Hogwarts?" Cyberlina smiled warmly.

"?" Fudge was somewhat bewildered. "No one, surely? With Albus here, wouldn't that be walking straight into a trap?"

Cyberlina looked puzzled. "Then what have you come here for, Minister?"

Seeing her expression, Fudge assumed Dumbledore had not told her about the letter. He was secretly delighted. Keeping his face still, he slowly adopted a hesitant expression, darted a furtive glance at Dumbledore, immediately looked away, and said, "Well... I heard from Albus that you would be going to the Ministry, so—"

"Oh, I know about that, of course. I was beside Albus when he wrote the letter." Cyberlina interrupted his performance. "I'm only a little confused. If I remember correctly, Albus said that I was going to testify for Rubeus. Is that right?"

"Yes." Fudge nodded, his face revealing the embarrassment of having his little maneuver exposed.

"That's strange." Cyberlina's smile widened. "I'm only a witness, but judging by this display, Minister, it looks as though you intend to lock me in Azkaban..."

Fudge froze and hurriedly explained, "No, that isn't what I meant—"

"Then what did you mean?" Cyberlina asked with a beaming smile.

The person before him was smiling, yet the force radiating from her made Fudge's spine turn cold. Only after realizing that his body was instinctively afraid did Fudge truly begin to feel timid. He knew that unlike those long-practiced political leaders, the aura of the person before him had been forged from the lives of countless wizards.

It radiated bloodlust and overflowed with violence.

His body instinctively recoiled because a wizard's intuition was telling him one thing—run!

But for now—at least for the moment—he could not run. He could ask for help!

Thus, he instinctively looked toward Dumbledore.

Dumbledore merely gave him a helpless glance, indicating that he could do nothing about the stubborn witch who was now angry.

"Don't be nervous, Minister. I didn't mean to question you, either." Cyberlina smiled as she pulled Bostede onto the sofa. Then she waved her hand and summoned the small table from the other side of the office. She tapped it.

A fragrant breakfast and a cup of green tea mixed with milk appeared on the table.

"I haven't eaten breakfast yet. Would you like to have something with me, Minister?" Cyberlina invited Fudge.

"No, no... I've already eaten. Thank you for the offer." With the cold sweat fading from his back, Fudge immediately sat down on the sofa.

"May I?" Bostede asked, having paid no attention to Fudge until now.

"Of course."

Another breakfast appeared on the table.

Just as Bostede cast Dumbledore a provocative look, she discovered that he had already risen from behind his desk. He floated a chair beside Cyberlina's sofa and sat down, smiling at her.

"Oh, I almost forgot. You probably haven't eaten either, Albus." Cyberlina tapped the tabletop, and another breakfast appeared.

"Thank you, Cyber. You're so kind, Cyber." Dumbledore thanked her with a beaming smile, but his eyes were fixed on Bostede.

Bostede: "..." Childish!