Since becoming Minister of Magic, Fudge had never been as furious as he was now. It was not because Defence Guide had predicted that the public would drive him from office next year, but because someone was trying to use Defence Guide to force him into a corner.
Had Voldemort truly returned?
Fudge truly did not want to discuss that question with anyone, because the answer had to be that "Voldemort has returned" was nothing but a lie.
That was political correctness.
After flying into a rage at everyone outside, Fudge slammed shut the door to the Minister's Office.
He angrily threw the crumpled Defence Guide in his hand onto the floor. Stomping on it several times still did not vent his anger, so he picked up the magazine and tore it to shreds.
What did it mean, Azkaban would suffer a mass breakout? What did it mean, Cornelius Fudge would be driven from office by the public next year?
"Damn Dumbledore, damn it, damn them all!"
Fudge could never have imagined that Dumbledore would strike back like this.
He knew very well that if news of Voldemort's return was true, then the magazine before him would force him completely into a corner. Especially once some of its so-called prophecies came true, people would place absolute faith in everything it said.
Would they come true?
Fudge did not know, but he did not want to gamble either. If he lost, he would truly be finished. Perhaps, just as the magazine predicted, he would be driven from office by the public.
And then his reputation would be utterly ruined.
This was all Dumbledore's scheme!
A magazine run by Sirius Black? Fudge did not believe that rubbish. If Dumbledore were not pulling the strings behind the scenes, did Sirius Black have the