Klein could clearly sense Snape's attitude toward him had changed, but he was even more curious about the contents of those few sheets of parchment.
"List ten uses for Sheep Liver Fruit? Ten?"
After carefully recalling everything he knew about Sheep Liver Fruit, Klein was astonished to discover that every book—even the authoritative Potions and Magic—listed only nine uses.
There was absolutely no tenth use!
"Looks like this is the homework Snape gave me: deducing the properties of a potion."
Muttering to himself, he rummaged through his suitcase, pulled out several thick books on potion-making, and began reading intently.
There was still some time before curfew. The boys in the dormitory were chatting and fooling around, while Klein, just back from serving detention in Snape's office, was reading. He looked a little out of place. Goyle sidled up to Draco, who was wearing silk pajamas, and asked in confusion,
"Draco, isn't tomorrow a holiday? Why is Boss Klein still studying?"
"How should I know?"
Draco wasn't in the mood to chat. He was still thinking about what the Bloody Baron had said that afternoon.
"I'm not some 'mediocre, pathetic nobody.' I'll prove it."
Muttering under his breath, Draco sent Goyle away. For the first time, he drew the silver-gray curtains around his bed before curfew.
He decided to get a good night's sleep and start working hard tomorrow.
Even if he couldn't become a genius like Klein,
at the very least,
he would become outstanding!
The autumn breeze was gentle and mild. On Saturday, Hogwarts was like a sleepy girl, languid from top to bottom.
Apart from the Quidditch teams that had to train, the lawns were almost deserted. It was in this quiet setting that Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, entered the castle.
"Hello, Mister Cornelius. Please, follow me."
Professor Minerva McGonagall was in charge of receiving the Ministry delegation.
The stern witch showed no special deference even to the Minister of Magic, and treated the visit as strictly official business.
"Mm."
Cornelius Fudge gave a noncommittal reply and tugged at the brim of his bowler hat.
If he could help it, he really didn't want to come to Hogwarts to see That Person.
The moving staircases were no obstacle to Professor McGonagall, who had taught at the school for over a decade. Before long, she had led Cornelius Fudge and the accompanying Ministry officials to the Headmaster's Office on the Seventh Floor.
They knocked on the brass knocker shaped like a Gryphon and entered beneath the watchful gaze of the stone gargoyles flanking the wooden door.
An old man and a young one had been waiting inside for quite some time.
"Cornelius, it's been a long time. And welcome to all of you from the Ministry. Come, have some refreshments I've prepared."
Dumbledore rose with a smile and, like a host, invited everyone to sit. With a wave of the Elder Wand he'd "borrowed," cups of Honey Tea and biscuits appeared on the large table without warning.
"It's been a long time, Dumbledore."
Cornelius Fudge nodded politely, his tone cool.
Even he didn't notice that his expression had stiffened.
Klein thought the Minister looked like a round-faced hyena trying to maintain his dignity in front of an old lion.
"It has. You haven't written to me in years."
Dumbledore chuckled, stroking his white beard. His brown eyes twinkled behind his half-moon spectacles.
"Ahem. We should get down to business. This is Klein Grindelwald, I presume?"
Cornelius Fudge didn't want to dwell on a sore subject, so he quickly shifted everyone's attention to Klein.
The past was best left in the past.
He was the Minister of Magic, after all. He had his pride!
"Hello, Mister Minister. I'm Klein."
Ignoring the undercurrent between Cornelius Fudge and Dumbledore, Klein gave a slight bow, neither servile nor arrogant.
"Mm."
Cornelius Fudge replied coolly, his belly sticking out.
Then he turned back to Dumbledore and said,
"After a review by our experts, the modified healing charm is indeed excellent enough to merit a Third-Class Order of Merlin. But there is one problem..."
He paused, his tone suddenly turning stern.
"Many people at the Ministry suspect that the charm wasn't actually developed by Klein Grindelwald himself."
A child who had only recently started school and learned to wave a wand—what could he possibly know? Klein Grindelwald was obviously just a puppet put forward by that old fox, Dumbledore!
Did they really think such a low-level trick could fool him, the Minister of Magic?
Cornelius Fudge gave a cold laugh, his eyes seeming to flare with anger.
Klein silently watched the Minister's sudden performance, at a loss for words.
His obsession with power had plunged Cornelius Fudge deep into conspiracy theories. Anything even remotely connected to Dumbledore could automatically become a threat to his ministerial seat.
He'd only wanted to build a little reputation, and now he'd stumbled into this mess. Klein furrowed his brow, thought for a second, then lowered his head like a well-behaved child.
"Is that what people at the Ministry think, or is it what you think?"
Dumbledore remained calm, tossing the question back to Cornelius Fudge.
"I can't comment on that."
Cornelius Fudge's tone was forceful. Before Dumbledore could speak, he continued,
"Dumbledore, no matter what, the child is innocent. If you want to use 'Grindelwald' as a shield for your misdeeds, you're badly mistaken!"
Professor McGonagall, standing nearby, was completely bewildered.
What on earth?
"It's true that you defeated Gellert Grindelwald, but that was a very, very long time ago.
Everyone grows old eventually. Clinging to past achievements isn't what a wise man should do."
Cornelius Fudge sighed, wearing an expression that said, "I've seen through everything."
"Deliberately bringing the child of your old enemy's family from Germany to Hogwarts, then making him famous in the wizarding world—that's all part of your plan, isn't it?"
Cornelius Fudge touched the brim of his hat, a scornful sneer unmistakable at the corner of his mouth.
"You've been lying low in this castle for too long, so you want the outside world to see your magnanimity and your ability again. Am I wrong?"
It was all so well argued that there was no way to refute it!
If he could, Klein would have applauded the Minister's boundless imagination.
He thought Cornelius Fudge was wasting his talents by not writing novels.
"Heh."
Dumbledore said nothing, only smiled.
He looked at Cornelius Fudge, his gaze calm and gentle.
"There's no doubt about Klein's talent."
Just then, a gloomy voice suddenly came from behind them.
Long hair, black robes.
Severus Snape had appeared in the doorway as silently as a ghost.
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