Why was Professor Severus Snape here?
It was simple.
He'd come to back up his student.
Of course, he'd never admit it himself.
"Klein's talent is beyond question."
Snape walked into the room. He didn't care whether the round-faced old man across from him was the Minister of Magic. He spoke with a blank expression, as if stating the simplest fact in the world.
"Professor Severus Snape, I don't believe there's any need for you to be here."
Cornelius Fudge gave a cold snort, his tone distinctly unfriendly.
He was a powerful man, after all. Apart from Dumbledore, he didn't have to be nice to anyone.
"Heh."
Snape raised his chin slightly, revealing his gloomy face beneath his greasy hair.
His meaning couldn't have been clearer.
I'm here now. What are you going to do about it?
"Damn it!"
At the sight of Snape's sneering, world-weary face, Cornelius Fudge couldn't help cursing inwardly.
Was there something wrong with all of them?
One laughed, then another.
Didn't the Minister of Magic deserve any respect?
"Ahem, Minister, perhaps we should get down to business."
The accompanying secretary could see the fury building inside his superior and had no choice but to speak up, changing the subject to ease the heavy atmosphere.
There was no other way.
They were on someone else's turf. Even though the Ministry of Magic represented the government, they still had to be careful.
One was Dumbledore, "the greatest wizard," and the other was Severus Snape, "the Potions Master."
Neither was an ordinary person.
If they fell out—
The young secretary shuddered.
"Ahem. To get back to the point, after a unanimous decision by the Ministry of Magic, because the inventor of the 'Improved Healing Spell'—Klein Grindelwald himself—"
As he spoke, Cornelius Fudge glanced toward Klein.
"—has failed to provide clear evidence that he improved the spell, the awarding of the Order of Merlin, Third Class, has been postponed."
Absurd!
That was Klein's first reaction.
The "Ministry of Magic's unanimous decision" probably meant Cornelius Fudge himself.
At the thought, he couldn't help feeling rather helpless.
Dumbledore would have to take the blame for this one~
"Heh."
The old man kept smiling, not a trace of anger showing.
"Whether the Order is awarded has nothing to do with the Ministry of Magic. The Ministry's duty is to inspect and promote spells, not to make the decision."
Professor McGonagall suddenly spoke in a low voice.
The Order of Merlin was the only international group of outstanding wizards recognized by the Magical World that did not fall under the Ministry of Magic's jurisdiction.
In truth, Cornelius Fudge had no authority whatsoever to interfere with the Order's internal affairs.
"But the Ministry of Magic has the right to supervise and protect underage wizards."
If he couldn't control them, he'd simply force his way in. Cornelius Fudge was utterly uncompromising.
Even he knew he was twisting the rules, but his desire for control had been magnified beyond reason by his conspiracy theories. Whatever Dumbledore wanted to accomplish, he had to stop.
Opposition for opposition's sake!
"That's against the rules. The Ministry of Magic can't do this."
Professor McGonagall still refused to back down.
"Ridiculous."
Snape gave another cold snort, glaring at the Ministry officials with open hostility.
But just then, Dumbledore, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke.
"That's enough, Minerva, Severus."
He shook his head, glanced at Klein, who had said nothing and was doing his best to look like a well-behaved child, then turned to Cornelius Fudge.
"Thank you for coming in person to deliver the news despite your busy schedule, Cornelius. Well, I hope you have a pleasant day."
When Dumbledore spoke, he got straight to the point: he was dismissing them.
He put particular emphasis on the word "pleasant."
He was smiling, but everyone in the room could feel the anger hidden beneath his words.
"I will."
Cornelius Fudge replied in kind, his lips pressed tightly together. Holding on to his bowler hat, he left the room first. The other Ministry officials naturally hurried after their Minister, leaving the Headmaster's office.
Incidentally, no one saw them out.
"Headmaster, this isn't fair."
Only after those awful people had left did Professor McGonagall speak again. Her eyes showed both displeasure with the Ministry of Magic and sympathy for Klein.
In every scheme and power struggle, it was always the children who were innocent.
"Yes."
Dumbledore nodded, the anger he had deliberately feigned vanishing without a trace.
He picked up the teacup in front of him and took a contented sip. At the same time, he invited Professor McGonagall and Snape to sit down, looking completely at ease.
"Headmaster!"
Professor McGonagall raised her voice. She had no desire to savor that cloyingly sweet Honey Tea.
Snape, however, didn't refuse. He sat down on the sofa without a word.
"Professor McGonagall, thank you for standing up for me. But the Ministry's attempt to make things difficult for me isn't a problem. Well, actually, it isn't a problem at all."
Seeing that Dumbledore was sitting back and showing no intention of explaining, Klein sighed and had to reassure Professor McGonagall, a stern and upright woman.
Cornelius Fudge thought that taking the high ground as the official authority would let him put Klein in a bind—or, no, Dumbledore, rather.
Clearly, the round-faced "power-mad" man had forgotten the most important thing—
"Minerva, as you said, the Ministry of Magic has no authority to decide whether to award the Order of Merlin. They can talk big all they like, but in the end, all they can do is refuse to promote Klein's 'Improved Healing Spell.'
Cornelius Fudge, my old friend, clearly thinks far too much of the power he holds."
Dumbledore smiled, his white-and-gray beard quivering.
"I'm a member of the Order of Merlin, so I'm entitled to nominate Klein for membership.
Besides, we only went through the Ministry of Magic because we wanted official recognition, which would make Klein's honor more legitimate."
"You mean..."
Professor McGonagall paused, beginning to understand.
"I can write to invite the other members of the Order of Merlin to Hogwarts to evaluate him. According to the rules, as long as more than five members of the Order recognize Klein's contributions to the Magical World, the Order of Merlin can be awarded directly."
Meeting Professor McGonagall's gaze, Dumbledore nodded firmly.
They had gone through the Ministry of Magic to seek its endorsement and make it easier to promote the spell.
Cornelius Fudge had pulled this stunt for his own selfish reasons. Aside from finding it absurd, Dumbledore could only laugh.
Some people had already sunk too deep into the mire of desire to climb back out.
Guess who would be blamed when Klein's "Improved Healing Spell" was promoted not through the Ministry of Magic but through a joint endorsement by the Order of Merlin?
It certainly wouldn't be him.
"Then I'll take my leave."
With the matter perfectly resolved, Snape, who had been sitting quietly on the sofa, took the initiative to say goodbye.
Before leaving, he glanced at Klein, paused, then deliberately lowered his voice to give him a warning.
"Remember, Grindelwald, don't get so caught up in honors that you lose yourself. You know the consequences of failing to finish your homework can be dire."
Before you continue