Let's go be minister, professor

The meeting lasted a long time, and it wasn't until late at night that everyone left the Hog's Head Inn with heavy steps.

The sky gradually turned a dark blue-green, and at this moment, only Kyle and Dumbledore remained in the bar.

At this moment, the bartender, who had been wiping glasses behind the counter, finally spoke. This was also his first time speaking all day, "It's time for you to leave, Dumbledore."

"For the sake of a large sum of Galleon, Aberforth, could you let me stay a little longer?" Dumbledore said, his voice tinged with weariness.

Aberforth frowned, a look of disgust on his face, but he didn't chase the person away.

"Doesn't it seem strange?" Dumbledore said to Kyle, "Yes, you heard me right, Aberforth, he's mine..."

"Dumbledore!" a cold voice rang out. "If you continue, you'll never set foot in my bar again."

Dumbledore kept quiet, then changed the subject, saying, "Kyle, do you know why I sent you?"

Kyle glanced at Dumbledore, then at the gloomy-faced shopkeeper beside him.

He was naturally aware of their relationship.

... Aberforth Dumbledore, the shopkeeper with the strongest ties to Hogsmeade.

However, since the two didn't want to talk about it, he pretended not to know and followed Dumbledore's words, saying, "Let me tell them the truth about Voldemort's resurrection?"

"That's only one aspect." Dumbledore said calmly, his face expressionless. "Those who are here today, along with members of the Order of the Phoenix, are all trustworthy people. When the war breaks out, they will stand firmly on our side."

"I think you should know who they are."

Kyle frowned; he had a feeling that Dumbledore a little strange today.

To be honest, Kyle didn't really think it was necessary, since maintaining contact with them was Dumbledore's own responsibility.

Also, it was somewhat strange that he suddenly mentioned Aberforth's name, as if he was deliberately revealing their relationship to me.

Aberforth was not far away, also noticed this. He couldn't help but put down his cup and asked in the same tone of disgust:

What are your plans?

"No, not at all," Dumbledore denied. "But I have no plans at the moment."

"Is that so?" Aberforth sneered, clearly not believing him. "I thought you could control everything, ha, great Dumbledore."

"You don't understand." Dumbledore's tone rose slightly. "In fact, I'm not as perfect as you think, a fact I've only recently discovered. Sometimes, this boy's ideas are more insightful than mine."

"So I think he needs to know these things, that's all."

Aberforth glanced at Kyle instinctively; this was the first time he had ever heard Dumbledore speak so highly of someone.

However, he didn't say anything.

Anyway, none of this concerns him. At most, he just provides a venue, that's all, and he charges a fee for it.

"Then let's calculate the cost." Aberforth adopted a businesslike tone. "Your men ordered twelve bottles of cherry soda, eighteen bottles of Pumpkin Juice, nine pints of Butterbeer, and various other things. I'll give you five hundred Galleon. Here's the money."

Kyle's lips twitched slightly.

Good grief, five hundred Galleon? How did he calculate that? If it were Three Broomsticks, the drinks he just quoted would only amount to fifty Galleon at most.

How come the price has increased tenfold here? That's outrageous, even more so than Fred and George.

They only doubled the price of what they sold to Ron at most.

"Oh, that's a good deal." Dumbledore hesitate and immediately took out a bag of gold coins and placed it on the counter.

Aberforth accepted the money, his expression finally softened, and he reverted to his previous silent boss persona, ignoring Dumbledore's incessant chatter.

Kyle looked at them, especially Dumbledore, who seemed to have become a chatterbox, and felt that he wasn't telling the truth.

Then, something suddenly occurred to him.

That Time-Turner... Is Nicolas Flamel's Philosopher's Stone nearing completion, or already finished?

Thinking of this, Kyle couldn't help but frown... The Time-Turner was undoubtedly incredibly attractive to Dumbledore, but it was also extremely dangerous for the user.

Could it be that he intends to use it now?

Kyle thought it was possible more and more, but just then, Dumbledore walked over.

"Alright, we should go back," he said. "What are you thinking about?"

"Oh, it's nothing." Kyle quickly shook his head, making up an excuse, "I just felt that everyone seemed to have overlooked a very important point in the meeting just now."

"What is it? Tell me," Dumbledore stopped and asked.

Although this was a plan he had prepared for over a month, he still valued Kyle's opinions.

"The Ministry of Magic," Kyle said. "It seems like everyone's overlooked that."

"The Ministry of Magic?" Dumbledore repeated softly.

"Yes," Kyle said, "We've completely fallen out with Fudge, and he's been viciously slandering anyone who believes in Voldemort's resurrection, especially you, Professor..."

"Ah, yes." Dumbledore nodded, admitting, "I did have a big argument with him."

"That's the problem," Kyle continued. "If we let this go unchecked, the Ministry of Magic might become a hindrance. We can't possibly deal with Voldemort while also having to fend off the Ministry of Magic's interference; that would be too much of a waste of time."

After a moment of silence, Dumbledore said, "I'll handle this. I'll go talk to Cornelius."

"Excuse my bluntness, Professor," Kyle said without hesitation.

"Fudge initially made two trips to Hovogs every day simply because he was worried that someone would threaten his position; only in this way could he gain more support."

"But things are different now than they were two years ago, especially after Barty Crouch was transferred to the insignificant Department of Magical Transportation, so no one can threaten his position now."

"So, if you're still trying to deal with Fudge the way you always have, you might be disappointed."

"Ha..." Aberforth, not far away, let out a mocking sneer. "Such a simple thing, the great Dumbledore actually needs a child to remind him."

But Dumbledore ignored him and simply looked at Kyle, asking, "Tell me your thoughts."

"It's simple, Fudge's attitude is the most crucial point." Kyle shrugged. "If he's willing to listen, that's best, even if it's just to not cause trouble. If not... I think replacing him with a different minister wouldn't be a bad idea."

"No..." Dumbledore blurted out, "A sudden change of Minister for Magic would cause unnecessary panic, which is exactly what Voldemort wants to see. We can't do that."

"But it's better than him constantly causing trouble behind our backs," Kyle continued. "We're preparing to fight the Death Eaters, and the Ministry of Magic, which should be supporting us, is constantly sabotaging us and inciting more people to slander us. That's what Voldemort really wants."

"No, it still won't work," Dumbledore insisted. "I know it must be what happened a few days ago that made you think this way, but Fudge is still the Minister for Magic, and he can't be harmed."

"If we actually did that, eliminating Fudge for our own convenience, how would we be any different from Voldemort's Death Eaters?"

"You pedantic fool," Aberforth scoffed again, this time with even greater sarcasm. "Looks like you're really getting old; your mind isn't even as clear as a child's."

Dumbledore still ignored him, his gaze fixed intently on Kyle.

"Promise me you won't have those thoughts again."

"Well, fine," Kyle said nonchalantly. "Actually, not changing the Minister for Magic isn't impossible. I have another way that might change Fudge's attitude."

"How do we do it?" Dumbledore interest.

"Before we go on, I must say something," Kyle said. "This approach might slightly damage your reputation, Professor. I still recommend finding a different Minister for Magic."

"No, it's alright," Dumbledore insisted. "Just tell me. As long as you stop thinking about getting rid of Fudge, I will fully cooperate with you."

"Alright." Kyle looked up at him and said, word by word, "Go compete for minister, Professor."

"What?" Dumbledore didn't react for a moment.

"Of course, I'm not actually going to be Minister for Magic," Kyle said. "It's just a formality, to send a little signal to the outside world."