Controversy

Located in the heart of London, Britain.

Hidden within Muggle society, the government institution of Britain's wizarding world.

Another fierce argument erupted inside the office of the British Minister of Magic.

"All right, everyone, listen up. I've only just taken office. I became Minister of Magic just after Christmas this year, yet the core of the major affairs I've dealt with in these first three months has all revolved around Sherlock, a five-year-old child, and the spells he invented. I'm practically becoming the Mephisto family's private nanny, cleaning up after them!"

Cornelius Fudge's voice was deafening. Everyone in the office felt as though they were sitting on pins and needles. They had never seen Fudge lose his temper so badly since taking office.

He had indeed assumed the position of Minister of Magic just after Christmas that year, and he had also taken advantage of an enormous opportunity. When Voldemort ruled the wizarding world with an iron fist,

the position of Minister of Magic had been nothing but a joke.

But after Voldemort vanished, the new Minister of Magic, Millicent Bagnold, used ruthless measures against the Death Eaters and the so-called pure-blood families that had sided with Voldemort, cleaning up the massive mess Voldemort had left behind in the wizarding world.

Only after the mess had mostly been cleared up did Fudge take office.

Yet in his first week as Minister of Magic, news arrived that Sherlock Mephisto, heir to the Mephisto family, a Dark wizarding family renowned throughout Europe, had invented a spell at the age of five.

While Fudge was still stunned by the news, he sent people to verify whether it was true. Once it was confirmed, he immediately contacted the Order of Merlin and personally led a delegation to the Mephisto family to present Sherlock with the Order of Merlin, Third Class.

Riding Sherlock's popularity, Fudge gained a great deal of public support in the wizarding world. He wanted every witch and wizard in Britain to know that as long as they achieved something, regardless of age, he as Minister would not remain indifferent, but would bestow honor upon them whenever possible.

He wanted everyone to understand that he was not an inactive Minister.

To be honest, Fudge's move had indeed made it easy for him to leave a favorable impression on the wizarding world.

But in the second month, he received news again. The Mephisto family's child had invented another spell, and this spell had even dragged Sherlock into rumors that he was a Parselmouth.

The ongoing debate over whether those gifted with Parseltongue posed a threat to the wizarding world had made Fudge feel that the work of a Minister of Magic was finally getting on track.

But with Dumbledore personally testifying that Sherlock's second spell, Whispering Word Spirit, was powerful enough to allow Dumbledore to communicate fluently with his pet phoenix,

and with more and more wizards joining in to verify it, Fudge had no choice but to once again join forces with the Order of Merlin to award Sherlock the Order of Merlin, Second Class. Dumbledore had even joined with members of the Order of Merlin to invite Sherlock to join the Order, so Fudge could not afford to act later than everyone else.

Thus, Fudge also joined the ranks of those recommending him.

This time, Fudge felt as though someone had led him into doing work he would never have volunteered for, and once again he had cleaned up after the Mephisto family for free.

After another month finally passed, Fudge had become increasingly adept at handling the Ministry's affairs when news came that Sherlock had invented a third spell.

Moreover, the spell had received joint praise from magical plant experts and scholars researching potion-making.

It was a marvelous charm that granted magical plants and ordinary plants a second chance at renewal.

This time, Fudge could not even be bothered to send someone to verify it. He could not help shouting in the office, "Is that boy from the Mephisto family some kind of spell-printing machine? When Merlin was that young, he probably hadn't even figured out the proper pronunciation of spells! Are all members of the Mephisto family freaks? I'm starting to believe that one-fifth of the wizarding world's Dark magic was invented by the Mephisto family. Who else could it have been but them?"

The Ministry of Magic had eight departments under its authority, responsible for properly handling all governmental affairs and incidents involving the wizarding world and Muggle society.

The heads of all eight departments had gathered in Fudge's office.

The head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement said in a half-joking tone, "That little fellow really is talented. I think you should award him an Order of Merlin, First Class. After all, this is already his third spell."

Fudge shot him a vicious glare. "Then what if he invents a fourth spell? What reward could I possibly offer then? The Ministry doesn't have to reward every wizard who invents a spell, but he is the heir of an ancient family, and he has achieved things at such a young age that many great wizards cannot. If I, as Minister, do nothing, people will despise me!"

"Anyway, I think... even that person... the one whose name cannot be spoken, didn't have such talent as a child. If he follows Voldemort's path and starts committing evil, who in the wizarding world could stop him? Heh heh!"

One of the officials made the joke to amuse himself, but he quickly noticed that everyone in the office was looking at him strangely.

"What?"

"I think you'd better shut that mouth of yours, you bastard!"

The man's face flushed crimson with anger, but he said nothing.

"I hope that when topics are discussed in my office from now on, certain people will stop bringing up subjects that make everyone uneasy," Fudge warned the heads of every department, his face grim.

"But returning to the previous topic, there is no denying that we must respond quickly to this Surging Spring Life Charm. Oster, the head of St. Mungo's, particularly admires Sherlock. A spell capable of bringing magical plants back to life has greatly eased St. Mungo's shortage of medicinal supplies, and Oster has had an unusual friendship with Sherlock ever since Sherlock invented his first spell, Scarless Healing."

Fudge said with some irritation, "Now the relationship between the Mephisto family and St. Mungo's has gradually grown closer because of one child. Even though the Mephisto family currently lives in seclusion, Dumbledore of Hogwarts also admires Sherlock. He even invited him to visit Hogwarts before he was old enough to enroll."

Fudge was a man who liked keeping power in his own hands and was greedy for money. Ever since becoming Minister of Magic, the only person he truly feared was Dumbledore, Hogwarts's headmaster.

Because Dumbledore had received invitations to become Minister of Magic many times, only to refuse them every time.

But that did not stop Fudge from fearing Dumbledore's fame, prestige, and influence. In the entire wizarding world, aside from the vanished Voldemort, only Dumbledore had the ability to threaten his position.

And now the Mephisto family had close ties with St. Mungo's, while Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts, was actively courting them.

Fudge had already begun treating the Mephisto family as a hypothetical enemy.

He muttered, "An exceptionally gifted young wizard, Dumbledore's chosen future right-hand man, St. Mungo's, and the ancient Mephisto family."

Even though the Mephisto family had declined somewhat and become isolated, Fudge did not dare underestimate this ancient family with its long heritage.

One was Europe's only magical hospital, one was Hogwarts, one of Europe's three great schools, and one was Europe's oldest wizarding family.

The three together were enough to give Fudge a splitting headache.

"Ahem. Then, Minister, how do you intend to reward young Sherlock?" Umbridge, standing nearby, offered a kindly reminder.

What she received in return was Fudge's furious outburst. "Reward? No! Absolutely not! He only invented a spell. Do I have to contact the Order of Merlin and award him an Order of Merlin, First Class? Impossible! I will not let him become a second Dumbledore and receive an Order of Merlin, First Class!"