How to Spin It Without Fear?

Hearing that Dudley was about to dredge up old scores, Dumbledore immediately fell silent and obediently waited for what Dudley had to say next.

"I read in Modern Wizarding History that after Voldemort vanished ten years ago, his Death Eaters were imprisoned in Azkaban?"

Before assigning his task, Dudley asked a related question.

"Most of them were sent to Azkaban, but some Death Eaters claimed they had been under the Imperius Curse and had not truly wanted to serve Voldemort. Those people paid hefty fines and escaped imprisonment," Dumbledore answered.

"Were they questioned with Veritaserum?"

"...No. Veritaserum is an advanced potion. Only a few potion masters can brew it, so it cannot be mass-produced. Out of consideration for privacy rights and humanitarian concerns, it is generally not used in interrogations.

"Besides, most of those people came from influential pure-blood families in the Wizarding World. They were core members of their respective families and not Voldemort's most fanatical followers, so..."

"I understand. Powerful, influential fence-sitters. Looks like wizarding society did not manage to come up with anything new."

Dudley nodded in understanding. "But I need to remind you, Dumbledore: if you announce Voldemort's return to the Wizarding World, those people will very likely become restless. You must put enough psychological pressure on them beforehand."

"You're right, Dudley! A great many old-fashioned pure-blood families have severely hindered the development of the Wizarding World. Their ideas are rotten and extreme, and they need to be properly warned. I will caution them."

Dumbledore agreed with Dudley completely, but he could not think of a suitable excuse to carry it out.

Still, he had already grown accustomed to having an external brain.

"What should I do, Dudley?" Dumbledore asked.

Dudley had been waiting for Dumbledore to ask!

With a wicked grin, he said, "Simple. Kill all the Death Eaters imprisoned in Azkaban!"

"What?!" Dumbledore was utterly horrified and asked in disbelief, "You mean... kill them all?!"

"That's right!"

Dudley's tone was incomparably firm. More than that, he was puzzled by Dumbledore's intense reaction.

"Dumbledore, you should have done this long ago! I do not understand why you are so shocked! An eye for an eye, blood for blood—what could be simpler?

"Which of those Death Eaters fanatically loyal to Voldemort does not have blood all over their hands? Under Muggle law, they would have been executed by firing squad long ago!

"You wizards from the old era are far too tolerant—so tolerant that you are nearly foolish!

"The Death Eaters kill ordinary wizards and the wizards under your command who fight for justice, yet they do not have to pay with their lives. Is that fair?

"If you do not kill them now, then once Voldemort rises to power again and stages a mass breakout from Azkaban, have you considered how much damage those Death Eaters, tortured by Dementors for nearly ten years, will inflict upon the Wizarding World?

"Keeping enemies around to slaughter your allies—I cannot think of anything more foolish!

"Kill these Death Eaters now, and you can both severely intimidate those wavering fence-sitters and greatly weaken Voldemort's living forces. You can also search their memories for Voldemort's weaknesses—those unknown Horcruxes.

"This accomplishes several things at once. Do you really need to hesitate or be shocked? Just do it!"

"Dudley, what you said makes sense, but... these Death Eaters are mostly pure-bloods. Strictly speaking, most wizarding families in the Wizarding World are related to them in some way. Killing them all is difficult for me to accept at once, let alone other wizards."

Dumbledore still hesitated somewhat.

"Not to mention, there are only around three thousand wizards in the entire United Kingdom. If you really count it out, who is not related to whom?

"Did the Death Eaters ever think about those distant family ties when they killed your people?

"If you keep them alive now, the ones who die in the future will only be you! By then, it would not be impossible for half of those three thousand wizards to be lost!"

Dudley's words, which struck straight at the heart, completely convinced Dumbledore.

After giving it deep thought, Dumbledore, who understood the habits of Dementors, believed that if no intervention was made, there was a strong chance the Death Eaters would escape in the future. Voldemort might even recruit the inherently evil Dementors into his ranks.

If that really happened, he might be able to bear it, but the other wizards certainly would not.

"Fine! I'll do it!" Dumbledore clenched the Elder Wand hidden in his robe pocket.

Seeing that Dumbledore had made up his mind, Dudley's tone softened somewhat.

"Dumbledore, your concerns are not entirely without reason. Large-scale killing, even for the sake of justice, will inevitably frighten those ignorant, mediocre wizards. That could damage your reputation and prestige, which would not be good for us when we do bigger things in the future."

Dumbledore's thoughts could no longer keep up.

You were the one who wanted to kill the Death Eaters, and now you are the one with concerns. I have already made up my mind and begun nurturing killing intent, yet you are speaking the opposite way again.

What exactly do you want me to do?

Dudley saw the confusion in Dumbledore's eyes and explained, "What I mean is, you cannot act directly. You need to package this operation."

"How do we package it?" Dumbledore asked directly.

"Here is how it goes: Minister Fudge was convicted of corruption and bribery, stripped of office, and placed under investigation. Harboring resentment, he went to Azkaban.

"He tricked the Dementor guards into releasing the imprisoned Death Eaters, intending to use their power to seize back the position of Minister for Magic.

"This shocking conspiracy was discovered by Professor Dumbledore, who had come to visit Sirius.

"At this critical moment of life and death, in order to prevent harm from coming to the Wizarding World, Professor Dumbledore had no choice but to strike decisively. He unleashed a mysterious and powerful spell, wiping out the rioting Death Eaters in one blow!

"Afterward, the arrested Minister Fudge could not endure one devastating blow after another in life. His mind was traumatized, all his memories vanished, and he became an idiot.

"In the end, through the kind arrangements of the merciful Professor Dumbledore, he was confined in a mysterious prison without Dementor guards, where he would spend the rest of his life."

Dudley spoke with calm assurance, as though he were not making up a story, but delivering a rigorous news report.

Dumbledore was dumbfounded, and even Harry was somewhat stunned.

"Well, Dumbledore? Once you package it this way, most wizards will only recognize your strength and authority even more, rather than developing negative feelings toward you.

"Those wavering fence-sitters, meanwhile, will be frightened by you. Even if Voldemort's main soul approaches them, they will have reservations and will not quickly side with Voldemort. They might even report to you behind his back and betray Voldemort."