The students in the Castle watched them curiously, their whispers echoing through the corridor. Fudge could feel the scrutiny in their gazes, which only made him more agitated.
He spotted a familiar silver-eyed boy but paid him no attention. Right now, he was wondering why Dumbledore had not come to meet him...
What was Dumbledore playing at?
A school headmaster was actually waiting in his office for the Minister for Magic to come to him, without even the courtesy of greeting him!
He was displeased. This was contempt for the Ministry of Magic!
He worked himself up, ready to have a serious talk with Dumbledore...
But that imposing air did not last long before a cloyingly sweet aroma melted most of it away.
The door to the Headmaster's Office stood wide open, a rare sight. They could walk straight in without a password. The rich, sweet scent of cream cake had already spread into the corridor, and the white-haired, white-bearded, white-robed old man was cutting the cake into slices.
Albus Dumbledore sat behind his desk, his blue eyes watching the approaching group calmly through his half-moon spectacles, as though he had expected their arrival all along. Fawkes lay on his perch, tiny flames flickering over his body. Seeing people enter, he lazily shifted around and pointed his rear at Fudge.
"Cornelius, everyone, please come in." Dumbledore's voice was gentle, and the expressions of the people behind Fudge eased considerably.
Fudge, however, clearly had no patience for pleasantries. He walked straight to the desk without sitting down, planted both hands on its surface, and leaned forward. He opened his mouth twice before managing to force out a stern tone. "A-Albus, what on earth is going on? More than two hundred Dementors! They disappeared right under Hogwarts's nose! You must give me