Most of the crowd respectfully lined up to leave the great hall, leaving only Fudge, Lucius, a few other officials of department-head rank or above, and those already seated.
Only then did Shawn turn his attention to Fudge, whose expression still held a trace of resentment.
People like him needed constant reminders to keep them in line.
"Are you dissatisfied?"
Under Shawn's gaze, as vast as a star-filled sky, a cold sweat broke out across Fudge's back, snapping him fully to his senses.
He hurriedly dropped to his knees and admitted his fault.
"My lord, I was wrong."
Shawn paid him no further attention, leaving him kneeling as he swept both hands outward. The great hall rumbled.
From all four directions, every occupied rank seat automatically rose into the air and arranged itself in a V formation before the Throne.
Shawn nodded. This would make smaller meetings more convenient.
"Next, let's discuss whether to attack the Ministries of Magic in France and elsewhere, Alice's progress in the United States, and shutting down England's Gringotts..."
Lucius and the others took seats at the rear, but sitting alongside his son as an equal made both father and son rather uncomfortable. Neither said a word throughout the ensuing discussion.
Fudge remained on his knees the entire time, filled with dread.
Two hours later, the smaller meeting ended.
Shawn asked Neville to stay and dismissed everyone else to carry out what they had just agreed upon as quickly as possible.
In particular, the plan to shut down Gringotts before Christmas as a warning to the others needed to be put into action immediately.
Fudge was the most eager of all. He promptly gathered Carrow-er, Wenge, and the others and took them to his Minister's Office.
Once everyone else had left, Neville grew a little