Where a Ministry's employee supposedly investigates Dumbledore, while another investigation ends.
AMELIA IV
Amelia supposed that she should have expected this. But despite her long experience and everything she saw through her life, she hadn't thought of the possibility that the large mansion she travelled to was actually no mansion at all. Officially, it was listed as a mansion by the Ministry of Magic. It made sense, considering the large terrain occupied by the residence. It especially made sense for the Ministry who got a large part of its revenues from property taxes. It would have made no sense for tax collectors to classify the estate as a natural reserve, exempt from fiscal contributions, when they could grab a large amount of money for the coffers of the Ministry. Even though the estate was definitely a natural reserve.
This was no wonder that such an estate was located in Dorset, a largely rural county. This allowed the property to be relatively far from Muggle eyes, and for those who dared to approach it, magic would cause them to walk away. Amelia was no Muggle, so she had no trouble reaching the property. Right as she set foot on its grounds, Crups, Diricawls and Mooncalfs approached Amelia, though they remained at respectable distance. She supposed they were taught to remain away from wizards entering the place. Augureys and Jobberknolls flew over her head. Amelia was glad they didn't approach her too much. She never got the trick with animals.
Following a narrow earth path, a large house made of stone and wood appeared. If a tax controller of the Ministry had come here without knowing who lived there, he would have classified it as a refuge for magical creatures made by men rather than a mansion. And it would have been an accurate assumption. Amelia knew that most of this large house that was covered by lichens, branches, creepers and leaves was actually home to some of the most wonderful magical creatures in the world.
She reached the front door, where an inscription indicated "Labour of Love". She knocked on it three times. She waited for a while until finally the door opened. An old woman stood in front of Amelia. Angular features, brown eyes, short white hair cut neatly at the level of her jaw, with strands of her once dark-brown hair, her lips curbed in a smile the way that was proper only to this woman. She looked at her watch.
"You're on time," she commented.
"Is your husband here?" Amelia asked. "I had a meeting arranged with him."
"He's taking care of the Thunderbird. He should be available soon. I suppose you would like to come in."
Amelia nodded, and the old woman let her in.
The house, contrarily to what her appearance suggested, was quite small inside. Amelia suspected it was because of the large space dedicated to magical creatures. As the owner of the place had tea being prepared an animal resembling a cat approached Amelia.
"Mauler, leave our guest quiet," the old woman warned him as Amelia sat down in a chair in their living room. The Kneazle wandered away. "He's the most strongheaded of the three," she offered as an explanation.
"I couldn't tell," Amelia commented. "I was never very good with magical creatures. It's not for nothing that I never worked in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."
"Neither did I," the old woman said, settling the cups of tea on the small table as she sat down on a couch. "So, why is the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement visiting us?"
Amelia shouldn't be surprised. "Straight to the point as always, Tina."
Porpentina Goldstein's lips curved into her well-known smug smile. "You know me," she replied as a matter of fact.
Indeed, Amelia knew that woman. One of the most famous Aurors in the history of the Magical Congress of the United States of America, Porpentina Goldstein was known for fighting Grindelwald and contributing to his first arrest during the Global Wizarding War. She was also famous for being the wife of the famed Magizoologist Newton Scamander. It was only relatively recently that she moved to live with him on a permanent basis in Dorset, after an Auror career in the United States that lasted many decades. But she had also helped the Ministry of Magic of Great Britain and Ireland during the First Wizarding War, helping to train its staff to face Voldemort. It was even rumoured that she and her husband were members of the Order of the Phoenix then created by Albus Dumbledore to fight Voldemort in secret. Amelia had been one of the people who benefitted from the training Goldstein provided. Some of the reforms she implemented while leading the Magical Law Enforcement Patrol were inspired by the experience this American Auror shared with them.
"But you didn't answer," Goldstein pointed out.
"It is a matter that is best discussed with Mr Scamander," Amelia offered as an answer.
"Is the matter concerning an ongoing investigation into Albus Dumbledore's activities over the past century?"
Amelia maintained the gaze of Goldstein without answering. Before she could tell that she couldn't discuss ongoing investigations with her, Tina answered.
"The Ministry of Magic is not that secret. It's hard to hold on any information. It always finds its way out."
It was only the truth. Too often Amelia saw confidential information about upcoming legislation or investigations being revealed to the public. Sometimes, it was the Minister himself and his staff who leaked the information for political reasons. Other times, it was employees who went around their oath to the Ministry and divulged the information. And there were instances where journalists, or even mere visitors, surprised conversations between employees, or where employees let an information slip to the wrong person. This should be no wonder that people like the Scamanders already knew about the investigation. Personally, Amelia didn't mind that much, but Fudge would mind very much. And this was this minding of Fudge that concerned Amelia.
"I can only discuss that matter that brought me here with your husband," Amelia stated.
"So be it," Goldstein said. "But don't expect Newt to be easy to manipulate, Amelia. Appearances are deceptive when it comes to him."
Amelia didn't need to be told. Whoever met Newt Scamander viewed him as a singular, original, maybe even crazy character. People had not so different reactions when meeting Dumbledore for the first time. But it was a mistake to take those people lightly. Amelia wasn't aware of everything, but she knew that Newton Scamander played a crucial role in defeating Grindelwald, and his career as a Magizoologist, both inside and outside the Ministry, testified of his intelligence and brilliance. That was part of the reasons why she came to see him in person instead of delegating the task to a subordinate. It was also because she needed to hear from Mr Scamander herself on this matter.
A powerful roar reverberated through the house. Amelia jumped, her senses in alert. But seeing Goldstein's calm, she understood right away what it probably was. Especially considering her smug smile that reappeared.
"The Kelpie continues to give a few problems from time to time," the former American Auror commented.
Amelia shouldn't be surprised that someone like Newton Scamander kept a Kelpie in his house. It made her feel a little uneasy, though she tried to calm herself and to remain composed the best she could. It was at this moment that she heard footsteps, accompanied with a sound of suction. She turned her head to look at the direction from where the sounds were coming. After a few moments, an old man with white disheveled hair, a small frame, slim, wearing old style clothes that were entirely wet, made his way into the living room, water dripping from his coat, obviously excited.
"He is growing restless. It's harder to contain his outbursts," he told his wife.
"Or you're the one getting older and struggling," she retorted, smiling.
He laughed, and then his eyes set on Amelia, and his behavior changed immediately, he looked down at his clothes, as if he just realized how wet they were, and twisted them, letting some more water drip on the floor.
"Forgive me… Madam Bones… I didn't expect you before…" He looked at the clock, and seemed to realize for the first time the hour it was. "Oh… I haven't seen time pass… I was taking care of…"
He kept twisting his clothes, until finally Porpentina Goldstein stood up and pointed her wand at him. Within seconds, his clothes were dry. Amelia even felt the jet of hot air the wand sent on Mr Scamander.
"Thank you, Tina," he said in a weak voice.
"I leave you two alone," the former Auror said. She left the room, which meant Amelia was now alone with Newton Scamander.
The famed Magizoologist timidly, almost clumsily, walked the distance separating him from the couch his wife just left. He sat down and looked away from Amelia.
"So… You wanted to talk to me?" he asked.
"Yes, Mr Scamander."
"Is that about my… my activities with Professor Dumbledore? Because if that's the case… I don't think I can help you much…. With all due respect… I don't think I want to help much… Given the investigation and everything…"
Amelia listened patiently to the Magizoologist until she was certain he finished. She straightened up and stared right at him. "Mr Scamander, let's go straight to the point and be honest with each other. We are both very busy, and I don't want any of us to waste time. Everyone knows by now that you worked for Albus Dumbledore. Maybe you even still work for him today. You helped him to fight Grindelwald in the time. But you never spoke openly about your activities for you consider them to be classified."
"Yes, and… Considering how the Ministry is treating Dumbledore right now… And how it treated him in the past well… You don't encourage me a lot to talk."
"The Minister doesn't encourage you a lot to cooperate, indeed," Amelia acknowledged. "And I said I was going to be honest with you, Mr Scamander, so I will be. Cornelius Fudge indeed would like to prosecute Dumbledore. He views him as a danger."
Scamander laughed. "Dumbledore is no danger. The only danger is the man he's trying to fight."
"On that, we agree. And Dumbledore was more successful in fighting this man in the past, and also in fighting Grindelwald, than any magical government in the world." She leaned forward to look more closely at the Magizoologist. "We both know that a war is preparing. It may even have already begun. And I'm managing the department with the responsibility to ensure the safety of the wizarding community. And my department proved unable in the past to stop the rise of both Grindelwald and Voldemort." The mention of the name didn't cause Newton Scamander to flinch or to have any noticeable reaction, despite his apparent constant awkwardness. Another proof that he wasn't to be underestimated. "Personally, Mr Scamander, I don't care if Dumbledore is never prosecuted. There's in my opinion nothing to find about Albus Dumbledore that could constitute a crime for which the Wizengamot would send him to Azkaban. But my department needs information on how to deal with criminals who are so ingenious that our actual tools are inadequate to stop them."
Newton Scamander had avoided her gaze since the beginning of their interview. He slowly turned the head to look straight at her. He seemed to be considering what she just said for a long time.
"What… What do you want to know?"
Amelia needed two hours to get the information she needed. This wasn't information that could get Dumbledore charged with a crime, but Amelia knew that it would be very useful in the months, years, and maybe even decades to come, as she knew that the Ministry, sooner or later, would have to fight Voldemort. The methods and tactics Newt Scamander told her about would be very useful when that day would come.
Back in her office, Amelia had a meeting with employees of the Improper Use of Magic Office to discuss potential ways to better track and identify illegal use of magic through Great Britain and Ireland. She then went on to approve the content of the latest agreement between her Ministry of Magic and those of Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway to cooperate on the track of criminals across their borders. The Department of International Magical Co-operation was leading the negotiations, but given the matter of the agreement, her department was also involved in the whole process. She regretted once again that Barty was gone. Files such as this one were a priority under his tenure. His replacement, a woman who previously led the International Magical Trading Standards Body, was entirely loyal to the Minister. Cornelius had placed her at the head of this subdivision within the Department of International Magical Co-operation right after he was elected, and just before Barty was moved to lead the department. Fudge had done this so that Barty would have subordinates who owed their career and position to him instead of Barty, and to keep an eye on him. And now Fudge had one of his minions at the head of the department who managed all international relations. Amelia had never seen this woman question any of Fudge's decision even a single time.
Mafalda Hopkirk, her assistant, came in at this moment. "Mr Schwartz is here to see you, Madam."
She made a sign with her fingers saying she would receive him. Mafalda removed herself from the door, and Albert Schwartz came in a moment later.
"Thank you for accepting to see me, Madam Bones," he said the moment Mafalda closed the door behind him.
"You wanted to talk to me about the investigation you conducted at Hogwarts yesterday?" Amelia asked her employee.
"Yes, Madam. Have you read my report?"
"Yes, I have."
"Then, Madam Bones, please forgive me for asking but… Are you dissatisfied with my work?"
"No, Schwartz."
"Then… Might I ask you why you sent me on this investigation? Because it is quite unrelated to my usual line of work."
"You often take care of cases of vandalism, robbery, and even assault, Schwartz. This was the case here. That's why I selected you."
"Yes, but… The truth is, we should never have gone to Hogwarts. All this story… It was simply a dispute between students that the school's staff managed very well before we arrived. I don't get why we needed to go there at all."
A part of Amelia wished she could tell him she was of the same opinion. Instead, she gave him the reason why they were forced to investigate. "The complaint against Harry Potter was filed by Dolores Jane Umbridge."
Her employee frowned at the news. And he seemed to be thinking for some time. "So… The Senior Undersecretary asked us to investigate an altercation between a few adolescents after a game of Quidditch?" he asked, obviously wondering how that came to be.
"To be short and simple, it seems so, if I rely on your report. Which you concluded by stating that no violation of the law was committed, and no charge should be filed what was essentially a disciplinary matter best left to the school authorities."
"Yes," he confirmed. "We asked questions to the students who were involved in the altercation, the professors who intervened, and even a few other witnesses, both staff members and students. All staff members agreed and confirmed that no injury was sustained, except a few bruises for Mr Potter, who was one of the accused, when he received a Bludger at the end of the game, for which the culprit received a disciplinary sanction. The staff of the school stopped things before it could get too far, and no prejudice was caused to anybody in the end. The students were divided on what happened, and their testimonies were sometimes conflicting, but the only ones who claimed that Mr Malfoy, the supposed victim, received any injury, were people from his own house, Slytherin. All the other students and staff we interrogated, including some other students of Slytherin and his Head of House, Professor Snape, confirmed that there was no physical contact between Mr Potter and Mr Malfoy. And many claimed that Mr Malfoy provoked Mr Potter, to the extent that they both received the same sanction." He sighed. "To me, it looks like it was a waste of time. I hope we're not going to be called to intervene each time students throw insults at each other after a Quidditch match."
"This is not in my intentions, Schwartz, but this was a request from Mrs Umbridge. As to why she made it, we would need to ask her. Do you want me to do so?"
"I would appreciate," her employee said. "I would rather investigate real crimes instead of arguments between children that the authorities at Hogwarts can deal with."
Amelia appreciated his honesty and frankness. She preferred employees who spoke their mind while following orders, instead of people who spent their time approving their superiors.
Schwartz left, and Amelia returned to studying another report from the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office. As always, Arthur Weasley was thorough and concise. He included recommendations on how to better track a new series of counterfeit magical objects that recently appeared on the black market. Amelia directed Mafalda to set a fifteen-minutes meeting with Arthur next week to discuss it.
However, a few minutes later, Mafalda came back into Amelia's office with a summon.
"The Minister needs to see you right away, Madam Bones. He says you must come to his office immediately."
Amelia refrained herself from looking at the sky in exasperation. Cornelius was doing more and more of this thing. He ordered one of his employees to his office immediately, as if everything was urgent. Often, this wasn't at all. It caused many employees to lose time and reduced the efficiency of their work, especially the heads of departments. Amelia missed the day when Cornelius trusted them more, or at least left them to manage their departments with more freedom. It had begun to change a little after the Quidditch World Cup and the appearance of supposed Death Eaters there. But he had gone almost insane with summoning anybody at anytime, sometimes even outside of their hours of work, whenever he pleased, since June 24, after Cedric Diggory died and Dumbledore began to claim that Lord Voldemort was back. Two or three employees were even sacked because they answered Fudge they couldn't come in the middle of the night or during weekends, despite the fact they assured they would meet him on the first hour next morning.
Amelia obeyed the summoning nonetheless. She headed towards Fudge's office right away. At the level where Fudge's office and his staff were located, she felt gazes from others bearing on her. There was no doubt that they suspected something would happen concerning her. Amelia prepared herself. Fudge's assistant let her in the moment she presented herself at his office. Inside, Fudge was waiting for her, along with Dolores Umbridge. Amelia recognized the expression Umbridge had on her face immediately. She thought that she had caught someone.
"Amelia, sit, please. We have to talk," Fudge said on a rather dry tone.
Amelia remained calm and focused on Fudge rather than Dolores. He was her Minister. He was the person to matter in this room. "If you don't mind, Mr Minister, I would like to remain standing."
It was a tactic Amelia used on several occasions, especially when she felt that people wanted to set a trap around her. Remaining standing reinforced the false idea of being a subordinate to the person facing you. But it also gave the person standing an edge by looking down at the person facing her.
"As you wish," Fudge said dismissively. "Dolores just reported something very troubling. According to her, you willingly sabotaged an investigation of the Ministry."
"I can assure you, Minister, I have never sabotaged an investigation, and I'm not about to start any time soon."
"I would like to think so." Fudge took a pile of parchment on his desk. Amelia recognized it from the title. It was Schwartz's report on the incident at Hogwarts. "But can you explain to me how this resulted in no charge being brought against Harry Potter?"
Amelia saw immediately that Fudge was not joking. She would have to tread carefully this time. "Because the investigators concluded there was no ground to bring charges."
"No ground to bring charges?" Fudge asked, incredulous and also outraged. "That boy attacked someone. This is a crime."
"Not according to the report Albert Schwartz submitted this morning."
"After a single day of investigation?" Umbridge intervened at this moment. "Maybe this is my imagination, Amelia, but you removed the men I chose for this investigation and replaced them by others who made a report exonerating the boyfriend of your niece."
Amelia did as if she wasn't insulted at all. She instead focused on Fudge. "Mr Minister, did you want specific people to lead this investigation?"
Fudge frowned. "Well, yes. I wanted… people who could lead a good investigation."
"Then I'm sorry, sir, but neither you nor any of your staff came to see me asking for specific investigators on this case. One of my employees informed me that Dolores had filed a complaint for assault and that he would investigate it. But this employee was an expert in cases of burglary and trafficking, not in assaults. So I decided to designate Schwartz and Anderson to conduct the investigation, since they have experience in cases of physical violence. This is why you hired me. To manage the resources and people of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement the best we could. And I didn't see the benefit in sending investigators who were experts in forced entry to look at an assault charge."
Fudge seemed to doubt all of a sudden. Dolores coughed behind Amelia's back, but she kept her attention on Fudge. He was the one who would take the decision in the end. It wouldn't be Dolores.
"Amelia, I think…" she began, but Fudge interrupted.
"Dolores. You didn't tell Amelia that we needed specific investigators on this?"
Fudge's tone was a little accusatory. Dolores smiled way too sweetly. "Well, I implicitly asked that…"
"Did you try to start an investigation in my back?" Amelia cut her short.
"Never in the world. But for such accusations, I thought it was useless to bother you, Amelia. I contacted two agents who were very capable…"
"Two agents from my department. Two agents who were not competent to lead such an investigation."
"Not competent?"
"Their expertise is in burglary, like I said. If they had made a report concluding that an assault really took place and we went to the Wizengamot with this, the first thing Dumbledore would have pointed out would have been that our investigators were not experts in that domain. And considering what I read from Schwartz's report, if we had accused Harry Potter of assault, Dumbledore would have produced a large list of witnesses, including almost all the staff of his school, its Healer, and even many students to confirm that no assault took place. We would have been ridiculed in front of the Wizengamot, much like in August."
Silence settled in Fudge's office. The Minister broke it after a moment.
"Do you really think we would have lost the trial?"
"We have many witnesses who could have confirmed that Harry Potter assaulted Draco Malfoy, Mr Minister," Umbridge declared before Amelia could answer. "Lucius' own son would have testified, along with many of his friends who were there."
"Dumbledore would have produced thrice as many students claiming the contrary," Amelia warned. "Not to mention the whole staff of Hogwarts who was present. It would never have held in court. Unless you could find a way to oppose the testimony of the school's Healer who would have confirmed that Draco Malfoy never visited her for any wounds following the match. Don't you think the Wizengamot would wonder how someone could be assaulted without being injured?"
Amelia turned to Cornelius. "Minister, I get it. You consider that Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore cause you many problems. But if we had prosecuted the boy for this, Dumbledore would have humiliated us a second time in front of the whole Wizengamot. This would not have benefitted the Ministry in any way."
Fudge seemed to be thinking very quickly, unsure about what to think.
"Minister," Umbridge said, "we're talking about the son of Lucius Malfoy. We cannot allow his son to be savagely attacked. Especially not in Hogwarts, where Dumbledore is still headmaster."
"And you will not make Dumbledore look like a fool by throwing unsubstantiated accusations against his students. Instead, you will make the entire Ministry look like a fool," Amelia pointed out.
This time, she stared at Umbridge, to make both people present in the office conscious that Umbridge would have been the one to make them look like fools.
Cornelius seemed very bothered. He moved his hands through his hair multiple times before he finally addressed Dolores.
"When the young Malfoy complained to you, Dolores, did he seem honest?"
"Of course, he was," she answered. "This is the son of Lucius Malfoy we're talking about, after all. If we cannot rely on what his son is saying, then…"
"Okay, but did he say that because he was really assaulted? Or did he throw accusations in the air because he just lost a game of Quidditch?" Fudge asked, frustrated and even with a point of anger.
Umbridge took her time to answer. "He claimed he was assaulted. I had to take it seriously. So I asked two very competent employees I knew very well to investigate the matter. I didn't expect Amelia to send people who would be favourably biased towards Harry Potter."
"Albert Schwartz was leading the investigation," Amelia countered. "And he was in Slytherin while in Hogwarts. I don't choose my employees in function of their political opinions, but for their competence. And Schwartz was the best placed to investigate on this case. It is not my fault if you failed to tell me, Dolores, that you wanted two specific people to investigate this very affair. When Mr Fudge wants specific people on a specific file, he comes to see me or sends me someone on his staff to tell me the reasons behind this choice. In any other situation, it is up to me to designate the best people to treat files. And from what I gather, the Minister never asked for specific people in this case. Unless you seized that authority for yourself and made some of my employees believe it was the Minister who wanted them to lead this investigation."
From the expression on Umbridge's face, Amelia knew she struck at the right place. She made a bet, and it paid. Umbridge had told two employees of her department that Fudge himself wanted them to investigate on the alleged assault. They then warned Amelia they were going to investigate this, and Amelia stopped them, sending someone with more experience on cases of assault. Now, it was Umbridge who was looked upon with suspicion by Fudge, for he wondered whether Dolores used his Minister's authority without his knowledge. Dolores Umbridge might be Senior Undersecretary to the Minister for Magic and Hogwarts High Inquisitor, but neither of these positions gave her the right to choose which resources from other departments of the Ministry were needed to conduct her work, nor the right to pretend Cornelius gave an order that never existed.
"Dolores," Fudge said on a low, rigorous tone. "Leave me with Madam Bones."
Although Dolores managed to smile graciously to Fudge, she sent a hateful glare towards Amelia as she walked out, when she was sure Fudge couldn't see it. Amelia was now alone with her Minister, who took his time before he spoke.
"We would have lost a trial?" he asked.
"Based on the proofs and testimonies my men got, yes. We would have lost it without a doubt. And it would have increased Albus Dumbledore's standing in front of the Wizengamot and the wizarding community," she summarized.
Fudge gripped his chair. Amelia knew that the mere idea of Dumbledore being more popular was unsufferable for him. "You haven't found anything against Dumbledore yet?"
"No," she answered truthfully. "And truth be told, Minister, I don't think we will find anything."
"There has to be something," he grumbled frustratingly. "Come on. Dumbledore was teaching at Hogwarts before I was born. For sure, he broke the law over all those years."
"Maybe, Cornelius, but even if we were to find something, it would have to be something major. We cannot bring him to justice for an illegal use of Portkey that happened in the 1940s."
"There has to be a major crime he committed at one moment or another. This man is a danger to the wizarding world!"
"Maybe, but this is not what people believe. They may think that Dumbledore is a fool, but they don't view him as being dangerous."
"They should. Have you forgotten how that boy, Diggory, died last year? Because of Dumbledore's negligence."
"No, I haven't," Amelia retorted. It was Fudge who sabotaged her inquiry on the boy's death, so she found it quite displaced that he mentioned it. But she knew how futile and damaging for her it would be to mention it to the Minister. So she decided to redirect. "But there's a difference between failing to protect a kid and mistreating that kid. And right now, your Senior Undersecretary gives the impression that the Ministry is mistreating the children at Hogwarts."
Fudge seemed confused all of a sudden. "What do you mean?"
"I may not work for your Department of Magical Education, but I have niece at Hogwarts, Minister, and I hear people talking around. Apparently, there are many students and their parents who are not happy with Educational Decree Number Twenty-four. Do you know Aera Chang?" Fudge nodded by the negative. "She is an Unspeakable. Her husband is the personal assistant of Scrimgeour. Their daughter is studying at Hogwarts. She happened to be the girlfriend of Cedric Diggory, the boy who died. Apparently, Umbridge was so rough with her when she questioned her that the young girl left their discussion in tears. Her mother literally came to my office to complain about this. And she's not the only parent in the Ministry who I heard complaining against that decree."
"Why would she do that? That decree is not under your purview."
"No, but apparently, because the decree imposes students to be questioned by the High Inquisitor, they feel that their children are treated like criminals. This gives a bad image to the Ministry, to my department, and because of that decree and how Dolores applied it, parents get the feeling that Dumbledore is trying to protect their children while the Ministry is attempting to intimidate and mistreat them."
Fudge's face was made of stone at this information. He seemed to think about it for a while. "Are you saying that Dumbledore is more popular among students' parents than me?"
"Well, in this instance, this educational decree and Mrs Umbridge are not helping you against him."
He stared at Amelia. "What do you suggest, Amelia?" There was hint of warning in his tone.
"Remove the decree. If there are students who need to complain or speak about their teachers, they will go and see Dolores. But by imposing these interrogations to all students, we gave the impression that the Minister was treating them as suspects. Do we have any proof that the interrogations got us information on the professors?"
Fudge seemed to be thinking for a while. His knuckles tapped the surface of his desk repeatedly.
"Maybe," he finally said in a low tone. He looked at Amelia again, with something akin to a renewed interest. "I would need your advice on something else, Amelia."
"What is it?"
"If Dolores made an official complaint to your department to start an investigation on Harry Potter, it is because… the professors at Hogwarts are refusing to listen to her. They give punishments like they want."
"Hogwarts' staff is free to give sanctions when students break the rules of the school," Amelia confirmed.
"The problem is that it was Evans who chose the punishment. And she gave the same punishment to her son than to the young Malfoy. Lucius was outraged at this."
Now Amelia truly understood why Fudge had wanted so much for accusations to be brought against Harry Potter. But even if she had done what he wanted, the boy would have been cleared of all charges again. There was simply not enough proof to condemn him, even if he had really tried to beat another student. But she saw an opportunity there.
"If you want, Cornelius, I can explain myself to Mr Malfoy why the young Potter was not accused. It was my department who took the decision. You don't have to announce it to him yourself."
Fudge looked surprised for a short moment, but relieved immediately, seeing the advantage in that. "Yes, I would appreciate." And then he looked bothered again. "But that's not the problem. I sent Dolores at Hogwarts to evaluate teachers. And despite this, despite the fact they know that everything they do is scrutinized, they ignore her advice. They give sanctions like they want, without consulting her. Without consulting us."
"I see what you're trying to say, Cornelius, but if each disciplinary sanction given at Hogwarts was to be decided by the Ministry, it would be quite inefficient, involve a lot of bureaucracy, and… Truth be told, I'm not sure we would get many benefits from that. Historically, it was always the staff of Hogwarts who took care of discipline in the school. The Ministry only interfered when crimes were committed."
"I know. But this cannot continue. Umbridge is at Hogwarts, and she cannot do anything if a student break rules or misbehave. Dumbledore is giving them too much leeway. If Dolores had the authority to give sanctions when that assault took place, we wouldn't even need to bring this topic to your department."
Amelia thought that she began to understand where Fudge was going with that. And this wasn't a prospect she was looking for. She wasn't keen to see Dolores Jane Umbridge with the power to sanction students, including her own niece.
"But…" Cornelius went on. "Tell me, are there legal risks if I give the High Inquisitor power to give disciplinary sanctions?"
Amelia thought about it for a moment. Could she dissuade Fudge from doing this? She doubted it. He was too set on getting more control over Hogwarts. But maybe she could limit the damage.
"I don't think there are legal risks. However, if parents didn't react well to the interrogations, they may also react negatively if Dolores begins to give detentions to students right and left."
"I'll talk to her. I'll tell her to be careful," Fudge raised his hand.
"Minister… There might be another way. A compromise. Which may even make you look better than Dumbledore."
Now, she had Fudge's entire attention.
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