Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures - H.P.S.T Chapter 1413: Dumbledore's Men

Time passed quickly as they discussed Apparition.

Soon, it was time for Evan and Harry to go for their lesson with Dumbledore.

This time, Dumbledore had specifically told them to come earlier, so they arrived an hour and a half earlier than usual.

At 6:30 in the evening, the two arrived at the Headmaster’s office.

The lamps in Dumbledore’s office were lit, and as they walked in, the portraits of previous headmasters were snoring gently in their frames.

Evan felt that every time he came, these guys were pretending to be asleep.

It was 6:30 p.m., and dinner in the Great Hall downstairs had not yet ended. Shouldn’t this be the time they were most awake? How could they possibly be sleeping?

At that moment, Dumbledore was seated behind his desk, with the Pensieve and a steaming cup of some drink in front of him.

He smiled as they walked into the office, and he looked fine. But when he got close to Dumbledore, Evan sniffed hard and there was a faint scent of potion in the air. It was definitely there, although it was covered by the smell of the drink, but he was sure that Dumbledore must have drunk the potion before they arrived…

What was going on? Was it because of the strange curse on his right hand?

Had the curse progressed to the point where he needed potions to suppress it?

Before Evan could say anything, Dumbledore spoke.

“I hear that you met the Minister of Magic over Christmas?”

“Yes, we did. We talked about a lot of things, but it was mostly useless,” Evan replied, exchanging a glance with Dumbledore but finding no clues in his expression.

“I don’t think he’s very happy with us,” Harry added.

“No, not very happy!” Dumbledore sighed. “In fact, he is not very happy with me either. We must try not to sink beneath our anguish. There are still many things waiting for us to do. Battle on, Evan, Harry.”

Harry grinned at Dumbledore’s words.

“He wanted us to tell the Wizarding community that the Ministry’s doing a wonderful job.”

“I know,” Dumbledore laughed as well. “It was Fudge’s idea originally. During his last days in office, when he was trying desperately to cling to his post, he came to me for help and also sought a meeting with you, hoping that you would give him your support —”

“What, after everything Fudge did last year?” said Harry angrily. “After Umbridge?”

“Well, I told Cornelius there was no chance of it, but the idea did not die when he left office. Within hours of Scrimgeour’s appointment we met and he demanded that I arrange a meeting with you, mainly because of the prophecy. He must have thought it was the key to defeating Voldemort,” said Dumbledore in a relaxed tone. “And of course, Evan, after the media reported on everything you did in Egypt last summer, he wanted to meet you as well. He believes you could be useful to him.”

“He hopes that we can help him and leave a good impression on everyone about the Ministry of Magic,” said Evan.

“Yes, that was his plan. He believes it’s your duty to help the Ministry maintain order. But in my view, that wouldn’t actually be very useful. So, I rejected him, and we argued,” said Dumbledore. “Well, it appears that Rufus found a way to corner you at last.”

“I don’t think the Minister is truly ready for war. He’s more concerned about his post,” Evan added. “He also said that he would award me the Order of Merlin, First Class for my contribution in Egypt, but we rejected him in the end. I guess there is no possibility that’s still on the table.”

“Not necessarily, Evan. I know Rufus well. He is, for the most part, a fair man,” said Dumbledore. “But as we can see, different posts lead to different considerations and perspectives. Rufus is an experienced Auror, but his main concern right now is securing his post as Minister. The war comes second to that.”

“Is there really going to be a war?” Harry asked suddenly.

“I had hoped we might defeat Voldemort through more peaceful means, but as things stand, that seems unlikely,” Dumbledore answered. “In truth, the war has already begun — Rufus and the Ministry simply refuse to acknowledge it.”

Officially, the Ministry claimed that the situation was tense but still under control, urging the public not to panic.

But behind the scenes, Voldemort’s power and his army were growing at an alarming rate.

There was a brief silence in the office. Evan noticed Phineas Nigellus was secretly observing them, even while pretending to snore in his portrait.

The moment Phineas saw Evan looking at him, he shut his eyes immediately, his snores growing even louder.

“Sir,” said Harry, after a pause, “after we refused him, Scrimgeour said that the two of us are much like you. He accused us of being ‘Dumbledore’s men, through and through.'”

“Oh, how very rude of him. It’s an unfounded accusation.”

““I told him I was,” said Harry sincerely. “I told him outright that I am Dumbledore’s man.”

It was clear that Harry was not trying to show his loyalty, but he really meant what he said, and he wanted Scrimgeour to know it.

At that time, he answered very directly and told Scrimgeour that he was Dumbledore’s man.

Evan had sidestepped the question, choosing not to give a direct response.

Behind his desk, Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again. Fawkes the phoenix let out a low, soft, musical cry.

Harry’s words made Dumbledore’s bright blue eyes look rather watery, if Evan was not mistaken, that was the case.

Harry noticed this, too, and stared hastily at his own knees in embarrassment.

When Dumbledore spoke, however, his voice was quite steady.

“I am very touched, Harry,” he said. “And you, Evan, thank you.”

“That’s nothing, sir. We just made the right choice.” Evan noticed that Harry hadn’t looked up yet, so he said, “I suggested that he have a frank talk with you, but was rejected. I don’t think the Ministry is ready for a war. Well, in addition to trying to win us over, he also wanted to know what you’ve been doing recently, where you go when you’re not at Hogwarts.”

In fact, Evan was also very curious about what Dumbledore was doing recently!

Looking for the remaining Horcruxes? Voldemort’s memories? Clues left by Slytherin? Or something related to the evil god?

“Yes, he is very nosy about that,” said Dumbledore, now sounding cheerful. “He has even attempted to have me followed. Amusing, really. He set Dawlish to tail me. It wasn’t kind. I have already been forced to jinx Dawlish once; I did it again with the greatest regret.”

“So they still don’t know where you go?”

“No, they don’t,” said Dumbledore with a smile, “and the time is not quite right for you two to know either. There are still some things that haven’t been figured out. I don’t want you to be distracted by this. Now, our most important thing is to continue with the lesson. Well, there is also the matter of the house-elves homeland.”

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