Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures - H.P.S.T Chapter 1580: The Breakup

All legendary magic items were under the management of the Ministry of Magic, and naturally, the Sword of Gryffindor was among them. However, Hermione clearly disagreed.

Before Scrimgeour could finish, she interrupted him hotly.

“It belongs to Harry! It chose him, he was the one who found it, it came to him out of the Sorting Hat —.”

She was referring to the Chamber of Secrets incident during Evan’s first year, when he and Harry had faced Tom Riddle’s diary and the Basilisk.

Back then, Evan was still just an ordinary young wizard, perhaps a bit stronger than other first-years, but not by much. The battle had been exceptionally difficult. It was thanks to Harry pulling the Sword of Gryffindor out of the Sorting Hat at the critical moment that they managed to defeat Tom Riddle and the Basilisk.

Before Harry retrieved the Sword of Gryffindor, it had been missing, and there was no evidence that it was even at Hogwarts.

Clearly, as a special legendary magic item, the sword possessed not only its exceptional sharpness but also certain spatial magical properties.

However, to say that the Sword of Gryffindor belonged to Harry was a bit far-fetched.

“According to reliable historical sources, the sword may present itself to any worthy Gryffindor,” said Scrimgeour. “That does not make it the exclusive property of Mr. Potter. Whatever Dumbledore may have decided, the Sword of Gryffindor —“

“And the scabbard. It was Evan who retrieved it from the giant tribe. Without Evan, there wouldn’t even be a scabbard.”

“The scabbard and the sword are one,” said Scrimgeour firmly. “If the sword appears, the scabbard will naturally appear as well. If the Ministry had known where the scabbard was, they would have sent someone to retrieve it. We are very grateful to Mr. Mason for helping us find the thousand-year-old scabbard. We might even award him a Special Award for Services to the School; in fact, we already have. But that does not mean the sword or the scabbard belong to either Mr. Mason or Mr. Potter. No one, including Dumbledore, has the authority to give them away to someone else. More to the point, what I want to know is: why did Dumbledore intend to leave the Sword of Gryffindor to —”

As he spoke, his aggressive gaze shifted to Harry.

“You want to know why Dumbledore wanted to give me the sword?” said Harry, his tone as though Scrimgeour had asked something absurd.

“Yes, I want to know why he did it, and I want you to tell me all your secrets.”

“Hmph, secrets!” said Harry, struggling to keep his temper. “Maybe he thought it would look nice on my wall.”

“This is not a joke, Potter!” growled Scrimgeour. “Why do you think I’m asking you this?! Why do you think I’m here?! I’m not kidding you. We have to find out. Was it because Dumbledore believed that only the sword of Godric Gryffindor could defeat the Heir of Slytherin? Did he wish to give you that sword, Potter, because he believed, as do many, that you are the one destined to destroy He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?”

“Interesting theory,” said Harry. “Has anyone ever tried sticking a sword in Voldemort? Maybe the Ministry should put some people onto that, instead of wasting their time stripping down Deluminators, studying fairy tales, wooden statues, or covering up breakouts from Azkaban.”

“You simply don’t understand.”   

“I understand everything. Sirius has told me. You’ve been locking yourself away in your office lately, doing nothing. And now I know why — you’ve been wasting your time on this, Minister, shut up in your office, racking your brain trying to break open a Snitch? People are dying — I was nearly one of them — but there’s been no word about any of that from the Ministry, has there? And you still expect us to cooperate with you!”

“Enough, Potter, you go too far!” shouted Scrimgeour. “You — and the three of you with him — you don’t understand the situation at all, you —”

“Excuse me, Minister, but I think we understand it very well!” Evan cut in. “It’s you who don’t understand what’s really happening. In my view, the Ministry right now —”

“Are you trying to order me, Mason? You think you’re so smart, like those ridiculous newspapers say, Dumbledore’s heir, that you’re smart enough to instruct me? No, in my eyes, you’re just as ignorant as Potter. The four of you have been covering up things, hiding everything from the Ministry, as if the lot of you alone could defeat You-Know-Who. I know that’s what you think — that you’ll make yourselves famous by it. Absurd! Arrogant! You’re playing games with the future of the entire Wizarding world. Dumbledore is dead now, and it is only I — only the Ministry — that can defeat Voldemort. You will tell me every last secret he left you.”

“I’m not giving orders, Mr. Minister,” said Evan calmly. “I’m offering reasonable advice — advice that could help the Ministry, if that’s what you came here for.”

“I’m not here for advice!” Scrimgeour bit out each word, as if it took great effort to restrain himself. “What I need are the secrets Dumbledore left you.”

“In your dreams — we’re not telling you anything. You won’t get a single word out of us!” Harry shouted, leaping to his feet.

“Potter!” shouted Scrimgeour angrily, standing up. He was so angry that his whole face was distorted and turned purple. He limped toward Harry and jabbed him hard in the chest with the point of his wand: It singed a hole in Harry’s T- shirt like a lit cigarette.

“Oi!” said Ron, jumping up and raising his own wand, but Harry said,

“No! D’you want to give him an excuse to arrest us?”

“Remembered you’re not at school, have you?” said Scrimgeour, breathing hard into Harry’s face. “Remembered that I am not Dumbledore, who forgave your insolence and insubordination? Do you think I dare not arrest you? Potter, you may wear that scar like a crown! And you, Mason, you may think of yourself as the rising star of the Wizarding world, but right now, you’re nothing. I am the Minister for Magic, I know how to fight the Dark Lord, and it is not up to two seventeen-year-old boys to tell me how to do my job! It’s time you learned some respect!”

“It’s time you earned it,” said Harry, glaring at Scrimgeour without backing down an inch.

“Put down your wand, Mr. Minister!” said Evan, “This is not Hogwarts, but it is not the Ministry of Magic either. You’re being too impulsive!”

At this moment, the floor trembled; there was a sound of running footsteps, then the door to the sitting room burst open and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley ran in.

Translating_Wizard

The novel is officially complete!! 🥳🥳 Thank you for being part of this journey—it really means a lot. You can binge the full story now on Patreon (50% off!) + unlock 200+ extra chapters 👀

•