Chapter 135: Chapter 135: Holding Accountable
The incident with the Dementors invading the Quidditch pitch fortunately didn't result in any major accidents.
Most young wizards were merely startled by the Dementors, but Harry was the only one who fainted in fear, falling from fifty feet in the air.
However, thanks to Dumbledore's timely intervention, he was unharmed.
Unfortunately, his Nimbus 2000 lost control after Harry fell and was blown away by the wind, crashing into the Whomping Willow.
Professor Flitwick found it later, reduced to a pile of wooden splinters.
The match concluded with Hufflepuff's victory, as Diggory caught the Golden Snitch when the team was fifty points behind, turning the game around.
However, all of this paled in comparison to the astonishment brought by Ravenclaw's genius and his friends.
When everyone was threatened by the Dementors, the four of them stepped forward, bravely summoning their Patronuses and driving away all the Dementors, shining brightly in front of the entire school.
Most shocking of all, Alaric's Patronus, a giant dragon, actually breathed white flames in front of everyone, incinerating about a dozen Dementors—this was the first time a wizard had caused the death of Dementors.
Everyone couldn't help but admire his power.
Dumbledore generously awarded Ravenclaw an additional two hundred points, fifty points each, and everyone felt that this addition was well-deserved.
Afterward, Hermione, Cho Chang, and Penelope also became celebrities on campus.
Young wizards flocked to them for advice on how to use the Patronus Charm.
Everyone was shaken by the events at the Quidditch pitch. This elevated the three girls' status for a while.
Even Hermione, who had long been focused on her studies and seemed aloof among the girls, gained a legion of fans.
On the other hand, Dumbledore and the Ministry of Magic clashed over the incident.
In fact, Cornelius Fudge hadn't been having a good time lately.
Due to the Dementors invading the Quidditch pitch and nearly causing Harry Potter's death, the responsibility fell squarely on him.
Although Fudge used his authority to suppress the matter, news of it still spread throughout the wizarding world.
Many young wizards were frightened by the Dementors and wrote letters home.
The Ministry couldn't intercept everyone's owls, could they?
Media outlets like The Wizarding Weekly and The Daily Prophet had already published a series of reports on the incident.
"Everyone is questioning the Ministry's control over the Dementors," Cho Chang read aloud from The Wizarding Weekly, her voice raised.
"Some people think it was foolish to station Dementors at Hogwarts."
"Cornelius Fudge won't remove the Dementors," Alaric said disdainfully.
"Sirius Black is the first wizard to escape from Azkaban in history. This has created a problem for Fudge, and he's facing scrutiny from all sides.
So he must catch Black to prove his ability, or else there will be calls for his resignation."
"Hurry up and step aside! I'm the Minister of Magic, and I need to see Dumbledore now!"
On the eighth floor of Hogwarts Castle, in front of an ugly, massive stone creature, Cornelius Fudge shouted anxiously.
Unfortunately, the stone creature didn't acknowledge his privilege as Minister of Magic and refused to budge from the path. It continued to ask in a stiff tone, "Password?"
Fudge became increasingly agitated, but his magic was inept, and he had no way to bypass this mechanism...
"The password is Sherbet Lemon!" a familiar yet authoritative voice suddenly came from behind Fudge.
The creature immediately moved aside, revealing a split wall behind it, leading to a spiral staircase...
"Cornelius?" Albus Dumbledore walked over, his pale blue eyes peering through half-moon spectacles, calmly staring at the other man.
"Dumbledore..." Fudge's demeanor weakened slightly.
"I believe you owe me an explanation!" Dumbledore's gaze flickered with a faint anger.
"Why did the Dementors breach the school grounds without authorization? This wasn't part of the prior agreement... They nearly killed a student!"
"It was an accident..." Fudge stuttered, "It's indeed the Ministry's responsibility.
Our management of the Dementors was inadequate. I apologize, Dumbledore. I assure you such incidents won't happen again!"
"I hope this time you'll keep your promise and control them properly!" Without another word, Dumbledore walked into his office.
"Wait, Dumbledore!" Cornelius Fudge seemed to recall his purpose and shouted, "Hogwarts should be held accountable for the casualties caused by the Dementors!"
"Hogwarts held accountable for Dementor casualties?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.
"Yes! Eighteen Dementors were destroyed, and seven were severely injured!" Fudge tried to sound angrier.
"It was your student, Alaric, who did it! He used his Patronus to destroy the Dementors.
They are guards of Azkaban, Ministry enforcers... even if they breached Hogwarts, you can't just eliminate them at will!"
"Oh, is that so?" Dumbledore smirked. "Ah, indeed, it's my responsibility, our inadequate management of the students.
I apologize, Cornelius... However, it was still an accident... I assure you such incidents won't happen again!"
With that, Dumbledore returned to his office.
Cornelius Fudge attempted to follow but was once again blocked by the ugly stone creature. "Password?"
He gritted his teeth, wanting to shout something loudly, but in the end, he lowered his head and slinked away.
But Dumbledore didn't know that the matter hadn't ended there.
The next morning at breakfast, Alaric received a letter from the Ministry of Magic, stating that he was required to appear for trial that day for injuring Ministry officials.
Meanwhile, two Aurors were dispatched to Hogwarts, prepared to take Alaric away—this was the Ministry's retaliation.
The Ministry's actions caused a stir at Hogwarts. Young wizards felt it was unfair to Alaric because he had only harmed the Dementors to protect them.
"We won't let them take you away," Cedric Diggory, representing the Hufflepuff students, declared.
"That's right! We support you, Alaric!"
"My mom works at the Ministry, I'll write to her."
"They won't take you away!"
Students from Ravenclaw and Gryffindor alike expressed their support for Alaric, even those from Slytherin.
At this moment, the entire Hogwarts stood united against a common enemy.
Hermione also earnestly told Alaric, "If the Ministry tries to take you away, I'll go with you because this was my suggestion."
"We're all in this together," Cho Chang said firmly. "If you go, we'll go together!"
"The Ministry issuing such ridiculous orders," Penelope scoffed, "I'll go with you to see which idiot made such a decree."
Professors even stood in front of the Aurors.
"No one will take my student away in my presence," Professor Flitwick fumed.
Professor McGonagall also stood before Alaric. "I won't allow you near him. Only Hogwarts has the authority to punish Hogwarts students."
The two Aurors wore pained expressions, caught in a dilemma.
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