Chapter 1,240

"Obviously you're surprised! Didn't you know Dumbledore had something for you?"

"Us?" Ron said, "How many more of us are there?"

"Yes, the four of you..."

But Harry interrupted. "Dumbledore has been dead for more than a month. Why did it take so long for him to give us his belongings?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Hermione said before Scranger could say anything, "They want to know what he left us. You have no right to do that!" Her voice trembled slightly.

"I have every right," Scrangeour said scornfully. "The Just Confiscation Act gives the Ministry of Magic the right to seize everything in the will..."

"But the problem is, that law was enacted to prevent wizards from passing dark magic items between wizards," Hermione said bluntly, "and the Ministry of Magic should have enough evidence to prove that the relics of the deceased are illegal. , and then it can be confiscated! Do you mean that what Dumbledore wants to leave us is a cursed thing?

"Do you have any intention of pursuing a career in the legal profession in the future, Miss Granger?" Scranger asked.

"No, I'm not interested," Hermione retorted, "I just want to do something good in the world!"

The legal profession?

I'm afraid Hermione will sit in your seat from now on...

Fan Lin looked at Scrimgeour sadly, which successfully attracted Scrimgeour's attention.

"Do you have anything to say, Mr. Al?"

"I think there is no need for us to engage in a meaningless fight here."

"Yes." Scrimgeour looked at Fan Lin calmly.

"I'm very surprised... Mr. Minister, Dumbledore has a better person to handle these relics than you. Of course, it cannot be denied that you are a leader..."

"What do you want to say?"

Before Fan Lin could speak, Harry couldn't wait to speak.

"Then why did you decide to return our things? Could it be that you couldn't think of any excuse to withhold them?"

"No, that's because it's been thirty-one days." Hermione immediately responded, "Unless it can be proven that those things are dangerous, we can't continue to seize them. Right?"

No one answered Hermione. Obviously, the girl was already infinitely close to the truth.

"Was Dumbledore very close to you, Ronald?"

"Me? No - not very close... It seems that Harry and Fanlin are..." Ron looked at Harry, Fanlin and Hermione, and Hermione kept giving him a "shut up" look. , but it was too late, Scrimgeour seemed to have gotten the answer he wanted.

He pursued Ron like a vicious bird that pounced on his prey.

"Since you were not that close to him, why were you mentioned in his will? He left very little personal estate, most of it...his personal library, magic items, and other personal possessions. ..all left to Hogwarts. Why do you think you were chosen?"

"I... don't know," Ron said, "I... I said not that close... I mean, I think he likes me..."

"You are always so humble, Ron," Hermione said. "Dumbledore likes you very much."

This didn't seem very reliable. As far as Harry knew, Ron and Dumbledore had never been alone together, and direct contact was negligible.

But Scrimgeour didn't seem to listen. He reached into his cloak and took out a donkey skin pocket much larger than the one Hagrid had given Harry. He took out a roll of parchment, unfolded it and read aloud: "Albus Percival Wu. Alfric Brian Dumbledore's last wish... Ah, here it is... leaving my Deluminator to Ronald Bilius Weasley, hoping that whenever he uses it You will remember me when you arrive."

Scrimgeour took out something from his bag that Harry had seen before: it looked a bit like a silver lighter, but Harry knew that this thing had the power to suck out all the light from a place, just tap it. It can be restored in no time.

Scranger leaned forward and handed the Deluminator to Ron. Ron was so confused that he turned it over in his hand.

"That's a priceless thing." Scrimgeour looked at Ron and said, "And it may be the only one of its kind in the world. It must have been designed and built by Dumbledore himself. Why would he leave you such a rare thing?" "

Ron shook his head in confusion.

"Dumbledore taught thousands of students," Scrimgeour affirmed, "but in his will he only remembered the four of you. Why? What did he think you could do with Deluminator, Mr. Weasley?"

"For starting a fire, if I had to guess," Ron muttered, "What else would I do with this thing?"

It was obvious that Scrimgeour had no clue. He glanced sideways at Ron for a moment, then returned his gaze to Dumbledore's will.

"Leave my copy of "The Tale of Bard Bieber" to Miss Hermione Jean Granger, hoping that she will gain pleasure and knowledge from it." Scrimgeour pulled out a small book from his bag. The book, this book looks very old, as old as the "Secrets of the Top Dark Arts" upstairs. The binding is dirty and torn in many places.

Hermione took the book from Scrimgeour without saying a word. She put the book on her lap and stared at it.

Harry discovered that the title of the book was written in ancient script, which he had never learned and could not understand. He saw a tear fall on the protruding decorative symbol.

"Why do you think Dumbledore left you this book, Miss Granger?" Scrangeour asked.

"He...he knows I like to read." Hermione said in a thick nasal voice as she wiped her tears with her sleeve. "But why do I have to leave you this book?"

"I don't know. He must have thought I would like it."

"Have you discussed with Dumbledore the use of ciphers or other means of delivering secret messages?"

"No, I didn't." Hermione was still wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

"If the Ministry of Magic hasn't found any hidden passwords in this book after thirty-one days, then I'm afraid I can't do it either." Fan Lin refused to answer on Hermione's behalf, and the girl burst into tears.

Hermione tried hard to suppress her cries, but when she thought of Dumbledore, the feeling of sadness was a little uncontrollable.

Fan Lin reached out and took Hermione into his arms, "I think you can continue."

Scrimgeour nodded, "To Harry James Potter," Harry suddenly felt excited as he read, "I captured him in his first Quidditch match at Hogwarts. The Golden Snitch was left to him in the hope that he would remember it as a reward for his skill and strong will."

When Scrimgeour took out the walnut-sized golden ball from the bag, its pair of silver wings flapped feebly. Harry couldn't help but feel a deep sense of loss.

"Why did Dumbledore leave this Snitch to you?" Scrimgeour asked.

"I don't know," Harry said. "Judging from what you just read, I think it might be... telling me that as long as I persevere, I can get... anything."

"So you think this is purely a symbolic souvenir?"

"I guess so," said Harry, "What else could it mean?"

"Now I'm asking the question," Scrimgeour said, moving his chair closer to the sofa. At this time, the outside was shrouded in twilight, and the pale white tent outside the window towered over the fence.

"I noticed your birthday cake was in the shape of a Snitch," Scrimgeour said to Harry. "Why is that?"

"The intention is obvious, isn't it? Harry is an excellent Seeker, or do you think Dumbledore would have left some secret message in the sugarcoat?"

"I don't think there's anything hidden in the icing," said Scrimgeour, "but the Snitch is a great place to hide little things. I'm sure you know why?"

Harry shrugged, but Hermione answered the question. Harry felt that answering questions was simply an irrepressible hobby rooted deep in her soul.

"Because the Golden Snitch has human memories," she said.

"What?" Harry and Ron said in unison. They originally thought Hermione knew little about Quidditch.

"Correct," said Scrimgeour. "The Snitch had never been touched by bare skin before it was released, and the maker was wearing gloves, so it didn't count. It was enchanted, and when the game was controversial , it can identify the first person who touches it with his hand. This golden snitch..." He picked up the golden ball...

"I will remember your contact, Potter. I think Dumbledore has great magical power. No matter how many times he made mistakes, he should have enchanted this golden snitch so that it can only be opened by you." "

Harry's heart beat faster. He knew Scrimgeour was right. How was he going to take the Golden Snitch with his unused hand in front of the Minister of Magic?

"You won't say anything," said Scrimgeour. "Perhaps you already know what's in the Snitch."

"No," Harry said, still thinking about how he could pretend he had touched the Snitch. If he had Legilimency, which he really did, he would be able to detect Hermione's thoughts, he could almost hear her brain spinning beside him.

"Take it," Scrimgeour said calmly. Harry's eyes met the yellow eyes of the Minister of Magic, and he knew he had no choice but to do as he was told. He held out his hand, and Scrange leaned forward again, slowly and deliberately pushing the Snitch into Harry's palm.

Nothing happened.

When Khalid closed his fingers to hold the Snitch, its tired wings flapped a few times and then stopped. Scrimgeour, Ron and Hermione continued to stare at the partially obscured ball intently, as if still hoping that something would change in it.

"I think, Mr. Minister, if Dumbledore really left Harry something, then he should have already thought about this situation, right? Or, what do you want to see?"

"I..."

"It is undeniable, Mr. Scrimgeour, you are a staunch militant. We can even seek some cooperation, but the problem is..." Verlin paused, "Your placement may cause Got some questions."

"Some questions?" Scrimgeour suddenly raised his voice. His patience with Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix made him a little uncontrollable...

"I think maybe it's you who are responsible..."

"It cannot be denied, Mr. Scrimgeour, that you now look like an angry drunkard. Moreover, you are far from accepting the reality... The previous Secretary Fudge has already set a perfect example..."

"One, did not have a correct understanding of what to do, and then completely blocked the way forward..."

"You mean, it's my fault?"

"No, we just have differences of ideas, Mr. Minister!" said Flin calmly, "I think you should not be able to control everything, right? It has been like this from the beginning. You must admit that you made a wrong decision."

"Listen to Dumbledore? Just like Fudge?" Scrimgeour was like an angry old lion.

"Then I'm sorry, you can't get anything from us." Flin said.

"It's really a bit dramatic." Harry said calmly.

Ron and Hermione both laughed.

"So that's it, right?" Hermione said as she stood up from the sofa.

"It's not over yet," Scrimgeour said, he took two deep breaths.

"Dumbledore also left you something, Potter"

"What is it?" Harry asked, everyone listened attentively.

Scrimgeour didn't bother to read the will this time.

"The Sword of Gryffindor." Scrimgeour said.

For a moment, everyone was stunned.

Harry searched for the ruby-studded hilt, but Scrimgeour did not take the sword out of the leather pouch, which seemed too small to hold a sword.

"Where is the sword?" Harry asked in confusion.

"Unfortunately," Scrimgeour said, "Dumbledore is not allowed to give the sword away. The Sword of Gryffindor is a valuable artifact, and things like this belong to..."

"It belongs to every Gryffindor student!" said Valin.

"According to reliable historical records, the sword will automatically appear whenever it encounters a distinguished Gryffindor student," Scrimgeour nodded, "so that does not make it Mr. Potter's exclusive property, no matter what Dumbledore decides."

Scrimgeour scratched his shaved face and read Valin's expression. "Why do you think...?"

"Dumbledore wants to give me the sword, right?" Harry suppressed his excitement and said as calmly as possible, "Maybe he thinks the sword is more suitable to be hung on the wall of my house."

"You are not kidding, Potter!" Scrimgeour roared. "Is it because Dumbledore believed that only Godric Gryffindor's sword could defeat the Heir of Slytherin? Did he give you the sword, Potter, because he believed, as so many others do, that you were the one who could destroy He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"

"Interesting theory," said Harry. "Has anyone ever tried to stab Voldemort with a sword? Perhaps the Ministry should have someone try that, instead of wasting time dismantling the Deluminator or covering up the breakout from Azkaban. So that's what you've been doing, Minister? Locking yourself in your office, desperately trying to open a Snitch? People have been getting killed... and I almost became one of them... Voldemort chased me across three countries, he killed Mad-Eye Moody, and the Ministry said nothing about it, did it? And you expect us to work with you!"

"You're taking it too far!" Scrimgeour shouted, standing up. Harry jumped up, too. Scrimgeour limped over to Harry and pressed the point of his wand into Harry's chest, burning a hole in Harry's T-shirt like a cigarette burn.

"Hey!" Ron jumped up and raised his wand. (To be continued)