Chapter 714 Appearance

There was silence. Madam Pomfrey was standing motionless at the foot of Harry's bed, her hand covering her mouth.

Mrs. Weasley stood facing Harry, putting a hand on his shoulder to keep him from getting up. Bill, Ron and Hermione were staring at Fudge, as if they had a disagreement...

"If you decide to blindfold yourself, Cornelius," Dumbledore said seriously, "then we will have to go our separate ways. You will walk on your single-plank bridge, and I will walk on mine."

There was no threat in Dumbledore's voice, but it made Fudge furious, as if Dumbledore was coming towards him with a wand.

"Look here, Dumbledore," Fudge threatened, waving his finger, "I always give you autonomy. I respect you. I may not agree with some of your decisions, but I keep quiet. There won't be many People will let you hire werewolves, or keep Hagrid, or decide what to teach your students without consulting the minister. But if you insist on going against it—"

"There is only one person I have to oppose," said Dumbledore, "and that is Lord Voldemort, and if you oppose him too, Cornelius, then we are on the same side."

Fudge seemed speechless.

His little feet rocked back and forth for a while. His black bowler hat was twirling in his hand. Finally he spoke, with some pleading in his voice.

"There's no way he's back. It's impossible..."

Snape crossed Dumbledore, stepped forward, and rolled up his left sleeve. He held out his forearm to show Fudge, who flinched after asking.

"Here," Snape said harshly, "look here, the Dark Mark. It's not as clear as it was when it was burnt black an hour or so ago, but it's still visible. Every Bunny has it. A mark put on by the Dark Lord. This is the way he summons us, and also the way to distinguish each other. When he touches the mark of any Death Eater, we will immediately disappear and appear next to him. This mark It's getting clearer and clearer over the year. Karkaroff's too, do you know why Karkaroff ran away tonight? We all feel the mark burning. We all know he's back. Karkaroff is scared It is the Dark Lord who will seek revenge for his betrayal, so that he is not sure he will be welcomed back into the fold."

Fudge took two steps back slightly. He was shaking his head, seemingly not listening at all to what Snape said.

Fudge looked at the ugly mark on Snape's hand, the Dark Mark, with disgust, and then looked up at Dumbledore.

"I don't know what kind of tricks you and your people are playing on Dumbledore, but I've heard enough. I don't want to say anything more. Dumbledore, I will contact you tomorrow to discuss school administration. I have to get back Went to the Ministry.”

After speaking, Fudge walked quickly.

As he approached the door, he stopped, turned around, and strode into the dormitory, stopping next to Harry's bed.

"This is the money you won," he said shortly. He took out a large bag of gold from his pocket and placed it on the counter next to Harry's bed. "A thousand gold galleons. There was supposed to be an award ceremony. But in this case..."

Fudge put his black top hat on his head and walked out, slamming the door behind him. As soon as he left, Dumbledore turned to look at the group of people around Harry's bed.

"I have something to do," he said. "Molly... I can rely on you and Arthur, right?"

"Of course," said Mrs. Weasley. Her lips were white, but her face was determined. "He knew Fudge's true nature. It was Arthur's fondness for the Maggs that had prevented him from returning to the Ministry all these years. Fudge believed he lacked proper wizarding pride."

"Then I have to send him a message." Dumbledore said. "We have to notify everyone who can be persuaded by us immediately. Arthur just contacts those people in the ministry who are not as short-sighted as Connelly."

"I'm going to find Dad," Bill stood up and said, "I'm leaving now!"

"Excellent," said Dumbledore, "tell him what happened. Tell him that I will be contacting him directly shortly. But he needs to be careful, if Fudge thinks I am meddling with the Ministry -"

"Leave it to me!" Bill said.

He patted Harry on the shoulder, kissed his mother on the cheek, put on his cloak and strode out of the room.

"Miminerva," Dumbledore said, turning to McGonagall, "I would like to see Hagrid in the office as soon as possible, and Madame Maxime, if she wishes to come."

Professor McGonagall nodded and left without saying anything.

"Pomfrey," Dumbledore said to Madam Pomfrey, "could you go down to Professor Moody's office. There, I think you will find a very sad elf. Do whatever you can to serve her. , and brought her to the kitchen. I thought you would take care of her for us."

"Excellent!" said Madam Pomfrey. She looked a little surprised and then she left too.

Dumbledore made sure the door was closed and Madam Pomfrey's footsteps had disappeared before he began to speak.

"Now," he said, "it is the turn of two of us to see each other's true colors. Sirius,...please return to your normal form."

The big black dog looked up at Dumbledore, and then, after a moment, turned into a man.

Mrs. Weasley screamed and leaned back on the bed.

"Sirius! Aren't you supposed to be out hunting for murderers?" she screamed, pointing at him.

Molly knew the consequences of an Auror leaving his post without permission, especially one like Scrimgeour...

"Mom, stop screaming," Ron said, "This is normal."

Snape didn't scream or jump back, but there was a look of anger and fear on his face.

"Him!" he growled, staring at Sirius who also looked disgusted, "What is he doing here?"

"I invited him here." Dumbledore looked at them and said, "Just like you, Severus, I trust you both. It's time for you to put aside your past differences and trust each other."

Harry felt that Dumbledore seemed to be forcing miracles to happen, and last term had perfectly proved this.

Sirius and Snape were staring at each other with disgust.

"I think in the short term," Dumbledore said, with a hint of impatience in his voice, "to end the open hostility, you have to shake hands and stand on a united front. Time is short, unless we know the truth. People must unite together, otherwise there will be no hope.”

Very slowly - but still staring at each other, as if wishing the other to fall ill - Sirius and Snape walked towards each other and shook hands. But it soon loosened up.

"That's good to go on," said Dumbledore, walking among the crowd again.

"Now I have a job for you two. Fudge's attitude, although not unpredictable. Sirius, I want to set off immediately. You go and warn Lupin, Elephage, and Mantongus. Flesh ——Those old people. Stay at Luping’s house, I will contact you there.” (To be continued)