Chapter 282: Unbelievable News
"I'm worried you might be even weaker after being punished by her," Phineas continued.
Hearing what Phineas said, Astoria's face turned even redder, but her big eyes were filled with a strange, shimmering light.
"You… you said… you were worried about me!"
The little girl's expression seemed to plead with Phineas: Tell me it's true. Say it, or I'll cry.
Phineas felt slightly amused. What had begun as a normal conversation had spiraled into something different. His original purpose was to prepare Astoria for what was coming. Ideally, she would find a reason to request a semester-long leave from Hogwarts. That way, she'd have time to recover and also give Umbridge and the Ministry of Magic the illusion that they had found Phineas's weakness, reducing their attacks on others around him.
But now, looking at the girl's reaction, it was clear that plan wouldn't work.
Phineas had a feeling that if he said, "Take a leave and return next term," she'd burst into tears on the spot. And an eleven-year-old girl's tears were not something he could easily endure.
With a sigh, Phineas raised his hand and gently patted her head.
Astoria closed her eyes as if savoring the warmth of his hand like a kitten being stroked.
"Leah, you need to understand—I can't go to Umbridge and ask her to excuse your detention this time."
Astoria snapped out of the dizzying warmth of his touch. She nodded quietly and said in a soft voice,
"I know. If you went to her Phineas, it would be the same as telling the Ministry that I'm the person they're looking for. Then I'd become a weapon to use against you."
Phineas nodded. She understood perfectly.
Indeed, Umbridge had detained Hermione and Astoria to test which girl Phineas cared about most. Only four girls were close to him: Astoria, Hermione, Ginny, and Luna. Umbridge had already tested Hermione. Now, it was Astoria.
Phineas had no doubt that Umbridge had leaked news of the detentions on purpose, expecting that if someone close to him was involved, he'd come pleading. But he couldn't. Whether any of the girls was the person the Ministry sought or not, showing favoritism would only increase suspicion.
"So, I must go to detention. It's my decision," Astoria said firmly.
Phineas had no response. In the end, Astoria walked into Umbridge's office and accepted the punishment.
The next day, Phineas saw the back of her hand. Where once her skin was smooth as cream, a fresh, bleeding scar read:
"I must not tell lies."
The sight of the scar, combined with Astoria's sunny smile, made Phineas's heart ache.
Soon after, Luna and Ginny were also given detention. Beforehand, Phineas warned them of the situation and offered them the chance to ask for leave, but like Astoria, they refused.
Ginny, in love with Harry, didn't want people thinking she was close to Phineas and preferred to take the punishment. Luna—being Luna—simply found it fascinating, blaming a fictional creature called the nargles for the whole thing.
Phineas was proud, yet heartbroken. The four girls suffered for him, yet none gave in to the Ministry's pressure.
So, he took action.
He contacted the Black family's underground network at the Hog's Head Tavern and issued orders.
If the Ministry dared to go after his people, he'd hit them back—hard.
A few days later, the effect was felt. Umbridge kept Phineas after class, subtly hinting that both she and the Ministry wished to reconcile.
Phineas just smiled and said nothing.
All four girls had been punished. If Phineas accepted the Ministry of Magic's surrender now, he would feel as though he had let them down. The Ministry deserved to feel real pain for what they had done.
The very next day, Umbridge personally invited Phineas to her office. Previously, the Ministry had merely hinted at wanting peace. Now, it was clear—they had truly yielded.
Because the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge's mother, had been kidnapped.
Naturally, this had been done by Black's men. Phineas would never allow an innocent old woman to be harmed for the faults of her son, but letting Fudge taste this kind of personal fear—that was acceptable. As for the elderly woman herself, she was being treated with the utmost care, given fine food and drink, and kept safe.
"Phineas Black, what do you want?"
This time, it wasn't Umbridge speaking—it was Fudge himself.
As Phineas opened the door to Umbridge's office and stepped inside, the Minister demanded sharply.
Phineas merely shrugged and replied with a faint smile,
"Dear Minister Fudge, I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean. What could I possibly want? I'm just a young wizard who hasn't even graduated from Hogwarts."
At those words, Fudge's face turned pale.
He had told Umbridge and his confidants time and again not to take Phineas or the Black family too seriously. Now, hearing Phineas say this with such calm mockery, Fudge realized just how deeply he had underestimated him.
Phineas leaned back in his chair, crossed his right leg over his left, and looked at Fudge with a relaxed smile.
The meaning was obvious: I'm mocking you. Let's see if you're willing to surrender.
Fudge's expression shifted. He gritted his teeth and asked again,
"What do you want?"
Phineas said nothing.
Seeing that Phineas wouldn't offer conditions, Fudge tried to play the diplomat.
"May I call you Phineas? Perhaps you have suggestions for the Ministry. We'd welcome your insight."
Phineas smiled and pointed at Umbridge.
"Tell her to leave Hogwarts. Stop meddling."
Fudge's face twisted.
"That's impossible. Try something else."
Phineas shrugged. "Then remove her from the position of high Inquisitor and promise not to create similar posts again. Interfere through legal channels, not through backroom manipulations."
Fudge breathed deeply, then nodded. "Very well. A new decree will be issued."
"When that decree is public, you'll get what you want," Phineas said, rising to leave.
"I keep my promises," he added, without waiting for them to respond.
After Phineas left, Umbridge glared at Fudge.
"Minister, are we really surrendering?"
Fudge shook his head.
"No. We lost the high Inquisitor role, but we still have influence. The Education Decrees remain in place. And we've confirmed it—one of the four girls is his weakness. Likely Luna Lovegood."
Umbridge's eyes lit up. "Shall we act against her—"
"No!"
Fudge cut her off.
"No matter how much we try to deny it, the Blacks were once the royal family of the wizarding world in this country. Though their influence has waned, and they're currently kept in check by the Rich family, their strength cannot be ignored.
This time, Phineas Black's actions were not only an act of retaliation against us—they were also a warning. He's showing us that he has the power to upend the game, to strike beyond the rules we play by. And we… we don't have that kind of power.
So, don't provoke him. Don't touch the people around him."
Umbridge pouted, but Fudge dismissed her.
"You've lost this role, but you remain DADA professor. That will not change."
As promised, Fudge issued a decree removing the high Inquisitor post and forbidding its return. In response, Phineas's men released Fudge's family and the others they had taken.
To many, it seemed like a happy ending.
But Hermione remained troubled. Reading the Daily Prophet, she could guess Phineas was behind it all. Still, she couldn't understand: why hadn't he forced Umbridge to leave Hogwarts? Why hadn't he demanded the Ministry stop monitoring their communications?
She didn't ask Phineas—she knew he wouldn't answer.
The truth was, removing Umbridge meant nothing. If she left, the Ministry would simply send someone worse. Better the devil you know.
And as for the communication monitoring—the Ministry would never admit to it, much less give it up.
In the end, of the two positions—the DADA professor and the high Inquisitor —Phineas chose to eliminate the more dangerous one.
In the days that followed, the mood at Hogwarts lifted. Without the looming threat of a high Inquisitor , the professors taught more freely—even Snape refrained from docking points from Gryffindor.
It was as if a storm had passed.
But while Hogwarts rejoiced, events were unfolding in the wider wizarding world.
"Mr. Black," said Professor McGonagall, approaching him. "Headmaster Dumbledore wishes to see you. The password is Cockroach Cluster."
Phineas, confused, excused himself from Astoria and the twins, then headed to the Headmaster's Office.
At the top of the moving staircase, he opened the door and stepped inside.
"Phineas," Dumbledore said without preamble, handing him a note. "Fawkes just brought this from the Order. I believe you should see it."
Phineas read the message.
"All Black family safehouses in the UK were attacked. Sirius Black ambushed. He is in critical condition at St. Mungo's. All others present were killed."
At the same time, Puff appeared beside him, delivering a second note, the seal of his own intelligence network.
"Lisa, unfortunately, died protecting Sirius."