Chapter 282: Conversation
"Are you planning to notify the Ministry of Magic?"
"Sometimes, some necessary warnings are still very important, especially for the current Ministry of Magic. After all, under Fudge's leadership, the current Ministry is too complacent and permissive. It's time for some problems to appear to wake them up. What do you think?"
Hearing this, Sean knew his grandfather wasn't planning to warn the Ministry.
At the same time, hearing Gavin express his dissatisfaction with the Ministry, Sean immediately asked: "Grandfather, if one day the Ministry of Magic completely breaks with Dumbledore, would the Wizengamot support the Ministry or Dumbledore?"
Gavin, who had been about to take a sip of tea, stopped his movement and looked at Sean. After a long while, he finally said: "Are you talking about the Ministry of Magic, or Fudge and his cronies?"
"Fudge and his cronies!"
"Oh, if that's the case, then I would temporarily comply with Fudge, and then when Dumbledore strikes back or gains the advantage, I would decisively abandon Fudge and stand with Dumbledore."
Oh...
So it was basically playing along first, then stabbing him in the back.
Sean looked at Gavin and asked again: "Grandfather, who exactly is supporting Fudge behind the scenes that you'd need to play along with him?"
"Anyone who can sit in the position of Minister of Magic has a large group of people supporting them behind the scenes. Behind Fudge are the pure-blood families led by the Malfoy family. Otherwise, why would the Ministry so easily let those people go? Everyone in the Ministry knows they were once Death Eaters, right?
As for that so-called excuse of being under the Imperius Curse, anyone with half a brain knows that's nonsense. Besides, there are ways to check if someone was under the Imperius Curse. It's not like there's really no method. It's just that Fudge didn't want to pursue it at the time. Otherwise, with Fudge having neither power nor money, who would elect him as Minister of Magic?"
"If Fudge is backed by pure-blood families, that would include the Bulstrode family too?"
"It's our Bulstrode family." Gavin glanced at Sean and continued: "Indeed, there is support from the Bulstrode family. After all, on the surface we're just a low-key pure-blood family. Some things still require going with the flow."
"If that's really the case, then the Ministry hasn't been targeting pure-blood families lightly. I heard they even forced Lucius Malfoy to sell his family's dark magic items in Knockturn Alley."
"Just for show, all smoke and mirrors. If you see through the smoke screen to the hidden essence, you'll find that the Ministry investigated those pure-blood families for so long. Did anyone really get caught with anything? Did any family really pay a huge price? Selling two dark magic items counts as being backed into a corner?
When the Malfoy family starts selling land and shops, it starts selling overseas trade routes. That's when they're really backed into a corner.
Of course, the same goes for our Bulstrode family."
Sean naturally noticed Gavin's use of "our Bulstrode family", but he didn't object. To be fair, Gavin had indeed been very good to him. Although he was certain that initially Gavin's kindness toward him had ulterior motives, whose kindness toward others was without self-interest?
As long as he was truly good to him and truly good to his parents, that was enough.
"Thank you, Grandfather. I understand."
"So..." Gavin set down his teacup and asked Sean: "Are you planning to oppose Fudge?"
"I should say, I want to drive him from the Minister of Magic's throne."
"Then who do you want to support as Minister of Magic?"
"What do you think of me?"
Elena, Yad, and Martha heard Gavin's hearty laughter.
Looking toward Sean and Gavin sitting not far away, Elena's face showed a hint of a smile as she said to Yad and Martha beside her: "I haven't heard Gavin laugh like this in a long time. Perhaps you might not remember, but every time Gavin laughs like this, it's when he encounters something that makes him very happy. I remember the last time was when Yad was just born."
At dinner that evening, Gavin ate a lot, showing that his spirits were very high.
Sean, as usual, had an astonishing appetite, eating large quantities of food.
Elena and the others didn't ask what Gavin and Sean had talked about. When they asked, Gavin just smiled, looking very pleased.
Sean's family stayed overnight at Bulstrode Manor.
This time when coming to Bulstrode Manor, Aldrich hadn't come along.
Actually, ever since those children went to the orphanage, Aldrich had understood Gavin's meaning and stopped coming to Bulstrode Manor.
Early the next morning, Sean saw the front-page headline of the Daily Prophet. The photo showed an enormous Dark Mark, with people in the picture fleeing in panic. In the night sky hung a huge green skull with a green serpent slowly weaving through its mouth.
Seeing this photo, Sean knew that last night's Quidditch World Cup had indeed seen Death Eaters causing trouble. But Sean had known this would happen long ago, so he wasn't surprised.
"Sean, it seems your prophecy was correct."
"I think the Ministries of various countries, especially here in Europe, will have some people losing sleep."
"They've been sleeping too peacefully. It's time to give them some insomnia."
"Hey, that's well said."
The family sat together for breakfast.
While eating, Gavin said to Sean: "You should already know that this year Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang will be holding the Triwizard Tournament together, right?"
Nodding, Sean said: "I know about this, but according to the Triwizard Tournament rules, I'm not old enough to participate, so it has nothing to do with me."
"If you wanted, I could pull some strings. Perhaps we could lower the age limit. After all, previous Triwizard Tournaments didn't have age restrictions, did they?"
Shaking his head, Sean said: "I'm not really interested in the Triwizard Tournament. Let others compete for it. I have many things to do. This year I might even write some papers on Transfiguration and Alchemy. Time is tight, so I won't get involved in these matters."
"That's fine too. Anyway, there are still two days until school starts. If you're willing to participate, you can write and tell me."
"It's very unlikely."
Sean truly had no interest in the Triwizard Tournament.
Although he could duel with dragons and encounter other things that could benefit him.
But for Sean now, his need for extracted abilities wasn't as important anymore. Unless they were sufficiently high-level abilities, the current Sean already had enough abilities in his arsenal. There was no need to continue being greedy for more.