"Harry, you know me well."
Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge said to Harry with complete confidence.
"Actually, I've been investigating this case since I took office.
But you must understand, during the investigation process, one inevitably encounters various obstacles.
Those stubborn old fools are unwilling to admit their past mistakes—especially with such an old case like this. Getting to the bottom of it is extremely difficult.
It's truly heartbreaking. In the face of fairness and justice, these people actually disregard the facts.
It's all my fault as Minister for strictly holding myself to high standards while failing to properly manage those around me.
Listen, I apologize. I really shouldn't be telling you all this."
Watching Fudge spout such blatant nonsense with a straight face, Harry sighed and completely lost interest in continuing the conversation.
Sherlock had already done everything—not only exposing Peter Pettigrew's disguise and capturing this key figure, but even clarifying the entire sequence of events. All that was left was for the Ministry of Magic to take the final step.
Yet they couldn't even manage that step properly, and now they had the audacity to boast about it?
Harry had never encountered someone so shameless!
"I'll tell him, Minister, if Sirius really does come to find me."
"Really?" Fudge immediately looked delighted.
"Yes, I promise you."
Harry was eager to end his conversation with Fudge and said as much.
However, he thought to himself that who knew when he'd actually see Sirius. Even if he did meet Sirius, he'd merely be a messenger, whether Sirius wanted to come was still up to him.
"Ha! Then it's settled!"
Fudge naturally didn't know what Harry was thinking and breathed a long sigh of relief.
Although the famous Harry Potter was the Boy Who Lived, the savior of the wizarding world, and the nemesis of the Dark Lord, at the end of the day, he was still just a thirteen-year-old child.
Compared to those Muggle politicians and the old fools at the school who couldn't see the situation clearly, he was much easier to deal with.
In fact, today's conversation was also suggested by the Ministry's secretary stationed with the Muggle Prime Minister.
Due to Harry Potter's special status, as long as he could get Harry on his side, it would be absolutely beneficial with no drawbacks for his future political career.
With the matter settled, he reached out and shook hands with Harry again. "I must go, there's still a mountain of things to do, I wish you a pleasant holiday in advance, Harry."
After speaking, Fudge walked over to Percy, who hurriedly handed him his pinstriped cloak.
Watching Fudge leave without shaking his hand, Percy once again looked at Harry with envious eyes.
Only after confirming Fudge had left did Percy hurry over, saying in a tone of disappointment.
"Harry, how could you speak to the Minister in that tone just now?"
"Huh? What? What tone?"
Although Harry didn't have much fondness for this Minister of Magic, he felt his performance during their brief conversation had been quite acceptable.
"Didn't you see me giving you signals?"
Percy said rapidly, "This was a chance for a private conversation with the Minister of Magic! You should have performed well and tried to leave a good impression on him!"
"I—"
Harry originally wanted to say he had no need to leave a good impression, but was interrupted by Percy.
"You should have at least introduced yourself!
And the Minister was so enthusiastic toward you, shouldn't you have expressed your gratitude?
Harry, if it weren't for the Ministry of Magic, you might still be in the dark, thinking Peter Pettigrew was the hero!"
Hearing Percy say this, Harry suddenly lost all interest in continuing to talk to him.
The Ministry of Magic hadn't done anything helpful in this matter—on the contrary, they'd greatly hindered it.
If it weren't for the Holmes brothers' help, who knows how much longer Sirius would have suffered this injustice.
But he knew very well that even if he explained this to Percy, Percy might not believe him, so after giving a perfunctory response, Harry decisively turned and left.
"I understand, next time for sure."
"What next time? Such a precious opportunity—"
Percy was still shouting behind him, but Harry paid no more attention and walked straight toward his friends.
Seeing Harry, Sherlock smiled slightly. "Escaped?"
Under his friend's half-smiling gaze, Harry let out a long breath.
"Yes, Sherlock, Percy really is—"
Harry shook his head, ultimately deciding not to speak ill of Percy out of consideration for Ron and Ginny, and instead recounted what had just happened.
"Forget it, ignorance is bliss."
Hermione, who had always gotten along well with Percy, consoled him. "In Percy's view, Peter Pettigrew was caught by the Ministry, and even Sirius Black's release was intentional on their part."
"Come on, even if he knew the truth, given such an opportunity he'd still spare no effort to curry favor with the Minister," Ron said irritably.
Ginny nodded as well. "That's just how Percy is."
Hearing even Percy's own younger siblings say this, Hermione naturally couldn't say anything more.
So, she promptly changed the subject. "Harry, we were just talking about this—since Minister Fudge has already allowed you to go home for the holidays, are you still staying at school?"
Harry hesitated and looked at Ron and Ginny.
"Harry, don't worry about us," Ron said cheerfully. "Your relationship with the Muggles has improved, hasn't it? Go home if you want!"
Ginny also forced a smile. "Yes, yes, go home if you want to."
"But didn't you say you didn't want to spend two weeks with Percy?"
Recalling Percy's performance just now, Harry felt that if it were him, he wouldn't want to be with someone like that either.
"If you don't want to go home, I'll stay at school to keep you company!"
Ginny's eyes lit up at this, and she was just about to speak when Ron laughed.
"What are you talking about! Percy's not the only one at home—there's Fred and George, and Mum and Dad!
I can't wait to tell them about how Sherlock solved this case!
Right, Ginny?"
Ginny: "..."
For a moment, Ginny could swear by Merlin's name that she really wanted to kick this sixth brother's backside with her boot.
Ron Weasley, was this guy really her own brother?!
Percy was Percy, but her sixth brother was no better!
Every time it was like this, not helping was one thing, but constantly holding her back.
"Then... I'll go home then."
Under Ginny's somewhat disappointed gaze, Harry said hesitantly, "I think I should tell Aunt Petunia about this." Since he'd already repaired their relationship, Harry now considered his aunt and uncle as his real family.
It was necessary to let them know the truth about his parents' deaths.
"Harry, you're so kind."
Hermione looked at Harry and said with some emotion.
She understood Harry's living environment. If she put herself in his shoes, she didn't think she could be as magnanimous as Harry.
The other friends all nodded in agreement.
Perhaps only someone like Dumbledore, an old man who had lived through the Victorian era, would think Harry had been "doing fine" all these years.
After all, in that era, there were such unconscionable things as fog city orphans and three-year-old chimney sweep boys.