When Dumbledore initially sent Wormtail Peter to the Ministry, he hadn't mentioned Sherlock.
The main reason was concern that if he said the entire affair was led by a third-year student, the arrogant, logic-despising Ministry wouldn't take it seriously enough.
So, the story at that time was that Dumbledore, as Hogwarts Headmaster, led the discovery, assisted by Transfiguration Professor McGonagall, Potions Professor Snape, and Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor Lupin.
This seemed reasonable enough, and the Ministry didn't question it.
But the professors never expected the shamelessness of bureaucrats to exceed their imagination.
They would rather quietly suppress and handle the matter than announce the truth.
Even Dumbledore's golden reputation wasn't enough.
In the end, it was Sherlock's brother Mycroft using external pressure that forced the Ministry to grudgingly acknowledge the matter.
Since the truth was now public, Harry felt there was no need to continue concealing this.
Although Sherlock himself said he didn't care about fame and fortune, as Sherlock's friend, Harry couldn't stand seeing him treated this way by Fudge.
He had to stand up for him!
Hearing Harry say this, Fudge's eyes widened in disbelief.
Then he began to scrutinize carefully this boy he had overlooked.
As a thirteen-year-old, at first glance, Sherlock was noticeably taller and thinner than his peers.
His features were angular, with a slender nose bridge and a square, prominent jaw.
His grey eyes were bright and piercing, making him appear especially alert and decisive.
However, Fudge soon shook his head, a faint smile appearing on his face:
"Harry, oh Harry, I think you're confused—
This matter was clearly led entirely by your headmaster Dumbledore.
Oh, of course, Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, and Professor Lupin all made tremendous contributions.
But now you're telling me this was discovered by your classmate—"
Fudge smiled, looking at Harry with a "I've seen through everything" sympathetic gaze, saying earnestly,
"You just said this Hurl-moss is your best friend. Of course, I completely understand wanting your friend to be famous, but I must say, you can't talk nonsense like this!"
"It's Holmes, not Hurl-moss and I'm not talking nonsense!"
Harry shouted angrily, "You have no idea how amazing Sherlock is!"
Hearing Harry say this, Fudge was stunned, then laughed again:
"But he looks rather ordinary—"
"Ordinary?"
Hearing Fudge blatantly lie, Harry was so angry his nose nearly went crooked. "Sherlock only needs to look at you once to know what you've done all day, and you say he's ordinary?"
"Oh, is that so? Then I really would like to see this." Fudge clearly didn't believe Harry, still laughing as he spoke.
Harry was fuming, quickly pulling Sherlock and pointing at Fudge:
"Sherlock, quickly tell us what the Minister did before coming here. You can do it!"
"Calm down, my dear Harry."
Seeing Harry's eagerness to have him prove his abilities, Sherlock actually laughed:
"What we need to do now is ensure Wormtail Peter receives his judgment. Compared to that, trivial matters like the Minister eating ear-shell before coming here aren't worth mentioning."
Harry was somewhat surprised. He knew Sherlock too well.
His friend loved demonstrating his unique deductive method before others, then secretly enjoying their astonished expressions.
Normally, when he said something like this, Sherlock should respond with a rapid-fire speech.
Why did he brush it off with just mentioning abalone?
While puzzled, he heard Sherlock continue:
"Twelve years ago, the Ministry, without trial, threw a loyal, innocent, brave man into the hellish Azkaban, creating a tragedy that continues to this day—"
"I've already said that matter had nothing to do with me, Crouch did it and I didn't eat any ear-shell!"
Hearing Sherlock bring this up again, Fudge couldn't wait to speak, saying in embarrassment and anger.
Whether it was an illusion or not, Harry felt Fudge's emphasis was on the latter half of that sentence.
Sherlock ignored Fudge and continued:
"Now the truth is revealed, the perpetrator is before us.
His criminal evidence is conclusive, his crimes too numerous to record.
Yet the Ministry hesitates about fair judgment due to political considerations and dirty deals.
They even find it difficult to give the villain his deserved punishment, where is the foundation of the Ministry's existence?
Once credibility is lost, regaining it is extremely difficult.
Wouldn't the so-called rule of law and justice become a joke for anyone to paint?"
Right, it's the Tacitus Trap!
Harry immediately understood.
At the same time, Fudge looked at Sherlock with suspicion and uncertainty.
From just these words, he could no longer underestimate him.
The other's viewpoint went straight to the heart of the issue, each sentence like a knife stabbing into his own heart.
Nothing like what a thirteen-year-old could say!
This sense of oppression was exactly the same feeling the Muggle government had given him these past two days.
What was this kid's background?
"You simply don't understand. These matters aren't for you to consider."
Though he thought this, Fudge was still unwilling to admit it, saying sternly while turning to the side:
"Dumbledore, are you just going to watch a student make trouble?"
Sherlock raised an eyebrow.
Truly a leopard can't change its spots. Seeing that reasoning didn't work, he resorted to using his authority to suppress others.
Unfortunately, Dumbledore was on his side.
"Cornelius."
Dumbledore shook his head slightly. "I don't think Sherlock is making trouble. Which of his words just now wasn't reasonable?"
"Childish, absolutely childish!"
Fudge said in exasperation, "What does a child understand? The adult world isn't as simple as he imagines!"
Dumbledore looked at Fudge with pitying eyes. "Cornelius, I must remind you, if you only treat Sherlock as a child, that's not good for you.
Also, your so-called adult world could actually be quite simple."
When saying this, Dumbledore's voice became somewhat ethereal, as if recalling some past event.
This naturally didn't escape Sherlock's eyes.
"The Minister is accustomed to being high and mighty—how could he possibly respect others?"
A voice suddenly interjected. "Never mind a young boy—I'm afraid in his eyes, we people are nothing more than a group of old fogies who only know how to study and teach, right?"
'Right, that's exactly what I think!'
Fudge silently gave a thumbs up in his heart to whoever said this.
But seeing it was Professor Snape who spoke, he quickly pulled out his handkerchief to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead:
"No, Severus, you've misunderstood. How could I possibly think that?"
'Damn it, whether it's the headmaster, professors, or students at this school, they're all too difficult to deal with.'
"Minister."
Just as Fudge was in turmoil, Sherlock spoke again, interrupting his thoughts.
"Hurl-moss, what else do you want?"
Fudge said impatiently.
The more he looked at Sherlock now, the more of an eyesore he became.
Really, how does Dumbledore manage the school—couldn't he throw out irrelevant people?
"When the law cannot bring justice to those concerned, private revenge from that moment becomes legitimate, even noble."
Sherlock's emphatic statement directly stunned Fudge.
"You—what do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said."
"Well said, Sherlock!"
Sirius clapped his hands, excitedly whistling.
"Since you won't give us justice, then I'll seek justice myself.
Minister, I wonder how many Dementors are guarding Peter?
And how does that compare to the number that guarded me in Azkaban?
Think about it, the criminal the Minister protected dying in the Ministry, with 'The killer is Cornelius Fudge' written in blood beside him, doesn't that sound exciting?"
"Black, you can't—"
Fudge was terrified.
This was a threat, a naked threat!
"Dumbledore, aren't you going to control this? He's your student!"
"Cornelius, Sirius graduated many years ago.
The school has no authority over students' behavior after graduation. Rather, you—"
Dumbledore smiled and said, "Weren't you just talking about this?
The Ministry and Sirius are cooperative partners, and Sirius left Azkaban under your authorization.
So, the one who should be managing him is you!"
"I didn't—"
Fudge's words stopped halfway.
His face went from white to purple, looking extremely comical.
This made everyone present feel quite satisfied.
One could only say: well done!
Professor McGonagall also showed a thoughtful expression. She now understood what Sherlock had meant before about her trusting the rules too much.
Compared to the last visit to the Ministry, this time at Hogwarts, facing the same situation, the entire process was immensely satisfying.
Indeed, to deal with people who don't follow rules, you must defeat them at what they do best to make it more thrilling.
Hadn't even the good-natured Dumbledore started being sarcastic?
As Headmaster, Dumbledore still needed to consider the big picture.
Seeing Fudge's embarrassment, he slowly spoke:
"Cornelius, since the Ministry has decided to cooperate with Sirius, it should show sufficient sincerity.
One Order of Merlin medal doesn't adequately demonstrate this sincerity. Moreover—"
He stared at Fudge, saying word by word:
"If even someone like Peter cannot be punished, then everything we've persisted in all these years is utterly meaningless.
I agree with what Sherlock just said—when the law cannot bring justice to those concerned, private revenge from that moment becomes legitimate, even noble."
"Peter must die!" Compared to Dumbledore, Sirius was much more straightforward. "Otherwise, nothing else is up for discussion.
I don't mind personally sending him off myself, if you're confident those Dementors can stop me."
"Peter must die!" Professor McGonagall looked at Fudge, saying seriously, "This is accountability to the Potters, to Lily, to those innocent victims. It's the Ministry's prior commitment."
"Peter must die!" Professor Snape followed Professor McGonagall, saying with full hatred, "He deserves to die!"
"Peter must die!" Professor Lupin's voice was calm, yet contained tremendous resolve.
Sherlock and Harry said nothing, but their eyes had already shown everything.
Peter must die!
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