The trial of Edmund Bones concluded as it had been expected. But Antonio's speech created a shockwave that no one had anticipated.
Death Eaters and their organisation, especially the Dark Lord, were sensitive topics that no one wanted to even touch, and even if someone did, they were always cautious to not go overboard. Yet Antonio had directly plunged his hands into that sensitive issue.
As Antonio stepped out of the council hall, he was treated with weird gazes and unexplainable expressions. He could understand why.
"Lord Olario," it was Edmund who approached him. He had an expression of bewilderment on his face. "What was that? I was not expecting something like this from you."
"Lord Bones," Antonio responded with a raised eyebrow. "Are you not pleased with my speech?"
"No! No! No!" Edmund hastily shook his head. "It is not about me being pleased or not. In fact, you were phenomenal."
"I was just shocked, especially as you even dragged the Dark Lord directly into this matter."
Antonio took a little pause.
"I think it was time for us to get really aggressive," he answered. "For a long time, we have been quite passive. No doubt many people like you have been rallying against the Death Eaters for some time, but we were not being aggressive."
"We were afraid to name the Dark Lord. Despite being the perpetrator of everything, Voldemort has remained in the shadows for a long time. He needed to be dragged into public discourse and discussion. If the esteemed lords of the Wizengamot do not have the courage to even discuss him openly, then how can we expect the common man to stand against him and his forces?"
"This needed to be done, Lord Bones," he added.
Edmund nodded as he opined, "But do you not think you overdid it a bit?"
"I think I have stirred the pot just enough to set the discourse," Antonio responded. "It was what I had intended to do."
"But this will make you lose your advantage," Edmund interjected.
"What advantage?" Antonio questioned.
"Till now the Dark Lord would not have really kept his attention on you. You were not someone, he would be keeping an eye on you. You would have been unnoticed, but now you have forcefully dragged his attention to you."
"I think having his attention is a good thing," Antonio smiled faintly. "Do you not think so?"
Edmund was bewildered. How could this be a good thing? He could not understand. He did not press the issue.
"And the challenge you gave for the Dark Lord to seek out Albus Dumbledore?" Edmund questioned.
"What of it?" Antonio smiled. "Do you not think it was a brilliant idea?"
"It was," Edmund nodded. "But had you consulted Albus Dumbledore? Was he aware?"
"I do not think Albus Dumbledore will mind," Antonio smirked as he strode forward, leaving a bewildered Edmund Bones behind.
.
.
.
"Lord Olario," Antonio had just stepped outside the ministry building when another voice called him from behind.
"Headmaster Dumbledore," Antonio greeted with a smile. He was calm and composed, acting as if he had not just challenged the Dark Lord to go after Dumbledore mere minutes ago.
"We meet again," Dumbledore said. "Would you join me for a small walk?"
"Why not?" Antonio responded as he began walking beside Dumbledore.
"We were not able to complete our conversation before the hearing in the antechamber," Dumbledore said.
Antonio nodded but remained silent.
"I had not been expecting that you would be tossing my name into the council like that," Dumbledore remarked, his expression unchanged. He did not seem to mind what Antonio had done.
"It just happened, more of a rhetorical flourish. And I certainly would have used only the name of the strongest wizard in Britain," Antonio replied.
"I do not think this is a big deal for you, Headmaster Dumbledore. It is not really going to affect you in any way."
"What if the Dark Lord really decides to attack me?" Dumbledore asked.
"Haha!" Antonio chuckled. "You know better than I do how much of a coward he is to attack you."
Dumbledore faltered for a moment. It was as if Antonio knew that Dumbledore truly understood Voldemort on a personal level.
"And if my challenge somehow goads him into attacking you, then you can swat him like the fly he is," Antonio continued.
"I see," Dumbledore sighed, his smile returning. "And what if he decides to attack you instead? You have insulted him quite a lot. He might be quite angry with you."
"Then I too will swat him like the fly he is," Antonio said without a hint of hesitation.
"You are quite confident in your strength," Dumbledore remarked.
"That I am," Antonio nodded.
Dumbledore let the topic go.
"Lord Olario," he said, "about the six Death Eaters who attacked you at your house, were you able to find out why you had been targeted?"
"Unfortunately, no, Headmaster," Antonio shook his head.
"The whole of Wizarding Britain was busy proving that I had been in the wrong for killing a couple of them," he said, his eyes briefly fixing on Dumbledore as if to say you too were among them. "No one tried to find out why I was attacked or who attacked me."
"Oh?" Dumbledore responded. "Perhaps you had some confrontation with someone? Someone who had, or has, connections with the Death Eaters and could call upon them?"
"Not that I can think of," Antonio replied.
"Hmm," Dumbledore murmured. "If I speak from my experience, the attack on your inn felt like a personal quest for revenge."
"I think you should consider whether you insulted someone or did something that would make someone seek revenge," Dumbledore suggested. "And you will have your answer."
Antonio looked thoughtful as he contemplated his words.
"See you later, Lord Olario," Dumbledore said as he turned away.
"Headmaster Dumbledore," Antonio nodded back, and Dumbledore departed.
As soon as Dumbledore was gone, a glint flashed in Antonio's eyes. It was clear that Dumbledore had been hinting at Rodolphus Lestrange being behind the attack on his house. Antonio's confrontation with Rodolphus had been quite famous after all. He was very obviously referring to that only.
But the real question was, how did Dumbledore know it was Rodolphus who had orchestrated the attack? Was it simply a guess, just as he had been suggesting on personal experience? Or did he know something for certain?
And even more importantly, what was Dumbledore trying to achieve by this?
It was far too obvious that the Headmaster was attempting to direct Antonio's attention toward Rodolphus, to ignite or reignite enmity between them.
But why? What could Dumbledore possibly gain from such a thing? Given the recent changes that had occurred in Dumbledore, he had no choice but to take this seriously.
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