Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to JK Rowling. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 76: Cho Chang
"Really?" Dumbledore raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," replied Snape. "I won't lie about this. That boy is one of the most talented wizards I've ever seen. If he learns Apparition... No, even without it, given enough time, he might've beaten me during that duel at Hogwarts."
---Cho Chang POV---
Cho Chang knew she was beautiful. As a Chinese witch, her beauty was distinct from that of British girls—she had a uniqueness all her own. Even among other Chinese from China, she could be called a campus belle if she attended the college, that is how pretty she is even among the chinese woman. Every year, there were always boys trying their luck, hoping for a chance to date her. She rejected them all until Cedric Diggory invited her out last year.
Cedric had been her boyfriend, and she had truly fallen in love with him. But he was killed, and her heart was shattered. Months passed, yet the grief still clung to her.
Maybe she was confused, but she believed that to overcome her sadness, she needed to be with Harry Potter—the last person to see Cedric alive. Harry had tried to flirt with her before, but he was too late. By then, her heart already belonged to Cedric.
If Dudley knew what she was thinking, he would probably say just one thing: Teenagers shouldn't date. They should focus on their studies.
That was why she dragged Marietta Edgecombe to the meeting in the Room of Requirement. But what she saw there shocked her to the core.
The memories. The truth. Voldemort return, starting from Harry first year. And Cedric's death—the moment that hurt her most—played right before her eyes.
After that meeting, it is not only her who has changed even Marietta Edgecombe also changed completely. Before, she had been one of the first to call Harry and Dudley liars. But now? She was among the most diligent students in the club, learning everything she could from them.
Cho had tried her best to talk to Harry after class, hoping to finally reach out to him. But every time, it was Dudley who was the last to leave the room. Somehow, he was always there, standing between her and Harry.
And she wasn't wrong to be suspicious—because Dudley, who had read many books and understood what might happen, had no intention of letting Harry repeat the same emotional path. To be happy for a short while, only to be crushed again by the end of the year? No.
So Dudley made sure to disturb them—dragging along a few Hufflepuff students and Muggle-borns after each class just to break the mood.
In Dudley's mind, 'Why should Harry become your emotional punch bag just to help you grieve over a lost love?'
---Ministry of Magic---
Cornelius Fudge had served as the Minister for Magic for many years. When he first took the position, his days were hectic, filled with opposition and political pressure. To stabilize his career, he chose to align himself with the right people who could help him maintain power smoothly.
The first was Lucius Malfoy, the unofficial leader of the pure-blood elite, and the second was Albus Dumbledore.
Lucius supported him financially, often through discreet bribes, especially when Lucius needed to bend certain laws. Meanwhile, he regularly sought Dumbledore opinions to show the public, particularly the light side of the wizarding community, that he was a reasonable man willing to listen to the most powerful and respected light wizard alive.
For a while, everything went according to plan. His position as Minister for Magic became more secure, and he enjoyed the wealth and influence that came with it.
But that changed when Dumbledore informed him of Voldemort return.
To make matters worse, his most powerful financial backer, Lucius Malfoy, turned out to be a Death Eater.
All Fudge ever wanted was to accept bribes, live richly, and hold onto his power in the Ministry. If he admitted Voldemort had returned, it would cause mass panic and he himself would become a target. On top of that, Lucius would stop supporting him financially, leaving him vulnerable and exposed.
So, the easiest way out was to deny everything. Discredit Dumbledore. Paint him as a liar.
He stripped Dumbledore of his title as Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards and removed him as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot.
Cornelius even considered removing Dumbledore from his position as Headmaster of Hogwarts, but to his frustration, he learned that the Ministry had no legal authority over that appointment. Hogwarts was independent, and he couldn't touch it.
That made him even more paranoid. He began to fear that Dumbledore was building an army of students inside Hogwarts, one that might oppose him and his rule.
Before the new term began, his secretary, Dolores Umbridge, proposed that she take a position as a professor at Hogwarts to ensure no such thing would never happen. Fudge agreed and secretly felt grateful to her.
But then Amelia Bones ruined everything.
She had Umbridge arrested and imprisoned, cleared Sirius Black name, and turned public opinion against Fudge. Even people within the Ministry began to question his decisions. Whispers spread, calling for Dumbledore to be reinstated as Chief Warlock.
Things only got worse.
A report came in from Azkaban that several Death Eaters had escaped. It was a disaster. The prison had been breached, the Death Eaters were gone, and even the Dementors had abandoned their posts. The incident shook the wizarding world and Fudge's credibility fall to the core.
The truth was, Fudge had rejected Dumbledore warnings not because he truly believed Voldemort was gone, but because denial was the easiest path. Admitting the Dark Lord's return would incite chaos. It would paint a target on his back.
A small part of him believed Dumbledore was right all along. But fear and greed kept him silent.
And now, the price of that silence was beginning to show.
He sat alone in his grand office, the weight of failure pressing down on his shoulders. The fire crackled quietly in the hearth, but it brought him no warmth. In that moment, Cornelius Fudge wondered, not for the first time, if the price of power had finally come due.
Are Dumbledore speaking the truth?
Or he is just a delusional?
....
To the readers who have commented asking for smut scenes:
I apologize, but Dudley and Susan are both 16 years old, so I will not be including those scenes in my story. Please note that I do not support content involving minors and you should remember that the FBI monitors online comments (figuratively speaking).
I have researched the matter, and the legal age for marriage consent in most of the UK is 18 years old, with some exceptions, such as Scotland, where the legal age is 16.
This story will not contain those scenes, which is why it is not rated 18. So you can read my story safely without getting a boner.
....
Author Notes: To read advanced chapter you can go to my patreon.
Chapter 104: Aftermath
Chapter 105: Exposed
Chapter 106: More Reaction
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