Fudge's forehead was covered in sweat.
He wiped his face with a handkerchief, his gaze darting between Dumbledore and Charlie.
"Albus, this is truly a disaster," Fudge's voice was filled with anxiety.
"Dementors actually lost control. If this gets out, where will the Ministry of Magic put its face?"
Charlie glanced at him.
Good heavens, a student nearly got hurt, and his first reaction was the Ministry of Magic losing face? As expected, politicians' hearts are all dirty.
Professor Dumbledore's expression was calm, but there was no hint of a smile in his blue eyes.
"Cornelius, I think what you should be more concerned about is why the Dementors sent by the Ministry of Magic to guard the school would suddenly attack students."
"A third-year student fell from his broom and nearly died."
Fudge's face grew even uglier.
He crumpled his bowler hat and his lips moved a few times.
"This is just an accident, Albus," Fudge argued.
"The Dementors might have sensed something, which caused such a reaction. And ultimately, Hogwarts' protective measures were not perfect enough, failing to prepare in advance to defend against Dementors."
"Cornelius, it was the Ministry of Magic that insisted on deploying Dementors around Hogwarts. I clearly expressed my opposition at the time, but you believed it was a necessary security measure."
Professor Dumbledore's tone grew a few degrees colder.
New beads of sweat appeared on Fudge's forehead.
He wiped it with his handkerchief, attempting to change the subject.
"Albus, now is not the time to discuss responsibility."
"The key is how to handle the aftermath and how to explain this matter to the students' parents."
Professor Dumbledore looked deeply at Fudge.
"The Ministry of Magic must take responsibility for this. Dementors harmed my students; they lost control due to hunger, and the students' emotions on the Quidditch Pitch became a delicious meal in their eyes."
Fudge's face became even more awkward.
"Perhaps, Hogwarts needs more professional security forces," Fudge said cautiously.
"The Ministry of Magic can dispatch Aurors to assist..."
Hearing this, Charlie couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Fudge looked at Charlie with displeasure.
"Mr. White, is there something funny?"
"Sorry, Minister," Charlie's tone sounded not at all apologetic.
"I was just wondering, is the Ministry of Magic combined a match for Professor Dumbledore?"
Fudge's face instantly flushed red.
"Professor Dumbledore is indeed formidable, but our Aurors at the Ministry of Magic are all elites."
"They have received the most professional training, and their combat power is very strong."
Charlie made a gesture of recollection, tilting his head in thought.
"But the two times I fought them before, they felt pretty useless," Charlie's tone was very serious.
The office fell into a deathly silence.
A trace of a smile flashed in Professor Dumbledore's blue eyes, but it quickly vanished.
Fudge was so angry in that instant that his lips trembled.
His Aurors couldn't even defeat a student, which made his earlier statement about the Ministry of Magic being responsible for security sound like a joke.
"I won't engage in a war of words with you."
Fudge expressionlessly changed the subject.
"Albus, the leader of the Dementors said you captured their companions."
"Those Dementors are guards from Azkaban and are unofficial members of the Ministry of Magic."
"I hope you can release them."
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"