Late at night, Harry sat at the desk in his bedroom, casually flipping through the pile of latest newspapers thrown on the table. He had been sitting here for nearly four hours, until the street outside gradually darkened, because Dumbledore's owl letter mentioned that he would pick him up at 4 Privet Drive at 11 o'clock to take him to 12 Grimmauld Place to spend the rest of the holiday with Sirius. This was undoubtedly good news. The only problem was that the second hand moved too slowly, and he had to distract himself by reading the newspaper to prevent the subsequent wait from being too unbearable.
The first front-page story in the newspaper was: Scrimgeour succeeds Fudge
Most of the front page was taken up by a large black and white photo of a man waving at Harry as he read the newspaper.
The second edition praised Scrimgeour's heroic deeds in leading the Aurors to fight against dark wizards, as well as a series of policies after he took over as Minister of Magic.
However, Harry was more concerned about the previous battle. It was said that eight Death Eaters were killed on the spot by Aurors in the ambush at the wedding, and three Death Eaters were arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban.
What is most incredible is that the Aurors have captured and killed hundreds of dark wizards, creating an unprecedented legendary feat.
This matter has spread throughout the British wizarding community.
However, Harry saw something unusual behind this incident.
The wedding mentioned in the newspapers was obviously Albert's wedding.
Then the truth of this whole matter must be different from what is mentioned in the newspaper, so it is no surprise that it turned into a big victory.
Harry, having experienced this once before, was all too familiar with it.
Albert is not someone to be trifled with. He had long been on guard against Voldemort and the Death Eaters causing trouble at his wedding. After Albert predicted the Death Eaters' conspiracy against the wedding, that guy directly joined forces with Scrimgeour and turned the wedding into a deadly trap for the Death Eaters, giving those guys who wanted to cause trouble at the wedding a lesson they would never forget.
"But what about this letter?"
Harry looked at the letter Scrimgeour had written to him and frowned slightly.
The content of the letter was very simple. Scrimgeour hoped that Harry could support his policy of cracking down on dark wizards in order to promote everyone's determination to fight against dark wizards.
The reason why Harry was so entangled was that the letter was sent by Mr. Weisley, Kingsley and Percy. The content was that they hoped that he could accept a premeditated interview in the Leaky Cauldron when he went shopping in Diagon Alley, and take a photo by the way. All Harry had to do was to express his support for the Ministry of Magic's policy of cracking down on dark wizards in the interview with the reporter, and the other party even thought of the lines for him.
Harry whispered the words in the letter: "I agree that the Ministry of Magic should take tough measures against dark wizards. We must not be soft-hearted or show mercy to these evil guys, because that would be irresponsible to ourselves, our families, and everyone else's lives."
Well, this still makes sense.
He also felt that killing those dark wizards was right, because being soft-hearted and showing mercy was irresponsible to himself, his family, and everyone's life.
It is said that several Aurors from the Ministry of Magic were also killed in the previous ambush.
However, this statement was totally unlike what a politician from the Ministry of Magic would say, and Harry suspected that this was an idea that Albert had given to Skrein.
Mr. Weasley and Mr. Kingsley were rapidly promoted in the Ministry of Magic, and it seemed to Harry that the new ministers were clearly trying to please him.
Otherwise, Mr. Weasley and Mr. Kingsley would not have told him about the latest policies of the Ministry of Magic, and that they would use truth serum to determine the crimes of dark wizards and ensure that innocent people would not be affected.
Harry's thoughts didn't continue because the alarm went off.
It's eleven o'clock.
He opened the window and squinted at the sidewalk below. A tall figure in a long cloak appeared as expected, walking along the garden path.
The doorbell rang downstairs, and Harry hurried downstairs, opening the door almost immediately after the ringing ended. His luggage had already been moved to the hallway, and the Dursleys were happy to see him out of the way.
Dumbledore was standing outside the door, smiling at Harry who opened it.
"Shall we go now, sir?" asked Harry excitedly.
"Let's go, of course. However, there are a few things I need to discuss with your aunt and uncle." Dumbledore said with a smile, "I think it's best for us not to discuss these things outside."
"Sir, they have already rested. Do you need me to wake them up now?" Harry didn't think it was a good idea, but asked anyway.
"I can only disturb them for a while."
In fact, the Dursleys were not asleep, but being woken up to face the wizard they hated most would not be a good mood, and they thought Harry would leave quietly.
"This must be Petunia." Dumbledore introduced himself with a smile, "I am Albus Dumbledore. We communicate by letter."
This made Harry feel very funny, if a shouting letter could be considered a letter.
Perhaps seeing the fear and anxiety on the Dursleys' faces, Dumbledore went straight to the point.
"Harry will be an adult in another year."
"In the wizarding world, you become an adult when you turn seventeen," Harry explained to his aunt and uncle.
"absurd."
Uncle Vernon grumbled, but Dumbledore ignored him and continued, "The wizard named Voldemort has returned to the country, the wizarding world is at war, and Harry is in greater danger now than when I placed him on your steps fifteen years ago."
"When Harry becomes a man, the powerful protective spell I cast fifteen years ago will lose its effect. I hope you will allow him to return to this home before Harry's seventeenth birthday, and that the protective power will continue until then. This is very important."
None of the Dursleys said anything, and from the looks of their faces it was obvious that they hoped they would just finish their conversation and leave.
"Okay, Harry... it's time for us to leave. See you next time." Dumbledore stood up, straightened his black cloak, put on his hat, and walked quickly out of the living room.
"goodbye!"
Harry said goodbye to the Dursleys and followed them out. He wanted to ask Dumbledore's opinion on something.
With a bang, the door behind him was slammed shut.
Harry thought he heard the Dursleys breathe a sigh of relief.
"It seems that we are not welcome here." Dumbledore teased with a smile.
"Sir, I have received a letter from the new minister."
Harry glanced at Dumbledore furtively and spoke slowly about the letter he had received yesterday.
"It was Fudge's idea." Dumbledore laughed. "He wanted to meet you, hoping you would support him - before Voldemort warned him and Brockdale Bridge collapsed."
"After Umbridge did all that stupid stuff?" Harry sneered with a weird expression. "He actually wanted my support. Did his brain get caught in a door?"
"Then again, nobody has accused Fudge of colluding with the Death Eaters and sent him to Azkaban."
"Scrimgeour needs a smooth handover of power," Dumbledore explained. "Also, the accusation of collusion with the Death Eaters may not be established."
"He helped Death Eaters get away with crimes before, and he also has financial ties with the Death Eaters. If the Ministry of Magic really wants to convict him, they can easily find ten different reasons." Harry said as he walked, dragging his suitcase.
"Although Scrimgeour successfully used the Death Eaters as a stepping stone, it doesn't look like his work at all. It's more like Albert using the Ministry of Magic to retaliate against the Death Eaters."
"Oh, why do you say that?"
"Being targeted after getting married, he turns around and teaches the other person a lesson. This is something Albert would do," Harry muttered.
“That makes sense.”
"Sir, how was Albert's wedding?" Harry suddenly said, "I heard that Snape was the only one in the school who didn't receive an invitation?"
"In order to prevent someone from sneaking in and causing trouble, the wedding venue was closely protected by the Fidelius Charm." Dumbledore changed the subject and said, "Also, many famous wizards in the wizarding world were there. I think you can probably imagine the atmosphere at the scene."
"Very depressing?"
"All I can say is that everyone went to the wedding to send their blessings to the young newlyweds," Dumbledore recalled with a smile, "However, the food at the wedding banquet was delicious and received unanimous praise from everyone."
"Do you think I should be interviewed, sir?" Harry brought the subject back.
"What do you think?" Dumbledore asked.
"I don't know what Scrimgeour wants to use me for?" Harry saw sincerity in the new minister's letter, sincerity directed against dark wizards, but the other party must have a reason for doing that.
"That is an interesting question," Dumbledore said quietly. "Scrimgeour has always been committed to dealing with Dark wizards, and he is still doing so, judging by the wartime policy he has enacted. Scrimgeour obviously hopes that we will support his policy against the Death Eaters and increase our confidence in the Ministry of Magic."
"Do you think Scrimgeour will succeed?" Harry asked curiously, "and lead everyone through the current difficulties."
"Scrimgeour is capable, and more decisive and forceful than Cornelius," Dumbledore commented.
"But Albert thinks Scrimgeour is an unlucky guy. He believes that Scrimgeour is likely to die in office, and the wizarding world will collapse and be controlled by Voldemort." To be honest, Harry was more willing to believe Albert's prediction.
There's no way around it. Only through personal experience can you understand how terrifying that guy is. That guy's words are so accurate that it's no wonder Voldemort wanted to find an opportunity to kill him.
"It is undeniable that Scrimgeour took over a mess. The Ministry of Magic is indeed in trouble now, so Mr. Anderson's evaluation of the unlucky guy is actually correct." Dumbledore frowned slightly. This was not the first time he heard Albert predict the collapse of the Ministry of Magic.
In his opinion there was only one way the Ministry of Magic could fall.
He died, powerless to stop it.
Considering that Albert said the next search for the Horcrux might be dangerous, and foresaw that he would be seriously injured, it might very well cost him his life
"I think Scrimgeour should hire Albert as the Minister's special advisor. Perhaps the Ministry of Magic will be able to turn things around."
"Scrimgeour tried, but was rejected outright."
"That's very much like him," Harry grumbled.
"I almost forgot." Stopping at the intersection of Privet Drive, Dumbledore turned to Harry and said, "I hope you have your wand and invisibility cloak ready."
"Why don't we just go to number 12, Grimmauld Place?" Harry was surprised, but was soon overwhelmed with excitement. It was obvious that Dumbledore was going to take him on an adventure there.
"We are going to visit an old colleague today." After Harry took out the invisibility cloak, Dumbledore waved his wand lightly, and the box, cage and Hedwig disappeared.
"I'll take your luggage to number 12, Grimmauld Place, so they won't get in the way."
"Old colleague?"
"We are short of professors again. We need to persuade one of my retired colleagues to return to Hogwarts to continue his post."
"Defence Against the Dark Arts professor?" Harry guessed.
"No, he is the Potions Master," said Dumbledore.
"So, Snape finally got what he wanted?" Harry frowned slightly, surprised by Dumbledore's decision to let Snape be the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts.
"It's Professor Snape," Dumbledore corrected.
"That's great news," Harry said happily.
"Good news?" Dumbledore raised his eyebrows.
The position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was cursed by Voldemort a long time ago, and no professor would hold the position for more than one semester, which meant that Snape would get into trouble and be kicked out of Hogwarts next year.
He didn't think that Snape, a former Death Eater, was immune to the effects of Voldemort's curse.
How could this not be good news
"How can I help, sir?" Harry asked, changing the subject.
"I thought you'd be of use." Dumbledore raised his arm and said, "Now Harry, take my arm. We are off."
"Yes, sir."
After Harry grabbed Dumbledore's outstretched forearm, he was dragged in by a suction force. The pressure from all directions almost suffocated him.
"Are you okay?" Dumbledore looked down at Harry, who was retching, with concern. "It takes time to get used to this feeling."
"I prefer flying on a broomstick."
Even though Harry said he didn't like it, he knew he had to master Apparition as soon as possible so he could grow up faster.
"This way."
Dumbledore walked briskly through the town with Harry in his arms, and stopped in front of a neat little stone house in a garden.
The door of the house was hanging askew, as if someone had broken in violently.
"Oh my God!"
"Sir, there is no Dark Mark." Harry looked up at the sky and did not find the Dark Mark. "If the Death Eaters had really been here, they would have left a Dark Mark above the house."
"You are right." Dumbledore looked around the street and said softly, "It seems that my old friend does not welcome other guests."
"Maybe it's because we came so late," Harry muttered.
"Draw your wand and follow me, Harry," Dumbledore whispered. "I hope our journey will not be in vain."