The-Catastrophic-Aftermath? (IV) [Chapter 204]

Cornelius wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeves as he looked around at the waiting crowd, and he started to sweat even more under their various looks… This was not a development he foresaw. To be honest, he wasn’t expecting anyone to question him, but he realized that he should have… He couldn’t allow the truth to come out or the Ministry would most likely collapse.

He turned toward his most trusted friend Lucius, but the said man was trying to look away from him, which made him realize that he wasn’t going to get any help from Lucius. At the thought of that, he couldn’t help but frown and started to remember the conversation he had with Lord Nott only a few hours ago… According to him, Lucius was compromised thanks to his closeness to Potter.

At first, Cornelius obviously didn’t believe Nott, but he was starting to see the truth in the man’s claims…

“We are waiting, Minister” Augusta Longbottom broke him out of his musings while looking really impatient and Cornelius cringed on the inside. The way the others were looking at him, Cornelius knew he couldn’t escape this predicament by spinning some tale… He needed to give them something or they weren’t going to go along with his scheme.

To be honest, he was scared even though he refused to believe the reports he saw… A fourteen year old defeating so many trained Wizards and Witches? It was completely preposterous… It must have been some sort of illusion they saw. Though if the memory was revealed to the public then there would be mass panic as everyone would realize that they can’t beat Harry Potter.

Cornelius wanted to avoid such a situation at any cost…

“Then shall I presume that you don’t have any proof and you simply want to use him as a convenient scapegoat to cover your arse?” Once again Augusta spoke up and Cornelius barely held himself back from swearing at her. Why the hell was she determined to mess up with his plans? Cornelius looked around the Wizengamot chamber and people were already talking, doubt clear on their faces.

“How dare you talk to the Minister in such a manner?!” Cornelius cringed again when someone screamed from his side and he knew very well who it was.

“Why are you here again you glorified pencil pusher?” Augusta asked in a bland tone as she stared at the women dressed in the repulsive pink cardigan… “I would have asked the guards to throw you out, but apparently the Minister can’t even wipe his arse without you, so I am going to reluctantly endure your presence” Augusta drawled blandly, making a lot of people laugh at her words.

“Minister, can you please stop wasting our time?” Lord Yaxley complained with a frown. He knew exactly what happened as he was right there at Hogwarts and he was one of the people who had surrendered, but he wanted the truth to be revealed under the orders of the Dark Lord as they wanted to collapse the Ministry. Yaxley wasn’t sure if the Dark Lord could truly beat the boy, but the Dark Lord was most certainly immortal.

“I will show my memory. The people need to know the monster we are facing” Gawain Robards spoke up as he walked toward the center of the Wizengamot chamber, surprising everyone including Harry… To be honest, he wasn’t expecting anyone to step up in this situation. He turned to look at Amelia and started to wonder if she put him up to this, but he quickly shook his head as Amelia looked just as surprised as everyone else.

“No! I forbid you!!” Cornelius screamed in panic.

“Why? Is there something you have to hide?” Lord Nott asked with a frown on his face. The Dark Lord looked somewhat troubled after Yaxley showed him what happened at Hogwarts and from what he knew, Harry Potter easily trumped the Dark Lord when it came to raw power, but the Dark Lord still assured them that he would come out on top if he fought Harry Potter.

Nott would admit that he wasn’t the sharpest Spell in the book, but he knew that the Dark Lord wasn’t so sure… Though he wasn’t planning to jump any ship. After all, the Dark Lord was most definitely immortal while the Potter was simply overwhelmingly strong. He was certain that the Dark Lord could probably come up with some sort of trap to beat the boy. So, for the time being, he would follow the Dark Lord’s plan.

After that, there wasn’t anything the Minister could do to stop Gawain from showing his memory to everyone… After all, no matter what he tried to say after Lord Nott spoke, it would have shown him in a bad light… So, he simply slumped down in his seat with a look of defeat on his face. Maybe, he could still salvage the situation if he managed to portray his intentions in a good way.

“Fine… Go ahead. I simply wanted to protect you people from the cruel truth” Cornelius sighed gravely when Gawain was handing over his memory to the scribe. Everyone in the room clearly heard him and those who were unaware of the incident started to wonder what the Minister was trying to protect them from.

“I have to admit, he is really a good politician, no matter how much of a coward and fool he is” Harry admitted aloud as once again the people started to speak and started to look at the Minister in a good light. Truly a sheep mentality… Alas, nothing could have prepared them for the horrible things they saw and just like the Minister expected, pandemonium broke in the Wizengamot chamber as soon as the memory stopped to play.

“Are you happy now? The Ministry no longer poses any threat to you” Amelia ground out while glaring at Harry.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but the Ministry never posed a threat to me” Harry declared as he stood up and smoothened his expensive robes. “I would have loved to stay, but all the excitement is over… Now they are simply going to declare me a Dark Lord just to look powerful” Harry revealed and even though Amelia hated it, Harry was right.

“By the way, I have left a small retirement gift for you in your office. I hope you like it” Harry said with a smile before he finally disappeared into the clamoring crowd, and moments later, Amelia could move again, but she simply sagged in her chair, with a look of defeat on her face…