"He will not let this go. A new era has already unfolded before us.
"We need you to become an informant and mobilize your resources when necessary."
Sirius's black eyes stared fixedly at Scrimgeour.
"That is impossible. The Ministry of Magic will not become anyone's eyes, ears, or subordinates."
Scrimgeour took a step forward, his gaze sharp, his beard trembling.
This old lion was angry.
If the former fugitive before him had not found his location and blocked him in a place he never expected, he would have drawn his wand long ago.
Now, he glanced at the dark streets around them, his wand already in hand.
"Scrimgeour, we are on the same side."
Sirius gave a low sigh.
Scrimgeour did not move. He stared firmly at Sirius.
In truth, Sirius's identity was also part of the reason he had stopped.
An upright man.
Sirius Black.
A man who, because of his own mistake, willingly stayed in Azkaban for more than ten years.
A man who, to save the orphan of his fallen comrade, swam alone from faraway Azkaban to Scotland.
A person like that was the kind most worthy of trust in the Auror Office.
"Don't you understand, Scrimgeour?"
Sirius said quietly.
"Difficult times have arrived. People like us must unite. What do you think I came to you for? To infiltrate the Ministry? No one wants an organization destined to collapse. Once he fully rises, can the Ministry of Magic truly escape his control?"
Scrimgeour's face was calm as he stared straight at Sirius's haggard features.
"We came to you merely to save some innocent lives."
Sirius's voice echoed through the empty street, wave after wave, as if striking Scrimgeour's heart.
"Fudge is useless. He cannot lead the Ministry of Magic through this dangerous period. And what we ask of you is nothing more than to save more people in difficult days."
Sirius looked past Scrimgeour's face toward the empty street.
A mile away was a bustling commercial street in London. Muggles moved through the noisy shops, completely unaware of this magically concealed area.
"If one day you discover that our goal has changed, you may leave at any time."
Sirius's final words made Scrimgeour fall silent for quite a while.
He thought he must be mad. Otherwise, why did he feel somewhat inclined to believe the wizard before him?
Clearly, he did not even know who was behind this group, nor did he know what the organization was called or who belonged to it.
"Why choose me?"
They could find him easily and had recruited someone like Sirius. He would not believe this was a simple organization.
Scrimgeour saw Sirius laugh, laughing so hard he bent forward and back.
"Sir really did guess correctly. Look around, Scrimgeour. Look at these Muggles."
Sirius said.
Scrimgeour frowned and followed his gaze.
"How harmonious, isn't it? This is what we want. Ordinary, happy, ignorant—
"Fudge's desire to maintain all this is understandable. But he happened to forget one thing.
"This is not some treasure granted merely because one asks for it. Quite the opposite. People fight precisely to demand the harmonious side of life."
Sirius's voice was low and distant.
"Who exactly are you?"
Scrimgeour asked sharply.
"A group of people determined to fight him to the end, no matter the cost."
Sirius said.
Scrimgeour fell silent.
"What do you want me to do?"
"Take this."
Sirius smiled in relief and handed a mirror to Scrimgeour.
Scrimgeour could tell that it was a magic hand mirror, and the newly released fifth-generation model at that.
As a communication tool for an organization, that was normal enough.
After the fifth generation was released, very few wizards did not have a magic hand mirror.
"When necessary, it will display every wizard within ten miles for you. If required, you can forcibly intercept the images from magic hand mirrors. Like surveillance. You know surveillance, right? A Muggle method for searching, screening, and tracking criminals.
"It will be very useful during terrorist attacks. However, your access will only be opened at necessary moments."
Sirius shrugged, paying no attention to how deeply these words had shaken Scrimgeour.
"At the same time, I need you to sign a magical contract to ensure that when you use the magic hand mirror, it is for the purpose of protecting the public."
Scrimgeour's eyelids trembled rapidly. His body leaned forward slightly, and the words that came out of his mouth were not particularly calm.
"Where did you get this? This is impossible. This belongs to that—"
"We serve Mr. Hermes."
Sirius grinned and bowed deeply toward the magic hand mirror.
Scrimgeour felt many voices ringing in his head. It seemed he had unwittingly been drawn into something far deeper.
But he quickly dispersed that feeling.
He had not been drawn in.
He had always been part of this wizarding world.
Once Voldemort's forces fully rose, how could any egg remain intact beneath a collapsing nest?
Thinking of it this way, this was actually excellent news.
Their arrival proved that the respected future greatest wizard would absolutely not stand on Voldemort's side.
Of course. That was someone Dumbledore had personally raised.
He seemed to relax a little, but then he asked hoarsely again,
"Are you one of Dumbledore's people?"
"Heh."
Sirius gave a cold laugh.
"There is no need to test me like that, Mr. Scrimgeour. But I can tell you that I am, from head to toe, Mr. Hermes's man."
Scrimgeour's worldview seemed to suffer another impact.
But he did not speak again.
"The Quidditch World Cup will most likely see unrest. You need to secretly dispatch more Aurors—"
Seeing him fall silent, Sirius continued on his own.
"Perhaps we can catch some criminals on site. Right now, his forces are still limited. Every one we catch makes the wizarding world a little safer.
"When that time comes, Scrimgeour, the organization will need you to obey instructions at all times.
"All for the people. Any questions?"
Scrimgeour's body remained stiff for quite a while.
He did not refuse.
This mysterious organization, belonging to a certain future greatest wizard, seemed to know exactly what kind of person he was and what he desired.
He had no real reason to refuse.
He only hoped they truly were doing this for the people.
"At least tell me the name of the organization."
he said.
"The Stars."
Sirius paused. On his weathered face, a pair of deep pupils shone. It was as if he had returned to his very young self, greedily and curiously gazing up at the sky. In that boundless darkness, wizards would always feel their own smallness.
"Those who convert follow this bitter journey and may reach the stars. Thus, small existences can sometimes achieve greatness."