Minister Fudge's smile was a little stiff.
"Professor, why are you doing this?"
Minister Fudge's tone carried a hint of persuasion.
"The Ministry of Magic just wants to temporarily take Hagrid to clarify the facts, not to convict him."
"Once he's proven innocent, he'll naturally be released."
Hagrid's breathing was rapid, and his hands were tightly clenched into fists.
Minister Fudge's words sounded good, but Hagrid had been taken to Azkaban in the same way before, and the days there were a nightmare he would never forget.
If Dumbledore hadn't saved him, he might have stayed in Azkaban for the rest of his life.
Dumbledore, however, was very calm; he stood beside Hagrid, staring at Minister Fudge.
"If the Ministry of Magic truly believes in justice, it should not arrest people without evidence."
Minister Fudge opened his mouth, about to say something.
Footsteps came from outside the door.
Lucius Malfoy walked in.
He was wearing black robes embroidered with silver patterns and leaned on a snake-headed cane.
Seeing the dilapidated state of the Hut, he showed a look of disdain.
Hagrid's face instantly turned crimson.
"What are you doing here? Get out, get out of my house."
His voice made the fire in the fireplace jump.
"You're not welcome here."
Lucius's expression remained unchanged; he glanced at Hagrid as if looking at a noisy insect.
Dumbledore spoke.
"Lucius, is there something you need?"
Lucius didn't answer; he scanned the people in the room, and upon seeing Charlie, Lucius nodded in acknowledgment.
"Mr. White, what a coincidence."
Charlie returned a nod, saying nothing.
Lucius withdrew his gaze and looked at Dumbledore.
"I am a member of the school board, so I naturally have the right to inquire about school matters."
"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened again, and the safety of the students is threatened; the board is very concerned."
"Hagrid opened the Chamber of Secrets fifty years ago, which is a fact. Although you vouched for him at the time, and the Ministry of Magic didn't pursue it, now that the Chamber of Secrets is open again, Hagrid is largely to blame."
"If Hagrid isn't taken away, and something else goes wrong, you, as Principal, should also resign in disgrace."
Lucius's tone was calm, but his words were sharp.
When he spoke of dismissing the Principal, his eyes could not hide his excitement.
Hearing this, Hagrid was furious.
There was also anger hidden in Dumbledore's eyes, but his expression remained very calm.
"My guarantee for Hagrid is still valid."
Dumbledore said.
"If Hagrid truly is the heir of the Chamber of Secrets and has harmed students, I will resign as Principal and take full responsibility."
The room was silent for a few seconds.
Minister Fudge's eyes widened, and the parchment in his hand almost fell to the floor.
Lucius's eyebrows twitched, and surprise flashed across his face.
Hagrid suddenly turned his head to look at Dumbledore.
"Principal, you don't have to..."
Charlie looked at Dumbledore, also very surprised.
With Dumbledore's power, the number one person in the magic world, Minister Fudge and Malfoy were nothing.
Shouldn't he be above such trivialities? Why stick to the rules?
Charlie stared into Dumbledore's eyes.
There was anger in those blue eyes, but more so, restraint.
Charlie suddenly understood.
Precisely because Dumbledore was too strong, he needed to restrict himself with rules.
Once he got used to breaking rules and solving everything with power, he would become another Lord Voldemort—no, an existence more terrifying than Lord Voldemort.
No one could restrain him.
Charlie felt a little touched; the old man's awareness was truly noble.
Of course, if it were Charlie, he wouldn't be willing; he still thought breaking the rules was more enjoyable.
The atmosphere in the room solidified.
Minister Fudge's smile gradually disappeared, Lucius's brow furrowed, and he stared at Dumbledore, a flicker of unwillingness in his eyes.
Since Dumbledore had said so, they couldn't pursue it further, but letting him go just like that felt unsatisfying.
The situation reached a stalemate.
No one would back down, and no one had a solution.
Charlie took two steps forward.
"Minister Fudge, Mr. Malfoy."
Minister Fudge turned his head to look at Charlie, his expression softening a little.
"Mr. White, please speak."
Charlie shrugged.
"Currently, no one in the school has been harmed, and the Principal has made many preparations for the Chamber of Secrets situation; it is still under control."
"Wronging an innocent person is not something the Ministry of Magic would want to see, is it?"
Minister Fudge opened his mouth, a hint of hesitation in his heart.
Although Charlie was only a student.
His status as the youngest Potions Master, coupled with the Rita Skeeter incident some time ago, and the support of many pure-blood families, showed Charlie's remarkable influence.
This was enough to make Minister Fudge take him seriously.
And Lucius, of course, was already Charlie's business partner.
Lucius could oppose Dumbledore because the two were already political rivals.
But Charlie was different; he was an outsider, not clearly aligned with either side.
It was best not to offend him if possible.
Lucius took a deep breath, and his expression softened.
"Mr. White is right; the Ministry of Magic truly should not wrong innocent people."
Minister Fudge glanced at Lucius and also took the hint.
"Yes, yes."
"Since no students at the school have been harmed, we won't arrest Hagrid for now."
He paused, his tone becoming serious.
"However, Principal, if anyone else at the school is harmed, Hagrid must be taken away; this is the Ministry of Magic's bottom line."
Dumbledore nodded.
"I accept this condition."
Hagrid slumped into the chair, letting out a sigh of relief; his forehead was covered in cold sweat, and his hands were still trembling.
Minister Fudge put away the parchment and patted his robes.
"Then we'll be leaving now."
He turned and walked towards the door.
Lucius didn't move; he stood in place, staring at Dumbledore.
"Principal, I hope you will keep your promise."
Dumbledore looked at him calmly.
"The school board is welcome to supervise at any time."
Lucius snorted and turned to leave.
As he reached the door, he looked back, a flicker of unwillingness in his eyes.
As a school board member, he desperately wanted to oust Dumbledore.
As long as Dumbledore was gone, he could support a new Principal, and then the House of Malfoy's influence would rise to another level.
Hagrid got up from the chair and walked over to Charlie.
His hands were still trembling, but his eyes were full of gratitude.
"Thank you, Charlie."
Hagrid's voice was hoarse.
"If it weren't for your help, I'd be on my way to Azkaban right now."
Charlie waved his hand.
"It's nothing; you were innocent to begin with."
He looked up at Hagrid.
"But I'm also curious, why did they suspect you 50 years ago?"
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