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"Draco's father," Dudley said slowly, his voice calm and powerful.
He did not call him Lucius as the other Slytherin students had. He called him Draco's father. He did not even stand up, still sitting in his seat.
The meaning was clear: he was only bothering to respond because of Draco.
"I do not want you bringing adult politics into the school."
"Schemes, framing others, twisting facts. Truly contemptible."
Dudley's eyes seemed able to see through everything and strike directly at the soul, and Lucius's heart trembled.
This was the first time he had met Dudley's gaze directly, and also the first time they had faced each other.
Although they had met before at Flourish and Blotts, Lucius had just fought Mr. Weasley at the time and had only taken a hurried glance at him.
"A school is a place for learning. A sacred place. I do not want it to be polluted."
As he spoke, Dudley glanced toward the professors' table.
"If any professor feels they were insulted, believes they were disrespected, or was even attacked, they may step forward."
Dudley deliberately emphasized the word "was."
"I will give them a chance to prove it."
Lockhart tried hard to shrink his neck, leaning as close as possible to the other professors in an attempt to hide himself and make himself less noticeable.
'If I had known, I would not have said so much to Lucius.'
Lockhart only liked attracting attention. He was not actually stupid. He knew exactly what he could handle.
Step forward to prove himself? Would that not just be asking to get beaten?
Even these Aurors might not necessarily be a match for those little fellows.
"As for your claim that it is illegal..."
Dudley slowly took out a sheet of parchment made from the same material as the one in Lucius's hand.
"I believe you should look at this."
"There are eleven governors' signatures on it. In other words, the existence of the disciplinary group is legitimate and legal."
Dudley's voice reached everyone present with exceptional clarity. With every sentence he spoke, Lucius's expression worsened. Especially when he saw the parchment in Dudley's hand, signed by eleven governors, his expression became as grim as it possibly could be, shifting between green and white as if he were transforming.
His gray eyes stared fixedly at Dudley.
He had known nothing about this.
And not one of the other eleven governors had told him.
Fudge stood to one side, wiping away sweat and feeling grateful. Being slow to react had its advantages.
Dudley's sequence of moves had directly overturned all of Lucius's designs.
You say it is a child's game of pretend? The entire Slytherin House supports him, and his support among students is frighteningly high.
You say he disrespected a professor? He can confront the professor face to face, while you cannot make the professor step forward.
You say the disciplinary group is an illegal organization? Then he directly throws legal proof in your face. The key point was that you, one of the governors, had been excluded from it.
Even Snape, who had a decent relationship with Lucius, looked at him with a trace of pity.
That was Lily's successor, and also his, Snape's, successor. Not only had Dudley inherited Lily's talent for Potions, but he had also inherited Lily's cleverness and preparedness.
What? Lily was not like that?
Impossible. Lily was perfect.
Dudley lightly tapped the table. The Slytherins immediately understood. Very soon, someone brought over a cup of black tea and a small plate of biscuits.
The person who delivered the tea made Lucius's eyes narrow slightly.
The eldest daughter of the Greengrass family, Daphne.
A girl who believed in pure-blood supremacy and the supremacy of bloodlines.
At that moment, she was gazing at Dudley with almost fervent eyes.
Dudley took a light sip of tea. His brows eased slightly, and he slowly breathed out one word.
"Good."
That old man Dumbledore was easy to push around because he followed the rules.
Dudley was different. If you broke the rules first, then do not blame him for breaking them too.
If you wanted to play hardball, he would play it to the end.
The Dursley way was to convince people with reason.
"Mr. Lucius, I believe we should leave."
Dumbledore spoke, and the anger in his eyes had already disappeared. "As Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, I can tell you responsibly that if we delay a little longer, we will probably have to wait until tomorrow. They leave work far more punctually than Hogwarts professors."
Seeing Lucius suffer one defeat after another, Dumbledore's lips curved slightly for once, and he even took the initiative to remind him.
When his eyes swept over Dudley, a trace of reminiscence flashed deep within them.
Capable, charismatic, brilliant. He truly resembled that person when he was young.
Most importantly, his values were correct.
Lucius forced a sound out through his nose. His gaze moved back and forth between Dumbledore and Dudley before he finally said, extremely unwillingly, "Hmph. We are leaving."
The Aurors exchanged glances.
Apparently, they were not Malfoy's subordinates.
"Mr. Lucius, I believe... I am the Minister for Magic." Fudge's somewhat angry voice sounded.
No matter how much Lucius looked down on Fudge, he could not show it too obviously. No matter how poor Fudge's ability was, he had still remained in this position for twelve full years. Even Lucius could only use him at most.
"Minister Fudge, please take these Aurors back with you. I believe Hogwarts can resolve this matter on its own."
Just as Fudge and the others were preparing to take Dumbledore away, Dudley spoke again.
His tone did not invite discussion. It sounded more like a statement, like an order, carrying a certainty that brooked no doubt.
If it had been someone stronger-willed, they might have become angry, perhaps even clashed with Dudley. But with Fudge, he showed no dissatisfaction at all.
Dudley's presence was simply too strong.
Presence was something mysterious, but it also seemed truly to exist. Some people appeared to be born with it.
It made a man like Fudge, whose nature was already somewhat weak, instinctively follow his words. Judging by Fudge's expression, he even seemed willing.
"Professor Dumbledore, I will handle this matter before you return. I promise."
Dudley spoke to Dumbledore, looking at him seriously and making a promise. "I will not let anyone else be hurt. Of course, the instigator is excluded."
Dumbledore could simply deal with the Wizengamot properly. Hogwarts could be left to Dudley and the professors.
"Hearing you say that puts me at ease."
Dumbledore did not judge a wizard's ability by age.
When he had first met that person back then, that person had not been much older than Dudley was now.
Dumbledore's brows relaxed completely. He winked at Dudley. "If you would like some sweets, you may go to my office. I think there will certainly be something there that you want. If possible, help me feed the bird. It likes the things you make very much."
Dudley understood Dumbledore's hint.
He was telling Dudley that, if necessary, he could go find Fawkes or something else.
What was inside the headmaster's office?
Fawkes. Very useful.
The Sorting Hat. Not useful.
The Sword of Gryffindor. Very useful.
Aside from the useless one in the middle, the remaining two would be extremely lethal against the basilisk.
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