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Fudge listened to Dudley, his eyes shining.
If he followed Dudley's suggestion, it would be a disaster for many senior Ministry officials. There might even be a major reshuffle.
However, those affected would most likely be the old pure-blood faction, especially those loyal to Voldemort or once loyal to him.
Even Dumbledore's old friends would probably not be affected. Although they had worked for a very long time, in some cases for more than a century, and had enough seniority, and even held seats on the Wizengamot...
Their official posts were too small.
Their actual power was too limited.
Even if they wanted to express dissatisfaction, they could only protest through the foolish and ineffective method of resigning.
Fudge would not even bother caring.
"Minister, the Ministry of Magic has decayed. It is no longer the Ministry that once devoted itself wholeheartedly to serving wizards... and serving the Minister for Magic. I believe the Ministry needs fresh blood. A group of new people loyal only to you."
Dudley's voice was like a whisper by Fudge's ear.
It kept drilling into his mind.
A Ministry loyal only to him.
What beautiful words.
"Of course, this plan can proceed slowly. You are still young and have plenty of time."
"You see, honored Minister, this may not be a bad thing."
After listening to Dudley, Fudge looked as if a blockage had suddenly been cleared. His wrinkled old face spread into a brilliant smile.
In that instant, he felt he could control the situation again.
He felt capable.
He felt powerful.
"To our wise and mighty Minister for Magic."
Dudley raised his glass and smiled in salute.
He had painted Fudge a grand vision of the future. Whether the Minister could actually make any of it real was no longer Dudley's responsibility.
To be fair, Dudley did not believe Fudge could defeat those pure-blood wizards.
But at least he could start the charge.
Without some turbulence, it would be too difficult for new wizards to rise.
Fudge happily raised his glass and took another large gulp. Unsurprisingly, he choked again.
Dudley shook his head slightly.
It seemed Fudge was not suited to this drink.
A pity.
This glass, mixed personally by Dudley, was called a Godfather.
After receiving the answer he wanted, Fudge left in satisfaction with his new secretary.
Dudley watched the two of them walk away until they disappeared. Then he gave a faint, disdainful laugh and snapped his fingers. The vine chair vanished.
Fresh blood?
Where would Fudge get fresh blood?
A useless man like him did not even have his own team. Dudley had built it for him.
Well, perhaps not absolutely no one.
An image of a pink toad appeared in Dudley's mind.
A petty clown who only knew small tricks. Not worth mentioning.
Dudley's gaze shifted to the neighbor's lawn.
There stood a strangely dressed man.
It was Culliver, the leader of the Squibs. At that moment, he nodded respectfully to Dudley.
"Mr. Dursley, Mr. Gargamel sends you his sincerest regards."
Dudley nodded to show he understood.
Culliver slowly withdrew with a respectful expression.
Under the identity of Gargamel, Dudley had ordered him and the others to follow his instructions and protect Petunia and the others with all their strength.
The safety of his family always came first.
Incidentally, the idea of placing Squibs on Privet Drive had come from Fudge's current secretary.
That secretary's name was Percy.
Percy Weasley.
In Fudge's heart, Percy was an extremely outstanding assistant who had received a very high evaluation.
Dudley adjusted his mood slightly and walked back toward his family with a smile.
"Harry. Next time you see Peter, the dangerous fugitive who escaped Azkaban, you can avenge your parents openly."
When he reached Harry's side, Dudley spoke softly.
Harry's shoulders trembled slightly when he heard that, but he quickly returned to normal.
"I will."
His voice was firm and strong.
Harry had given Peter a chance. If the traitor had stayed honestly in Azkaban and atoned for what he had done, Harry would have spared him.
But Peter had not done that.
He had chosen to escape.
That meant he had never regretted what he had done.
He had never regretted betraying the Potters.
When Harry saw him again, he would not hold back.
Not long after the Grangers officially moved to Privet Drive, the Dursley family fell into busyness again.
People came and went. Neighbors from all around came to offer congratulations. There was a cake larger than a person, mountains of gifts, and a luxurious cold buffet set up in the garden.
It was an important day.
For every member of the Dursley family.
Because on this day, the Dursleys' little princess, Lily Dursley, finally turned one.
Everyone smiled that day. The Dursley house was livelier than ever. Even Snape, who usually never smiled, had the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
And that was while he was maintaining Occlumency.
If he had not been using it, he might have grinned from ear to ear.
After staying on Privet Drive for a while longer, Dudley, Hermione, and Harry set off for Godric's Hollow.
They arranged every holiday this way.
If Privet Drive was their home in the ordinary world, then the old castle in Godric's Hollow was their home in the wizarding world.
Hermione and Harry loved their wizarding home.
Every plant in the garden had been planted by their own hands. Every room in the old castle had been arranged by them personally.
With the two old wizards, Pipilu and Luxixi, taking care of it, everything in the castle was orderly. The cabbages in the cabbage patch were growing beautifully, the pumpkins were becoming brighter, and the Mandrakes were...
The only flaw was the iron thorns used as a fence around the grounds. They were still the same height, still the same hardness, and still did not have much defensive ability.
Compared with those magical plants, they were lacking.
To be fair, their defense was not even as good as the Mandrakes.
No wonder they were known as iron trash among magical plants.
They looked good, but were not useful.
It was worth mentioning that after Dudley and the others left Privet Drive, Snape did not return to Spinner's End. Instead, he found a house near Privet Drive and stayed there. In his spare time, he visited the Dursleys.
Incidentally, he also saw little Lily.
Well, perhaps incidentally was the key point.
He was now little Lily's godfather.
The moment Snape said it, Petunia agreed. Vernon did not have much of an objection either.
He already had a fairly good impression of Snape. Although his hair was a bit greasy, his overall image looked respectable enough. Vernon had also heard that he was a professor at Hogwarts, a proper job far better than certain useless hooligans.
Naturally, he had little reason to object.
Even if little Lily could not become a witch when she turned eleven, Snape would still teach her and fulfill his duties as godfather.
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