Creak—
The doors of Gringotts slowly opened.
The goblins inside looked as though they had finally seen salvation itself upon spotting Scrimgeour and the Aurors.
Several nearly burst into tears on the spot.
The lead goblin immediately rushed forward and began accusing Lucien loudly, dramatically exaggerating everything that had just happened.
In his version of events, Lucien had practically led an armed uprising against Gringotts.
Unfortunately for him, he failed to notice the increasingly dangerous expressions around the crowd.
Several sharp-minded Aurors had already quietly gathered information from nearby witnesses during the earlier confrontation.
The stories they received painted a very different picture.
Unlike the goblins' accusations, the witnesses simply described events objectively from beginning to end.
No embellishment.
No deliberate praise.
Just facts.
And according to those facts—
Lucien had done absolutely nothing wrong.
After hearing the reports from both sides, Scrimgeour didn't immediately allow anyone to leave.
Instead, he continued staring at Lucien intensely.
From a purely logical perspective, Lucien's actions appeared perfectly reasonable.
Nothing suspicious.
Nothing incriminating.
But Scrimgeour's instincts as an Auror screamed otherwise.
This incident absolutely had something to do with the Saints Group.
He simply couldn't prove it yet.
"You lot stay here," Scrimgeour ordered coldly to the surrounding Aurors.
"Watch them carefully."
"I'm taking another team inside to investigate."
After issuing instructions, Scrimgeour gave Lucien one final sharp look before leading several Aurors into Gringotts.
Lucien frowned slightly.
He truly didn't want to waste time here.
Unfortunately, the remaining Aurors clearly received instructions to prevent the Saints from leaving.
That decision instantly reignited public anger.
Many wizards immediately began shouting again.
"What exactly is the Ministry doing?!"
"We come to help and suddenly we're suspects?"
"That's right! Let us leave!"
"If you keep this up, don't blame us for defending ourselves!"
One exhausted husband hurriedly tried calming his furious wife.
"Darling, lower your voice—"
"Shut up!"
The witch snapped immediately.
"If you interrupt me again, I'll make sure you never interrupt anyone again!"
The surrounding crowd erupted into awkward silence.
As the atmosphere grew increasingly unstable, several nervous Aurors eventually turned pleading eyes toward Lucien.
Unfortunately, Lucien himself had already lost patience.
Saints Group stores were still operating throughout Diagon Alley.
Every minute wasted here risked chaos elsewhere.
If losses occurred because he remained trapped outside Gringotts all afternoon—
Would the Ministry compensate him?
Of course not.
Just as the Aurors were nearing complete loss of control, Scrimgeour finally emerged from Gringotts alongside several goblins.
"What's all this shouting?!"
An Auror hurriedly approached him.
"Director, the crowd wants to leave. Should we—"
Scrimgeour waved dismissively.
"Let them go."
The Aurors visibly relaxed.
Then Scrimgeour added coldly:
"However…"
"Mr. Grindelwald must remain."
Lucien's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Me?"
For a brief moment, his muscles tensed instinctively.
Then he remembered something important.
He hadn't been present during the actual explosion.
Calm immediately returned.
"I was managing promotional activities inside Saints stores when the explosion occurred," Lucien replied evenly.
"I'm curious why Director Scrimgeour believes I should be detained."
"Perhaps you personally possess an alibi," Scrimgeour said coldly.
"But your Saints members do not."
His sharp gaze shifted toward the Saints behind Lucien.
"Mr. Grindelwald."
"The choice is yours."
"Either you come with us…"
"Or your Saints do."
Then Scrimgeour smiled unpleasantly.
"Personally, I'd rather interrogate your subordinates."
"Getting information from them would probably be much easier."
"Lucien!"
Vita instinctively stepped forward while drawing her wand protectively.
Lucien smiled faintly before gently lowering her arm.
"It's fine."
Then he turned toward Scrimgeour.
"I'll go with you."
"A wise decision."
Scrimgeour looked extremely satisfied.
With a gesture, several Aurors immediately stepped forward to restrain Lucien.
The surrounding Saints instantly drew their own wands in response.
"Don't move."
Lucien's voice remained calm.
Yet the coldness beneath it caused even the Aurors to stiffen slightly.
His eyes settled directly on Scrimgeour.
"I hope you won't regret this."
Scrimgeour laughed loudly.
"That concern is unnecessary, Mr. Grindelwald."
"Take him."
Satisfied with finally achieving his goal, Scrimgeour turned and left immediately without another glance backward.
The moment Lucien disappeared from sight—
The furious witch from earlier violently shook off her husband's hand.
"Let go of me!"
She pointed furiously toward the retreating Aurors.
"Are you even a man?!"
"Mr. Grindelwald risked offending Gringotts to protect ordinary people like us!"
"He's the one giving huge discounts so families can actually afford supplies this Christmas!"
"And this is how the Ministry treats him?!"
"We just stood there and watched him get dragged away!"
Silence spread throughout the crowd.
Many wizards lowered their heads in shame.
Others clenched their fists tightly.
Everyone present had witnessed Lucien's actions personally.
What did the Gringotts explosion actually have to do with him?
Why would someone already managing enormous Christmas promotions rush over immediately to help during a dangerous crisis?
The answer was obvious.
Because he genuinely cared about protecting ordinary wizards.
And yet when he needed support—
Almost nobody stepped forward.
"Darling… stop talking…"
The husband looked mortified.
"Please…"
"Move aside!"
His wife practically exploded.
"How did I marry such a spineless coward?!"
Then she pointed angrily toward the Ministry district.
"I'm going to demand answers from the Ministry myself!"
"And the rest of you should think carefully about what kind of people you're becoming!"
Crack!
With a loud Apparition pop, she vanished instantly.
Leaving behind a crowd of deeply uncomfortable wizards.
…
By evening, the entirety of magical Britain had exploded into chaos.
Christmas Eve was supposed to represent reunion, celebration, and peace.
Instead—
A bombing occurred inside Gringotts.
And afterward, the Ministry arrested the very person who had publicly attempted to help.
Public opinion erupted immediately.
…
Malfoy Manor.
Lucius frowned deeply after hearing the full report.
"What exactly is the Ministry doing?"
Draco burst into the study furiously.
"Father! Lucien's obviously being framed!"
"You have to help him!"
Lucius immediately stood.
"I'm going to contact the other families first."
"If necessary, we'll all visit the Ministry tonight and ask Fudge personally what he thinks he's doing."
Then he turned toward Narcissa.
"Prepare dinner without me."
Narcissa nodded calmly.
"Be careful."
Similar scenes played out across many pure-blood households throughout Britain.
…
Meanwhile, inside Hogwarts Headmaster's Office—
All four Heads of House stood before Dumbledore.
"I already know why you're here," Dumbledore said quietly.
"Headmaster," Professor Sprout interrupted firmly, "Lucien is a good boy."
"He was helping protect people."
"What exactly did he do wrong?"
"We cannot simply stand by while one of our students is treated unfairly."
Professor Flitwick nodded seriously.
"The facts are quite clear."
"Regardless of politics, Hogwarts students should not be slandered."
Professor McGonagall adjusted her glasses before speaking coldly.
"If the Ministry truly intends to target Lucien without evidence, Hogwarts cannot remain silent."
Snape said nothing.
But the icy expression in his eyes already spoke for him perfectly.
....
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