yournovel Chapter 491 492: Room 11
Chapter 491 492: Room 11
Fudge tossed his pinstriped cloak aside and hitched up his dark green trousers
before settling into the chair opposite Harry.
"Harry," he began, "I am Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic."
Harry, of course, already knew that. He had seen Fudge's face in the Daily
Prophet dozens of times—most recently just moments ago, his round, anxious face
pictured right below the hollow-eyed stare of Sirius Black.
Tom, the landlord, reappeared. He had pulled an apron over his nightshirt and
was carrying a tray laden with tea and crumpets. He set the tray between them,
bowed low to the group, and withdrew, clicking the door shut behind him.
"Well, now, Harry," Fudge said, pouring the tea, "to be frank with you, you've
had us all in a right old tizzy. Running away from your aunt and uncle's like
that! I had begun to think... well, the important thing is that you're safe."
Fudge helped himself to a crumpet, slathered it in butter, and pushed the plate
toward Harry.
"Eat up, Harry. You look like you're about to collapse. And please, Mr. Green,
don't be shy." Fudge turned to Sean with a wide, beaming smile.
The seating arrangement was telling. Harry sat alone against the wall, while
Sean had been ushered to the seat beside Fudge. From Harry's perspective, it
looked as though the Minister for Magic and Sean Green were sitting in joint
judgment over him.
"You see, Harry, your Aunt Marge was blown up like a prize balloon, and then you
simply vanished," Fudge continued. "Naturally, we feared the worst... but you're
a clever lad. You found the right people to help you. For Mr. Green's sake, the
Ministry has already smoothed over the unfortunate incident involving Miss
Marjorie Dursley. I expect you'll be glad to hear that."
Harry stared. "You... you fixed it?"
"Two hours ago," Fudge said, smiling over the rim of his teacup like a doting
uncle. "Members of the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad were dispatched to Privet
Drive. Miss Dursley has been deflated, and her memory has been modified. She
won't remember a thing about it. So, you see? No harm done."
Harry couldn't believe his ears. He opened his mouth to speak, found himself
speechless, and closed it again.
"Ah, you're worried about your aunt and uncle's reaction, aren't you?" Fudge
chuckled. "Well, I won't lie—they are beyond furious. But they've agreed to take
you back next summer, provided you stay at Hogwarts for Christmas and Easter."
"I always stay at Hogwarts for Christmas and Easter," Harry said flatly. He
waited for the other shoe to drop—the punishment, the expulsion, the lecture.
"Now then," Fudge said, reaching for a second crumpet, "that just leaves the
question of where you'll spend the final three weeks of your holidays. I suggest
you take a room here at the Leaky Cauldron—"
"Wait," Harry interrupted. "If you know it was me who used magic... why aren't I
being punished?"
Fudge blinked. "Punished?"
"I broke the law!" Harry cried. "The Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of
Underage Sorcery!"
"Oh, my dear boy, we aren't going to punish you for a little thing like that!"
Fudge waved his crumpet dismissively. "It was an accident! We don't send people
to Azkaban just for blowing up their aunts!"
This was a complete 180-degree turn from Harry's previous dealings with the
Ministry.
"Last year, I got an official warning just because a house-elf smashed a cake in
my uncle's kitchen!" Harry frowned. "The Ministry told me if there was any more
magic used there, I'd be expelled from Hogwarts!"
If Harry wasn't mistaken, Fudge suddenly looked very uncomfortable.
"Circumstances change, Harry... we have to take into account... well, given the
current climate... surely you don't want to be expelled?"
"Of course not," Harry said.
"Well then, why harp on it?" Fudge laughed airily. "Now, have another crumpet.
I'll go and see if Tom has a room available for you. After that, I have some
business to discuss with Mr. Green. I've been looking forward to this moment for
a very long time."
Fudge strode out of the room. Harry stared after him, his mind racing. It didn't
make sense. If Fudge didn't want to punish him, why had the Minister for Magic
personally come to the Leaky Cauldron to meet a thirteen-year-old?
Harry looked out the window at the pale, sickly glow of the moon. It felt
unreal, like a dream that was slowly turning into a nightmare.
"Sean," Harry whispered, turning to the person he trusted most. "It's about
Black, isn't it?"
Sean nodded slowly. "Yes."
"He was Voldemort's top lieutenant," Harry's voice trembled. "He escaped
Azkaban... and he's coming for me, isn't he?"
Harry felt a surge of cold panic. An escaped convict, a powerful murderer who
had survived the world's most dangerous prison, was out there. No one knew how
he'd escaped, but everyone knew why: he was coming to finish what his master
started. He was coming to kill Harry Potter.
"That's why Fudge is here... it wasn't about Aunt Marge at all." Harry's throat
felt tight. Ever since he'd entered the wizarding world, someone was always
trying to kill him.
"Yes, Harry," Sean said calmly.
"Sean... can I stay with you until we go back to Hogwarts?" Harry asked, his
voice small and hopeful. If he could stay by Sean's side, he knew he'd be safe.
To Harry's utter dismay, Sean shook his head.
"I see," Harry whispered, his voice cracking.
"Harry, look at me," Sean said, breaking Harry's spiral of despair. "You won't
be in any danger. I promise you."
"What?" Harry blinked, confused.
Before he could ask what Sean meant, Fudge and Tom returned.
"Room 10 was just taken, but Room 11 is vacant, Harry," Fudge said cheerfully.
"I think you'll find it quite comfortable. There is only one thing—and I'm sure
you'll understand. I don't want you wandering off into Muggle London. Keep to
Diagon Alley. Be back here every night before dark. Tom will be keeping an eye
on things for me."
Fudge didn't even wait for Harry to agree. He turned to Sean, his face lighting
up with excitement. "Now, Mr. Green, if you could spare me a bit of your time?"
Without another word to Harry, Fudge practically ushered Sean out of the room,
sticking close to him as they disappeared down the hall.
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