#273 - Chapter 273 Fame
The reporter from Swan Media originally intended to take advantage of the translation machine to secure exclusive coverage of this event.
After all, the incident happened suddenly, and the other reporters were not equipped with such comprehensive equipment, and they couldn't understand what the Dementors were saying at all.
Just as he was happily thinking about getting a promotion and a raise after returning, he suddenly heard Sebastian's deep voice in his ear.
"Vincent, please relay what the Dementors said to the others, so that everyone understands what's going on."
"After we return, I'll have Lockhart give you credit for this."
The reporter was slightly stunned, and then, following Sebastian's instructions, he began to relay the Dementors' words to everyone.
With his translation, everyone present knew the whole story.
Oh!
It turned out that Umbridge was planning to use her position to have the Dementors cooperate with her lies, embellishing yesterday's illegal intrusion as a legitimate operation to hunt down fugitives.
Unexpectedly, the plan went awry. The Dementors were all honest and good youths, and they were simply unwilling to lie.
The Undersecretary, enraged, even thought about throwing her weight around in front of these terrifying Dementors.
What a joke!
It's one thing to throw your weight around in front of us ordinary people, but considering you're the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic, everyone will play along with you.
But now, the Dementors don't care who you are. If you push them too far, they'll suck anyone's soul.
Now look, you've lost a lot of face, haven't you.
Not only that, but now the Dementors are directly on strike. Let's see how you clean up this mess.
The reporters took out their magical cameras and snapped away, recording Umbridge's embarrassing appearance from all angles.
Under the Aurors' care, Umbridge gradually regained her composure.
After hearing the Dementors' demands, she was so angry that she laughed.
A collective strike?!
You disgusting creatures are really getting too big for your britches.
The fact that the Ministry of Magic hasn't completely eliminated you is already a great act of benevolence.
Now you even dare to ask for weekends off and a nine-to-five schedule. Are you trying to reach the heavens?
Her face twitching, she shouted hoarsely at the leading Auror: "Delores, take all the Aurors and teach these ignorant Dementors a harsh lesson."
Hearing this, the Dementors, who had finally calmed down, once again showed signs of agitation.
Delores ignored Umbridge's order and instead used the Dementors' language to appease them.
The remaining Aurors looked at each other, all feeling helpless towards this irrational Undersecretary.
They're already on strike, and you still want to suppress them?
Are you really not afraid of pushing these crazy creatures to rebel?
There aren't many of us who know the Patronus Charm. If the Dementors swarm up, no one will be able to protect you.
Besides, even if we can beat them, how much disaster will a hundred uncontrolled Dementors scattered and fleeing bring to the magical world?
Before the Ministry of Magic completely sends people to eliminate these guys, I don't know how many wizards and Muggles will have their souls devoured.
If we really cause such a big mess, we combat personnel will be the ones to take the blame.
The Aurors present looked at me, and I looked at you, and none of them had any intention of taking action.
Seeing that no one was following her orders, Umbridge became even more angry. Her chest heaved violently, like a runaway toad.
It wasn't until Delores had appeased the Dementors that he dissuaded Umbridge.
"Undersecretary, you won't find cheaper prison guards than Dementors anywhere else in the world. If you really let them all go on strike, you can't bear this responsibility."
"For the sake of your future, you should endure it. Don't get angry with these guys; it's not worth it."
Delores was also in a difficult position. He not only had to appease the furious Umbridge, but also had to think about getting the Dementors back to work.
However, the group of Dementors seemed to be determined. Unless their demands were met, they were unwilling to disperse and were wholeheartedly determined to strike.
Helpless, Delores could only arrange for an Auror to return to the Ministry of Magic through the fireplace in Hogsmeade New Town to invite Minister Fudge over.
Now that things had gotten too big, only the Minister could resolve this matter.
When Fudge heard the news brought by the Auror, he was stunned.
"What? Umbridge pushed the Dementors to strike?"
Immediately, he slammed the documents on the table, roaring with a face full of anger: "What on earth is she doing? I sent her there to handle the trouble, not to cause me trouble!"
Fudge was so angry that he smashed the ink bottle in his hand, and the black ink splattered, staining the room that had just been cleaned up.
"Damn Umbridge, why did you enrage the Dementors!"
To be honest, he very much agreed with Umbridge's pushing the blame for the Dementor attack on the students onto Black, which was why he sent Umbridge to deal with this matter.
He didn't expect the teachers and students of Hogwarts to be so uncooperative, choosing to resist in the face of such obvious political manipulation, not even willing to play along with the Ministry of Magic, resulting in a situation where everyone was embarrassed.
The more Fudge thought about it, the angrier he became, feeling that everyone at Hogwarts, from Headmaster Dumbledore to every professor and student, was opposing the Ministry of Magic.
"These ignorant professors and students don't even know how to solve problems for the Ministry of Magic, they only make things more complicated."
"They never understand how important the reputation of the Ministry of Magic is!"
Fudge said in a low voice, gnashing his teeth, and then kicked the chair beside him with a vicious kick.
The chair crashed to the ground, making a piercing sound.
Finally, he took a deep breath, grabbed his hat, slammed it on his head, and pushed open the door of the office.
After gathering the Auror team, Fudge led them quickly through the fireplace and went straight to Hogwarts.
After negotiations, Fudge rejected the Dementors' demands for a nine-to-five schedule, weekends off, and comprehensive insurance and housing fund.
However, as a concession, he agreed to allow the Dementors here to return to Azkaban on a weekly rotation to ensure that they would not always go hungry.
With the reports and video dissemination of major media outlets, the Dementor Uprising quickly spread to every corner of the wizarding world.
The image of the Ministry of Magic plummeted in the public eye, and Umbridge became completely "famous"—people ridiculed her as the Undersecretary who pushed the Dementors to strike.
At the same time, the relationship between Fudge and Hogwarts also dropped to freezing point as a result, and the opposition between the two sides became more obvious.
............................
December 18th, the last Saturday before the Christmas holidays.
It was snowing heavily, and everything was covered in silver, and even the Black Lake was covered with a thick layer of ice.
Harry, Ron and Hermione, wrapped in thick cloaks, walked towards the school gate, stepping on the snow.
Arriving outside the school gate and just getting on the carriage to Hogsmeade, Ron shouted happily.
"It's so cold. Luckily there's a carriage, otherwise we'd have to walk to Hogsmeade."
"I've already decided. We'll go to the Three Broomsticks pub to have a hot cocktail first, and then go to other places to play after we warm up."
Harry and Hermione were noncommittal, smiling and discussing today's plans with Ron.
Soon the carriage was filled with young wizards, and the carriage slowly started and drove steadily towards Hogsmeade New Town.
Suddenly, Hermione nudged Harry's arm and pointed to the black shadow running along the road.
"Harry, look, we've encountered that big black dog again."
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