Chapter 847: For the Stability and Unity of the Ministry of Magic
The top officials of the Ministry of Magic only had less than half an hour to think, and it was certain that Peter Pettigrew would never be found.
As time passed, Fudge's face became extremely ugly.
His tone was serious, "Everyone, we don't have much time."
The senior executives all looked embarrassed.
Either confess or postpone.
It is impossible for them to confess honestly, because the anger of the people will burn them to ashes on the spot.
But choosing to postpone the execution at this critical juncture is something that even a fool would know is a problem.
Umbridge seemed to have something to say, perhaps she had come up with a solution.
However, she did not dare to speak it out loud at the first time, but observed quietly with her eyes first.
Needless to say, Fudge was angry as never before.
Scrimgeour lowered his head, looking vaguely uneasy.
Most of the senior officials looked like Director Amelia Bones of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement with a frown on their face, while a few, like Director Ludo Bagman of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, had an idle and passive attitude.
In the huge British Ministry of Magic, no one could come up with a perfect solution?
Umbridge's mouth curled up slightly.
The time had come to show off her outstanding abilities, and she coughed softly to attract everyone's attention.
Fudge exchanged a quick look with her, "Dolores, do you have something to say?"
Umbridge straightened her chest and strode forward to face the group of senior officials, like a giant toad striding with its head held high.
She enjoyed their expectant gazes for a moment before slowly speaking out her plan:
"Everyone, we can find someone to pretend to be Peter Pettigrew, so we don't have to postpone today's execution, and we don't have to confess to the public."
"I object." As soon as the words fell, a discordant voice suddenly rang out.
Everyone's eyes turned to old Batty.
As usual, he combed his short gray hair neatly, and his expression was more serious than before. "Everyone, the death penalty cannot be faked. No matter who we find, we will kill an innocent life."
Umbridge sneered, "Director Crouch, we can find someone who is not innocent."
There are a lot of prisoners in Azkaban who deserve to die. They have made no contribution to the magical world. Now that they can play a role before they die, it can be said that they died a worthy death.
Old Barty had a gloomy face. "Senior Undersecretary Umbridge, have you ever thought about what will happen to us if the public knows that we have hired someone to impersonate us?"
This is a political event with extremely bad consequences. The current government leadership may be forced to step down, and the entire magic department may even fall apart.
What if it is not discovered?
All crises will no longer exist, and the Ministry of Magic will regain the trust of the people along the original route.
Postponing or confessing would result in death anyway, but finding a scapegoat could give one a glimmer of hope.
Fudge smiled intriguingly, "Barty, I know you are a man of principle. How about you tell everyone your thoughts?"
Batty said with a righteous look on his face, "No matter how the public reacts, we should explain to them the whole story."
Fudge looked unhappy.
He glanced at Umbridge, who rolled her eyes and suddenly sneered.
"Director Crouch, have you forgotten that you are the culprit that caused all this?"
Her voice was high-pitched and her tone was particularly sharp. "If you hadn't concluded that Black was guilty without trial, would Peter Pettigrew have been able to hide for so many years?"
Old Batty's lips trembled slightly.
Umbridge did not give him a chance to explain. "Director Crouch, don't you understand? The principles you insist on cannot solve the current problem. For the stability and unity of the wizarding world, we must carry out the execution as usual today."
Although she was sarcastic, she was absolutely right.
Compared with the stability and unity of the magical world, the truth is nothing.
And it’s not the first time that the Ministry of Magic has concealed the truth. As long as things are done nicely, it’s fine.
Even if it was discovered that he was an imposter in the end, the Ministry of Magic would have already restored its credibility.
If the measures are tougher, there will be no chance for the "rumors" to spread.
From this perspective, Umbridge's strategy is indeed the best.
Old Batty had nothing to say. He lowered his head with a look of grief and indignation on his face, his hands clenched tightly.
The matter has been settled, and only one key question remains.
"Everyone, who should we find to pretend to be Peter Pettigrew?"
Who else could he turn to? Of course, those damn Death Eaters in Azkaban.
Many prisoners die there every year, and no one pays any attention if one more or one less.
August Rookwood, Antonin Dolohov, Bellatrix Lestrange, Rodolphus Lestrange...
There is a polyjuice decoction here, so you can choose any one of them.
Feeling guilty, Scrimgeour took the initiative to take on the task of selecting a scapegoat.
At 9:55, he returned with Peter Pettigrew.
Apart from a particularly fierce look in his eyes and the constant spewing of feces from his mouth, there was absolutely no visible flaw at all from the surface.
"All of you disgusting officials, listen carefully! Finally one day, our great-"
Scrimgeour sealed his mouth with a spell, then cast a weak Stunning Spell to make him dazed.
Like, so similar.
Fudge nodded with great satisfaction, "Everyone, it's time for us to set off."
The top leaders Apparated one after another and arrived at Godric's Hollow.
Barty Sr. stared at Peter Pettigrew until Scrimgeour took him away.
……
……
10 o'clock in the morning,
Under the escort of several Aurors, Peter Pettigrew was brought to the Potter Memorial.
His physical condition seemed to be much better, and the wounds on his face had been treated, but his eyes were a little dull, which was consistent with his state of complete despair and waiting for death to come.
As Umbridge had expected, few of the wizards present noticed the problem.
Sirius, who was standing at the front, looked at Peter Pettigrew, who was kneeling in front of the monument, with some confusion, as if he had noticed something.
He looked at Lupin behind him and saw the same confusion in the other's eyes.
Although they felt something was wrong, neither of them could tell where it was.
I hope it's an illusion.
The magic projections in the Gwent flagship store in Diagon Alley and the Ministry of Magic's lobby were simultaneously broadcasting the situation in Godric's Hollow. The gradually zoomed-in camera finally stopped on a Dementor slowly falling from the sky.
Compared with the cruel execution methods of other countries, the Dementor's Kiss can be considered humane.
Just as the camera pulled towards its slowly opening empty mouth, a sharp explosion suddenly sounded.
The wizards at Godric's Hollow turned their heads and looked behind them, then screamed in fear.
The sound exploded into a strange green skull, and a huge python crawled out of the skull's mouth like a tongue.
The high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Magic near the Potter Memorial all widened their eyes, their faces full of disbelief.
"You disgusting officials, listen carefully! Finally one day, our great—"
The unfinished words of the Death Eater disguised as Peter Pettigrew somehow repeated in their ears.
It’s been more than ten years since I last saw this mark.
At this extremely important moment, the damn Dark Mark actually reappeared.
……
……
