Firing the Dentors—so people weren't optimistic about the move.
Everyone was waiting, waiting to see how the Ministry of Magic would fill that gap.
Those in the know understood just how awkward the Ministry's current situation was.
The Dentors had basically been working at Azkaban for free. Having them guard the prison required no paynt, and they also served as an effective deterrent against the inmates.
But once the Dentors were gone, that ant the vast prison of Azkaban could only be guarded manually.
Once those inmates regained their vitality, they would beco a real problem—so the number of personnel needed would also increase significantly.
The Ministry would have to expand its ard forces, and financial costs would rise accordingly.
It was worth rembering that the last ti old Barty reorganized the Ministry, there had still been places where salaries were in arrears.
Though that money had since been reissued, the Ministry had only just reached a state of barely balanced stability.
That stability wouldn't really improve until soti next year at the earliest.
In the anti, they couldn't just leave Azkaban unguarded, could they?
Sending Aurors there would leave the rest of the Ministry under-defended.
Either way, it was a very difficult decision for the Ministry of Magic.
Many Ministry employees showed up to work today looking visibly distracted.
"Minister Crouch firing the Dentors is only the first step, isn't it?"
A woman with glasses spoke with concern. She felt this was just the beginning of a wave of downsizing.
"Your position's more important than mine."
An employee from the logistics departnt was equally worried. He figured that if anyone was going to be laid off first, it would be soone like him in logistics.
With such a massive expenditure for Azkaban looming, they all suspected that layoffs would eventually be the Ministry's way of managing the pressure.
Even the security inspectors, usually half-asleep like they were attending a funeral, were now unusually alert—terrified of receiving a layoff notice by owl.
Woosh!
Just then, green flas rose in the fireplace.
Old Barty Crouch stepped out, and instantly everyone snapped into their best "hard at work" poses.
"Minister Crouch, Dumbledore is waiting for you in the office," the security inspector reported with a flattering smile.
Barty paused for a mont, gave a curt nod with a stiff face, and moved on.
In the elevator, he ran into Percy, who looked like he had sothing to say but hesitated. In the end, he couldn't help but ask, "Minister Crouch, regarding the new guards for Azkaban…"
"Ah, that matter has already been taken care of," Crouch replied. He placed great importance on Percy and softened his tone slightly. "We've also co up with a better solution for the budget issue."
Percy straightened up, his expression turning serious, and nodded to show he understood.
As the elevator reached its destination, Percy stepped out and said respectfully, "Then I believe I can tell everyone they don't need to worry so much anymore."
Barty Crouch Sr. nodded, indicating that Percy could go ahead and spread the word.
When he arrived at the Minister's office, Barty found Dumbledore waiting—soone who hadn't shown his face in quite a while.
"Dumbledore."
"Minister Crouch."
The atmosphere between the two wasn't as tense as it used to be.
From Barty's perspective, he appreciated Dumbledore's calm detachnt since relinquishing his authority.
As long as Dumbledore wasn't here to demand so of his old power back, Barty was still willing to show respect to the White Wizard King of the magical world.
"About the Dentors," Dumbledore brought up the real issue after a bit of small talk. "Minister Crouch, how do you intend to handle them?"
He wanted to caution Barty not to take things lightly—just because the Dentors had lost their post at Azkaban didn't make them any less dangerous.
To that, Barty replied, "I believe Lord Johnny Silverhand will handle them better."
"Johnny Silverhand?" Dumbledore was stunned. "What does this have to do with him?"
No sooner had he asked the question than there ca a knock at the door.
"Minister Crouch, the reporters have arrived."
Dumbledore had assud this would just be a routine press release—but he was wrong.
This was a grand press conference.
Two press conferences in a single day.
...
"Minister Crouch, regarding the dismissal of the Dentors—wasn't that decision too hasty? Have you considered how to handle the aftermath of their departure?"
Rita Skeeter, known in the industry for her sharp tongue, fired off the question bluntly.
Barty Crouch Sr., now dressed in formal wizarding robes suitable for the occasion, replied sternly, "After thorough investigation, the Dentors were found to have committed serious violations, gravely endangering the safety of the magical world. To ensure the defense of Azkaban and the protection of our society, I made this decision."
"As for follow-up asures, we ask the public to trust the Ministry of Magic," he added with gravity. "Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Ministry, the issue has already been successfully resolved."
"We have carried out renovations on Azkaban. Building on the existing infrastructure, we've introduced a new device—the Magical Energy Loop—which is even more effective than Dentors."
"This device can efficiently suppress prisoners' use of magic while saving the Ministry a significant amount in expenses."
"Saving expenses? May I ask, Minister Crouch, in what specific areas?" Rita Skeeter pressed on.
Crouch answered thodically, "Auror and Strike Squad equipnt maintenance has always required substantial funding. The Magical Energy Loop can absorb and circulate magical energy, providing self-sustaining power to this equipnt. This allows us to greatly reduce costs associated with upkeep and repairs."
After finishing his explanation, Crouch looked into the cara, the stern expression on his face easing into a smile. "Here, the Ministry of Magic would like to thank Mr. Johnny Silverhand, consultant to the Ministry, for his sponsorship—which has saved us a great deal of funding."
This mont was captured in full by the flashing caras.
Firing the Dentors not only didn't increase costs—it drastically reduced expenses.
This was a major political achievent, more than enough to elevate Minister Barty Crouch Sr.'s reputation.
Auror Office Director Piers also saw a significant boost to his own political career.
Those Ministry employees who had feared being laid off now felt grateful to Piers—after all, the sponsorship had been secured under both his and Crouch's nas.
By the end of the press conference, Dumbledore finally understood why Crouch had said Johnny Silverhand would take care of the Dentors.
He had sold them to Johnny Silverhand.
This revelation gave Dumbledore a jolt.
To him, this wasn't exactly good news.
A faint unease stirred in his heart—why did John want to acquire the Dentors?
"John…" he murmured to himself.
...
News outlets quickly picked up the story—interviews and reports about the Ministry's renovation of Azkaban and Minister Crouch's wise leadership spread rapidly.
At the sa ti, during the press conference, Crouch—on behalf of the Ministry—publicly revealed Johnny Silverhand's status as an official Ministry Advisor for the first ti.
No one knew exactly what powers this advisor position held, but insiders revealed that Johnny Silverhand had once participated in a Wizengamot trial.
Could this imply that the Ministry Advisor had the authority to partake in trials—and potentially a legitimate path into the Wizengamot itself?
Various opinions filled nearly an entire page of the Daily Prophet.
On the paper, the image of Barty Crouch Sr. smiling beneath the flashing lights kept looping again and again.
...
"This is good news."
The next day, at the Gryffindor long table.
Hermione shared her thoughts with the other two.
She said happily, "Crouch listened to Dumbledore's advice and fired the Dentors!!"
Even Harry had to admit, this Minister was soone who could take advice.
He still rembered listening in at the school infirmary to the conversation between Dumbledore, Crouch, and Alia.
They had all discussed how the Dentors could very likely be swayed by Voldemort, and since Crouch hadn't acted for a long ti, Harry and his friends had even complained that he wouldn't listen to reason.
"He even caught one of the Death Eaters who escaped," Hermione said animatedly. "That's great news—he's really efficient."
"Mhm, yeah," Harry replied distractedly.
Ron said, "There are still nine left—I an, there are still other Death Eaters who haven't been caught."
"We don't know how long it'll take him to catch the rest either."
Ron figured maybe Crouch had just gotten lucky.
"The public thinks he's the best Minister in the past twenty years," Hermione said unconcernedly. "He'll catch them soon enough."
"You're just blindly worshipping him," Ron said, bringing up Lockhart again. "Just like how you used to worship Lockhart."
"You—!" Hermione glared at Ron, puffing up with anger.
Why did this guy always have to bring up other people's embarrassing pasts?
She picked up the Guide to Dark Arts and Their Defense from the table and chucked it at Ron.
Ron yelped as the book hit him, but still didn't forget to shove a spoonful of oatal into his mouth.
Perhaps realizing Harry was being unusually quiet, Hermione turned to him and asked, "What's wrong, Harry?"
Harry didn't even notice when the bacon on his fork slipped off. Hearing her voice, he ca back to his senses. After hesitating for a mont, he said, "I.. I had a dream."
________
Read 12 Chapters ahead: Patreon/Dragonel
User Comments
0 comments from readers