"Of course, the Blast-Ended Skrewt is a very tasty food!" Tom declared confidently in the face of Rita Skeeter's skeptical gaze. He claimed that the meat of these creatures was unparalleled in taste.
Of course, this was pure nonsense. While Blast-Ended Skrewts might be tasty when they were larvae, the same couldn't be said for the adults. Not all animals are tastier the larger they get. For example, fish like mackerel, if they are too big, can have less tender meat.
The same applied to Blast-Ended Skrewts.
Seeing Rita's incredulous look, Tom added, "Look how much they resemble lobsters!"
Rita stared at the Blast-Ended Skrewts for a long time but couldn't quite equate them to lobsters, despite both having thick shells.
"Well, it could be some kind of lobster-like food," Rita said, her gaze wandering between the students who had gathered to witness the scene. These students hastily testified to how delicious Blast-Ended Skrewts were.
Rita Skeeter: ...
Hagrid: ???
He was the most confused of all. How could he not know that the Blast-Ended Skrewts he raised were delicious?
With so many witnesses, Rita eventually believed Tom's lies.
Although Blast-Ended Skrewts might be delicious, they held no significance to Rita Skeeter, who wanted a big scoop. However, discovering a new culinary ingredient wouldn't be enough to make the front page, especially in this delicate moment.
So she shook her head and left with regret. Before leaving, she repeatedly asked Tom if he would be willing to grant her an interview, but she was rejected each time.
The pressure Rita felt was due to the fact that in recent days, The Prophet's front page was completely dominated by the mass Azkaban breakout attempt. An attempt to bring down Azkaban was not something that could be ignored; not even Dumbledore would do that. Furthermore, a Ministry of Magic official had died.
The Ministry of Magic had gotten to the truth shortly after the incident. However, they decided not to disclose Voldemort's involvement. According to them, they needed more conclusive evidence and couldn't declare that Voldemort had returned based solely on Dumbledore's testimony.
The Ministry's passive attitude disappointed Dumbledore. He had hoped for more support from the Ministry, but now he saw that their inaction was the best he could get. Although Dumbledore was disheartened, Tom knew that this was already a pretty good outcome. At least the Ministry hadn't triggered The Prophet to describe Dumbledore as a senile old man who couldn't control his tongue. Tom could also understand Bones' difficulties; her subordinates didn't always listen to her, and she had many limitations within the Ministry. However, with a few more victories from Tom and Dumbledore, those limitations would be considerably reduced.
For now, Tom and Dumbledore were in an advantageous position; they just needed to add a few more cards to their favor on the scale to achieve the final victory.
However, while the Ministry didn't want to mention Voldemort, they did provide extensive coverage of the Azkaban breakout attempt and organized a grand funeral for Umbridge. They invited politicians and leaders from various parts of the wizarding world to express their condolences. It wasn't because the Ministry deeply valued Umbridge, but it was an ideal opportunity to strike political deals.
After Rita left, Hagrid looked at Tom and asked, "Were you serious when you said they're delicious?"
Tom nodded and noticed that one of the Blast-Ended Skrewts was on the verge of death; it had struggled too much, and Hagrid had crushed it on the ground, deforming it.
"Why don't you try it and find out for yourself? That Blast-Ended Skrewt is injured; I don't think it will survive..." Tom persuaded Hagrid by whispering in his ear.
...
Meanwhile, in the Ministry of Magic's Hall, mourning prevailed.
"Today, we gather here to commemorate our dear colleague, the Deputy Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement and special representative of Azkaban, Dolores Jane Umbridge. Her sacrifice for the well-being of the British magical community deserves a full day of mourning," said Pius Thicknesse, the Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, standing at the lectern with a solemn expression.
On the platform behind him, there was a black coffin, and Umbridge's body rested inside, surrounded by flowers. The coffin was filled with flowers sent by various factions who came to pay their respects.
"A dark wizard attacked Azkaban with nefarious intentions, but thanks to Umbridge's bravery and the assistance of all the Dementors, they were able to withstand it until the arrival of Mr. Albus Dumbledore, who managed to defend the dignity and magical justice... Umbridge's fall in that barren land is something we, wizards who live in the light of day, can hardly imagine..."
"It's ridiculous and absurd. Even I know that woman was just an insignificant figure," said a department head from the French Ministry of Magic with disdain. "If she really had a high status, how would she end up in Azkaban?"
"Her greatest achievement in her entire life was her death. At her funeral, we achieved more agreements than in the last ten years combined," said his colleague with a calm expression, even a hint of happiness. He approached a waiter and took two glasses of champagne.
"Safe travels!" he summarized Umbridge's departure. "I wish we could have more funerals like this."
"Dolores's departure won't stop us. The Ministry of Magic will continue to fight against dark wizards in a comprehensive, determined, and energetic manner under the leadership of Minister Bones. All officials must deepen their understanding and work diligently..."
After Thicknesse's speech, the wizards in the audience stopped pretending, and they all began to work seriously.
Representatives from various Ministries of Magic from other countries quickly reached various cooperation agreements, from cauldron thickness to lists of prohibited goods, from delegation visits to magical creature nomenclature; everything was discussed.
Barty Crouch Sr., as the Director of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, was approached by two members of the Japanese Ministry of Magic.
"A visit?" Barty Crouch Sr. frowned and called Percy over to him.
"Yes, the Shogun wishes to lead a delegation for a three-day visit to England," said an official from the Japanese Ministry of Magic with great respect. "If possible, he would also like to attend the legendary Triwizard Tournament."
Percy's eyes lit up; he thought it was an excellent idea, and his boss, Mr. Crouch, agreed as well. So he nodded, indicating that he had no reason to refuse.
"If Minister Bones agrees, then we can discuss the details of the visit..." promised Barty Crouch Sr.
The official from the Japanese Ministry of Magic smiled widely and replied, "Of course! We look forward to this visit!"