Fudge scowled at the tall, skinny Auror.
The latter stood there trembling, his face ashen, knowing that his career was over.
"Cornelius, I don't think this is the time to hold Peter Pettigrew to account, but rather to find him as quickly as possible," Dumbledore said, interrupting Fudge's thoughts of reprimanding him.
"Of course I know that!" Fudge said impatiently.
Fudge hated being told what to do, but he knew that Dumbledore was right, so he ordered his Aurors to search the island in batches with Dementors.
Unless Mrs Peter brought two illegal Portkeys with her, Pettigrew shouldn't have got very far!
Fudge gave a few more instructions, then turned back to Dumbledore, his eyes narrowing as he remembered something.
"How did you happen to be here, Albus?"
Fudge was puzzled. It had only been ten minutes since Mrs Peter's attack on the execution ground, and even he had only found out about the incident after receiving a report from Auror Arnold.
How did Dumbledore get there before me?
Could Arnold be Dumbledore's mole in the Ministry of Magic, so before he reported this to the Ministry,
Or did Dumbledore know about Mrs Peter's plan but refused to reveal it to him, so that he could laugh at her and even take the opportunity to oust Minister for Magic?
Fudge's glare at Dumbledore grew more hostile at this thought…
However, Dumbledore soon had an answer.
"Cornelius, I have no wish to engage in combat with you. It would be pointless! Trelawney has given a new prophecy concerning Pettigrew and that man, which is why I have come all the way here!" Dumbledore's eyes were fixed on Fudge as he spoke sternly.
"Prophecy?" Fudge scoffed at the absurdity of it. "Ah… you're trying to tell me there was a madwoman who happened to foresee that someone was going to break Pettigrew out of prison?"
For some reason, Fudge was deliberately avoiding the person Dumbledore was referring to, speaking with a faint tremor in his voice.
"I think you know that, don't you? It's time to face facts, Cornelius! Her other prophecy is still in the Ministry."
Dumbledore had no intention of beating around the bush with Fudge, and simply repeated the prophecy he had learned from Harry.
"She said to me: the darkness is closing in, there is a great shadow over the sky, and the servants of the Dark Lord will break free… and the wizarding world is about to change…"
"No, it can't be!" Fudge exclaimed, feeling a chill run down his spine at Dumbledore's words.
Fudge then jerked his head around and was relieved to find that his Aurors had gone to find Peter and no one had heard them.
"Why do you keep going on about that man?! He's dead, Albus! Sorted into the rubbish of history! Never coming out!"
Fudge was speaking in a low, hysterical voice. He paused for a moment before continuing. "And the Ministry is not the Ministry it once was. We have the power to keep the wizarding community safe!"
I'm afraid you don't have the ability…
Dumbledore looked at Fudge with pity in his eyes, but did not comment on Fudge's words, merely reminding him of them.
"There's no point in running away. One day, we'll face him again! That day should be near…"
Fudge stood rooted to the spot, his face ashen as Dumbledore vanished in a flash of fire.
Several hours later, the searching Aurors gradually returned to report the situation, along with the Auror who had been knocked unconscious by Madam Peter in Azkaban.
"So you didn't find out where Peter Pettigrew went? What a waste!"
Fudge, already in a foul mood, immediately directed all of his anger at the Aurors, and the abuse lasted for over half an hour.
Several of the Aurors involved were charged with gross malfeasance by Fudge!
After letting off some steam, Fudge's head began to ache with the aftermath of the incident. If word got out that Peter Pettigrew had escaped, it would be a major blow to his reputation as Minister for Magic.
"No one is allowed to speak of what happened today. Peter Pettigrew was killed by a Dementor's kiss at noon today! Do you understand?" Fudge demanded, glaring at the Aurors.
The Aurors nodded solemnly.
Fudge didn't press the matter. He had brought along a number of trustworthy individuals, and without his orders they would not have spread the news…
Fudge then waved his hand, indicating that the Auror should expand its search for Peter Pettigrew…
However, Fudge knew in his heart that finding a small mouse in such a large area was impossible.
Not to mention the possibility that the other party had already left through the Portkey.
Even if Mrs Peter did not have a second Portkey with her, Pettigrew would only need a wand to use Apparition to get out of Azkaban without entering the interior…
…
"Come on out, they're gone!"
At the same time, a hoarse female voice rang out from a cell deep in Azkaban.
A rat slowly emerged from her sleeve and squeaked as if to thank her.
The Aurors' search had been so thorough that it had swept through the entire Azkaban area, and had it not been for the fact that the Aurors had allowed him to hide it in his clothes, as well as the Death Eaters' feigned madness, the Aurors had been fooled.
"Don't thank me so early… Wormtail…" The woman leaning against the corner of the wall had a haggard look on her face. She smiled deeply, and her eyes revealed madness and ruthlessness…
"We didn't save you for nothing. Saving you is just saving ourselves…" A crazy shout came from the other end of the cell.
"We need you to find the Dark Lord, help him… and then come back for us…"
…
Peter could only curl up and shiver at the constant stream of words coming from all around him. He muttered, "I don't know what to do. I don't remember anything… I'll be arrested the moment I get out! Those Aurors won't let me go…"
"Are you scared?" The crazy woman grabbed Peter by the tail and glared at him.
Peter shook his head violently and hurried to show his loyalty to the Dark Lord.
What did death matter?
He was afraid of delaying the Dark Lord's great career…