"The wizard who left this message is very powerful," murmured the Auror who had cast the Restoration Charm.
Fudge's expression grew even darker. He instinctively reached for the wand at his waist but thought better of it, opting not to reveal his unease.
Observing this, Amelia Bones, the Director of the Legal Enforcement Department, drew her wand and waved it at the sculpture. A crackling sound ensued as the writing vanished. Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, a flash of red light flickered on the sculpture, and the handwriting reappeared.
"This..."
Fudge was grateful that he hadn't acted impulsively earlier. After a moment of contemplation, he looked at the silent man from the Department of Mysteries beside him and inquired:
"What kind of organization is this Holy White Council?"
The man shook his head, indicating his lack of knowledge.
Fudge's brows furrowed deeply. He turned his gaze to Munch and asked:
"You mentioned Saruman, who claims to be a friend of the Hobbit, right?"
"Yes, he said he was here to pick up a friend—the guy who broke into Azkaban."
Munch's response left everyone in the room uneasy. The Holy White Council was shrouded in mystery, and none of those present had ever heard of it. The unfriendly demeanor displayed by the visitors upon their arrival only deepened their concerns.
"Close off this giant oak in the containment area. Let the magical zoologists study it. When Dumbledore arrives, have him come to the minister's office to see me. As for the rest..."
Fudge glanced at the gathering and turned to Umbridge:
"No information about tonight's incident is to leak, neither to the Daily Prophet nor the Wizarding Weekly. I don't want any reports on this."
"Of course, Mr. Minister."
Umbridge nodded, Fudge sighed, and headed toward his office.
Christmas did little to quell the restlessness and fatigue in people.
"Deputy Minister, what should we do about this?"
A wizard from the logistics department pointed to the inscription on the statue, seeking guidance from Umbridge.
Umbridge tilted her head to look, snapped her fingers, and declared:
"When Dumbledore arrives, let him handle this first. Then, escort him to the minister's office. Now, everyone, act! I want this hall restored to its original state within ten minutes!"
As Umbridge spoke, several individuals appeared at the hall's entrance. Among them was a familiar face to her—Rita Skeeter, a reporter from the Daily Prophet.
"Oh! Look! The Ministry of Magic has truly been attacked!"
Observing the state of the Ministry of Magic hall, Rita exaggerated her expression. She quickly raised the camera in her hand and captured the scene of the ruined hall.
Her accompanying staff also took action. Many began to hit the collapsed giant oak, while one individual noticed the writing on the Magic Brothers sculpture and hurried over to take a few close-up shots.
"Stop! Who gave you permission to take pictures here!"
Umbridge rushed up immediately, spreading her arms to block the camera.
Unperturbed, Rita captured the scene and then retrieved a notebook and quill from her bag. Alongside her narrative, she documented the events.
"When we arrived at the Ministry of Magic, it was already in ruins, and the instigator behind all this was... well, let's call it a tree-man."
"The magnificent Magic Brothers fountain in the Ministry of Magic hall was also damaged. On the sculpture made of pure gold, the attacker was identified as Saruman of the White Council. A very powerful...."
"Give me the photo! Otherwise, I'll have you charged with trespassing at the Ministry of Magic!"Rita was in the middle of her rambling when Umbridge barged in front of her, shouting angrily.
Rita smiled nonchalantly, and her quill continued to jot down:
"While journalists pursued the truth, they faced threats from then-Deputy Minister for Magic, Ms. Dolores Umbridge, casting doubts on her involvement in this incident?
"What is the Ministry of Magic attempting to conceal? Minister Fudge..."
As Rita continued recording, Dumbledore entered the hall, his expression somewhat grave, clearly having received some news.
Upon spotting Dumbledore, Rita's eyes sparkled. She abandoned Umbridge and approached Dumbledore.
"Headmaster Dumbledore! Didn't expect to see you at the Ministry of Magic, especially for this attack. Do you know a wizard named Saruman?"
"There are rumors that you have a special connection with Gandalf, the creator of the Aria of Light magic. Is this true? Do you believe he's a wizard from a thousand years ago, or perhaps..."
....
Meanwhile, Artel had returned to the Geneva hotel. Before leaving London, he swung by the Daily Prophet's headquarters, confident that chaos must have ensued at the Ministry of Magic in London.
"Though Ents weren't recorded on parchments, Gollum lived in the Misty Mountains for five hundred years, and the Fangorn Forest is near there. He must be acquainted with Ents. When he sees the giant oak, perhaps some memories can be triggered.
"I wonder if Dumbledore will be taken aback," Artel chuckled softly.
He only hoped that the knowledgeable Dumbledore wouldn't be too startled by Gollum's recollections.
.....
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