"I know this is very difficult, Cornelius, but we must do it," Dumbledore insisted.
"No, I won't do it!" Fudge replied, shaking his head vehemently. "The Dark Lord hasn't returned; this is just a rumor you've concocted, another attempt to deceive me. Vampires and giants, these lowly creatures..."
"Cornelius, you've become too enamored with your government position, clouding your judgment," Dumbledore stated. His voice grew stronger, and a powerful aura emanated from him, his eyes shining brightly.
"You've always put so much emphasis on pure-blood wizarding families," Dumbledore continued. "You've failed to recognize that a person's family background is irrelevant; what matters is the person they become. You just ordered the dementors to eliminate the last member of an ancient wizarding family. Please take a look at the choices that person made throughout his life! Suppose you follow my advice and take action. In that case, the Ministry of Magic and all wizards will forever remember you as the bravest and greatest Minister for Magic in history. But if you fail to act, history will also remember you as the one who stood by and allowed Voldemort a second chance to wreak havoc on the world we've worked so hard to rebuild."
Fudge's anger left him speechless for a moment. His two feet wavered beneath him, and he seemed to expect Dumbledore to change his stance.
Finally, Fudge found his voice, though it was filled with desperation. "He won't come back, Dumbledore. It's impossible."
Dumbledore remained silent and unmoved, standing his ground.
Fudge's emotions boiled over. He threatened with a raised finger and shouted, "I see what you're getting at, Dumbledore! You and your Hogwarts... I've given you your freedom. I've always respected your decisions, even if I didn't agree with them. I've let you hire a werewolf without consulting most people and kept Hagrid on staff without seeking Ministry approval for your every decision. But if you intend to oppose me..."
"The only thing I intend to oppose is Voldemort!" Dumbledore interjected firmly. "If you oppose him as well, Cornelius, then we are on the same side."
Fudge couldn't find words to respond. He swayed on his feet, seemingly unable to maintain his balance, his hands clutching his top hat tightly, his face pale.
At last, he found his voice again, which carried a longing tone. "He won't come back, Dumbledore. It's impossible."
Dumbledore still didn't respond, and Ivan and Snape moved closer, the latter rolling up his robe's sleeve.
"See?" Snape said in a hoarse voice. "See the Dark Mark. It's not even an hour since it was so faint you could barely see it. But now, it's undeniable. Every Death Eater bears this mark, created by Voldemort himself. It's how Death Eaters recognize each other, a summon from Voldemort. When he calls for them, we must Apparate to his side immediately. Over the past year, this mark has grown more and more pronounced. Karkaroff had it, too. Why do you think he escaped when Barty Crouch Jr. was captured? We felt it burning. We knew he had returned. Karkaroff is afraid of Voldemort's retaliation. He betrayed many of his fellow Death Eaters; none will welcome him back."
Fudge recoiled from Snape and staggered backward, trembling. He couldn't take his eyes off the hideous mark on Snape's arm. His fear was palpable.
Then, he turned to Dumbledore, his voice low and desperate. "I've heard enough. I don't want to hear anymore. Contact me when you've come to your senses, Dumbledore. At that time, we'll discuss the future of this school. For now, I must return to the Ministry."
He pushed past Snape and hurriedly left the room, followed by several Aurors. The door closed behind them.
In the ensuing silence, Dumbledore turned to the others in the room.
"Fudge's reaction was as expected, but it certainly complicates matters and changes the entire situation," Dumbledore remarked. "There are urgent tasks at hand. Sirius, I hope you'll return to the Ministry immediately..."
"I was just dismissed. I've had enough of that place," Sirius muttered.
"You will deliver a letter to Arthur, assisting him in making sure that all those who need to understand our situation do so clearly. We must inform them promptly. Arthur can contact those at the Ministry who are open to reason," Dumbledore continued. "After you've packed your belongings at the Auror office, you can consult with other Aurors."
"Very well, but I hope you have something more exciting for me to do," Sirius replied.
"These tasks are of the utmost importance. After assisting Arthur and the Ministry, you can contact Remus Lupin, Arabella Figg, Mundungus Fletcher, and a few others," Dumbledore instructed. "Once these tasks are completed, you can return to Hogwarts. I would also like you to help Ivan establish contact with the Vampires. Though my hopes aren't high, we need to uncover any secrets Voldemort may have obtained and understand his formidable power."
Ivan nodded, determined to discover what Voldemort might have done to help the Slytherin family with their troubles.
"Professor, shouldn't I also establish contact with the Vampires discreetly?" Ivan asked. He didn't want to expose their whereabouts too easily, as they had many enemies.
Dumbledore considered this for a moment and then nodded. "Very well, Ivan. You shall work alongside Sirius in reaching out to the Vampires. Be discreet, and ensure their safety as well as your own."
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Evan carefully considered his plan to contact Dumbledore about the Vampire(s). He had been passive in his approach, waiting for Kreshkov or Elaine to make contact. He knew that using owls wouldn't be effective, as the Vampire(s) had magical protections to prevent outside wizards or animals from discovering their hiding place.
As for the Vampire(s)' headquarters, Evan speculated it was likely located somewhere in Northern Europe, given Kreshkov's connection to Durmstrang. However, the region was vast, and finding the Vampire(s) would be challenging.
Dumbledore addressed Evan's concerns, saying, "For now, all we can do is wait, Evan. I believe they will reach out to us when the time is right. We can only offer our help when they decide to make contact. However, there are some proactive steps we must take."
After Sirius left to fulfill his tasks, Dumbledore turned his attention to Hagrid and Madam Maxime.
"Hagrid, we need to discuss the matter of contacting the giants. I hope you're willing to help with this," Dumbledore said.
"Of course, Professor. I'll do whatever it takes," Hagrid replied eagerly, glancing at Madam Maxime.
"Dumbledore, if you know who has truly returned, Beauxbatons and I will be your most loyal allies," Madam Maxime stated with determination. "But before we proceed, I must clarify all the details."
Dumbledore nodded and assured her, "I will explain everything, and you can ask any questions. Madam Maxime, would you like to join me in my office?"
Madam Maxime agreed, and they left the room to discuss the situation privately.
Dumbledore then turned to Snape, who had remained silent. "Severus, you know what I need you to do. If you don't object, and if you're ready..."
Snape nodded in agreement, his pale complexion making him appear more committed than ever.
With these tasks assigned and understood, Dumbledore wished them luck. Evan observed Snape's departure and sensed he was prepared to face a significant challenge.
After dealing with these matters, the Triwizard Tournament lost its appeal, and no one had the inclination to continue competing or watching. Cedric, the champion, had vanished and was believed to have been taken by the Vampire(s). Dumbledore had contacted Cedric's parents and explained the events in detail.
Evan couldn't be certain, but he suspected that Kreshkov had taken Cedric, although he didn't believe Kreshkov would kill him. However, if Cedric turned into a Vampire(s), it would be nearly impossible for him to return to Hogwarts and be accepted by others. Vampires were highly prejudiced against in the wizarding world, even more so than half-giants and werewolves.
Krum was recovering from the Imperius Curse and would be in therapy for some time. Due to the severity of the curse's impact on the soul, Madam Pomfrey suggested that he be transferred to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries for treatment.
As for Fleur, she was the only remaining champion, but she couldn't continue the competition. She had followed Evan's advice and avoided the dangerous waters. Still, the circumstances had left her as the last competitor standing.
The Ministry of Magic decided to terminate the Triwizard Tournament, and Fudge officially severed ties between the Ministry and Hogwarts. He was preoccupied with devising a plan to deal with Dumbledore and his supporters.
Among the five tournament judges, Mr. Crouch had died, and all that remained of his body was a pile of bleached bones. Barty Crouch Jr.'s Transfiguration spell had been formidable, and the bones couldn't be restored to their original form.
Karkaroff, on the other hand, had disappeared without a trace. Nobody knew where he had gone, and all that was left behind were a group of bewildered Durmstrang students.
Ludo Bagman, who had made a bet with the Leprechaun and had placed all his hopes on Ron winning, was the only judge who opposed canceling the tournament. He didn't want to lose his wager, but no one paid much attention to his objections.
Dumbledore personally canceled the magical contract between the Goblet of Fire and the champions. He then announced that Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students were welcome to stay at Hogwarts until the end of the semester.
Despite the cancellation of the tournament, an atmosphere of anxiety and distrust pervaded the castle. Rumors and fear spread quickly among the students and staff. Evan couldn't help but feel that the situation was reminiscent of two years ago when the basilisk had wreaked havoc in the school.
In the days that followed, Dumbledore refrained from revealing the truth about Voldemort's return to the public. Instead, he focused on maintaining order within the castle and ensuring the students were safe. Evan had the impression that Dumbledore was biding his time for the right moment to disclose the information to the wizarding world despite the Ministry's objections.