"It seems the Dementors, after being taught a lesson by you, Mr. Augustus, have abandoned their surveillance of Hogwarts and shifted to patrolling the surrounding areas. Yet, these fools appear to have quite the temper—enough to anger even someone as tolerant as Madam Rosmerta. How amusing," Malfoy remarked, eyeing a flustered Fudge with a mocking smile.
"Sirius Black wouldn't hide in Hogsmeade—it's too conspicuous. If he tried, he'd be discovered in no time. The safest place is often the most dangerous. I suspect there's a good chance he's still hiding in Hogwarts," Augustus replied nonchalantly, twirling his glass of butterbeer and observing the distorted silhouettes of Fudge and the others through the golden liquid.
"Rosmerta, my dear, I dislike them as much as you do," Fudge said uneasily. "But necessary precautions must be taken. You're right, though... I just encountered a few. After what Augustus did to them, they're too frightened to approach Hogwarts and are only conducting token checks in the surrounding areas. Please, try to understand our predicament."
"Scared by a child? Those Dementors really are useless. But is the rumor true? That boy Augustus single-handedly wiped out most of them?" Rosmerta chuckled softly, covering her mouth. She looked expectantly at Fudge, as if seeking confirmation.
Fudge gave a bitter smile and downed his butterbeer in one gulp, clearly unwilling to discuss the topic further.
"The rumors are no exaggeration. If you weren't there to witness it, you could never comprehend the miracle of that magic. I've taught magic for most of my life, yet I've never seen such pure and immense power, so radiant with light. Even Dumbledore couldn't have achieved such a feat at that age. That boy's future achievements will rival, if not surpass, those of Dumbledore and Voldemort," Professor McGonagall said with her characteristic precision.
Rosmerta, visibly astonished, gazed at McGonagall with a look of wonder, clearly intrigued by this boy named Augustus.
"This boy is beyond the Ministry's reach," Fudge sighed. "Setting aside the formidable Julius family behind him, his two victories over the remnants of the Dark Lord have already made him an unchallenged leader among the younger generation. The future wizarding world will surely be shaped by his rise, and no one can rival him. For now, though, let's focus on Sirius Black. That's the pressing matter at hand."
"To be honest, I still can't quite believe it," Rosmerta said thoughtfully. "Out of all the people who went astray, Sirius Black was the last one I'd have expected. I remember him as a student at Hogwarts... If you had told me then what he would become, I'd have said you'd had too much to drink."
"You don't know the half of it, Rosmerta," Fudge said bluntly. "Few people are aware of the worst thing he did."
"Worse than murdering all those poor people?" Rosmerta asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
"Far worse," Fudge replied grimly.
"I can't imagine. What could be worse than that?"
"Think back to Hogwarts, Rosmerta," McGonagall murmured. "Do you remember who his best friend was?"
"Of course," Rosmerta said with a soft laugh. "They were inseparable, weren't they? I saw them here countless times—such a pair of mischief-makers, Sirius Black and James Potter!"
At a nearby table, Augustus noticed a glass suddenly fall near Ron. He shook his head slightly. It seemed Harry was destined to learn the truth. Whether the truth would be too cruel for him, however, remained uncertain.
"Fudge is probably about to flaunt his so-called wisdom again. This old news—every pure-blood family knows it. Spinning tales for the uninformed masses… He really must have too much free time," Malfoy said dismissively, yawning as he toyed with his glass.
"Honestly, I've always found it puzzling. As Harry Potter's godfather, Sirius Black was such a proud individual. Why would he join the Dark Lord? It doesn't add up. Considering his family background, Voldemort couldn't offer him much he didn't already have. What could possibly have driven him to betray the Potters?" Lillian wondered aloud, curling a strand of hair before letting it fall loose.
"Good point," Augustus nodded. "Not only does his alliance with Voldemort seem odd, but his actions on the day of the incident were also peculiar. There was no need for him to blow up an entire street of Muggles so publicly. For someone as cunning as him, it was an unusually reckless move."
"Was it because Black later joined forces with the Dark Lord?" Rosmerta asked in a hushed voice.
"Worse than that, my dear," Fudge replied, lowering his voice. "Few know that the Potters were aware Voldemort was after them. Dumbledore, ever vigilant against the Dark Lord, had many capable spies. One of them informed Dumbledore, who immediately warned James and Lily. He advised them to go into hiding and suggested they use the Fidelius Charm."
"How does that spell work?" Rosmerta asked, breathless with interest.
"A highly complex charm," squeaked Flitwick. "It involves magically concealing a secret within a living soul. The chosen Secret-Keeper holds the secret within their heart, making it impossible to discover unless the Keeper willingly reveals it. Even if Voldemort had scoured the Potters' village for years or pressed his nose against their living room window, he'd never have found them!"
"Fidelius Charm… This world's magical system is fascinating," Augustus mused with a faint smile. "It's akin to making a pact with a god or demon—a simple binding that ensures the secret remains hidden, almost bordering on mysticism. Quite a remarkable spell."
Sunlight filtered through the snowy haze, casting a soft glow inside the Three Broomsticks, wrapping Augustus in a shroud of golden mist.
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