Mysterious Journey
Chapter 689 You're Playing with Fire
"Okay, it's not too much trouble really..."
Newt shrugged, pointing to the "pink toad" sitting next to Cornelius Fudge, and said earnestly, "This lady, I mean Undersecretary Umbridge, I don't think she is suitable for hosting this aspect of the work. She doesn't like magical creatures. If she is involved in this matter, I am worried that many problems will arise."
As soon as these words came out, Umbridge's face, which was originally full of smiles, instantly froze.
"Mr. Scamander, what do you mean?!"
Newt calmly repeated, "I think I have made it very clear, you are not suitable to participate in projects in the field of magical creatures. I hope the Ministry of Magic can replace an official for this matter, that's it."
As an honest person from Hufflepuff House, Newt Scamander didn't say anything, but he had always remembered Umbridge's deliberate difficulties and excuses before. Now he just took the opportunity to attack.
"You! Huff... Mr. Newt, I believe I must have misunderstood you."
Looking at the other wizards around, Umbridge took a deep breath, forcing an ugly smile on her large, loose-skinned pale face, and continued in her high-pitched, thin voice.
"You see, I have always liked magical creatures. In the previous work with you, we did have some omissions and delays, but you just heard Professor Dumbledore say that the Ministry of Magic actually..."
"It's not these reasons, the important thing is, you simply don't like magical creatures."
Newt shook his head again and repeated seriously.
"Me, hate magical creatures? How is that possible? Hehehehehe--"
Umbridge wore a fake smile on her face, but the look in her round eyes gradually became cold, emitting a series of bell-like laughter that made the hairs on the back of Newt's neck stand up. He almost couldn't help but draw his wand directly.
"You can ask anyone in the Ministry of Magic to verify how much I love those adorable magical creatures."
The witch grinned, revealing her pointed teeth, and tried to make her voice sound steady.
"Since learning from the Minister that you were going to found the Magical Creatures Association, I have been eager to participate in this interesting work as soon as possible. I believe we can become very good friends, after all, we all like, um, those animals!"
"But, you really don't like magical creatures."
Newt repeated dryly, interrupting Umbridge again.
This time, even Cornelius Fudge couldn't help frowning.
And the fake smile on Umbridge's face finally couldn't hold on anymore.
She narrowed her eyes, took a deep look at Newt, and questioned him softly with an unkind tone.
"Then, Mr. Newt Scamander, why do you say that? Do you have any basis for it?"
"No specific basis, but I just have a feeling."
Seeming a little uncomfortable with this tit-for-tat confrontation, Newt quickly looked away and landed on the phoenix Fawkes, who was dozing on the bird stand in the office. He muttered to himself and continued, "I can feel that you hate magical creatures, um, it seems...a little afraid?"
"Feeling? Just a feeling?"
Umbridge repeated with a sneer, her face full of ridicule and sarcasm.
"Well, my intuition is very accurate."
Newt nodded and replied dryly.
"You hate magical creatures, so working with you on this matter will definitely be very bad..."
Umbridge's face quickly darkened, and she said in a hoarse, cold voice.
"I'm sorry, I, Dolores Jane Umbridge, Senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic. Besides me, I don't think anyone else is suitable to host such an important job. Do you want the Minister to focus all his energy on you every day?"
Newt spread his hands. "That's not something I need to consider. But I really don't want to continue working with you."
"Unreasonable! Absurd! It's just too absurd!"
Umbridge was silent for a moment, then stood up angrily, the fat on her face twitching.
Over the years, as her position in the Ministry of Magic has gradually increased, almost no one has dared to offend her like this. She had never seen a guy like Newt Scamander who didn't care about the dignity of the Ministry of Magic at all.
However, in this kind of occasion, it would be too bad if she lost her composure along with him.
Taking a deep breath, Umbridge tried to suppress the anger in her heart, turned her head and looked at Dumbledore not far away.
"Professor Dumbledore, don't you plan to say something?"
"Sorry, but Mr. Scamander is no longer studying at Hogwarts..."
Dumbledore said gently, spreading his hands with a rather helpless expression.
"As you can see, as an ordinary Hogwarts headmaster, my authority is probably only useful to the children who are still in school. Even the professors in the school, I can only give some advice and reminders now. "
Whether it's "Dumbledore" sitting here, or the real Dumbledore, the reaction is probably the same.
As for letting him take the initiative to resolve the conflict, what a joke!
In Grindelwald's eyes, whether it was watching Newt Scamander being deflated, or watching the Ministry of Magic officials being deflated, was undoubtedly a pleasant thing. It was already considered very actor-like to not fuel the flames.
"But--"
"Dolores!"
Cornelius Fudge raised his hand and interrupted Umbridge.
Undoubtedly, Dumbledore did not intend to get too involved in this matter. The previous grievances between Newt Scamander and the Ministry of Magic did need a vent to release, otherwise it would not be conducive to follow-up work.
Glancing at Dumbledore, who looked indifferent, the Minister of Magic turned his head to look at Newt.
"Is there no room for manoeuvre in this matter? And... in addition, do you have any other needs or ideas that require the Ministry of Magic to cooperate or make some corresponding changes?"
"No, just this one thing. Everything else is fine." Newt shook his head.
"Okay, then..."
Cornelius Fudge took a long breath, his eyes wandering around the office.
In theory, Amos Diggory of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, and Barty Crouch of the Department of International Magical Cooperation could both be competent for Umbridge's job, but Cornelius Fudge didn't trust these two wizards.
After all, the Diggory family was too close to Dumbledore, and the elder Crouch was once a competitor for the position of Minister of Magic.
In fact, neither of them were among the Ministry of Magic personnel who came to Hogwarts this time.
(Need someone smarter, not bad in strength, no threat, and most importantly, trustworthy and tight-lipped...)
Cornelius Fudge thought to himself, his gaze slowly staying on the tall, dark-skinned wizard standing at the door.
"Kingsley, you will be responsible for connecting with Mr. Newt Scamander in the future. Report the work content directly to me! Regarding your job transfer, I will tell Bones later and transfer you to be my personal Auror."
There is no doubt that Kingsley Shacklebolt is definitely one of the best candidates in the department in terms of personal ability and reliability.
When escorting Sirius Black some time ago, although Black accidentally rushed into the public trial venue ahead of time, the bite marks on Kingsley's hand also proved that he did not belong to Dumbledore's "secret little group."
On the other hand, the taciturn Kingsley is not very conspicuous in his position, unlike Scrimgeour, who is aggressive.
As a senior Auror in the Auror Office, no matter how you think about it, Kingsley Shacklebolt and the position of Minister of Magic are too far away. It is most appropriate to leave matters involving grey income to him.
"Kingsley? Kingsley Shacklebolt of the Auror Office."
Umbridge turned around, glanced at the tall wizard standing by the door, raised her eyebrows and said nothing more.
In her impression, Kingsley Shacklebolt mostly stood beside her and Fudge as a bodyguard. Although he was not as slick and shrewd as Delores, he was reliable and honest, which made people feel more at ease in this situation.
This is a very useful, tool-like wizard, or a puppet mouthpiece.
Obviously, Cornelius Fudge probably thought the same way.
"Okay, Minister. No problem."
Kingsley, who was standing by the door, was stunned for a moment, then quickly reacted and nodded in response.
Immediately afterwards, the man walked up to Newt, took the initiative to extend his hand, his voice low and slow.
"Mr. Scamander, hello. I am Kingsley Shacklebolt of the Auror Office. I look forward to your cooperation in the future."
"Uh, hello... I'm Newt Scamander..."
Newt subconsciously reached out and shook his hand briefly, his eyes swept over the gold rings on Kingsley's ears.
Compared to other officials in the Ministry of Magic, he always felt that this tall Auror seemed a little different. It was as if Kingsley was not from the Ministry of Magic, but a partner who stood on the same side as Dumbledore and him—it was a wonderful feeling, like a wolf from different packs recognizing a partner.
However, before Newt and Kingsley could talk more, the discussion was almost over.
"Since everything is fine, then we will not stay here any longer."
Cornelius Fudge picked up his top hat from the table and put it on, walked to the fireplace in the office, turned around and bowed politely to Dumbledore. After thinking for a few seconds, he hesitantly added one last sentence.
"Well, regarding the 'bill reimbursement' matters in the early stage, we will complete the sorting as soon as possible. I will also sign the association documents together in the next few days... I will leave the matter with Gringotts Wizarding Bank to Professor Dumbledore--"
After receiving Dumbledore's affirmative answer, Cornelius Fudge nodded with satisfaction, turned around and stepped into the flames.
"Ministry of Magic!"
As the voice fell, the Minister of Magic's figure disappeared in the crackling flames.
Immediately afterwards, the remaining members of the Ministry of Magic also stood up one after another, using the Floo Network in turn and left the headmaster's office.
Before leaving the office, Kingsley seemed to inadvertently turn his head and winked nimbly at Newt Scamander, reversing his previous dull and silent personality, and the whole person became a little more lively.
"Huh? Who is this gentleman..."
Newt was slightly stunned, subconsciously turned his head and looked at Dumbledore.
"Shhh--"
Dumbledore raised his finger, smiled mysteriously, and casually pointed to the phoenix on the bird stand.
"Newt, it seems that today is a good day, but it is not suitable for chatting. You should go back, otherwise Mrs. Scamander may rush into Hogwarts to ask for you. I guess you didn't tell Tina in advance, did you?"
"Uh... I left a note in the bedroom."
Newt touched his nose and replied somewhat embarrassedly.
"A note? Oh, that must be a very magical note."
Dumbledore's eyes flashed, he nodded with a serious expression, and said with a smile, "After all, if I remember correctly, you just said that Mrs. Scamander was very angry about you staying up late this morning and was going to have a good talk with you after returning home—oh, Newt, don't you want to sit for a while longer?"
Dumbledore exclaimed, glancing at the restless Newt with amusement.
"Actually, there's no need to rush. I estimate Tina hasn't arrived in Scotland from Dorset yet..."
"Professor, stop joking... I really have to go back."
Newt Scamander coughed lightly, stood up with an embarrassed expression, hurriedly walked to the fireplace, grabbed a handful of Floo powder and threw it into the fire, and disappeared into the green flames in a panic.
Only Dumbledore was left in the office.
"Tsk tsk... marriage is really terrible..."
Dumbledore shook his head with emotion, raised his wand and pointed it at the fireplace skillfully.
"Finite Incantatem!"
Crackle.
Accompanied by the crackling of the flames.
The Hogwarts fireplace quietly withdrew from the Ministry of Magic's Floo Network.
…………
A moment later.
Hogwarts Headmaster's Office.
On the staircase above the study, another Dumbledore slowly walked down.
"Gellert, be a little more careful next time! Newt is very sensitive! You're playing with fire!"
Dumbledore frowned and said with a serious expression.
"Also, you were a little deliberately targeting Newt just now, weren't you? This is different from what we agreed on before."
Grindelwald, who had returned to his original appearance, ate the cookies on the table, and replied with an innocent face, "Albus, it's not my fault, is it? They argued themselves. There were already conflicts between them before, and they have their own positions on their concepts. They started arguing after saying a few words. What can I do?"
"These cookies taste good, do you want one? When that girl comes back, there won't be any left."
"You should have made things clear in advance, there wouldn't have been so many conflicts."
Dumbledore walked down the stairs unmoved and directly confiscated the plate of cookies in front of Grindelwald.
"Gellert! You know that Newt is not good at negotiating with the Ministry of Magic, but you still let him confront the Ministry of Magic first, and then come out to mediate. This is not a joke! What if they..."
"That's just your worry. I have my own sense of proportion in this regard, don't worry."
Grindelwald grinned, smiled nonchalantly, and casually pointed to the sky outside the window.
Outside the window, the sky was clear for thousands of miles...
"Besides, even if something really happens... we can start over..."
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Chapter Two! Mom, yeah!! 8000 words!!
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