Chapter 261: Strategic Measures
"Let the positions of Minister for Magic and the Head of Magical Transportation be handed over to the neutral families and let them choose the candidates. As for the Greengrass family, what do you think of granting them procurement rights for Auror department equipment?"
Fudge divided the political spoils of the current situation with barely a breath between words.
Umbridge shook her head.
"The Greengrass family currently has only one adult male member, and they don't have any history in the magic equipment business. I doubt they'll be satisfied with just a procurement deal. Perhaps we could donate a large sum of gold to St. Mungo's in their name? Pure-bloods do value their reputation."
"Fine. Handle it. You take care of the ministers I mentioned as well. Of course, their families too—scapegoats have to be thorough. If they're willing to keep their mouths shut, good. If not—then make sure they do."
At this point, Fudge repeated coldly, "Remember, I don't want to hear another word about what happened today."
As he spoke, he stared hard at the toad-like woman in front of him.
If she weren't so useful, Fudge would have had her silenced too. That would be the safest way to erase the truth. But for now, she served her purpose.
He believed Umbridge was practical enough to understand. Her life wouldn't change so long as her position in the wizarding world remained untouched.
The next day, the Daily Prophet released a stunning headline: the mastermind behind the attack on the young heir of the Black family had been arrested and imprisoned.
It also announced that numerous Ministry officials had been dismissed or detained for involvement in the case. The shake-up caused a stir. Many ambitious civil servants began eyeing the now-vacant positions.
Unfortunately for them, those seats were already spoken for—claimed by various powerful factions. Ordinary wizards had no chance of entering that inner circle.
Phineas, recovering in a secluded forest cabin, received the Prophet via Lisa's owl. It was ironic: no one in the wizarding world had thought to use an owl's homing instincts to track his location.
Despite the widespread manhunt, no one had the simple idea to write him a letter and follow the owl delivering it.
Owls were magical creatures, not just post birds. They had their own intelligence, knew their way, and most importantly—if you didn't specify a location but gave the recipient's name, they'd almost always find the way, unless a Fidelius Charm was involved.
"Heh. The Ministry wants to bury this whole thing," Phineas scoffed after reading the article.
Lisa, puzzled, took the paper from him and scanned the article.
"Master, do you mean the real culprits weren't these people?"
Phineas leaned into the couch with a smirk, sarcasm heavy in his tone.
"Of course not. This attack was clearly premeditated. They knew the Silver Moon Potion Shop was mine. Very few even knew that shop had any connection to the Black family. How would a few Ministry officials—who probably don't even know what's in Knockturn Alley—know that?"
"They were scapegoats. Pushed out to appease someone."
Lisa sat beside him, frowning.
"I'm always careful at the shop. I never appear in the alleys. There's no way anyone would associate it with the Black family."
Phineas nodded.
"There's no traitor among us. Which means the attackers must've investigated me—maybe even tracked someone who's been watching for a long time."
Lisa blinked.
Phineas explained further.
"Even on normal days, I rarely meet with you in public. The only time I might've exposed my connection to Silver Moon was during last year's vampire conflict. That's when most of the werewolf wizards under me appeared."
"It's not hard to connect the dots if someone knew I had werewolf subordinates. They'd naturally wonder who supplies them with Wolfsbane."
Lisa's eyes lit up with sudden realization.
"Wolfsbane Potion!"
Phineas stood and looked out the window.
"Exactly. Wolfsbane's ingredients are expensive—no werewolf could afford a steady supply. But when I passed through the alley, I saw a potion shop selling it at a suspiciously low price. That made it obvious it was ours."
Lisa lowered her head in guilt.
"This is my fault. I didn't think of it. It endangered you, Master..."
Phineas turned.
"Don't say that. It was my plan from the start to use the shop as a base in Knockturn Alley. You only carried out my idea. I'm not hurt, but... those werewolf brothers who died—"
Lisa interrupted, her voice firm.
"Master, don't feel guilty. It was an honor for them to die protecting you. But next time, please, if we tell you to leave—do it. Only your safety puts us at ease."
Phineas was stunned for a second, then gave her a small nod.
"I understand, Lisa... sister."
Lisa froze. The last time he called her that had been years ago—five or six, maybe—when he was still small and she was raising him. She'd cared for him when house-elves couldn't meet his emotional needs. Back then, he'd called her "sister" almost daily.
She smiled.
"So, Master, do we make an appearance now—or wait?"
Phineas shook his head.
"No need to wait. I've already gotten what I needed."
Lisa looked surprised.
"But Master, they haven't found the real mastermind. These officials are just scapegoats."
Phineas chuckled, sipping his coffee.
"What I needed wasn't their names. It was the Ministry's reaction. Based on how Fudge handled it, I can already tell what's going on."
Lisa tilted her head.
"You've deduced the cause based on their actions?"
"Yes. Fudge pushed out the Minister of Magic from the Ritchie family. That was expected. The Aurors arrived too late for it to be believable they weren't involved."
"But the fact that Fudge could oust someone from Ritchie so easily—"
"Means there's someone even more powerful involved."
Lisa frowned.
"But it could still just be Ritchie, couldn't it? Fudge might've just eliminated every possible suspect in one sweep."
Phineas shook his head.
"If it were someone else, maybe. But one of the fired ministers—of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes—is a wizard from a small family. Only one son, who died saving a Minister a decade ago."
Lisa blinked.
"Then how did he become a department head?"
Phineas smiled.
"The position was a reward for the son's sacrifice. The father had no power base. After Fudge came into office, he left him alone because the department wasn't important."
"That man was just a symbolic minister. I wouldn't be surprised if Arthur Weasley replaces him soon."
Lisa's eyes widened.
"Weasley is Black's man. So this is meant to keep Black quiet?"
Phineas gave her a look of praise.
Lisa continued, thinking aloud.
"And the other ministers—some must have been neutral. Their dismissal is just Fudge's way of appeasing Ritchie. He's balancing the scales."
"Exactly," Phineas said. "Which means Ritchie wasn't the real culprit. They may have just capitalized on the chaos."
"But... the Lestranges wouldn't extend influence from France. Selwyn is based in Greece. None of them would move against you in Britain..."
She paused.
"...Unless it's the Council of Elders?"
She knew Phineas distrusted the Council. It wasn't an unreasonable guess.
After the Gaunt family fell, Italy became a power vacuum. Both Black and Ritchie had interest there. Black shifted some forces to Italy. Ritchie, in turn, moved toward Britain to counterbalance. That was how the current power landscape formed.
In Britain, only Ritchie—or the Council—had the power to make a move like this.
Phineas shook his head.
"Not the Council. If they targeted me, legendary wizards of Black's line would rise in revolt. The council don't want that."
"Then who?"
"You've forgotten the wizard who outplayed all the families a decade ago."
Lisa's eyes narrowed.
"You don't mean... the dark lord?
Phineas nodded.
"Exactly. He's the only one that would make Fudge panic like this—enough to show his true colors."
"How?"
Phineas pointed to a small note in the Prophet.
"Look here. Along with the ministers, there's an Auror listed. Very ordinary, completely insignificant."
Lisa frowned.
"He couldn't have been involved in a plot with high-ranking officials..."
"Exactly," Phineas said. "So why was he included?"
Lisa's eyes widened.
"To silence him?"
Phineas nodded.
"Our dear Minister Fudge is no fool. When he ran for office, he relied on Dumbledore for everything, building an image of openness. After winning, he leaned in further—until he didn't need Dumbledore anymore."
"Then he distanced himself and even started undermining him. He feared Dumbledore's influence—that's why he did it."
Lisa stared, still trying to digest it.
"Afraid?"
After hearing what Phineas said, Lisa, who was already confused, became even more confused.