In the small forest near the Quidditch World Cup campground, a few wizards were arguing.
"You promised me you would only cause chaos!"
The wizard with light golden hair kept his voice as low as possible, his tone filled with extreme displeasure.
Seeing the current state of the chaotic campsite, Lucius wanted to curse.
"Why did you use that spell? Do you know the consequences of doing that? If the Ministry of Magic traces it back to us, we're finished. Azkaban will be the least of our worries."
However, before he could finish, the man opposite him brutally cut him off.
"Lucius, so what if the incompetent Ministry finds us?"
The man's expression was calm.
"This isn't a dozen years ago anymore..."
Lucius felt like his lungs were about to explode. Why wouldn't this man listen to him?
The Ministry of Magic might be incompetent, but it was still the largest and most legitimate wizarding organization in all of England, with countless talented people.
So what if the incompetent Ministry finds us?
They could send you directly to Azkaban, where you would be alone with despair and darkness for the rest of your life.
"Lucius, don't tell me you didn't feel it."
The man opposite Lucius pointed to his left arm. "Our king has returned. He is summoning us."
"Your previous actions have severely gone against the Dark Lord's will. If you don't want to be labeled as a traitor, you'll follow us obediently. You should know what happens to a traitor."
The threat in the man's tone was unmistakable. A traitor to the Death Eaters would be subjected to a fate worse than death.
Lucius's face was ashen, but he didn't dare say anything more because the man was right. All the signs indicated that the one who had been missing for almost thirteen years was truly coming back.
The Dark Lord was returning!
Seeing Lucius relent, the man nodded.
"This is just an appetizer. We need to gather more of our companions."
"Lucius, as the Dark Lord's most trusted servant, this task falls to you."
At this, Lucius's face grew even more grim, but a different look flashed in his eyes.
What the man had just said confirmed his worst fears.
---
At the Quidditch World Cup stadium, the Dark Mark, which had rendered countless Ministry officials helpless and frustrated, was now split in half by a golden, glittering sword that looked a lot like Godric Gryffindor's, and it quickly dissipated.
In a strict sense, the sword in the sky wasn't what got rid of the Dark Mark.
That was just a show for the crowd. The real reason it disappeared was a quiet snap of Dudley's fingers as he waved his wand.
More accurately, it was alchemy.
After the Dark Mark incident, many wizards broke out in a cold sweat. The alcohol in their systems evaporated with the sweat, and they became much more sober. The first thing they wanted to do was run.
"Keep them here. Don't let a single one escape," Dudley said coldly. He wouldn't allow them to flee. Since they came, they would have to stay.
With a wave of his hand, an invisible transparent barrier blocked the wizards' escape. The wizards led by Crabbe took the opportunity to use spells far beyond the average wizard's level to take them down.
Before long, they were all captured.
Thirty-eight. Not counting the one in the forest, there were thirty-eight wizards who caused trouble and damage.
To put it bluntly, thirty-eight wizards forced a hundred thousand to flee in a panic. What a huge irony.
To Dudley, these wizards were nothing but a disorganized rabble, and the rest were even worse.
"What's going on? My goodness, this... Mr. Dursley, what on earth happened here?"
Just as in all stories, the knights in shining armor arrived at the very end.
Led by Ron, the members of the Ministry of Magic, with Fudge at the front, finally arrived. They were utterly bewildered by the ruined campsite and the masked wizards lying all over the ground.
The officials and Aurors behind them were tense. They had clearly seen the Dark Mark appear in the sky, even if it was just a brief flash before a golden sword shattered it. It had still appeared.
Dudley briefly explained what had happened to Fudge, and the Minister's face grew dark before their very eyes.
Tormenting Muggles, rioting, destroying the campsite, attacking wizards… summoning the Dark Mark.
And it almost affected him!
If it weren't for the help of Arthur's youngest son, Ron, and Veronica, he might have been burned to a crisp.
And it didn't end there. The Quidditch World Cup was hosted in England, and it had turned into a complete mess. He could already imagine tomorrow's headline in the Daily Prophet… The Ministry of Magic would be a laughingstock, and he, the Minister, would take the brunt of it.
He couldn't even blame anyone else, since he was there for all one hundred thousand wizards to see.
Since he couldn't deflect the blame, he would punish the criminals severely!
No matter who it is, I will make them pay! Fudge thought furiously as he looked at the captured wizards.
Foolish and mediocre didn't mean he had no temper.
This guy had a big temper. When he got angry, he would even defy Dumbledore.
"Minister Fudge, I believe we should first hold the ringleader accountable."
"Mr. Dursley, you're right."
"Let's reveal the face of the heinous person who summoned the Dark Mark."
Upon hearing Dudley, Fudge eagerly agreed, almost bowing in subservience.
Fudge didn't care what the Ministry officials behind him thought. He only wanted to maintain his public support and keep his position as Minister.
'If Mr. Dursley hadn't been here today, there would have been no way to save the situation.'
Fudge's already limited brain was working at top speed.
He had to seize the credit for catching the culprits and their accomplices.
Mr. Dursley will surely help me. We are allies!
Yes, the wise and mighty Minister Fudge faced a sudden attack with composure, calmly directing the Aurors to capture the criminals one by one.
While Fudge was lost in his delusions, Dudley pointed his wand at the petrified figure in the forest who had summoned the Dark Mark.
The man was as still as a dead mouse.
"Lumos."
Dudley didn't use a powerful spell. He used the most basic illumination charm in the wizarding world. A tiny spark of light emerged from the tip of his wand, rose into the air, and then instantly grew, casting a gentle glow that illuminated the entire forest and revealed the man's identity.
Fudge's face froze when he saw the man's true identity. The Ministry officials behind him craned their necks to get a look.
And just like Fudge, their faces were filled with shock.
How could it be him?!
Because the man was none other than Barty Crouch, who was supposed to have been with them but had gone missing.