Inside the Auror office, the atmosphere was tense. The Head of the Auror Office, Scrimgeour, sat behind his desk, his expression grim. Several Aurors stood before him, faces etched with worry.
"We're just going to stand by and watch?" one Auror demanded. "The commotion in the wizarding world has been too great. Too many people have died. As Aurors, are we just going to observe?"
Scrimgeour sighed, rubbing his temples. "What else do you propose we do? Charge out? The Cavendish forces are everywhere outside the Ministry. If we dare to step outside, we'll all be targets."
The Aurors exchanged uneasy glances, but no one had an answer. Scrimgeour was right. They were effectively contained, and there was nothing they could do.
In the corner, an Auror discreetly tapped his wand against the Dark Mark on his arm, sending a message back to Erwin.
In the Minister's office, Erwin stood up from the desk. He looked at Umbridge, his expression cold.
"Just do what you're supposed to do," Erwin said, his tone icy. "Don't meddle in anything else, and don't ask questions. The less you know, the longer you'll survive."
Umbridge felt a chill run down her spine. She lowered her head, not daring to utter a single word.
Erwin turned and left the office. Only when he was gone did Umbridge dare to raise her head. Her eyes held a mixture of resentment and bitterness. She walked to her desk, pulled a drawer open, and retrieved a piece of parchment. At the top, in her neat, sharp handwriting, it read: The Ten Deadly Sins of the Cavendish Family.
Umbridge began to write.
Of course, Erwin didn't know about this, and even if he did, he wouldn't have cared. Umbridge's only purpose was to serve as a scapegoat later.
So many families had been eliminated, and all of it had been carried out under Cavendish direction. While most people were prone to accepting official narratives, there were always a few exceptionally perceptive individuals who could see through Erwin's strategy. Therefore, Erwin needed someone who, at the crucial moment, would step forward and admit to having misled him. This person needed to hold a high position; otherwise, no one would believe Erwin would make such decisions based on faulty information.
Umbridge was perfect. As Minister for Magic—a position Erwin had deliberately placed her in—her influence was undeniable. Furthermore, these families had become increasingly brazen in their actions over the years, exceeding the Ministry's authority. As Minister, Umbridge had a plausible motive to eliminate these destabilizing factors.
Her fate was sealed from the start. She was destined to take the blame.
As for why she would confess... it was simple: this was a magical world. Once everything settled down, Umbridge would be held responsible, and the ultimate beneficiary would be Erwin and the Cavendish family. Her current actions were irrelevant to the predetermined outcome.
The conflict in the wizarding world had begun swiftly and ended just as abruptly. Several pure-blood families mobilized their entire forces, utilizing the weapons provided by the Cavendish family. In the first true clash between firearms and magic, the sheer volume and coordination of modern weaponry proved devastating.
The campaign progressed so smoothly that even Lucius Malfoy could hardly believe it. Within a week, the consolidation was already in its final stages. Even Erwin was somewhat surprised; according to his calculations, it should have taken at least two weeks.
When Old Tom reported the progress, Erwin remained silent for several minutes.
"Now that everything's settled, let's conclude this," Erwin finally said. "Let Umbridge end this with some dignity. After all, she did us a considerable service."
Old Tom nodded. "Yes, Master. I understand."
The next day, Umbridge was found dead in her office. Before she died, she had used a new recording camera from the Cavendish Company to document her "crimes," detailing how she had manipulated Erwin and orchestrated attacks against those pure-blood families.
That afternoon, Erwin appeared at the Ministry of Magic's entrance. A large crowd had already gathered. Rita Skeeter was among them, her Quick-Quotes Quill poised.
Erwin wore a black mourning flower on his chest. Under everyone's gaze, he stepped onto the platform. His face was somber; the confident smile he usually wore was absent. His eyes were red-rimmed, and his exhaustion was unmistakable.
He bowed to the crowd below.
"I'm sorry, everyone," Erwin said, his voice thick with emotion. "I, Erwin Cavendish, have made a grave mistake."
"I don't expect your forgiveness, nor do I expect the wizarding world to forgive me. I only want justice for all wizards. When I first heard about the actions of those families from Umbridge, I was truly enraged. Everyone knows that the Cavendish family has overcome countless obstacles and opposition to reach where we are today. Therefore, I couldn't remain calm.
"I launched operations against these families without proper investigation or sufficient evidence. The Malfoy family and others were only supporting me; ultimately, the responsibility is mine. I apologize to all the wizards affected by this incident. For this, I am willing to break my wand and leave the wizarding world to atone for my error."
As he spoke, Erwin drew his wand, as if to snap it. Of course, only those who knew about Erwin's wand would realize just how resilient it was; it wouldn't even chip if struck by a powerful spell.
At that moment, a voice rang out from the crowd.
"No, Mr. Erwin, it's not your fault! It's Umbridge who deceived you. All you did was for peace, for a better life for all wizards!"
This voice acted as a catalyst. Others quickly joined in.
"That's right, you're not wrong! It's Umbridge, that damned manipulator!"
"Exactly, Mr. Erwin, we all know what you've done for the wizarding world. Without you, many wizards would still be struggling!"
"Everyone makes mistakes. Mr. Erwin just cared too much about us! That's why he acted hastily. It's those ambitious people who deserve to be condemned!"
Erwin's eyes reddened further as he absorbed this. "Thank you all so much for your understanding," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "But a mistake is a mistake. I'm not the kind of person who's afraid to acknowledge it."