Meanwhile, in another direction, Amos Diggory clutched Cedric tightly in his arms, tears streaming down his face as he cried:
"Cedric, my dear son! Are you all right? Did the Purists hurt you in any way?"
Hearing his father's worried questions, Cedric shook his head silently.
At that moment, however, Rufus Scrimgeour stepped forward and asked with a stern tone:
"Amos, I believe we need to ask why Cedric wasn't at Hogwarts but instead found his way to London!"
Hearing Scrimgeour's question, Amos seemed startled, turning quickly to question his son.
Cedric, however, remained composed and replied calmly:
"I received a letter from my father, and I felt I had to act. I couldn't just stand idly by at Hogwarts while my father fought here!"
"So, I sneaked out through one of the secret passageways at Hogwarts, made my way to Hogsmeade, and from there, I used the Floo Network to reach London! I just didn't expect that as soon as I got near the edge of the battlefield, that witch spotted me!"
Hearing Cedric's explanation, Amos hugged him tightly again, his face filled with emotion.
Meanwhile, Cedric thought silently to himself:
Father, please forgive my lie. I only did this to save more innocent wizards.
The other Ministry wizards present were visibly moved by Cedric's words. Many even smiled knowingly when they heard him mention the Hogwarts secret passageways.
At that moment, Cornelius Fudge walked over, his face beaming with approval.
"As expected of one of Hogwarts' finest students! Even knowing the dangers, you came here without hesitation, determined to contribute your strength! Amos, you have an exceptional son! Cedric will undoubtedly be the future of the British Ministry of Magic!"
"Cedric, I look forward to the day you graduate from Hogwarts! The British Ministry of Magic will warmly welcome you."
Fudge's gaze softened as he looked at Cedric. He was clearly impressed by the boy. After all, without Cedric's timely appearance, today's events might have been far harder to resolve.
Though a few Death Purists had managed to escape, it didn't affect Fudge personally. After all, letting them go was framed as an act to save an innocent young man. To Fudge, this was a victory of political correctness.
"Amos, stay with Cedric for a while. He's been through a lot and must be shaken. But make sure to send him back to Hogwarts soon—I wouldn't want Headmaster Dumbledore coming to me about his whereabouts! Ha!"
With that, Fudge left with the other Ministry officials, heading off to handle the aftermath of the battle.
Rufus Scrimgeour, however, lingered for a moment. As he departed, his gaze toward Cedric carried a trace of doubt and scrutiny. The other wizards, on the other hand, bid farewell to the handsome young man with warm smiles.
Meanwhile, in a secluded corner, Abernathy and Rosier finished arranging matters with the Pureblood Party. Rosier casually waved his wand, causing the air in front of them to shimmer, and moments later, the figures of Xenophilius Lovegood, his daughter Luna, and Rita Skeeter appeared.
The two journalists, who had witnessed everything, were torn between fear and excitement. The fact that the Pureblood Party hadn't forgotten them even after the battle left them feeling both uneasy and exhilarated.
Abernathy wasted no time. "I want today's events to spread across the wizarding world as soon as possible. However, I don't want the details of what transpired to be too explicit. Do you understand?"
Xenophilius looked puzzled, but Rita Skeeter quickly nodded in agreement.
"I understand perfectly! You want the story to highlight how the Pureblood Party launched a full-scale attack on the British Ministry of Magic, achieved their goals, and left unscathed. Is that correct?"
Abernathy nodded in satisfaction and turned to leave.
But just as he was about to depart, Rita Skeeter hesitantly called out to him.
"Excuse me, sir, would it be all right if I publish this in The Quibbler? I'm worried The Daily Prophet might not run the story."
Hearing her request, Rosier, standing nearby, replied with a single word:
"Fine."
After Abernathy and Rosier left, Rita Skeeter and Xenophilius exchanged a glance, both letting out a sigh of relief.
By evening, Dumbledore finally received a letter delivered by an owl. After reading it, he casually handed it to Grindelwald, who stood nearby.
Grindelwald took the letter, noting that it was signed by Arthur Weasley rather than the Care of Magical Creatures professor, which seemed to satisfy him. He then began reading its contents.
As Grindelwald read, Dumbledore remarked:
"After today, many wizards will be reminded of the fear the Pureblood Party once instilled. I suspect your old followers will soon face coordinated attacks from various magical governments."
Grindelwald let out a dismissive laugh, clearly uninterested in responding.
Unperturbed, Dumbledore continued, "Still, there's a silver lining. In the short term, they might actually be safer. Everyone knows the Pureblood Party are like a powder keg—volatile and unpredictable. Perhaps Wentworth will be safer as well."
But this time, Grindelwald slowly shook his head, his gaze deep and resolute.
"No, Dumbledore, you're mistaken. The moment they targeted Wentworth, they declared war once more. They know our ways—if we act, we act decisively. They won't stop, and neither will we."
While Dumbledore and Grindelwald conversed, a group of foreign wizards rented an abandoned house in Hogsmeade.
As they moved their belongings inside, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman—Christine, who had been in London earlier—walked into her magically expanded suitcase. Moments later, she emerged, dragging a bound and gagged middle-aged man.
The man was brought to a table, where one of the wizards pointed a wand at him. Christine spoke coldly:
"Thomas Vole! Don't say we didn't give you a chance. Now, do exactly as I say!"
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