Chapter 29
**Chapter : The Fallout**
**Alex McKinnon’s POV**
The days following Umbridge's interrogation and the actions I set her on passed in an unnerving calm. The wizarding world, for all its magic and chaos, often had a peculiar stillness before the storm hit. And I knew—without a doubt—this storm was coming.
I spent those days in quiet anticipation, my mind constantly running scenarios about how the fallout would play out. I couldn't control every aspect, but I had carefully planted seeds that were set to bloom. Now, I only had to wait.
---
**The Daily Prophet Breaks the Story**
A week after the command I placed on Umbridge, the first article appeared. It was a front-page headline in the *Daily Prophet*:
**“MINISTRY SCANDAL: BLACKMAIL, DARK MAGIC, AND TRAFFICKING EXPOSED!”**
I skimmed the article while having breakfast in the Ravenclaw common room, my heart pounding with satisfaction as I saw the words in black ink. The Prophet had received an anonymous tip—the documents provided to the press were too damning to ignore. They detailed blackmail schemes that tied high-ranking Ministry officials to dark activities, hinting at deeper corruption connected to the Death Eaters.
But that wasn’t all. The article also mentioned the shocking discovery of muggleborn girls being trafficked and held captive on properties owned by prominent pure-blood families. Names like Avery and the Carrows appeared, furthering the growing sense of horror spreading through the wizarding world.
Gasps and whispers echoed around me as my classmates read the news, but I kept my face neutral.
"Merlin’s beard!" Oliver West, my fellow Ravenclaw, muttered. "Did you read this? The Ministry’s full of crooks!"
Cho Chang nodded, her face pale. "This is insane… How could they let this happen?"
I remained quiet, only adding, “The system’s been broken for a long time.”
They nodded in agreement, their minds racing, while I took a deep breath. The game had begun.
---
**Lucius Malfoy’s Reputation Shattered**
By the next morning, the fallout was already taking shape. Lucius Malfoy’s public image, carefully crafted and maintained over the years, was being torn apart. Reports surfaced linking him to several illegal activities, including his influence over Minister Fudge and his manipulation of Ministry decisions. Lucius, for all his political savvy, hadn’t expected such a precise attack on his position of power.
The press had dug deeper into his associations, with journalists following the money trail, and the public was now asking uncomfortable questions about the powerful families who had remained unscathed after Voldemort’s fall.
Though Malfoy wasn’t mentioned as directly involved in the trafficking of muggleborns, his connections to Avery and the Carrows painted him in a terrible light. Even Minister Fudge was put on the defensive, forced to answer questions about the integrity of his office and his decisions to shield certain individuals from scrutiny.
A smirk tugged at my lips. Malfoy’s time as a puppet master was nearing its end, and it was all happening from the shadows, as planned.
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**Dumbledore’s Perspective**
As the fallout spread, I could only imagine how Dumbledore viewed it. He was the kind of person who saw everything—his influence stretched far and wide, but he was wise enough to remain distant from direct involvement in the Ministry’s affairs. Yet, despite his distance, this kind of seismic shift within the magical community couldn’t have escaped his notice.
In the headmaster’s office, I could picture him pacing behind his desk, reading through the *Daily Prophet*, his sharp blue eyes flickering with a mixture of curiosity and concern. This wasn’t the kind of news that merely scratched the surface of the problems facing the wizarding world; this was the beginning of something much larger.
Dumbledore, ever the strategist, would undoubtedly start piecing things together. The exposure of dark family dealings, the trafficking scandal, and the sudden instability within the Ministry—it all pointed to something deliberate. He wouldn’t know it was me, of course, but he’d recognize that there was an intelligent force moving behind the scenes, someone targeting the old ways that had allowed corruption to fester.
If I had learned anything about Dumbledore, it was that he respected quiet intelligence and bold moves. He wouldn’t intervene right away. He’d watch and wait, letting the pieces fall where they may, all while keeping a careful eye on how the situation evolved.
---
**A Reflection of Power**
The ritual I had performed months ago, sacrificing Voldemort’s Horcrux for knowledge and power, had fundamentally changed me. The increase in my magical capabilities wasn’t just raw power—it was in how I saw the world. Every action had rippling consequences. Every decision had layers. Voldemort’s memories, his way of thinking, had left an imprint on me, and though I hated him for what he was, I couldn’t deny that his strategic mind had been valuable to understand.
I was using the knowledge to dismantle the system he thrived in. Ironically, his own corruption was being used against him and his supporters, and it gave me a sense of satisfaction to watch it unfold.
But as I sat in the common room, reading the headlines and feeling the subtle hum of power in my fingertips, I couldn’t shake the lingering unease. The Horcrux had been more dangerous than I anticipated, and though I had gained from it, the ritual had left me vulnerable. Dark magic wasn’t something you could toy with lightly, and even though I was focusing on light magic, there was always a pull—a temptation to use the knowledge I had absorbed.
I knew the line I had to walk. Power alone wasn’t enough. I needed control, and more importantly, I needed to maintain my focus. I was still a year ahead of Harry and his friends, which meant I had time to prepare before things escalated in their world.
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**The Ministry’s Next Move**
The Ministry, of course, was in chaos. The exposure of such large-scale corruption was embarrassing for Fudge, and he was scrambling to restore order. I’d already heard rumors that the DMLE (Department of Magical Law Enforcement) had launched an internal investigation, arresting several key figures mentioned in the leaks.
I wondered how much Fudge would try to cover up. How many people would he sacrifice to save himself?
It didn’t matter. The damage was done. The public was now aware of the Ministry’s failings, and with every new article, their trust eroded further. People were beginning to call for changes, for a restructuring of the entire system. And it was exactly what I wanted.
The reckoning had begun.
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**Looking Ahead**
The next few weeks would be critical. I had to keep a low profile, letting the fallout play out naturally while I continued my studies and research. Hogwarts had become my sanctuary of knowledge and power, and the Room of Requirement had been indispensable in helping me push the boundaries of magic.
With each passing day, I grew more certain of my path. The fight against corruption wasn’t just about freeing Sirius or taking down the Death Eaters. It was about reshaping the wizarding world entirely.
As I finished reading the latest headlines, I folded the newspaper neatly and stood up. There was still much work to do. And I couldn’t afford to waste any time.
"Alex?" Cho called from across the room. "You coming to study?"
"Yeah, in a minute," I said, giving her a small smile. But in the back of my mind, I was already planning my next move.
The storm was just beginning.