Chapter 85
Chapter : Secrets Unveiled and Shifts in Power
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Daily Bugle Headline Article
“The Tragedy of Ariana Dumbledore: A Hidden Past Exposed”
Today, the Magical Daily Bugle continues its examination of the Dumbledore family, revealing the heartbreaking story of Ariana Dumbledore. Dumbledore’s younger sister, Ariana, suffered a mysterious, tragic end, reportedly due to an outburst of uncontrolled magic. Sources close to the family allege that the event left a permanent rift between Albus and his younger brother, Aberforth, who openly blamed Albus for her death. Was this tragedy part of Dumbledore’s motivation to defeat Grindelwald, or does it hint at an even darker aspect of his life? Our sources suggest that the former Chief Warlock’s history holds secrets that may still impact our society today.
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Hogwarts’ Reaction
The article spread through Hogwarts faster than any spell. Students gathered in small groups, whispering and passing the Bugle back and forth, eyes wide with shock. Dumbledore, the wise, almost mythical figure they revered, had a dark and tragic family history no one had guessed.
In the Great Hall, Harry and his friends couldn’t escape the conversation. Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws had gravitated to the topic, and Gryffindors and Slytherins had mixed reactions, some sympathetic, others suspicious.
Harry looked around as the talk intensified, then leaned toward Hermione and Ron. “Do you think there’s any truth to all this?”
Hermione bit her lip, her eyes glued to the article. “I don’t know, Harry. Skeeter has a way of twisting facts, but this is… it’s heartbreaking. Poor Ariana.” She glanced at the Slytherin table, where Daphne Greengrass and a few others were reading the article with intense expressions. “Even the Slytherins seem shocked by this one.”
Ron, ever blunt, added, “Hard to picture old Dumbledore having family drama, isn’t it? Makes him seem… I dunno, more human.”
Daphne leaned over from her table and addressed Harry. “I never knew about his family,” she said, her voice thoughtful. “It makes you wonder how much of history is hidden from us. Especially with someone like Dumbledore.”
Harry nodded, reflecting on all they’d been through this year. It was a reminder of how little he truly knew about the people guiding him, and how much was still kept in the shadows.
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Bellatrix Lestrange’s POV
My patience with that sniveling rat has finally worn thin. He’s worthless—no information, no leads, just pathetic begging for his life. I’ve let him crawl back to his hole, but mark my words, he will suffer for every delay he causes my lord.
I need allies, not cowardly wretches like him. My lord’s plans were ambitious—Europe should have been under his control already, especially with recruitment underway in Bulgaria and Romania. He had the strength to dominate these lands, to spread the rightful rule of pure-blooded wizards far beyond Britain’s weak ministry. Lucius is no help; he’s spineless, cowering under Fudge’s thumb instead of preparing for our lord’s return.
It’s time I remind our “allies” of their duty. My lord’s word is law, and anyone who dares question it will pay dearly. I will do whatever is necessary to locate him, and those weak fools in the Ministry will not stand in my way.
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Minister Fudge’s POV
Sitting in my office, I reviewed the latest reports. The Daily Bugle was relentless, exposing corruption within the Ministry, questioning our leadership. And now, Amelia Bones wanted more funding for the DMLE? The recent attacks and that ridiculous new paper were making things difficult for me. We’d already doubled the Auror numbers, but she wanted more.
I called the Wizengamot together for an emergency meeting. After hours of discussion, arguments, and barely contained outrage over the Bugle’s latest article on Dumbledore, we finally held a vote. The verdict was in—Albus Dumbledore was no longer Chief Warlock.
I expected the backlash to be directed at him. Instead, murmurs and suspicious glances had shifted towards me. There were whispers about my leadership, doubts. I tried to brush it off, but they were persistent. The meeting reached its peak when a vote of no confidence was called.
The room held its breath. Faces from every corner, once loyal supporters, seemed to hesitate. But when the vote closed, the verdict was in: I, Cornelius Fudge, was to step down as Minister.
Amelia Bones, of all people, was named as interim Minister. She’d been gaining favor within the DMLE, but I never thought she’d actually take my place. With the Wizengamot’s support, she rose, taking on the responsibilities I’d held for so long.
I left the chamber in a daze, wondering how quickly everything had fallen apart. And yet, somewhere in the back of my mind, I realized this was far from over. My alliances and loyalties ran deep; we would see what Amelia Bones’ interim leadership would bring.
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Amelia Bones’ POV
The weight of the Minister’s office settled onto my shoulders quickly. I had a thousand things to address: staffing the DMLE, calming public panic, and addressing the scandalous Bugle articles that kept churning out Ministry secrets.
When I called my first DMLE meeting as interim Minister, I could see the toll recent events had taken on my colleagues. Many were wary of change; others were worried we lacked the resources to maintain public order. But I’d been pushing for more Auror recruits, more funding, and more training long before this crisis hit. Now, we’d have to act.
The attacks had strained our resources, and the public wanted accountability. Hogwarts, too, was a concern; the recent dementor incidents and student safety were pressing issues. With Sirius Black’s new innovations and security measures drawing attention, we needed new alliances, more cooperation with wizards outside traditional channels.
Yet, as I looked around the room, I knew I’d have to prove myself. The Wizengamot had placed their faith in me temporarily, but the hard work had only just begun.
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Alex’s POV
Sirius and I had spent countless hours talking about how we could use the Bugle to push real change. The Daily Prophet had long been under the Ministry’s thumb, and people deserved the truth. Skeeter’s articles, while controversial, had an impact we couldn’t ignore.
Sirius and I both knew we’d struck a nerve with our paper’s recent coverage of Dumbledore’s past, and now, the scandal surrounding the Ministry was just as explosive. We couldn’t rely on the old structures of power—they were failing, and it was time to reshape our society from the ground up.
But the Bugle was only one part of it. I needed new allies in unexpected places, from werewolves to muggle-borns. These alliances were crucial to our work, and I’d put together a network that was more secure and diverse than anything the Ministry could imagine.
As for the Werewolf Relief Initiative, Sirius and I were making strides. We had a meeting scheduled with Andromeda to discuss land options for the werewolf village. With the Ministry in disarray, we might finally be able to pull off the plan to build a sanctuary—a safe haven where werewolves could live and work outside the oppressive system that had been set against them for so long.
This wasn’t just about survival; it was about building a new kind of world, one where everyone could contribute, no matter their background or magical abilities. The future was uncertain, but it was within our reach. And with the right moves, we could change the wizarding world forever.