The dimly lit dilapidated tavern was eerily quiet, the sound of Amorsta and the Minister of Magic's greeting was incredibly jarring. Practically everyone, including the group huddled in the corner, was staring at this direction. Amorsta didn't want this to become common knowledge, he looked over at the barkeep Tom beside him and to his surprise, he found that this stooped, dirty barkeep didn't seem to have the surprised expression he had expected.
"Ah, Mr. Bree, I'm quite well acquainted with Hagrid, you see. He mentioned it casually twice—" The astute Tom bent down and spoke in a humble tone.
Amorsta pursed his lips, a thousand mythical beasts surged through his mind.
"Oh, a quiet and humble young man is always appreciated --" Duggoo looked at everything and smiled faintly, "But I think, sometimes having a bit of fame isn't such a bad thing."
"I just hope that my conversation with you won't be overheard by some suspicious characters --" Amorsta smiled and said, then casually pushed open the wooden door beside his partition, "I was wondering if it would be an honor to have you join me for a drink?"
Fudge hesitated, then nodded.
"Then I'll take advantage of it and have a bite. You can't imagine how long it's been since I last had a proper meal...Tom, that kid is still waiting for me up there, could you take care of him first?"
........
As they stepped into the private space, Mr. Fudge's chubby face lost its ease, and even without close examination, it was clear that the head of the Ministry of Magic was feeling melancholy and bewildered.
Amorsta sipped the sweet wine gently, fixing his interested gaze on the candleholder on the wall, quietly waiting for Fudge to finish dealing with the piece of butter bread in his hand.
"I want to thank you, Amorsta --"
Fudge lifted his glass and before Amorsta could respond, he downed two swallows of the rum, using the opportunity to clear his mouth of food. After taking a deep breath and smiling wearily,
"The beast left behind by Slytherin has caused a big commotion. Many heads of the Ministry of Magic from various countries have written to me, hoping I can allow the serpentine creature to travel abroad for exhibition. Oh, of course, I believe they are mainly targeting Salazar Slytherin's name."
A few months ago, the significance of this serpentine creature to Amorsta mainly lay in the payment for the mission he was entrusted with, and handing it over wouldn't be a problem. But in these days after Avolon Island, Amorsta thought that his decision at first was somewhat impulsive. This thing might be hiding some deeper secrets.
"It can only serve a greater purpose in the hands of the Ministry, Minister."
Amorsta also put down his glass and smiled faintly.
"That poor creature's eyes were blinded by Dumbledore's Phoenix, and it was hit by several of my spells. I thought it wouldn't last much longer. By the way, is it doing well now?"
"Oh, it's lively and full of energy."
Speaking of that, Fudge's plump face showed a hint of embarrassment.
"In fact, the creature's energy is a bit too vigorous, harder to deal with than a fire dragon. Several young men in the Department of Magical Creatures have almost... cough cough, I mean, regarding the invitations for overseas exhibitions, some I really couldn't ignore. Considering safety, we invited a master of dealing with magical creatures to help tame it for a while."
Amorsta nodded, thinking about when he might have taken the creature back from Newt Scamander's hands.
"I beg your pardon, Minister --"
Neither Fudge nor Amorsta intended to spend much time at this impromptu dinner. After clarifying whose hands the serpent was in, a few casual greetings were exchanged, and Amorsta put on a show of appropriate curiosity.
"You seem to be very tired, Minister. Has something been happening with the Ministry recently? Oh, if it involves secrets, please don't mention it!"
"Don't tell me you haven't heard about it, Amorsta?" Fudge flared his bushy eyebrows in surprise and asked, "Everyone knows about it already!"
"I've been in the Muggle world for a few days, so --"
"Oh, trouble?" Fudge shook his head vigorously, with his whole face sagging. "No, no, that can't be called trouble, it should be called a disaster. It's not just my own disaster, but the entire Ministry's disaster...I don't mind telling you that, Amorsta. Since I became the Minister of Magic, I haven't faced anything so difficult!"
Amorsta did not interject. He quietly waited for Fudge to enlighten him.
"Someone has escaped from Azkaban!"
Amorsta's eyes flickered for a moment. Before heading to Hogwarts, there had been someone who posted a task at Cacofony, to save the Lestranges and the Carrows... ŴŴŴ.
Does that mean someone succeeded? Hmph, that was a reward of twenty thousand Galleons!!!
"It's Sirius Black!"
Finally, Fudge spoke out the name in a heavy, nearly collapse tone.
Silently, Amorsta raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"...if I didn't misunderstand, you said that the...number one suspect of the mysterious person's subordinates, Sirius Black?"
"That's the one, Amorsta," Fudge sighed heavily. "I never dreamed that this day would come... When I was the Deputy Director of the Department of Magical Mishaps and Disasters, Black was caught on that day, and I was one of the first to arrive at the scene..."
Amorsta wasn't interested in hearing Fudge reminisce about the past. He interrupted Fudge's monologue, narrowing his eyes and asking with a light tone,
"So, was someone rescuing him, or did Black himself escape?"
"You're very perceptive, Amorsta." Fudge nodded and approved, but his tone remained very bleak. "Both are possible, but we think he escaped on his own, because... Oh, I'm sorry, Amorsta, this is something I can't tell you..."
"Understandable --" Amorsta lifted his glass and toasted to Fudge, smiling.
From Fudge's reaction, it seems that the Ministry of Magic hasn't yet fully understood how Black managed to escape from Azkaban. However, as for the purpose of his escape... Amorsta looked at the direction of Potter's magical power and had a hunch in his heart.
Did Black's escape from Azkaban aim to avenge his former master, Voldemort?
So, that means this year's mission for our savior, Mr. Harry Potter, is to eliminate Voldemort's right-hand man?
Perhaps realizing that his dejected appearance might be leaked by this young man opposite him, Fudge tried to straighten his expression and spoke with confidence, looking at Amorsta with a confident smile,
"Don't worry too much, Amorsta. We have dispatched all the elite of the Ministry of Magic to track down Black. Even the Dementors from Azkaban are working on it. I think, in a few days, you will be able to read in the Daily Prophet that we have achieved a resounding victory!"
"I have confidence in you, Minister."
Amorsta chuckled, but he was still somewhat surprised that the Ministry of Magic had sent out Dementors, those creatures.
Amorsta had only seen this creature that terrified witches and wizards in books. In reality, he had never encountered it before!
"Shall we take this opportunity to catch one and study it?"
As Amorsta opened the door to the private room, smiling, he thought so.
