HP's Wretched

As soon as Flott opened the Daily Prophet, the headline on the first page read: Cornelius Fudge offers to resign as Minister of Magic.

She roughly scanned the content of the report, and finally focused on Fudge's final bow at the press conference. The regret and tiredness suppressed by public opinion on his face was very different from the complacency when he dealt with Dumbledore at that time. If he could trust Dumbledore a little more, he probably wouldn't be able to get to where he is today.

"Trash." Flotte stared viciously at Fudge's photo of defeat and bowing, and couldn't stop mumbling and complaining. It stands to reason that she doesn't have much time to watch this old man pretending in front of the camera, but Thinking of how much energy and connections she had spent to build a bridge with Fudge, Fudge killed herself before hiding under his wings for two years, Flotte was terrified. You have to read this report to be done. What do you mean he is not rubbish?

Flotte took a deep breath, then tore the irritating newspaper into shreds, and threw it into the trash can before giving up.

"You came so early."

Flote looked away from the trash can, and then turned to look at the person coming. Today, Flotte arrived here early in the morning because she was going to relocate the potion in the factory warehouse to another location.

She was prepared in her heart at first, but when Flott saw Lu Ping appearing at the door with a slumped look, she felt somewhat uncomfortable, because it also reminded her that there was another one missing in the Order of the Phoenix. An old acquaintance of hers.

"Are you okay, Remus." Seeing that Lupine had returned to the depression and decadence when he first met as a professor at Hogwarts two years ago, Flott couldn't help but asked in concern.

The soft brown hair was drooping on both sides in a mess at this time, and the beard protruding from his chin made him look a bit older. Lupine wanted to cheer up, but the light in his eyes couldn't gather. Although his tone was as gentle as ever, he always trembled with pain: "I'm fine, Flotte."

...Is this all right?Although Flotte felt sorry for Black's sacrifice to some extent, it was far from Lupine's grief at this moment.Flotte tried to make her voice sound softer, and then said cautiously: "I'm sorry to hear the news of Black's sacrifice, and I know you are very sad, so if you haven't adjusted it, we can continue with the matter of moving the library." Find time."

Lupine shook his head, and then tried to make himself look more energetic: "I'm fine, the potion storage must be moved as soon as possible, the war has already begun, Fudge has resigned, no one can guarantee whether this place is safe or not, So we have to move the potion elsewhere quickly."

"But..." Flotte was still a little worried about Lupine's state at this time.

Lupine ignored Flott's worries and started to arrange tasks instead, because he just wanted to turn all his attention to the tasks so that he could stop thinking about it...

In this way, according to Lupin's arrangement, Flott and Lupine devoted their attention to the task of counting potions, but although Lupine wanted to use work to attract his attention, Flott could still observe Lupine's absent-minded look.

"How are your injuries all healed?" Flotte tried hard to bring up a topic, trying to draw out Lupine who was still immersed in sadness.

"Everyone is mostly fine," Lupine said. "We are very grateful for these potions you donated to the Order of the Phoenix."

"Don't thank me. Although it is true that I, Tuomenzi, bought this medicine with an idea, but to tell you the truth, the money for the medicine was actually obtained from Fudge in the final analysis." Flotte deliberately said He raised his tone of voice, trying to make the atmosphere a little more pleasant, "I sold the potion shares to Fuji at a high price, and he thought he had found a treasure, but I think he should know clearly now You know, the stocks I bought are actually useless junk stocks. After all, the potion industry is now in the hands of the Dark Lord. Even if he has □□[-]% of the shares, what is the use? Does he dare to fight with the Dark Lord? Who told him he would rather deceive himself than believe the news of the return of the Dark Lord, huh, idiot."

Hearing Flotte's nagging, Lupine felt inexplicably calmer: "Your idea is very Slytherin. While blackmailing Fudge's money, you use shares to restrain the disgusting mysterious person. It kills two birds with one stone."

"Thank you for the compliment." Flotte said proudly as she counted the potions and raised her head slightly.

"Thank you mainly because after fighting against the Death Eaters that day, many people were injured. Everyone's first reaction was to go to St. Mungo's, but they didn't expect that the healing potion that St. Mungo gave us was mixed with other ingredients. If it is not supported by the batch of potions in the warehouse, I am afraid there will be a few more..." Lu Ping didn't dare to continue, and his peaceful mood just now fell to the bottom.

He had always thought that he was a rational person, at least after experiencing so many changes in the first half of his life, he should have put aside things like life and death, but it was obvious that he still overestimated himself.Lupine was able to put away his collapsed mood and hug Harry tightly when Sirius fell into the curtain for a moment, but this does not mean that he will not fall into deep self-blame and regret.

Flott also noticed that something was wrong with Lupin, and quickly changed the subject: "It's all counterfeit medicine? It seems that the Dark Lord is doing this old trick again."

Lupine didn't speak, and seemed to be still in the mood of the Ministry of Magic that night.

"Actually, in the last war, after the potion industry was monopolized by Malfoy, some counterfeit medicines were sent to St. Mungo's according to the order of the Dark Lord, especially for some well-known rebels. The Dark Lord disappeared before it became big. Hey, it’s not the same as last time, I’m afraid St. Mungo has probably been bribed or compromised inside and out.”

Flott felt that she was talking to herself at the moment. She raised her head and looked at Lupine who was counting the potions on the other side of the warehouse. She really looked lost. Well, it seems that her topic But it didn't take Lupine's attention away.

Seeing that last time he was willing to talk to him about what he had and what he didn’t have in the cold wind blowing by the seaside in the middle of the night, and also told himself such an important piece of information, Flotte also decided to help him this time, since it’s okay to change the topic. If you can't change his state, it's better to face the difficulties directly.

"Are you still thinking about Sirius Black?"

Hearing Flott's question, Lupine immediately came to his senses. He originally wanted to habitually answer no, so that Flott could rest assured, but after thinking about it, I'm afraid that in his current state, even if he answered no, The other party would never believe it: "Yes, I'm still thinking about what happened that night, Sirius shouldn't have..."

"I know you may think that it's because I have a bad relationship with Blake that I say that people who die can't be resurrected. It's useless to think about such cold-blooded words. But I'll tell you the truth, I admit that I don't like it very much. Blake, and I don’t have a good relationship with him at all, but I’m also very sad about his sacrifice, after all, I met him in Blake’s old house when I was very young.” Flotte said at this time, her mind Li also couldn't help flashing the first time he saw the son of Black's family who climbed a tree and poked a hornet's nest, "But a sacrifice is a sacrifice. We can't change this matter, so instead of being immersed in pain, it's better..."

"I know it's a foregone conclusion that he died, but I just hate myself, why didn't I notice that Bellatrix, why didn't I hang her so she didn't have a chance to sneak up, why didn't I be in that green light Remind Sirius before hitting him, why..." Lupine choked up and couldn't continue, "Do you know how happy I was when I realized that Sirius was wronged?"

"I understand, but..."

"My best friend is alive and standing in front of me innocently. At that moment, I felt that so many years of loneliness and loneliness dissipated in a moment, but now everything seems to return to the original point. Just It’s as if Harry couldn’t use the Time-Turner to save him.” Lupine’s voice became smaller and smaller, and finally seemed to be muttering to himself, “Actually, I also thought about using the Time-Turner to bring him back. I rescued Sirius that night, but I also know that this may be the same as last time. This change will be futile after all, just like Sisyphus in ancient Greece. Punishment to push a boulder that will never reach the top of the mountain, and then be caught in an endless cycle like this.”

Flott didn't expect Lupine to think the same about the time-turner as she did. She also always believed that this change of going back to the past was meaningless, but... Flott didn't think so when it came to Sirius. : "I have exactly the same opinion as you about the time-turner, but I don't agree that Black's death this time is meaningless. He died for the Order of the Phoenix, and he died to fight against the Death Eaters. Much more meaningful than lying on the slates of Azkaban and being sucked dry by dementors, no?"

Lupine didn't speak, but Flotte's words did indeed have a comforting effect, but they still couldn't completely mend the wound in his heart.

Flotte sighed silently, she knew that the other party must have heard her words, but it was not so quick to think about it.She was going to let Lu calm down, so she was going to continue counting the medicines, but when she just turned around and before she had time to lower her head, she saw half of her head hiding behind a side door at the gate of the factory, staring at Lu Ping intently. Tonks.

Seeing this scene, Flotte instantly felt that her existence was a bit superfluous, she shouldn't have come here today to help clean up the mess, she should have completely handed it over to the Order of the Phoenix!

"Remus, I suddenly have something urgent, I have to deal with it, you can continue to count here, I'm really sorry." Flott lied in a pretentious manner.

Tonks at the door seemed to have heard this too, and hurriedly retracted his protruding head, and then hid.

"If you have something to do, you should do it first. This should be my job, and I should say thank you." Lupine tried his best to force a smile, and he didn't see the white lie that Flotte said at all.

Flotte put down her work and walked towards the door of the warehouse, but she stopped as soon as she reached the door, and said to the air: "Tonks, come out, don't hide, I saw you at the door a long time ago. Here it is."

Knowing that he had been discovered, Tonks was embarrassed to continue to hide himself, so he removed the transformation spell on his body, and then greeted Flotte with a little embarrassment: "Professor Luster, I'm here... ..."

"No need to explain, I know what you're here for." After saying this, Flotte took a special look at Lupine, who was still in the warehouse stupidly counting the medicines, "I've counted to the second column on the right. Alright, the list is on the box, you go in and help him."

Tonks' eyes lit up instantly: "Thank you, Professor."

"You're welcome, the beauty of an adult."

After Flotte finished speaking, she didn't care whether Tonks would be shy or not, and immediately gave the two of them the space.

Just as Flotte was about to find a place where no one was around and took out her wand to Apparate, she saw the figure of that person not far away—Kingsley.

I don't know what day it is today, but everyone has gathered here.

Since the person who came was exactly what Flott wanted to find recently, Flott put away her wand and greeted Kingsley: "Have you found the place where the potion was transferred?"

When Kingsley saw Flotte walking over, he hurriedly stopped. Recently, the Minister of Magic was re-elected, which happened to be the time when he was the most tired. It just so happened that he wanted to talk to Flott recently: "Not yet. .”

"If I didn't find it, I rushed to come over to count the medicines. I thought everything was arranged and I almost moved."

"Albus has arranged for someone to find another suitable location. There is no way. This matter really needs to be dealt with quickly, because this is what I have always wanted to tell you. Fudge seems to have noticed that there is a problem with this place before stepping down. gone."

"Are you aware?" Flotte narrowed her eyes, and couldn't stop scolding the old fox named Fudge in her heart, "It seems that there are still loopholes in my preparation."

"That's why I am so anxious to transfer the potion this time, because no one knows whether Fudge will sell what he knows to the Dark Lord. If he does, your business will be..."

Before Kingsley finished speaking, Flotte knew what he was going to say: "I know what will happen. I have already predicted the worst outcome from the beginning of planning to do this. Don't worry."

Kingsley nodded. In fact, like Flott, he was ready to die from the day he joined the Order of the Phoenix.

"Do you know Fudge's current whereabouts? I think..." Flotte hesitated whether to say it or not, but finally made up her mind to tell it. "After all, transferring the potion is not something that happens overnight. It's better to just silence it." , we should have made this plan a long time ago.”

Hearing the terrifying word "silence", Kingsley didn't show any other expressions on his face, but was very calm: "I'm afraid this method won't work."

"The Order of the Phoenix still has a rule against killing people, right? If this matter were left to the Death Eaters, Fudge would have been dead from the second he stepped down." Flotte murmured dissatisfied. , "If you don't want to do anything, I can take your place. Anyway, I am not from the Order of the Phoenix, and if Fudge really reveals it to the Dark Lord, I will die first."

"You do it? You don't have magic..."

Flotte was at a loss for words for a while, and almost revealed something that shouldn't be revealed, so she quickly explained: "Can't you poison me? You underestimate me too..."

"Actually, I have also had such cruel thoughts." Kingsley said to Flotte uncomfortably, "but the problem now is that Fudge has already made a retreat, and now he is probably far away. England."

Hearing the news, Flotte's eyes widened in shock: "Run away? Wasn't he appointed as the new minister's affairs adviser? He escaped too quickly."

"Ministerial advisor is just an idle job. It doesn't matter if he has it or not. But I also admit that he is running a bit fast. He just held a press conference yesterday to announce his resignation, and he is no longer in the UK today." Kingsley said.

"Coward!" Flott yelled angrily. In fact, when the news of Voldemort's return was completely made public, Flott was already murderous, but she was always afraid of the position of Minister Fudge, so it was difficult to start.However, she already had a premonition that Fudge would not last long, but she never thought that she would step down so quickly, and she ran even faster!She had just stepped down yesterday, so Flotte was thinking carefully about implementing this cruel but effective little plan, but the reality is that the plan will never keep up with the changes!

"So, the Order of the Phoenix can only make a bad move and transfer the potion to other places, in case Fudge really causes trouble, and disclose the news that you are cooperating with the Order of the Phoenix to store the potion here, although according to my investigation, Fudge It seems that we haven't checked it in such detail, but we can also take precautions and save you trouble." Kingsley explained.

"This is the only plan for the present. However, it is not a problem to just transfer like this. No matter how fast you are, you will be passively beaten. It is better to take the initiative."

"Take the initiative?" Kingsley didn't understand what Flotte meant.

"We can't do nothing but transfer the potion and wait for Fudge to betray me."

"Do you have an idea?"

A stern light flashed in Flott's eyes: "It's just a small idea. I just want us to take the initiative to send the news to the Dark Lord's ears before Fudge reveals it to the Dark Lord."

"What do you mean?" Although Kingsley still didn't understand what Flotte meant, but seeing Flotte's expression, Kingsley felt a little chill behind him.

"The meaning is very simple, that is, we can reveal the nature of this information by ourselves, and turn it from a piece of fatal information about the Order of the Phoenix into a harmless gossip."

"Gossip? What are you going to do?"

Flotte raised the corners of her lips slightly, and explained her plan slowly: "During this time, I will try to destroy some contracts and evidence as much as possible, and then find a way to release some private gossip and scandals between me and Fudge, for example, I was taken care of by him! In this way, it is reasonable for me to use his money to do business with him, as for what business I do with him, what I do with this factory is not important at all."

Flotte paused, and then said: "Now that Fudge is stepping down, with this gossip news as a foreshadowing, I can release it openly, saying that I have no choice but to sell the Muggle Pharmaceuticals I run because I don't have the support of Fudge. In this way, my cooperation with Fudge and the imminent disuse of this factory can become reasonable, and we also took the initiative to pass this information to the ears of the Dark Lord. With the initiative, this is comparable to waiting for that old Fudge The bastard's private leak of information made the Dark Lord think much better. Besides, even if Fudge came forward to deny the news, given the degree of ambiguity of the news, the Dark Lord might not believe his denial."

"But nurturing... this... this news... isn't this just discrediting yourself in front of the public?"

Flotte shrugged, and said with a helpless smile: "Don't the public just like to hear these words that can't be put on the stage, saying that I was adopted by Fudge, I think there must be many people who believe it, and the matter of doing business with him is nothing. No matter what the reason is, they have all become accessories of this scandal, and the spread will be faster. Think about it, if the Dark Lord knows that this is just an extension of gossip news, do you think he will still be interested in a gossip? Didn't Taiwan use what the former minister said to arouse interest?"

Kingsley didn't know how to express it anymore, he could only keep sighing in his heart: it's too ruthless, ruthless to others, and even more ruthless to himself.

Flotte didn't pay attention to Kingsley's reaction, instead she sneered, and then said softly: "I just want to bet, bet that my methods are perfect enough during the period of his cooperation with me, and bet on him No evidence of my involvement with the Order of the Phoenix has been found, and I bet he, a coward, doesn't have the guts to contact the Dark Lord to reveal this before he gets his foot in the door."

"But if you appear on the gossip page of the Daily Prophet, you will definitely be talked about, or even scolded."

"Tch, it's not like I haven't posted it before." Flotte pretended not to care, "Those who believe in me, those who know me, know that this is fake news without my explaining, as for those who don't believe me~ I I don't care what they do. As for those who scold me, they are just looking for a sense of existence behind a group of small people, how many people dare to stand in front of me and scold me? Are they worthy?"

"But this is still..."

"There's no need to worry about it." Flotte interrupted Kingsley directly, "Now that we've made up our minds, let's get on with the task at hand. I will destroy the evidence as soon as possible, and then release the gossip. I will destroy the sale and purchase agreement and company registration contract of this factory when the potions are all transferred."

"Thanks for your hard work."

Flotte smiled and shook her head. Now that she has reached this point, she can't help many things...