Scarface's Dividing Scheme

Chapter 269 Scarface's Dividing Scheme

Picking up where we left off, Harry was terrified to see a group of goblins swarming in, and cursed under his breath:

Damn it! What a bunch of beasts who are human in form but not in human form! They swore oaths in Gringotts earlier, making them sound so solemn, but now they treat those words like farts and dare to invade Hogsmeade!

He immediately drew his wand and cast a warning spell into the air to warn the village wizards.

But as soon as the magic wand was raised, shadowy figures appeared behind the group of fairies, followed by many tall human figures.

As the group drew closer, Harry could clearly see that they were all dressed in flowing black robes and wore badges on their chests; they were clearly Aurors from the Ministry of Magic.

Upon seeing this, Harry immediately realized that these goblins were not causing trouble, but were stationed here on orders from the Ministry of Magic.

The goblins cleared a path and marched into the Hogsmeade neighborhood in a grand procession, without offering any resistance.

The wizards, young and old, gathered together on both sides of the street, pointing and pointing at the goblin in his armor.

Some grinned like spectators watching a monkey show, some whispered amongst themselves like sparrows pecking at millet, and others completely ignored them, walking away with their hands in their sleeves. The truth is: those watching the spectacle had smiling eyes, those gossiping had swirling tongues, and those who didn't care walked leisurely.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, a goblin with his face completely hidden inside an iron mask said in a muffled voice, "Look, the wizard has forgotten our great uprising three hundred years ago."

"These short-lived creatures can't remember anything."

Beside the iron-faced goblin stood the hilt of his round shield and longsword. Hearing this, his knuckles cracked as he gripped the hilt, and he said in a low voice, "It's alright, they'll remember."

"Their descendants will forever remember this history of the rise of the fairies."

After the words were spoken, the demons fell silent for a moment. After a brief silence, a snicker suddenly broke out.

"Get back to work, you idiot who gave Porter a handle to use against us."

As soon as these words were uttered, a few snickers rippled out from the pile of armored soldiers, like water boiling in an iron pot.

The goblins, swaying and stumbling, marched with a group of Aurors to the center of Hogsmeade Square. Once they had stopped and formed a battle array, Scrimgeour, flanked by two men, walked to the brightly lit center of the square.

The one on the left is a young man, sharp-looking, with a head of fiery red hair; he is none other than Percy Weasley.

The one on the right is older, with a stern face, slicked-back hair, and a beard.

Harry didn't recognize the man on the right, but he knew Percy. Seeing that he had come with Scrinker, he knew that Percy must be Fudge's spy.

The wizards who had been watching gathered around at the first sign of commotion, forming a tight circle. Scrimgeour then took a parchment scroll from his robes and read aloud, "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen."

"I am Rufus Scrimgeour, and I am here on the orders of Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge to assist in the administration of Hogsmeade Village."

"Our top priority is to restore stable public services and ensure safety and order. I will regularly update you on our progress —"

Just as Scrimgeour was about to launch into his explanation, a voice suddenly rang out from the crowd: "I have no objection to the Ministry of Magic taking over Hogsmeade, but what's with these goblins?"

Scrimgeour glanced around and looked in the direction of the voice, but all he could see was a crowd of people, and he couldn't make out where the voice came from. He had no choice but to raise his voice and say, "It's wartime now, and the Ministry of Magic is severely understaffed, but thankfully the goblins are willing to provide manpower."

After speaking, he craned his neck and looked around again, but still could not find the person who had spoken.

Seeing this, Percy coughed twice, stepped forward, and shouted, "Any other questions?"

'

The sound rolled across the square, but no one answered. The students watching all gave him cold looks.

Back in his school days, Percy was in charge of discipline and served as a prefect, a figure above thousands of students. Which lower-year student didn't know his face? But now, they all treat him like a complete stranger.

Those gazes were like a thousand cold thorns, making Percy feel uneasy. He moved closer to Scrinker's ear and whispered, "Mr. Scrinker, I think we should go."

Scrimgeour glanced at him sideways, a hint of displeasure flashing across his face, but he didn't answer. He turned and stepped off the stage, striding away towards the screaming shed.

The fairies and Aurors followed him in small groups.

Upon arriving at the dilapidated house, the group of people shouted and yelled, chopping down pillars and demolishing walls, determined to turn this abandoned house into a government office for officials to sit in and conduct business.

Those demons were skilled craftsmen, and they had a hundred or so people, plus dozens of Aurors to help them.

The sounds of chisels, axes, and saws filled the air, and in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the screaming shack was transformed into a three-story pavilion with green tiles and red eaves, quite magnificent.

Once the work was finished, a leading demon came forward and said in a gruff voice, "That's all for today, Sheriff."

"Don't forget to wire the final payment for the construction."

The older wizard stepped forward and added, "Ah, don't worry about that. Mr. Scrimgeour will put it on the funding application form, but you'll have to wait until next quarter to receive the money."

Scrimgeour didn't respond to that, but instead raised his hand and slapped the wizard heavily on the shoulder, his face calm and composed, and said coldly, "That's a problem for me to consider, Sinknis."

"I am the sheriff."

Having said that, Scrimgeour assigned the Aurors and goblins to patrol and scout duties, then strode back to his newly built office.

Once inside, he bolted the door behind him, plopped down on a chair, let out a long sigh, and rubbed his temples with two fingers.

Just as he was catching his breath, he suddenly heard someone laugh and say, "Brother, why are you all alone here looking so gloomy?"

Scrimgeour shuddered and jumped up to grab his wand, only to find Harry sitting opposite him at the desk, having appeared out of nowhere.

"Oh, Harry, you really startled me—"

Upon seeing the newcomer, Scrimgeour's heart finally settled, and he forced a smile, saying, "Long time no see, what brings you here?"

Harry flicked his wand, conjuring two goblets, and took out a bottle of flaming whiskey with a potent tonic from his pocket. As he poured the whiskey, he said, "I came to Hogsmeade today looking for some fun, and just happened to stumble upon you, brother, entering the city with such pomp."

"If I had known earlier that the Ministry of Magic was sending my brother to guard this place, I should have prepared a feast to welcome him back and celebrate his arrival with great joy!"

Hearing this, Scrimgeour felt a warmth in his heart. After hesitating for a moment, he finally took the glass and drank it all. He then shook his head and smiled bitterly, "What's there to celebrate? If Fudge hadn't removed me from my position as head of the Auror office, I wouldn't have come to Hogsmeade to be a sheriff."

"In fact, if he hadn't had a good reason to demote me, I would say he would have preferred me to be an ordinary Auror."

After hearing this, Harry poured him another full glass and said with a smile, "Brother, you're so lucky. That office manager position is just a nominal one; it's gone once it's gone."

"You should know that the emperor is far away and the sky is high. Now that you have the seal of the Hogsmeade Sheriff, the entire territory is under your control. It is no exaggeration to say that you are a regional lord."

Skringer felt a little relieved by his words. But when his thoughts turned to the group of goblins, his expression darkened again.

He gulped down a glass, feeling the effects of the alcohol, and said self-deprecatingly, "What's the use? I'm just a general without an army."

"Fudge believed in my abilities, so he sent me to Hogsmeade to keep you in check. But he didn't trust me either, fearing that I would lead the Aurors in a rebellion, so he specially hired goblins at a high price."

"If it weren't for the strong insistence of the sages of Wizengamo, he wouldn't have even bothered to assign me any wizards."

"Think about it, Harry, sending goblins fully armed back to the place where they rebelled three hundred years ago—he really wants the wizarding world to be even more chaotic!"

Harry listened thoughtfully. Then he tapped his wand again, conjuring a large wine glass, poured in about half a bottle, and pushed it in front of him, saying, "Brother, you're in for a treat. Those goblins are, after all, foreign beings; they can't win people's hearts. Besides, they can't use wands; they probably can't even use 30% of their full power."

"As the saying goes, 'Time will tell.' Brother, just hold onto this sheriff's position for a year or two, and once you've won the hearts of the people, who in Hogsmeade won't follow your lead? Why worry about not finding trusted lieutenants?"

These words only intensified Scrimgeour's resentment. He picked up the large bowl of wine, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp. His eyes were burning with rage, and he sneered, "Fudge had already thought of this, which is why he sent Weasley and Sinkness to keep an eye on me."

The reader should know the truth: Percy, in order to pledge allegiance to Fudge, severed ties with his entire Weasley family, a truly righteous act of sacrificing family for the greater good. How could Fudge not trust him as a confidant?

Then there's Sinkenis, who was originally the head of the Department of Law Enforcement and was always loyal to the Ministry of Magic.

Seeing that everyone in Wizengamot was determined to keep Fudge's position, he stepped forward and asked Hogsmeade to act as his informant, ostensibly to assist him, but secretly to keep Scrimgeour in check.

Harry listened to Scrimgeour's drunken ramblings, and his mind became crystal clear. He simply shoved a whole bottle of Flaming Whisky into his hand, comforting him, "In that case, it's your good fortune, brother. Those two good-for-nothings Fudge sent to keep watch are nothing but idiots. And that Weasley brat, he's barely out of school, how many years has he been out? I see him as nothing more than a chicken or a dog."

"That old clerk Sinknis, over fifty years old, has only gotten to his current position by accumulating years of service. In my opinion, he's nothing more than a scoundrel who sells his head for a living."

These words struck a chord with Scrinker, soothing every pore on his body.

He grabbed the bottle and took a big gulp, his eyes glazed over with drunkenness, and said, "If only you were in the Ministry of Magic, Harry, you, you would definitely be the best minister in history."

Seeing him so drunk yet still so preoccupied with the Ministry of Magic, Harry thought to himself: This is really bad. My brother Scrimgeour is so blindly loyal; even in this state, he still doesn't have any thoughts of rebellion. I have to push him a little harder.

He then drank several large cups of wine with him and inquired in detail about the deployment of troops and sentry arrangements at Hogsmeade.

He then silently recited a sleep spell, and Scrimgeour fell into a deep sleep.

Seeing that he was already snoring, Harry turned around, slipped out of the room silently, and crept straight towards Percy's office.

Percy's office and Scrinker's office were on the same floor, only twenty or thirty steps apart.

Harry used his mirage to transform into an ordinary Auror, strode to the door, knocked, and heard a voice inside call out, "Come in."

Harry pushed open the door and entered, letting out a sigh of relief. Percy, who had been sitting upright like a statue, looked up and jumped up as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight.

"Harry Potter! Who gave you permission to come to my office?!"

He quickly lowered his voice and said urgently, "You should submit an application and schedule an appointment first!"

Harry ignored him completely, pulled up a chair and sat down, saying, "Brother, you're such a heartless person. Back in school, I always helped you out; I never skimped on money."

Seeing you now is like climbing to the heavens.

Percy was easily embarrassed. After hearing this, he hesitated for a moment, then finally sat back down in his chair and said in a low voice, "What is it?"

Harry said, "You haven't been home for a long time, and the Chief and his wife miss you every day."

Percy straightened his neck and said firmly, "As long as they haven't severed ties with the Order of the Phoenix, I won't go back."

Harry glared at him. "So you're saying you're determined to be Fudge's lackey!"

Percy didn't flinch, looking directly at him with his head held high. "No! I believe only the Ministry of Magic can defeat the Mystic!"

"Harry, you have no idea how immense the power of Wizengamor is—"

Before he could finish speaking, Harry slammed his fist on the table, making a loud thud, and abruptly stood up, shouting, "According to your logic, you're standing on the righteous path!"

Percy paused for a moment, then nodded. "That's right."

Harry burst out laughing. "Ha! That's hilarious! You claim it's for the good of the world, yet you just stand by and watch those goblins set up camp in Hogsmeade?"

"You've earned twelve certificates in 0.W.Ls, don't you know that these bastards' desire for restoration has never truly died? Don't you know that they raised the banner of rebellion here three hundred years ago? Don't you know that Fudge sent the goblin here simply because he's too narrow-minded and doesn't trust Scrimgeour?"

These words struck Percy like a barrage of arrows, each one piercing his heart, leaving him speechless for a long time. He could only mutter, "But the wise men have been defending Fudge, which means he is the most suitable candidate for the ministerial position at this stage—"

His voice grew weaker and weaker as he spoke, and finally he abruptly changed the subject, raising his voice to say, "Alright, I'm not in the mood to discuss this with you."

"If you're just here to relay a message from my parents, then please leave. I'm determined to stand with the Ministry of Magic to the very end!"

Harry shook his head. "No, no. I've come here to offer my brother a brilliant plan to capture Scrimgeour."

The teachings are as follows: Aurora goblins march in formation, their banners obscuring the sky in disarray; loyal and treacherous, wise and foolish, their schemes hidden, a turbulent undercurrent surging within. Behold Rufus, outwardly seated in the central command tent, yet secretly like a tiger in a cage; and behold Weasley, outwardly displaying an iron face, yet inwardly under constant surveillance.

Harry's three words stirred the hearts of the loyal and virtuous, and his two sentences exposed the hypocrisy. To find out what happens next, stay tuned for the next installment.