Harry Potter and the Great Old Ones

Chapter 499 Reform
Just as Tyrell had predicted, Voldemort took Dolores Umbridge with him when he escaped from prison.

Or to be more precise, just as Voldemort miraculously recovered from his injuries and was preparing to escape, Dolores Umbridge, who was "coincidentally" imprisoned next door, relentlessly begged Voldemort to take her away, crying and pleading with him.

Of course, Voldemort initially didn't want to pay any attention to this ugly toad. If he hadn't been in a hurry and didn't want to waste his magic, Voldemort would have given Umbridge an Avada Kedavra curse the moment she opened her mouth.

However, what happened next changed Voldemort's decision—

"I know about the rites of becoming a god!" Umbridge grabbed Voldemort's skirt as if it were her last lifeline and roared fiercely.

It was Umbridge's roar that startled Voldemort.

"I know about the ascension ritual!" Umbridge repeated emphatically, as if seeing a glimmer of hope. "I know how Tiera's ascension ritual was performed, and I know where he hid the secret of the ascension ritual!"

Hearing Umbridge say this, Voldemort narrowed his eyes, staring intently at Umbridge—

But Voldemort saw nothing, and for some reason, his Legilimency attempt failed.

"Go!" After several more attempts at Legilimency failed, Voldemort lost patience and stopped trying. Instead, he grabbed Umbridge and immediately turned into a cloud of black mist, flying out of Azkaban.

After Voldemort flew back to the Death Eaters' secret hideout with Umbridge, Tyella removed the mental barrier she had erected for Umbridge, allowing Voldemort's Legilimency to freely scan Umbridge's thoughts.

Lunalovgood seemed dissatisfied with Connelly Fudge's answer and raised her hand again, as if she wanted to ask something else.

“Alright, now that everyone has finished asking questions,” Cornelius Fudge quickly put on his usual enthusiastic smile and said, “we…we shall move on to the next topic. As I just announced, the Ministry of Magic will soon be undergoing two major reforms. The first is the Hogwarts Educational Reform Act, which I just announced, and the second—”

“And that is the ‘Internal Rectification Act of the British Ministry of Magic,’ which I also signed yesterday.” Cornelius Fudge swallowed, wiped the sweat from his trembling hands, and then stood there quietly waiting for the reporters’ questions.

“Excuse me, Minister!” A middle-aged wizard wearing glasses was the first to raise his hand. “Janick McAllister, sir, reporter for the Daily Prophet.”

“Excuse me, Mr. McCullis.” Connelly Fudge swallowed nervously and excitedly, then reached out and tugged at his collar.

"What are the main points of this bill?" Janick McAllister asked. "Could you please elaborate briefly?"

“It mainly points to three aspects,” Cornelius Fudge said, forcing himself to speak. “Firstly—”

"The trial format of the Wizengamor Court of Magic has been changed. The Wizengamor Court will establish an investigative body. In cases involving threats to the Ministry of Magic or serious criminal matters, the Public Prosecutor's Office will bring charges, and the Auror Department will provide evidence. The number of court members will also increase to four: a presiding judge, a judge, a juror, and a clerk responsible for taking notes. Furthermore, the defendant, or the person being tried, can also hire a lawyer or a defense attorney."

"The specific entries will be copied into a booklet and distributed to each registered wizard after the meeting."

After Cornell Fudge finished speaking, some people in the audience began to whisper among themselves.

“The second matter concerns the establishment of a new special department within the Ministry of Magic,” Cornelius Fudge said. “Given the current dire situation… and… and the extent to which that Dark Lord’s Death Eater group has infiltrated the Ministry of Magic, in order to ensure the absolute safety and stability of the Ministry, I hereby announce the establishment of the Department of Magical Politics.” “The Minister of the Department of Magical Politics will be Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a member of the International Confederation of Wizards, and First Wizard of Wizengamor,” Cornelius Fudge continued. “Subsequent members will be personally selected by Mr. Dumbledore.”

"In order to raise the ideological level of wizards who are committed to justice, to further unite the Ministry of Magic's forces, and to eliminate or even correct potential Death Eater bad elements within the Ministry of Magic, members of the Department of Magical Politics will regularly conduct ideological education and assessments for all Ministry of Magic officials and staff," Cornelius Fudge continued to explain. "Please pay attention to subsequent announcements for specific assessment times and formats."

After Connelly Fudge finished his explanation, the discussion in the audience not only did not stop, but became even more heated, as if a pot had exploded.

Only Lunalovgood, sitting in the front row, tilted her head, quietly, suspiciously, and thoughtfully observing Tiera.

Tierra seemed to notice Luna's gaze and smiled and nodded at her.

"Quiet! Quiet! Quiet!" Cornelius Fudge said, both nervous and excited. "The third item concerns the change in the Minister of Magic's duties—"

Although I was forced to sign that demonic contract, I have to say—

Tierra did indeed make his power more purely equitable.

If this "Internal Purification Act of the British Ministry of Magic" can be fully implemented, the power I can rise to will be unprecedented.

"The third item concerns the organizational structure of the Ministry of Magic and the change of the position of Minister of Magic," Cornelius Fudge said after taking a deep breath. "The British Ministry of Magic will be officially changed to the British Magical Union."

"The former Minister of Magic will also be replaced by the General Secretary of the British Magical Union," Cornelius Fudge said in a trembling voice of excitement. "At the same time, the General Secretary of the Magical Party will also serve as the Minister of the Auror Command. All Aurors will be directly under the command of the General Secretary of the Magical Union, and will also serve as the Chief Justice of the Wizengamor Court, possessing the highest decision-making power of the Wizengamor Court and the sole right to interpret the laws of the former Ministry of Magic."

As soon as Connelly Fudge's excited, trembling voice ended, a volcanic eruption of protests and discussions erupted from the audience.

Although the wizarding world did not receive the systematic education of Muggles, they understood what Cornelius Fudge's reforms meant.

……

"Are you sure you want to seize power this way?" Dumbledore asked the crystal ball, who was monitoring the Ministry of Magic's press conference. "Have you considered how much resistance you'll encounter along the way?"

“It’s Cornelius Fudge who’s encountering resistance, not me.” The image of Tiera in the crystal ball looked up and said to Dumbledore, “Once you take power, it’s not so easy to put it down.”

“The Ministry of Magic’s Internal Purification Act was signed by the Minister of Magic and passed to a vote by the Wizengamot Court, meaning it is a law with legal authority,” Tierra said with a smile. “Everyone wants absolute power, but no one has the courage to take the first step.”

"What they oppose is not absolute power, but that the person who holds that absolute power is not themselves."

“I don’t need Cornelius Fudge to keep this absolute power. I just need this absolute power, and the wizarding world that is gradually united under the pressure of absolute power and external threats.”

(End of this chapter)