Fudge didn’t keep Eric waiting for long.
Less than ten minutes after Eric returned to his room, there came a knock at the door.
Eric opened it.
Tom stood at the front, and sure enough, Fudge was right behind him.
The Minister’s expression hadn’t improved in the slightest.
At the moment, there was none of the affable manner one might expect from the Minister for Magic.
Instead, he looked more like an ordinary middle-aged wizard whose dirty laundry had just been dragged into the open.
“Leave us to talk alone, Tom,” Fudge said coldly.
Tom glanced at Eric, silently stepped aside from the doorway, then turned and left.
Once the door closed again, Fudge didn’t bother with the pleasantries he’d used during their first meeting.
Maintaining an air of superiority, he walked straight over to the table and sat down.
He picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup of tea, then gestured for Eric to sit opposite him.
He deliberately performed every movement with exaggerated slowness.
Throughout the entire process, neither Eric nor Fudge spoke.
The room was so quiet that a dropped pin would have sounded deafening.
Eric merely stood there smiling at Fudge, making no attempt to interfere.
It was as though he couldn’t care less that Fudge was trying to seize control of the conversation.
After waiting several seconds and seeing that Eric had no intention of moving, Fudge gave a cold laugh and finally spoke.
“Your name really is Eric, isn’t it?
Tom told me your surname is Clapton.” “Forgive me for saying so, but I don’t recall any wizarding family by that name.
And I certainly don’t believe that some completely obscure magical family could have raised someone like you.” “Would you care to tell me which family you actually come from?” Eric remained silent.
“…You don’t want to talk?” “That’s quite all right, Eric.
We have plenty of time.” “I’ve met many people who wanted to strike up a connection with Harry Potter.
You included, apparently.” “I don’t know what you’re trying to accomplish, or who put you up to it, but that’s all right.
We’ll discover the reason eventually…” Perhaps Eric’s complete indifference irritated him, because Fudge actually began talking at considerable length.
All the while, his eyes never left Eric.
After rambling on for some time, perhaps finally growing tired of hearing himself speak, Fudge stopped.
Silence returned to the room.
Almost the instant he fell quiet, Eric calmly dropped a sentence that shattered the atmosphere completely.
“I know where Sirius Black is.” “What?!” Fudge froze for a moment.
Then he shot to his feet so violently that his short, stout body swayed twice.
The chair behind him toppled over, while the teacup on the table crashed to the floor and shattered with a sharp crack.
Eric’s voice remained as gentle and composed as ever, carrying its usual warmth without the slightest trace of aggression.
But what he’d said was completely beyond anything Fudge had expected.
Hearing the commotion inside, the two Aurors stationed outside immediately knocked on the door.
“Minister?!” “What happened?” Fudge hurriedly forced his expression back under control and shouted towards the door.
“Nothing!
Stay outside!” He could hear the slight tremor in his own voice.
In an instant, all the authority he’d worked so hard to establish had been ruined.
But Eric’s words had simply been too shocking.
Fudge could scarcely believe his ears.
Whether Eric was telling the truth or not, the conversation had gone in a direction Fudge had never imagined.
The entire Ministry had been tearing its hair out trying to find Sirius Black.
Yet somehow, Eric claimed to know where he was.
How could Fudge possibly remain calm?
An eleven year old boy knew Black’s whereabouts?
If Eric hadn’t still been standing motionless in front of him, Fudge might already have called the two Aurors inside and ordered them to restrain him immediately.
Outside, the two Aurors exchanged glances.
Neither dared say anything more.
They could only continue guarding the door.
Fortunately, aside from Eric, there were no other guests staying upstairs at the Leaky Cauldron.
Otherwise, the disturbance just now would probably have sparked yet another major news story.
“What do you mean?” Fudge demanded suspiciously.
“Explain yourself.” Eric smiled.
“Was I not clear enough, Minister?
I said I know where Black is.” Fudge shuddered again and almost immediately snapped, “Impossible!” “Black disappeared, and dozens of Aurors, Ministry trackers, and—” “Indeed,” Eric said, calmly agreeing with him.
“So many Aurors, skilled tracking wizards, Dementors…” “Not one of them has managed to find Black.” “So why am I able to know where he is?” “There is only one reason, Minister.” Eric smiled.
“You haven’t been thinking.” “Or perhaps you’re simply incapable of thinking properly.” Only after saying that did Eric finally stroll over and take a seat.
Then he reached out and drew his wand.
The instant Fudge saw the wand, he flinched and nearly reached for his own by reflex.
A moment later, however, he realised that Eric wasn’t pointing it at him.
Eric merely gave the wand a light flick and murmured an incantation.
The table Fudge had knocked askew floated gently into the air before settling back into its original position, perfectly aligned.
“For someone your age, that’s an excellent Levitation Charm,” Fudge admitted quietly despite himself.
Eric’s casting speed and execution had both been remarkably precise.
Eric himself was quite satisfied as well.
For a Levitation Charm at Basic Spell Proficiency, the result was more than enough to please him.
At least the past few days of diligent practice hadn’t gone to waste.
Having given Fudge that small demonstration, Eric didn’t cast anything else.
Instead, he extended a hand and politely invited the Minister to sit down again.
“Minister, there’s no need for all that pointless probing between us.” Looking at the complicated expression on Fudge’s face, Eric spoke softly.
“Because you don’t understand me.” “But I understand you very well.” “I know what you want.” “So I’d like to make a deal with you.” Eric’s expression remained calm.
“You didn’t mishear me.” “I really do know where Sirius Black is.” “And I’m willing to tell you.” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS Hidden_Quill Thank you so much for reading!