Pandemonium.
That was the best word that could be used to describe the Wizengamot, the legislative and highest judicial body of Magical Britain and Ireland. Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge was shrinking in his seat as the shouting got louder. It wasn't his fault! He had just followed the advice of his Senior Undersecretary Dolores Umbridge, but no one cared about that! No, all of them were talking about him.
"Those bloody soul-sucking leeches should never have been placed at Hogwarts in the first place!" screeched Lady Acton furiously.
"Now, now, I'm sure Minister Fudge was just doing what he thought was best to protect our children," said Lord Lucius Malfoy smoothly. "The decision was taken bearing in mind the danger posed to the common folk after the mass breakout from Azkaban."
"Dumbledore told him that the Dementors were not trustworthy," snapped Samantha Hudson, an elected representative. "They should be confined at Azkaban where they belong! Our children could have been kissed! I'm surprised you are so calm about this, Lucius. Wasn't your own son admitted to the hospital wing after the attack?"
"While that is true, I see no reason to blame our esteemed Minister for it," said Lucius. "The breakout was hardly his fault. If the D.M.L.E. had done their job properly, we wouldn't be in this position."
"Normally I would claim responsibility for any mistakes made on my part and my department, Lord Malfoy," said Lady Amelia Black, her voice booming. "But this time, my department cannot be blamed. I have repeatedly asked for an increase in the money allocated to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, but the Budget Committee keeps diverting money to other departments which don't require those additional funds. Many people over the centuries have shared their distrust of Dementors and yet no one listens! If more Aurors and wardens could be placed at the prison instead of relying on the Dementors to do all our work, then such a problem could be avoided in the future. Think about it for a minute. Five wardens were killed during the escape. There are thousands of Dementors at Azkaban. How can ten high-security prisoners leave the island unless they had help?"
"What are you saying, Lady Black?" asked Mr Doge.
"I'm saying we should look at other options and stop relying on Dementors because they aren't trustworthy. Start streamlining the budget for one and give it to important departments. My department is the one which maintains law and order in the country, for Merlin's sake! If we don't have funds, who is to take care of the people?"
"Are you saying that your department alone is important?" shouted the Head of the Department of Magical Transportation, Corban Yaxley.
"Members of the Wizengamot," said Sirius, standing up. "There are ten high-security prisoners on the loose; all of them inner circle Death Eaters. This situation would never have existed if we had actually taken action twelve years ago. Each one of them has committed mass murder. Those people should never have been sent to Azkaban in the first place. They should have been executed!"
"Is that so, Lord Black?" asked Dumbledore sharply. "If that had been done twelve years ago, then you would not be alive as of this moment."
"Yes, thank you so much for reminding me of my ten years of illegal incarceration in that hellhole, Chief Warlock," said Sirius sarcastically. "If the people responsible for granting me a trial had done their job, I wouldn't have lost ten years of my life and my godson wouldn't have had to grow up in an abusive household. Thank you very much!"
"Execution is not something we consider good for the society," said Lord Nott. "It is better if they are imprisoned."
"If we can find them," Amelia added bitterly.
"Really?" asked Sirius sarcastically. "You think pushing such people through the Veil of Death is more inhumane than making them stay in Azkaban for life? I would love to speak more about this but that's not the point of this meeting. We're not here to talk about the living conditions in Azkaban but about the safety of the people of Magical Britain. All of you please realise that at times like this, we must act! If we sit here talking about budget cuts and the past, it won't solve anything."
"We are currently a laughing stock in the international community! We have to catch the escaped Death Eaters before the Quidditch World Cup this summer. Millions of Galleons of taxpayers' money have been invested in it and what now? Can we let it all vanish because we are not willing to fund the most important department in the Ministry at a time of need? How do you expect Hogwarts to host the Triwizard Tournament if the visiting schools don't feel safe?"
"What do you suggest, Lord Black?" asked Dumbledore.
Sirius took a deep breath. "Magical means of transport have been cut off," he explained. "The sensor net has been strengthened to the maximum level possible around the borders. If magical means of escape is not possible, then the only other alternative is leaving the country through mundane modes of transport that cannot be tracked. Tell the Muggle Prime Minister to use the army he has at his disposal and monitor every method one could possibly use to leave Britain. We can focus our efforts on chasing them inland. If they reach the continent, they will not be under our control! It is still not too late. We need to act!"
"You can't be serious!" scoffed Lady Rosier. "You expect those Muggles to actually find the escaped convicts?"
"Maybe not, but it will give us an edge," snapped Amelia. "Our Aurors are spread thin as it is and we don't have the personnel to carry out the large-scale search which Lord Black is suggesting. Time is of the essence! The quickest available option is for us is to use the superior numbers of the Muggles. It may not work, but why leave it to chance? Even if we capture a single Death Eater, it brings us that much closer to finding the rest!"
Lucius Malfoy pursed his lips in frustration. Sirius and Amelia were getting more powerful in the political sphere by the day. He had tried to contact the escaped Death Eaters, but they obviously didn't trust any of those who had evaded Azkaban. Lucius had no option but to wait and hope for the best. He didn't know what Bellatrix and the rest were attempting. The Dark Lord was dead. What could they hope to achieve?
"I feel that this current administration does not have the capacity to lead us in these dire times," said Lord Cyrus Greengrass calmly.
Fudge whimpered.
"I suggest that new leadership is needed. I hereby call for a vote of no confidence in Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge."
"Seconded," said Sirius.
....
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