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"Albus, you've been hard to find."
Cornelius Fudge, his small frame slightly bent and pinstriped suit disheveled, was breathing heavily with an anxious expression.
"Even owls couldn't find you - all the letters were returned—"
He complained while taking a seat beside Dumbledore.
"I wasn't at the school - what's happened, Cornelius?"
Dumbledore frowned, a sense of foreboding rising.
His instincts told him his plans were about to be disrupted again.
"The trial for Gilderoy Lockhart has been moved up to tomorrow. I'm here to notify you to attend."
Jane was startled by this news.
The former Defense Against Dark Arts professor and fraud was heading to Azkaban?
She only knew that after waking in the hospital wing last term, she'd heard nothing more about Lockhart, and Defense classes had been cancelled.
Months later, how had the fraud ended up like this?
She shook her head in disbelief.
"Why the sudden change in trial date?" Dumbledore asked puzzled. "Did something happen?"
Fudge wrung his hands, giving an awkward smile:
"Well, you know, it's peacetime - the Daily Prophet hasn't had anything newsworthy in ages. And I can't inspect Azkaban until next month. I need to show some results this month so they have something to report."
So they were using Lockhart to boost performance metrics.
Though it made sense - trying such a wizarding "celebrity" would certainly garner attention for Fudge.
On modern social media, this would trend for days.
"I must say, Cornelius, you've disrupted my plans," Dumbledore's expression darkened. "We were meant to visit France - now I'll have to write and apologize for my unreliability."
Fudge removed his bowler hat, scratching his graying curls with frustration:
"Honestly, you know I had no choice." He turned to Jane as if just noticing her, "I personally handled her paperwork, you see, so this favor..."
Dumbledore sighed, indicating he would attend punctually.
Relieved, Fudge replaced his bowler and hurriedly disappeared through the door.
"What happened with Lockhart?" Jane asked curiously.
"It relates to last term's events," Dumbledore replied. "As you know, Voldemort used his wand for the Killing Curse in the Chamber. The Ministry searched his office while he was unconscious."
"Though they confirmed he didn't cast that spell, they found a small notebook in his office documenting his illegal use of Memory Charms to steal others' memories for his books."
Jane immediately recalled the notebook she'd found in Lockhart's overturned drawer, and how he'd tried to erase her memory in the corridor.
Anger rose within her, making her wish she could hit him with a few more Stunning Spells.
"He tried to use a Memory Charm on me too," she said angrily. "Because I discovered his secret."
Dumbledore froze, mumbling almost inaudibly:
"Oh... I see... so that means Voldemort only controlled you after seeing Harry..."
After a while, he spoke sadly and guiltily:
"Such spells vary in effect based on the caster's power. Strong charms can damage the brain - some victims require lifelong memory treatment at St. Mungo's."
"Lockhart's abuse of powerful Memory Charms made wizards forget many things - some forgot parents and children, others their identities... causing permanent damage to their memories, minds, and families."
"Thank goodness you protected yourself... Sometimes I wish you'd seek more help from professors..."
A guilt-ridden Dumbledore ordered her another half-hour's worth of ice cream, instructing her to stay at the Leaky Cauldron that evening - doing holiday homework.
But to Jane's surprise, the next morning just as she'd written the first word on her parchment, Dumbledore appeared before her again.
His expression was composed but serious, wearing formal black-blue robes - clearly just returned from the Ministry:
"I need to take you to the Ministry, Jane," he helped her up. "As a witness."
They arrived at a dilapidated red telephone box. Dumbledore picked up the crooked receiver and began dialing:
"Though I usually Apparate here, for your first visit we should take the proper entrance."
He dialed the number, and a cool female voice filled the box:
"Welcome to the Ministry of Magic. Please state your name and business."
Dumbledore spoke into the mouthpiece:
"Albus Dumbledore accompanying Jane Yu, witness for Courtroom One."
Hearing Dumbledore's name, the coolness notably vanished from the voice:
"I'm making you a badge. Please attach it to your clothes. Have a pleasant day."
Jane retrieved the silver badge from the coin return chute and pinned it to her chest. It read: Jane Yu, Witness.
The telephone box shuddered and descended underground to a hall.
Jane looked up to examine the magnificent atrium with its polished dark wood floor, peacock-blue ceiling embedded with shifting golden symbols, walls lined with gilded fireplaces for travel, and a fountain with statues in the center.
Dumbledore led her through the atrium, past security, and into a lift with other wizards.
They greeted Dumbledore, pressing together to make space while curiously examining Jane.
They exited at Level Nine, entering a bare corridor ending in a plain black door.
Dumbledore suddenly stopped before the black door, explaining:
"This is the Department of Mysteries... studying phenomena still not understood by wizardkind."
"The Unspeakables who work here study prophecies through prophecy orbs, time through Time-Turners, thoughts through brains, death through the veil... and one room studies love."
He stared at the black door for a moment before leading Jane down the steps to the left.
But before they reached the bottom, they encountered a sweating Fudge again.