Harry Potter and the Candy Factory

Located on the first basement level, the highest office in the entire Ministry of Magic belonged to Fudge, the Minister's office.

Inside the Minister's office, Fudge's round face appeared particularly flushed.

He sat behind his desk, his eyes narrowed, stroking his mustache above his lip while humming some unknown, peculiar tune… not at all concealing his current joy.

Soon… a series of knocks, “咚咚咚,” sounded from outside the door. Simultaneously, Umbridge's voice came from beyond the door.

“Minister, Mr. Black has arrived!”

Fudge instinctively straightened his back, then reached out to adjust his striped suit and tie. Following that, he checked his appearance in a small mirror on the desk.

After confirming everything was in order, he casually picked up a document of unknown content from his desk, pretended to be working, sat upright in his seat, and said in a loud voice,

“Come in!”

As Fudge's voice faded, the door to the Minister's office slowly opened with a “creak.”

“Charlie!”

When the door was fully opened and Charlie walked in, Fudge opportunely put down the document he was holding. The expression on his face was full of surprise and delight, leaving no room for anything else.

He called out Charlie's name affectionately, standing up from his seat and walking out from behind his desk to greet him.

Umbridge followed Charlie closely, bowing slightly, yet seemingly deliberately, positioning herself one step ahead of Russell.

Seeing Minister Fudge actually rise to greet him, her gaze towards Charlie became even more fawning and humble…

“Hello, Minister Fudge!”

Charlie's smile was bright and genuine, the kind that wouldn't offend anyone.

Facing the rising Fudge, he also gave the other party face by walking forward two steps, extending both hands, and shaking the other's hand tightly.

Honestly… if one didn't know anything, anyone would think these two were long-time, intimate friends.

“I heard the Minister was originally in a meeting, but upon hearing I was coming, you hurriedly canceled the meeting to see me?”

Charlie looked at Fudge and asked with a smile.

“Hahaha… a small matter, just a small matter.” Fudge laughed heartily, waving his hand as if not caring at all.

Suddenly, Fudge's gaze shifted from Charlie to Umbridge.

“Undersecretary Umbridge—”

“Minister, what are your instructions!” Seeing that Fudge had finally noticed her, Umbridge's flattery remained unchanged, suppressing her sharp voice, she asked with a smile.

Fudge was probably used to Umbridge's posture, not at all like when Charlie and Russell had just entered, he simply nodded casually, then glanced at Russell at the back and said,

“I have important matters to discuss with Mr. Charlie in a moment. Please take this… … ” Fudge paused for a moment, seemingly considering how to address Russell, and only continued after a second or two,

“Take this Mr. Black's house-elf friend out for a cup of tea, find a place to rest for a while.”

“Okay… Okay, Minister Fudge.”

Umbridge's expression changed slightly, the smile on her face also weakened slightly, but she still nodded, agreeing somewhat reluctantly.

She turned her head, and only at this moment did she finally look at Russell directly, but the tone was still noticeably colder than when speaking with Charlie and Fudge.

“Please… this way, house-elf friend.”

… … … … … … … … … … … …

“Come! Mr. Black, please sit here!”

After Umbridge led Russell out of the office, and the originally open office door closed again, the smile on Fudge's face could no longer be suppressed.

His eyes narrowed as he spoke, pulling Charlie by the hand and leading him to the sofa to sit down.

After Charlie sat down, Fudge followed closely, sitting next to him.

“The Third Class Order of Merlin has passed through layers of approval and a conferment ceremony can be held for you soon… As for that… sugar? that you mentioned at Lucius's house and to me?” Fudge paused, swallowing, and continued,

“I'm actually available at any time.”

Seeing Charlie settled, Fudge turned sideways, looking at him while rubbing his hands involuntarily, his tone much more amiable than before.

If Umbridge were still in the office at this moment, her worldview would probably be completely reshaped… She would never have imagined that the pinnacle of power she yearned for would also be unable to resist the allure of money.

“Those are not urgent… Minister Fudge.”

Charlie smiled and waved his hand, acting as if he had seen through everything, and said.

“Uh… Ah?”

Clearly, Fudge had not expected Charlie's words. His eyes, which had been narrowed into a line, opened slightly, and he looked at Charlie in confusion.

He had originally thought that Charlie was impatient, so he had made a special visit in person. That was why he had brought up both matters so early, to satisfy the other party.

However, the other party's words, “Those are small matters,” caught him off guard.

His brows furrowed slowly, and for some reason, a sense of unease welled up in his heart.

“Then… Mr. Charlie, what is this for?”

“Those are secondary things. Actually, my intention is to thank the Ministry of Magic for its contributions to the British wizarding world over the years.”

This time, it was Charlie's turn to narrow his eyes. He smiled, speaking unhurriedly, looking like a fox.

Although Fudge was put in this position by Dumbledore, he was not a waste! Especially after steadily holding the position of Minister for Magic for so many years, he was already a qualified veteran in the officialdom!

Naturally, he couldn't believe Charlie's nonsense. What contribution to the British wizarding world? Don't even mention him, you could randomly grab someone from below, and they wouldn't believe it!

Hearing these words, Fudge's brows furrowed even more, and the sense of unease in his heart became even stronger.

Just as he opened his mouth, intending to say something to Charlie, Charlie spoke first.

Charlie waved his hand, stopping Fudge, who was about to speak, then stood up from his seat, turned around, and faced Fudge, saying,

“Or… Minister, how about you take a look at the money first.”

As his voice fell, Charlie slowly raised his hand, slowly opening his palm.

Between Fudge and him, the dim red gemstone ring suddenly lit up.

“Ding…”

A crisp sound rang out… a Galleon appeared out of thin air, falling to the ground, making a pleasant sound.

“Ding…”

Then, the second, the third… the fourth…

The original crisp sound gradually became chaotic, more and more Galleons poured out of Charlie's palm, then crashed onto the ground.

Like a rainstorm, violently hitting the office floor.

Fudge's originally furrowed brows began to relax uncontrollably, his mouth open, unable to say anything, all stuck in his throat.

Looking up, he looked at the young man facing him, smiling and scattering a large amount of Galleons wantonly… his pupils dilated, magnified and contracted.

Finally, he calmed down, and that gaze was clearly like looking at a deity.