Chapter 460: The Ministry Has Already Decided (Edited)

"Oh?" Umbridge raised her head from her desk, as if she were busy with official matters. In reality, these days she hadn't received any serious tasks, even Hogwarts students were busier than her.

As a Senior Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic, having so much free time was an extremely dangerous sign. But Umbridge couldn't do anything about it; after all, what could she expect being one of Fudge's people? Although she really wanted to shed that label, the truth was that others had labeled her, and it wasn't up to her to remove it.

The Minister's summons today didn't seem good. Umbridge sighed in her mind. But at the same time, it was an opportunity too. Umbridge got up and bolstered herself.

Her face once again showed a falsely sweet and syrupy smile. "Alright, I'll go immediately," she said.

She left her desk, moving her small, short legs, and entered the Minister's office.

"Please, have a seat." Seeing Umbridge with a submissive expression on her face, Amelia kindly invited her to sit down.

"How has your work been lately? Would you like some tea?" After exchanging a few words of courtesy, Amelia got straight to the point.

"Recently, the Ministry has a very important task that requires a reliable high-ranking officer to handle it. Would you be willing to take on that responsibility?"

Umbridge understood that although the Minister was phrasing it as a question, it was actually a statement, and she had no room to refuse.

"Of course, as a Senior Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic, it's my duty to care for the Ministry," Umbridge accepted the job with apparent satisfaction.

"Excellent." Amelia took a freshly inked appointment from her desk and handed it to Umbridge. "Azkaban is a strategic place in the wizarding world, but for a long time, the Ministry hasn't established an effective connection with Azkaban, and I consider that a serious mistake..."

After speaking in official jargon for several minutes, Amelia finally got to the crucial point. "So, Dolores Umbridge, the Ministry has decided: you will be sent as the special envoy of the Ministry of Magic to Azkaban!"

Umbridge's face suddenly turned pale. How could she not realize the trap in this job? It was Azkaban! It was like being told you'd be sent to Antarctica in the non-magical world, and Azkaban's environment was even more ruthless. In Antarctica, you only needed to stay warm, but was warmth enough to survive in Azkaban?

Umbridge alternated between paleness and redness in her face, as if suffering from malaria. After a few seconds of difficult decision, she took a deep breath and said, "Alright, when should I depart?"

Amelia was a bit surprised. She expected Umbridge to find a way to refuse, but she didn't expect her to accept so easily.

Umbridge's reason for not refusing was simple: if she refused at this critical moment, Amelia would have an excuse to replace her. All her effort over the past years would go to waste. But if she took on this responsibility, she would have a chance. Spend some time in Azkaban, wait for Amelia to leave office, and then, with her experience in Azkaban, she could rise even higher in the hierarchy, to the point where she could lead a department. If the new Minister and Amelia didn't get along, her future would be even brighter.

As for being sent as a special envoy to Azkaban, it sounded terrifying, but in reality, it wouldn't be so bad. After all, Umbridge would represent the Ministry of Magic, and Dementors always showed some respect to the Ministry.

Amelia had a general idea of Umbridge's internal thoughts, but she didn't care.

"As soon as possible. Once the Ministry's formalities are completed, you will assume the position," she said casually as she sipped her potion from her desk.

Umbridge left Amelia's office with a pale expression. She quickly returned to her own office and sent letter after letter.

Now she was backed into a corner and could only use all her strength and connections. In her mind, she organized the things she needed to do and realized that the first was to find out exactly what was happening in Azkaban. Although Amelia's speech was mostly empty words, it revealed key information: someone had emerged in Azkaban as an "influential figure" and had united the Dementors.

Umbridge was excited internally. This could be her opportunity.

She wouldn't be sleeping tonight.

...

There are many things you don't care about or have no personal experience with, so you don't realize them. For example, the annual job consultations or the graduate job fairs each year. Students who are not in fifth or seventh grade hardly notice that these things are happening.

Even though there are posters and brochures everywhere, even though there's plenty of information in public lounges, most young wizards completely ignore them.

And it makes sense because it doesn't really concern them much.

Employment? That's something you only start thinking about in fifth grade. Graduate job fairs are even further on the horizon. Why worry so far in advance?

What is the growth process of a wizard?

First, at the age of eleven, they receive their acceptance letter to Hogwarts, then they go to school and get sorted into their preferred house. From the third grade, they start taking elective classes, and in the fifth grade, there's a job consultation before the O.W.L. exams, where students learn about different jobs in the wizarding world and have deeper discussions with their head of house to decide what kind of work they want to do.

This is the moment that makes you feel sorry for the young Slytherins. Imagine, Professor Snape giving them career advice. Just thinking about it sends shivers down your spine, don't you think? However, pure-blood wizards from Slytherin have plenty of connections, and their parents provide them with appropriate advice. In the wizarding world, there are no declining industries; the whole magical world is thriving, so parents' experience is highly valuable. Unlike the non-magical world, where many parents make assumptions and send their children into a less promising career. It doesn't happen to wizards who score the highest marks and get better jobs.

After the job consultation comes the O.W.L. exam, and once that's completed, the life path of a young wizard is largely determined. After obtaining the O.W.L. certificate, young wizards continue their education and eventually reach the job fair and the N.E.W.T. exam.

Among known individuals, Percy is one of the wizards who will soon enter the wizarding world, and he is preparing for an interview.

In the second semester of the seventh grade, after the Christmas holidays, the Ministry of Magic will organize an interview, and this is crucial for him. He needs to submit his resume and talk to representatives from various departments to understand what certificates are required for the position.