Yulia didn't respond, choosing instead to focus on steadying herself as she stood. Her legs trembled, and she nearly collapsed before grabbing onto the sofa for support. Negotiating with Alex had drained her to the point where she could barely stand. Using the wall for balance, she slowly made her way out of the room.
True to her word, Yulia didn't take long. Soon, she returned, accompanied by a middle-aged man with a slightly frazzled appearance. "This is Cornelius Fudge, Director of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. I thought he'd make a suitable witness," Yulia introduced weakly.
Fudge, looking slightly puzzled but polite, greeted Alex warmly. "Mr. Wilson! Your actions today have been the talk of the Ministry. Truly remarkable work."
"You flatter me, Director. Just doing what's necessary," Alex replied with a casual grin. "If you don't mind, let's get straight to the oath."
Fudge blinked in confusion. "An oath? Why exactly am I here?"
"It's a simple confidentiality oath," Yulia interjected quickly. "Nothing too complicated. Just a formality."
Shrugging, Fudge extended a hand with an easy smile. "Well, if it's for Yulia, I don't see why not."
Yulia barely reacted to his attempted charm, her hand limp as she placed it in his. Alex pulled out his wand, directing his magic toward the pair. "Cornelius Fudge, do you swear to keep everything you see and hear today, and anything related to myself and Yulia Travers, strictly confidential?"
"I swear," Fudge replied, still a little clueless but obliging nonetheless.
With Fudge's part done, Yulia took a deep breath and prepared for her own oath. "Your turn," Alex said, pulling out a parchment and making a few adjustments with his quill before handing it over to Fudge. "Please read the contents aloud when you cast the spell."
Yulia's lips twitched as she caught sight of Alex tweaking the terms again. She clenched her fists, silently cursing him but knowing she had no choice but to follow through.
When Fudge glanced at the parchment, his jovial expression froze. His eyes darted across the detailed list, then back to Alex, then to Yulia, and then back to the parchment, as if hoping he'd misread it.
"Hurry up, Mr. Fudge. We don't have all day," Alex said, feigning impatience.
"Yulia… you're serious about this?" Fudge asked incredulously, his voice trembling slightly.
Yulia, pale as a ghost and trembling with rage, nodded stiffly. She didn't trust herself to speak without shouting. Finally, Fudge took a deep breath, raising his wand. "Very well. Let's proceed."
Yulia placed her trembling hand in Alex's. She closed her eyes, as though bracing herself for the blow she knew was coming.
Fudge's voice wavered as he began the incantation. "Yulia Travers, do you swear to deliver to Alex Wilson the following: 12,749 Galleons of gold, 4 pounds of Goblin silver, 3 ounces of mithril, a 4-foot-long dragon heartstring from Black Dragon of Hebrides, 1 pound of goblin-forged ulim steel, 3 pounds of Agripbar alloy, 6 pounds of Palasir brass, 2 vial of Felix Felicis, 1 pound of Hungarian Horntail hide, 30 pounds of Mooncalf pelts, and grant Alex Wilson the right to copy 300 books from the Travers collection, with all private and transferred materials accounted for as of today?"
Fudge read the lengthy agreement aloud, his voice trembling with unease as if each word carried the weight of the Travers family's pride and shame. "Alex Wilson, do you agree to uphold the Travers family's secrets, destroy the key to Gringotts Vault 726, resolve the trouble Torquil caused, and ensure you don't embarrass the Travers family again in this conflict?" The words seemed less like Fudge's and more like Julia Travers' desperate plea, a powerful wizard reduced to bargaining for mercy from the young man before her.
"I would," Alex replied with a confident smile.
A blazing tongue of fire erupted from the wand Fudge held, wrapping tightly around their clasped hands like a red-hot chain, sealing the Unbreakable Vow. The air crackled with energy as the magic settled, unyielding and final.
As the oath concluded, Julia staggered, her face pale and her strength drained. Fudge, startled but quick to react, stepped forward to steady her. "Fulfill your oath, Alex," Julia said weakly, her voice trembling as she steadied herself.
"As you wish," Alex replied with an air of nonchalance. Without hesitation, Alex retrieved the brass key from his pocket. He tossed it into the air, drew his wand, and summoned a fierce flame. The key melted into a molten ball of metal within moments, its destruction absolute.
"And Torquil? He's under Moody's protection now. What will you do?" Julia asked sharply, anger flashing in her eyes.
"Simple," Alex said, raising his hand. He snapped his fingers with a soft click and added casually, "It's done."
Julia blinked, her fury turning to disbelief. "Are you joking?" She stepped forward, her frustration boiling over. "How dare you—"
"Go check for yourself," Alex interrupted, his tone laced with smug amusement. "Why don't you let me know if you find a spell I don't already know?"
His words hung in the air like a taunt, his sneer widening at the sight of Julia's flustered expression. Julia hesitated for a moment, then stomped her foot in frustration and stormed out of the room, her suspicion and indignation written all over her face.
"Don't forget to prepare my reward. I'm not a patient man," Alex called out, his voice trailing after her as she left.
Fudge, who had been quietly observing the exchange, seemed unable to shake his daze. He opened and closed his mouth as if trying to process what he had just witnessed. The powerful Julia Travers, backed into a corner by a young wizard, was a sight he would not soon forget.
"Mr. Fudge," Alex's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Y-Yes?" Fudge stammered, his usual bluster replaced by nervousness.
"When you leave, please send in the reporter from The Daily Prophet for me," Alex instructed, his tone halfway between polite and commanding.
"Of course, of course!" Fudge said quickly, his face stretching into an appeasing smile. He hurried out of the room, his steps almost apologetic.
Meanwhile, over at the Auror headquarters, Moody was furious. Torquil, their key prisoner, had been stable only moments ago. But now, he lay lifeless in the interrogation room. Moody, along with Minister Millicent Bagnold and Director Barty Crouch, had watched helplessly as Torquil writhed in agony, clutching his stomach before succumbing to an unknown ailment.
Even Moody's extensive arsenal of healing spells and potions had failed to save him. The once-promising interrogation had turned into a disaster. "How could this happen? He was fine just a minute ago!" Minister Bagnold demanded, her voice sharp with disbelief.
Moody shook his head, his face dark. "It doesn't seem like any curse I've encountered before… but it could be. Or maybe poison. Dammit, it could be anything!" He spun toward the door and shouted, "Scrimgeour! Where the hell are you?"
Rufus Scrimgeour, the deputy captain of the Auror squad, rushed into the room. "What's wrong, Moody?"
"Torquil's dead! What potion did he take before this happened? Who gave it to him? Where's the bottle now?" Moody barked, his questions flying rapid-fire.
Scrimgeour's eyes widened as he approached the corpse. "Dead? But how—" He stopped himself, his instincts taking over. "I'll start an investigation immediately!" He turned on his heel and bolted out of the room.