Regulus Black not only sent Valentine's chocolates to all the girls who had written him love letters, but also to others connected to him in some way.
For example: the Cook mother and daughter from Sleepy Hollow, Lucy Piddle—the private legal advisor from Scarlet Manor, and Judy Fox from the Ministry of Magic. All had received their chocolates, though none of them had been told that the chocolates were "enhanced."
The Ministry of Magic had already issued an official notice: the witches in Azkaban were now pregnant. The Auror Office had been mobilized to set up magical restrictions in the homes of these witches. Of course, this was far better than a solitary cell in Azkaban. Some families requested that the Aurors designate an entire villa as the restricted zone, so the pregnant witch could move freely within it.
After another round of debate and compromise, it was ultimately decided that all the witches could live in their own homes. They were free to move around and could meet with family at any time. Apart from being forbidden to leave their homes or use magic, their lives were no different from those of ordinary people.
Years of imprisonment stood in stark contrast to this sudden change. The witches all expressed deep regret for having followed Voldemort.
Regulus Black arrived at the Ministry of Magic, casually greeted the secretary outside Fudge's office, and walked straight in. The treatment he now received was a world apart from what it had once been.
"Oh! Regulus! You're here—hahaha... I've been waiting for you!"
Cornelius Fudge stood up excitedly when he saw Regulus enter. The two of them sat together on the couch in the guest area.
"Good day, Minister Fudge! It seems you're in an excellent mood."
Regulus Black remained respectful. He didn't act superior just because he had done a great favor. He treated everyone with equal courtesy and friendliness—this made people feel at ease, and everything became easier to say and do.
"Of course I'm in a good mood! Did you read today's Daily Prophet? Just like you suggested, I had them interview those witches, and they published an article about their regrets for following Voldemort. The effect was incredible—public opinion is overwhelmingly supportive of the Ministry's new legislation, The Five Provisions for Pregnant Witches. It's been called a huge success!"
The article called Cornelius Fudge "kind-hearted" and "benevolent." It was filled with praise. For Fudge, who had been managing the Ministry under pressure from all sides, it brought a rare moment of joy—he couldn't stop smiling.
"I told you it wouldn't be hard to handle. After spending over a decade in Azkaban, returning home would make the contrast clear to them. The result would naturally be seen as a victory for the Ministry standing on the side of justice. And the Daily Prophet wouldn't dare smear that now—they couldn't afford the consequences."
Today, Regulus Black had come to hear the results—both regarding the witches being confined to their homes and the matter of the chocolate factory's transfer.
The largest asset of the Black family that had been seized by the Ministry was a chocolate factory known by many names: Charlie's Chocolate Factory, Mystery & Magic Chocolate Factory, or Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.
In 1964, a man named Willy Wonka opened a chocolate factory and created a range of uniquely flavored chocolates and candies: gum that never lost its flavor, ice cream that never melted, and candy balloons that could be blown to massive sizes. But then came the greatest blow of his life—industrial spies stole his secret recipes. Regulus Black didn't know how Muggles managed to replicate what looked like magically enhanced candies, but after the theft, Wonka shut down the factory for 15 years, and the copycats lost access to the magical methods behind the products.
Thinking about it now, the recipes likely weren't the only things stolen—some of the ingredients must have been too. Once those magically infused ingredients ran out, the imitators could no longer produce the same enchanted candies.
After declaring the factory closed, Willy Wonka traveled the world. In some mysterious place, he discovered a race of tiny people who treated cocoa beans as sacred. With these chocolate-loving, incorruptible workers who were immune to greed and emotion, he was able to reopen the factory. He never rehired any of his former staff.
Everything went just as Wonka had foreseen. Once the factory reopened, his new chocolates quickly dominated the market. No corporate spy could enter the facility—every position was occupied by these little people.
Eventually, Wonka realized he had grown old and needed an heir. He sent out five golden tickets worldwide and brought five children to the factory. In the end, a boy named Charlie Bucket was chosen as his successor.
And how did the Black family come to own the chocolate factory? Because Charlie Bucket's mother was none other than Bellatrix Black.
The first wizarding war instigated by Voldemort lasted a total of eleven years, ending in 1981. The chocolate factory was established in 1964, and after being shut down for 15 years, it reopened in 1979. In his pursuit of sufficient funding, Voldemort set his sights on this newly reopened factory. However, due to the extreme fortification of the factory by its owner, infiltrating it was nearly impossible. Upon receiving the task, Bellatrix Black resorted to a more indirect approach.
Four elderly, solitary individuals, along with an honest man and a young boy, were arranged to live just outside the chocolate factory. They served as Bellatrix Black's temporary "family."
Coincidentally, not long after, Willy Wonka released five golden tickets. In order to give her fake son, Charlie Bucket, a chance to participate, Bellatrix used Felix Felicis. With the aid of the potion, she successfully obtained one of the golden tickets. Then, during the tour of the factory, Charlie's performance stood out brilliantly—both events showcasing the absolute advantage provided by the wizarding world's most powerful potion.
To avoid arousing Willy Wonka's suspicion, Bellatrix never approached the factory directly when it opened. She only observed from a distance—until Charlie Bucket emerged as the winner. Then, leveraging their supposed family bond, she persuaded Wonka to allow the entire family to move into the chocolate factory.
What happened afterward was nothing more than a few 'Avada Kedavra' spells to tie up loose ends. Once Willy Wonka had agreed and signed the documents transferring ownership of the factory to Charlie Bucket, everyone else present had outlived their usefulness.
However, in the end, Voldemort did not register the factory under his own name. Instead, he allowed Bellatrix Black to retain control, thereby making the chocolate factory part of the Black family's assets.
Behind the fairytale was something far from pure and innocent. There is no justice in the act of plunder—but the law itself is justice. Therefore, Regulus Black's claim to recover the Black family's property met no opposition from anyone.
"The paperwork is already being processed," said Minister Fudge, "but you must understand—the Ministry will take a huge financial hit without this factory. Our funds will be strained…"
Fudge wore the pained expression of a housewife trying to cook without ingredients.
"I'll donate twenty percent of the profits to the Ministry," Regulus said plainly. "And I'll give you personally five percent in dividends. That's my bottom line."
He laid the numbers out directly. There was no need for secrecy in dealings with Fudge at this point—both parties were treating each other with sincerity.
"Can't you go a bit higher?" Fudge asked, grinning slyly and gesturing with his hand.
"If the Ministry or your household ever needs candy or chocolate, just come to the factory and take as much as you want—as long as it's not for resale."
After all, how much candy could they possibly eat? If they wanted to bankrupt a chocolate factory by consuming it all, they'd have to eat themselves to death from obesity.
"Alright, it's a deal then! I'll have my secretary bring the revised documents right away. Once we've both signed them with a sealing charm, the chocolate factory will be officially returned to the Black family."
Cornelius Fudge was overjoyed. No doubt about it—Regulus truly lived up to being a descendant of Phineas Black. The way he handled assets was full of noble elegance.
He knew how to fight for his interests, how to compromise, and how to manage the balance with grace. The result? A resolution that left everyone satisfied.
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