Chapter 143: Gellert's Smile
"We're very sorry to disturb you all. We discovered that someone was using magic in public, and therefore... it is our duty to investigate."
The Head of the French Auror Office forced the words out. It was, after all, his responsibility; he had to step forward. Of course, if any of the legendary figures before him so much as coughed, he would immediately turn his wand around and lead a charge against his own Minister of Magic. He knew how to weigh his priorities.
He noticed that everyone's gaze had fallen upon a single witch—the one who looked conspicuously like an Auror.
Merlin, save me, who trained this one?! he thought in despair. Her Auror habits are so obvious! Does she never go on field missions? Doesn't she know she'll scare off the target? Just one look at her, and he felt his own professionalism wither. What incompetent instructor had produced such a student?
Julia couldn't take it anymore. She wished she could bury her head in her chest.
First, when Dumbledore's group had arrived, she had blurted out, "Mr. Percival."
This had caused the old gentleman named Gellert to break into a triumphant laugh. It was the laugh of a man who, after decades, had finally defeated his arch-nemesis, or perhaps the laugh of someone who had just cashed in a lottery ticket he'd bought years ago and won the grand prize of grand prizes.
The other legendary figure, Nicolas Flamel, also gave a knowing smile and looked at Dumbledore with amusement.
Not understanding the situation, Julia had added, "Mr. Percival... isn't that his name?"
How to describe the atmosphere that followed?
Well, Ryan, at least, was wise enough to lower his head. Seeing Ryan lower his head, Ralvin and the other young wizards quickly followed suit, suddenly finding the half-eaten baked escargot on their plates to be the most fascinating things in the world.
Ah! This snail is so... snail-like.
How can a snail be this much of a snail!
Only then did Julia realize she had said something terribly wrong again. She fell silent, retreating into a shell of mortification. It seemed that ever since she'd run away from home, she'd had a knack for causing trouble.
Now, everyone was looking at her again. Her face flushed crimson. Just endure it, it'll pass. Just endure it, she told herself.
She pointed to the still-bound werewolf in the corner and squeezed out the words, "A werewolf... he recognized me as an Auror... he got scared and attacked me. We were forced to fight."
"That is indeed what happened," Ralvin said, taking the opportunity to speak now that the strange atmosphere had passed. "Sir, I am Ralvin from the British Ministry of Magic. My colleagues and I have already used Memory Charms to clean up the scene."
"However," he added, "the Muggles' current level of technology has reached the digital information sphere. They have saved photos on their cameras and are discussing it on the internet. We cannot interfere with that."
"Ah?" the middle-aged Head Auror asked, confused. He understood the individual English words Ralvin was saying, but strung together, they made no sense. What was the "digital information sphere"? What was an "internet discussion"?
"Mr. Ralvin, I'm afraid I don't understand," he said with a frown. He had no desire to understand it, either. He was over forty, long past the age of being curious about novelties. "I just want to know how this matter should be handled."
"You don't need to handle it. Just report what happened truthfully to your Minister," a light, airy voice said.
Nicolas Flamel had spoken.
The Head Auror immediately bowed his head respectfully. "As you wish. Is there anything else I can do?"
"Take this werewolf with you when you leave. There is no need to pursue charges for the breach of the Statute of Secrecy, but his past crimes are still his past crimes. Do you understand?"
"Understood."
In that brief exchange, the matter was settled.
The only true outsider, Nava, reeling from the powerful blows that were shattering her worldview, had come to roughly accept and understand one thing: a powerful wizard's social status was far higher than any official position or authority. Wizards and ordinary people were different. Ordinary people could have knowledge but not power, and would always be controlled by those in authority. Wizards, on the other hand, gained power through knowledge, and when they said they were going to hit you today, they wouldn't wait until tomorrow.
"What brings you all here? All the way from Britain?" Ralvin asked the British Aurors, recognizing them as colleagues he often saw at the Ministry.
The lead Auror was in a difficult position. The scene was clear: Ralvin was sitting with Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel, with Ryan Welles beside them. In that moment, the Auror understood. This was the source of Ralvin's confidence in challenging Fudge. With a lineup this formidable, to say that he was here on Minister Fudge's orders to "invite" Ralvin and the others back for a talk would be outrageously inappropriate. He'd probably be transfigured into a small animal for stepping into the room with his left foot first.
Anyone who had survived for years at the Ministry was a wily old fox who knew how to adapt. "It's like this," he began, "Minister Fudge was extremely angry after seeing your letters. He's been in a state of impotent rage. And when the boss is having a tantrum, us grunts are the ones who suffer. On his orders, we had no choice but to come all this way to find you. He said, and I quote, he wishes to 'invite you back for a chat.'"
After delivering the message, he spread his hands in a helpless gesture, his entire body screaming, I'm just a working stiff, I do what the boss says. Don't let me get caught in the crossfire of you giants.
"That must have been a lot of trouble for you. Fudge didn't specify a time, did he?" Ralvin said. He wouldn't make things difficult for these men; they were just doing their jobs. The Ministry could lose one Fudge, or even two, but it couldn't function without its rank-and-file.
"No time was mentioned."
"Good," Ralvin said, showing no intention of moving.
Fine, don't move. You're all lords here, I can't afford to offend any of you. The Aurors who had delivered the message were about to take their leave and head back. Ralvin could ignore Fudge's words, but they couldn't.
"You've come a long way, brothers. It must have been tiring. Why don't you stay and have a bite with us?"
Just then, Ryan called out to them.
"Ah, no trouble, no trouble at all," the British Aurors said, a hint of pleasure in their voices. This was the famous Ryan Welles, the greatest Seer of the century, a recipient of the Order of Merlin, Second Class. To be invited to a meal by such an upper-class figure was an honor.
"You're already here. Sit," Ryan said, giving them no chance to refuse. He held his hand up, palm facing them, and curled his fingers one by one. The French and British Aurors felt a powerful suction pulling them into the room. They were helpless against it, only able to watch as they were deposited into high-backed chairs.
As they were moved from the doorway to their seats, the room visibly expanded. The tables and chairs morphed and grew. In the end, the space had transformed into a magnificent hall, the simple dining table replaced by a long, exquisitely carved banquet table set with fine tableware.
"An Undetectable Extension Charm!" someone exclaimed in surprise. The surprise was mainly because casting an unregistered Extension Charm wasn't exactly legal, especially in front of a room full of Aurors.
"Why would you think that?" Ryan said, clapping his hands and dismissing their speculation. "I remember when I first went to Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration club, I told her that Transfiguration is the domain of geniuses. The object of transfiguration is not fixed; it can be a tangible entity with a specific shape, or it can be a section of space."
"This," he declared, "is merely Transfiguration."
A soft applause was heard.
"Very well done," Dumbled't miss this opportunity to say something teacher-like. "I can see that your magical growth spurt has brought you a qualitative leap in power."
~~~
Get early access to 50+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn