The Hogwarts Emerald

Chapter 553 Two Naughty Young Men
The next morning, with the exception of the more entertainment-oriented magazine The Quibbler, all the more reputable newspapers and magazines reported on the trial of Cobain Yaxley.

Different from the previous smear campaign against Dumbledore, Harry and others, this time the Ministry of Magic has irrefutable evidence. Even if Yaxley is a talker, he cannot get away with it. Confessing his guilt and accepting punishment is his only way out.

The Ministry of Magic's attack on the Death Eaters gave the panicked wizards a shot of adrenaline, allowing them to see the direction of the light in the darkness and letting them know that the Ministry of Magic would always protect them.

This is the ultimate purpose of the trial of Yaxley, to restore the shattered image of the Ministry of Magic in people's minds.

According to Ada's original plan, this position should have been reserved for Barty Crouch Jr. Compared to Yaxley, Barty Crouch Jr. had a higher status among the Death Eaters and was more valued by Voldemort. Putting him on trial could better boost morale and restore prestige.

On the other hand, Yaxley could also continue to stay in the Ministry of Magic and pass some information of unknown truth to Voldemort to influence the enemy's judgment.

But there was no way, because Ada hadn't been able to bring back Barty Crouch Jr.! The silver magic hand drained Barty's strength, leaving him dying. Not to mention being able to hold on until the verdict to help the Ministry of Magic, he couldn't even return to London.

Since the real owner couldn't come, this arduous task fell on Yaxley's shoulders. The size and shape were suitable, so it wouldn't be a pity to discard this chess piece.

Yaxley's undercover identity was exposed very early, and after the ambush and counter-ambush at St. Mungo's, Voldemort must have had a plan in mind.

An undercover agent whose identity is exposed is no longer an undercover agent. Voldemort will treat him as a pawn, while the Ministry of Magic will treat him as a tool to be used. It's just that this tool is a little bit inconvenient, and it's no pity to discard an inconvenient tool.

Who made Yaxley not called Bellatrix Lestrange or Barty Crouch Jr.? Who made him expose his identity in his eagerness to make a contribution?

Although Yaxley's importance among the Death Eaters was slightly insufficient, fortunately, the Ministry of Magic had suffered frequent defeats before, which made the wizards' expectations of the Ministry of Magic terribly low. Even the less important Yaxley could fill the vacancy left by Barty Crouch Jr.

Look at the praise article in the Daily Prophet. Ada blushed and thought it was a bit too much. On the road to resisting Voldemort's dark rule, Ada and the Ministry of Magic have just taken the first step.

……

In the magnificent hall of the Ministry of Magic, every few seconds, with the sound of a puff, a wizard would suddenly appear from a fireplace on the left side of the hall.

These are employees who come to work in the department early in the morning. When they meet someone they know, they will say hello to each other, and some will gather together to chat in a low voice.

Most of the conversation revolved around the names of Yaxley, Drizzt, and Thicknesse, with Weasley occasionally mentioned.

Among this group of rushing office workers, there were two men who seemed out of place. They looked left and right like curious babies and were very curious about everything in the department.

The two men looked exactly the same. They were not tall but very strong. Their fiery red hair was dazzling. The smirks that appeared on their faces from time to time were not annoying at all.

The two men were none other than Fred and George Weasley, the owners of 93 Diagon Alley. The brothers were wearing a set of magenta robes that didn't quite match their hair color, but were better than their green dragon leather jackets.

"Stop looking around, you two, and hurry up and follow." The one who shouted to the two brothers was their father, Arthur Weasley.

"Okay, Dad." George pretended to be respectful. Fred, who was standing next to George, poked him and said reproachfully, "This is the Ministry of Magic. We are here to do business. We should address you as Director Weasley."

Faced with the two brothers' winking eyes, Mr. Weasley had no choice but to let them go.

Fortunately, the twins were sensible and did not make trouble in the department under the title of second-generation officials. Instead, they followed their father to the elevator.

Few people are willing to stay with their leaders, especially at work, even if the leader has a good personality, so the elevator where the Weasley father and son were was the only one for the three of them, while everyone else was crowded in other elevators.

Fred glanced at the crowd in the hall through the golden gate and said, "If only I could see that idiot Percy, I would definitely punch him in the nose."

In the past month, Percy's relationship with his family has improved. At least when he sees Mr. Weasley in the Ministry, he will say hello instead of just walking away like before.

"Dad, which floor is the Department of International Magical Cooperation on?" George asked maliciously, "Does that idiot Percy have a separate office?" "Don't say that about your brother." Mr. Weasley reprimanded lightly, and then his tone became a little heavy, "Percy is a child with aspirations and ideals. He was just confused for a moment."

Fred and George shrugged their shoulders and then glanced at the ceiling of the elevator with the whites of their eyes.

The elevator started to rise, shaking slightly. The cold girl said:
"Seventh floor, Department of Magical Games and Sports, including the British and Irish Quidditch League headquarters, the official Gobstones Club, and the Funny Products Patent Office."

……

"Fifth floor, the Department of International Magical Cooperation, which includes the International Magical Trade Standards Association, the International Magical Law Office, and the British branch of the International Confederation of Wizards."

The twins were eager to try, and wanted to rush out of the elevator, rush into the Department of International Magical Cooperation, and teach their silly brother a lesson.

But no one knows his son better than his father. Mr. Weasley knew Fred and George's personalities very well. He said, "If you don't want to be beaten when you grow up, just behave yourself."

The twins lowered their heads in unison, trying their best to control their feet as they wanted to move.

The elevator clattered upwards again, and soon reached the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures on the fourth floor, the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes on the third floor, and finally stopped shakily in the Minister's office on the first floor.

"We're here. I'll take you two straight to the Minister." Mr. Weasley walked out of the elevator first, and the twins followed closely behind him.

The twins were still taking in the layout of the corridor, and were somewhat curious about the office without a nameplate.

Weasley stopped in front of the door of the minister's office. He wanted to give his naughty son some final instructions.

"Listen, the products you provide are very important to the Ministry, but you must not talk nonsense," Mr. Weasley warned. "Just tell the truth and say what you have to say. Do you understand?"

Seeing the twins nod solemnly, Mr. Weasley was relieved and turned around and knocked on the office door.

The door opened, and the legendary secretary Isabel came out. She said respectfully, "Director, the Minister invites you and the two Mr. Weasleys to come in."

Isabel's appearance was not very beautiful, but she made people feel comfortable, and her every frown and smile revealed her charm, which made people's heart move. However, Mr. Weasley had "Molly Little Tremble" in his heart, and Fred and George were also distracted, so the father and sons did not appreciate Isabel's beauty.

"Thank you, Isabel." With that, Mr. Weasley walked into the office with the twins.

In the minister's office, Thicknesse, dressed in a rich robe, walked out from his large desk and greeted him enthusiastically, saying, "Ah, Arthur, you've come at the perfect time!"

"Pierce, please allow me to introduce my two sons. This is Fred and this is George. They are a little naughty."

In the past, every time Mr. and Mrs. Weasley introduced the twins, the two brothers would play the "Guess Who I Am" game, but today they were very honest. Whoever Mr. Weasley mentioned his name would stand up, without any tricks.

"No, no, Arthur. Being naughty just shows that they are energetic. We need such energetic young people now." Thicknesse said with a smile. When he smiled, his well-groomed beard would shake.

Thicknesse turned around and picked up a document from his desk. He said, "Arthur, this matter needs your personal attention."

Taking the document, Mr. Weasley glanced through it and said shyly, "Piers, I would like to apply for the use of the Ministry's car to take Harry Potter to Diagon Alley to buy school supplies."

"Of course, it's not worth asking such a small matter!"

Thicknesse patted Mr. Weasley on the arm and continued, "Well, you go take care of this matter, and I'll deal with these two naughty young men in your family."

(End of this chapter)