The Return to Hogwarts

As a seasoned Auror who had dealt with dark wizards for many years, Kingsley knew the style of those villains. Erasing memories was not foolproof, and to avoid being exposed, they never hesitated to kill to silence witnesses.

What’s next?

This is a question whose answer can be obtained without thinking.

That is, it is necessary to find the man who delivered the package, whether he is a Muggle or a wizard, whether he is dead or alive.

But how do we find it?

As mentioned, they weren't even sure if the man was a wizard or a Muggle, because his appearance was very blurry due to the large sunglasses he was wearing.

More than half a month has passed, and the environment of the Leaky Cauldron Bar is a mixed bag, so no useful information about this man can be extracted anymore, and some tracking magic can no longer be used.

The experienced Aurors frowned, beginning to grieve over the matter.

In the somber atmosphere, Amosta looked at Kingsley.

As expected of an elite among the Aurors, Kingsley immediately understood that Amosta Blaine probably had some instructions.

“Ms. Burns has given us orders to follow your commands, and you are a senior advisor to the Ministry of Magic, Mr. Blaine. If you need us to do anything—”

In response to Kingsley's words, the Aurors in the hall silently gathered around, their eyes fixed on Amosta Blaine, waiting for orders.

"grateful--"

Amosta smiled and nodded.

"It's not that there's no way to find this person, Kingsley. He came from the Muggle side. There are many Muggle shops on both sides of the Muggle street where the Leaky Cauldron is located. I believe that quite a few Muggle shop owners must have seen this person that night. Unless he's a wizard who teleported away immediately after leaving the Leaky Cauldron—"

“You mean—” Kingsley raised an eyebrow, “to examine the memories of every Muggle shopkeeper on this street, Mr. Blaine?”

Amosta nodded.

"This will take some time, but fortunately we have enough manpower. Of course, searching the memories of so many Muggles might not be in accordance with regulations. If special authorization is needed, I can go to Amelia or Fudge."

Chapter 757 He was discovered

2024-02-13

The Leaky Cauldron is an important passage connecting the wizarding world and the Muggle world. Wizards pass through here every day in an endless stream. As the sun gradually rises, more and more wizards enter. However, as soon as they enter and see a group of cold-faced Aurors in the tavern hall, and Amostra Blaine talking to them, these passersby immediately become frightened and, without needing to be driven away, cleverly retreat.

Half of the Aurors Kingsley brought were sent out to investigate the memories of the shop owners on both sides, hoping to find out the whereabouts of the manipulated person.

The news so far is encouraging; the person seems to really be a Muggle. He didn't leave using Apparition or an illegal portal key, but instead walked along the street outside to Charing Cross Road and boarded a bus at the bus stop there.

Currently, the Aurors are investigating the Muggle bus and the whereabouts of the driver who drove it that day, but Amosta's orders are not over.

"--If you were the one who committed the crime, Kingsley, what would you do after you committed it?"

Old Tom has cleared himself of criminal suspicion, and what awaits him is most likely a fine, a punishment that isn't particularly severe for someone who runs a famous pub in the British wizarding world. He finally came to his senses and began preparing drinks and food for the Ministry of Magic employees and Amostra Blaine.

Amostella had been pondering many things since leaving Hogwarts yesterday. He gently swirled the viscous liquid in his glass and asked calmly.

"Without a doubt, I will choose to leave this country—"

Almost the instant Amosta finished speaking, Kingsley gave his answer.

"If I were the murderer, I foresee that once I succeeded, Dumbledore and Blaine would definitely investigate thoroughly, and the Ministry of Magic would not let go of the murderer who persecuted one of the Triwizard Tournament champions. They would track down my whereabouts--"

Without Amosta needing to give any further instructions, Kingsley, realizing what was happening, immediately went to one of his subordinates, his voice urgent.

"Go to the ministry and check the list of all wizards who have entered or left the UK in the last two months. Go quickly to the Wizards Immigration Office and find Pennock. If he is uncooperative, tell him that this is an order from the Minister and Mr. Blaine!"

"Relying solely on official channels isn't enough, Kingsley—"

Amostella did not stop Kingsley's order, but only added after the Auror left.

"Judging from the caution shown by the person behind the scenes in sending the package, he couldn't have been unaware of this. Therefore, I suggest we also investigate the wizards who have smuggled themselves out of Britain in the past two weeks."

“Go check on Friedelk’s place--”

Kingsley glanced at Amosta Blaine, who was leisurely sipping his sherry, then spoke sternly to another subordinate awaiting orders.

"Make him hand over the list. If he doesn't agree, take him straight back to the ministry and tell him that Wisengamour won't suggest letting him cut in line if he's so eager to get into Azkaban!"

"And there are Bagdar and Nila, who are mainly responsible for the southwestern border. Friedel will be happy to tell you the whereabouts of his two rivals--"

Amosta added.

Upon hearing his words, Kingsley's henchman stared at Amosta Blaine in astonishment, somewhat at a loss for words.

"Do as Mr. Blaine says—"

Kingsley pursed his lips and said quickly that, in order to speed things up, he had assigned two more Aurors to handle the matter.

“That’s astonishing, Mr. Blaine. You’re not an Auror, but you know a great deal about these things—”

After sending everyone away, Kingsley went to the table where Amosta was sitting alone and said, half-jokingly and half-probingly.

“Heh--” Amosta smiled slightly, “Kingsley, it’s never a bad thing to know more about connections.”

Kingsley nodded in agreement and then sat down opposite Amosta.

Looking at Amostella Blaine, who was deep in thought, Kingsley, the highly touted successor to Hogwarts in the wizarding world, blurted out,

“You and Albus are completely different styles, Mr. Blaine--”

However, Kingsley regretted it as soon as he said it; he and Blaine didn't have that deep a personal relationship.

"Oh?"

Amosta, who was deep in thought, chuckled again upon hearing this.

"What do you think is the biggest difference between me and Dumbledore?"

This was a difficult question to answer; one wrong move and he could offend the important person before him. However, after a brief moment of thought, Kingsley decided to tell the truth.

"You seem—I mean, your way of doing things is much more flexible than Albus'—"

The tall, imposing Kingsley smiled and spoke in a deep, slow voice,

"If Albus were here today, he wouldn't examine Old Tom's memories, nor would he allow the Aurors to examine the memories of Muggles, even with authorization from the ministry—"

“I don’t deny what you’re saying, Kingsley—”

Amosta smiled and shook his head.

"But I think perhaps you don't know Dumbledore well enough—"

Dumbledore was never a rule-abiding person; however, he always had a scale in his heart that helped him weigh whether what he was about to do was worth breaking universal laws, regulations, rules, and so on. If he thought it was worth it, then he would do it thoroughly.

Kingsley's view was simply because as Dumbledore grew older and more prestigious over the years, he had fewer and fewer things to care about, thus creating the illusion that he valued rules.

“There’s one more thing, Kingsley—”

Kingsley's candid question earned him some favor with Amosta, who, after some hesitation, decided to entrust the matter to him.

“There’s another possible way to get closer to the mastermind, which I didn’t mention earlier—”

Amosta looked Kingsley straight in the eye and said,

"Yesterday in Dumbledore's office, we didn't tell Minister Fudge about this either. The curse that Hermione is afflicted with is very unusual; the curse seed and the curse itself are separate. Only by destroying the curse seed can the curse in Hermione's body be completely expelled. And there aren't many wizards in the European wizarding world who have the ability to create such curses—"

Amosta pulled the list he had obtained from Willorens from his pocket.

"A friend of mine helped me find out the list of wizards in the European magical world who possess this ability—"

To avoid any association with the Golden Viper, Amosta didn't tell Kingsley that he had obtained the list himself.

"I originally planned to visit the wizards there in person, but these people are scattered throughout Europe, and it's unrealistic to expect them to stay at home and not go out. Tracking them down would also take time—"

Kingsley solemnly accepted the list. He scanned the contents of the list. Although the number of people was not large, not everyone had a clear position. Some of the names had special notes indicating that the information came from several years ago.

"It would be best to send elite troops to carry out this mission, Kingsley—"

"Understood, Mr. Blaine—"

Kingsley nodded solemnly, indicating his understanding.

Wizards who can create particularly powerful curses are no pushovers; they come to your door almost as if to accuse you, and it's hard to say whether the two sides will end up fighting.

Turning to look at the remaining Aurors, Kingsley hesitated for a moment before making his arrangements. He carefully explained the dangers and importance of the mission, and watched them leave one by one.

Old Tom hid behind the bar, watching Amosta and Kingsley's group with a look of resentment in his eyes, because his bar was now practically being used as a command post, with all the customers being kept out.

Throughout the day, Amosta and Kingsley stayed in the Leaky Cauldron to direct the operation, listening to the Aurors who had gone to investigate the package deliveryman give updates every now and then.

As the sun began to set, the bar gradually grew darker, and the oppressive atmosphere in the air intensified. Old Tom had given up struggling and was enjoying this rare moment of peace, fast asleep on the bar counter.

boom!

A sudden explosion occurred, and a gentle breeze swept through the room.

"We've found him, Mr. Blaine!"

The suddenly appearing Auror exclaimed excitedly, while Amosta, who had been feigning sleep with her eyes closed in the chair, slowly opened them, her light purple eyes flashing with a ghostly light in the dimly lit bar hall.

Chapter 758 Mountains and Rivers Turn

2024-02-13

At dusk, the sunlight divides the sky in two, one half bathed in a dim, yellowish glow, while the other half remains a pale, icy blue, typical of late winter.

The distant sounds of traffic were blurred by the distance, as if they were in a dream. The nearby babbling water did not add much to the poetic and pleasant atmosphere. The stench released by the winding river, which occasionally flowed through large areas of shadow, enveloped the residential area.