The Return to Hogwarts

I know what you're up to.

Aberforth's words are sharp and incisive.

"You've been plotting all this with me just so I can relay your messages to Albus. You know my saintly brother wouldn't tell him these plans directly."

The sound of the brass bell at the door drew the attention of the two people inside and outside the bar.

"Ah, Amosta, you've arrived. Oh, sorry, am I late?"

The newcomer waved excitedly, brushed the raindrops from his hair, and skipped towards the bar.

"Excuse me, Aberforth, give me a whiskey too. Oh, the weather's really awful, isn't it?"

Aberforth shrugged, glaring angrily at Amosta.

"Oh, damn it, how many people did you call here?!"

Chapter 1004 Preparation (Part 4)

2024-06-30

"Oh, don't be so formal, Aberforth—"

Amosta said with a smile,

"I called people here to you, doesn't that show how much I trust you?"

"We're not that close, Blaine!"

Aberforth roared angrily, but he clearly knew he couldn't do anything to Amosta, so he could only slam the rag on the bar and turn to prepare whiskey for Ludo Bagman.

When Amosta's gaze fell on Ludo, a distinct hint of unease flashed across Ludo's smiling face.

The two last met on the outskirts of Attenborough, when Amosta asked him about the goblins' winning percentage in the matches where Hermione Granger was booked.

At the time, Amosta also caught Ludo "condescending" to commentate on a club-level Quidditch match and accepting bribes.

The scene flashed through Ludo's mind, and he groaned inwardly at his bad luck, as if Amosta Blaine always managed to find something on him.

"Oh, sorry, am I late, Amosta?"

After taking his seat, Ludo looked at Amosta with a smile and said,

"But this is not my fault, Amosta. The rain was so heavy that the railway was flooded by flash floods on the way, and the Hogwarts Express had to stop for a while to avoid being swept away by the flood."

"So, in that case, I'm the one who should apologize, Ludo—"

Amosta smiled.

"I shouldn't have brought you to Hogsmeade in such terrible weather. I hope this hasn't caused you any extra trouble?"

"Oh, no, no, thank you Aberforth!"

Ludo took the glass of wine offered by the cold-faced Aberforth and took a big gulp.

"So, we're here to talk about the third match of the Triwizard Tournament, right, Amosta? Oh, to be honest, it's become a chore in the department these days. You know why, sigh, the second match went horribly wrong, and everyone's avoiding the topic—"

Ludo, feeling melancholy, gulped down more wine.

"If it weren't for your efforts in securing the third game, this whole thing would have fallen through. I want to thank you, Amosta. What would I have done with all that gold I invested if it weren't for you?"

Looking at Ludo, who was celebrating the smooth progress of the third match, Amosta couldn't help but feel a sense of respect.

Regarding whether the mysterious man has truly been resurrected and returned to the magical world, most wizards in the magical world harbor a sense of wishful thinking.

Although they acknowledged Dumbledore as a remarkable wizard, they all hoped that he was senile in this matter, even though they might have known the real answer in their hearts.

Whether they believe it or not, everyone is paying close attention to this matter because it could drastically change their lives.

Ludo, on the other hand, was much more straightforward. Amosta saw no concern for the war in him; he was still only interested in his gambling and his gold.

Splash--

Amosta shook a piece of parchment he pulled out from somewhere and gently tossed it onto the table.

"Let's save those words of gratitude for later, Ludo. Take a look at this first—"

"oh--"

Ludo immediately reached for the parchment on the table, a look of interest on his face.

"What is this, Amosta? I guess it's the project design for the third match?!"

Ludo, intrigued, picked up the parchment and looked at it, as if he had witnessed something incredible.

He, who had been comfortably leaning back in his chair, immediately sat up straight, squinting as he read the words on the paper by the candlelight on the table, occasionally glancing up at Amosta.

"Heh, so, Ludo, do you like this surprise?"

Amosta chuckled softly twice.

"This is."

Ludo rubbed his eyes, almost pressing his face against the parchment, carefully examining whether the signature at the bottom of the letter was a forgery by Amosta.

"If you don't believe me, Ludo, you can go and verify it with the fairies—"

Amosta's smile faded, and he said calmly,

"In short, you've settled your score with the fairies, and they'll never use it to threaten you again."

The trembling of Ludo's hands as he held the parchment was enough to prove just how excited he was.

"It's you, Amosta?"

There's no such thing as a free lunch, and Ludo, who has been in the magical world for many years and holds a high position, wouldn't be so ignorant of this simple principle.

Ludo stared at the calm and collected Amosta, his expression filled with suspicion. The money he had borrowed from the fairies over the years was not just a thousand or two Galleons!

"You mean, if you're planning to—"

Without realizing it, Ludo's breathing became heavy, and the water slowly dripping from his temples was hard to tell whether it was rainwater or sweat.

A nameless fear arose in Ludo's heart.

"You think you can get me to persuade the minister not to let that horrible woman Umbridge cause trouble at Hogwarts? Amostella, you've probably made the wrong bet."

Ludo said nervously.

"Do you know about lotteries, Ludo?"

To Ludo's astonishment, Amosta didn't mention a word about him interfering with the Minister of Magic's will; instead, she suddenly asked a question.

"Lottery?"

Ludo blinked, puzzled.

"What is that? A kind of book?"

Amosta spoke in a completely casual, conversational tone, as if he were explaining something to someone.

“It’s normal not to know, Ludo. That’s Muggle stuff. Like those gambling contracts you signed with the goblins, they’re usually issued by Muggle-affiliated organizations that predict the course of a match and the outcome beforehand. It’s completely legal and compliant.”

Amosta shrugged, as if the topic had come to mind by chance.

"I was just thinking about how, given the major incident in the second match of the Triwizard Tournament, you—oh, and not just you, but probably many others—were all hoping the tournament would proceed smoothly, for the sake of the money you'd wagered on various betting odds—"

Looking at Ludo, whose eyes were growing brighter, he spoke softly, as if deep in thought.

"Gambling is indeed a source of enjoyment for many wizards. But currently, the Ministries of Magic in various countries seem to lack effective control over this area, leaving it to run rampant, with all the profits being seized by goblins and some unsavory forces."

Shaking his head regretfully, Amosta looked at Ludo with a hint of anticipation.

"If the Ministry of Magic and the Quidditch League can reach an agreement to introduce Muggle lottery, it will bring good benefits to both the Ministry of Magic and the League. It will also provide a safe and reliable gambling platform for those who love to seek thrills in gambling. What do you think, Ludo?"

Ludo opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Amosta smiled and smacked his lips.

"Tsk tsk, if this sports lottery project can be successful, it should fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Magical Sports. I think a new department should be established to manage this matter."

A department specifically responsible for gambling, aboveboard, risk-free, under the Department of Magical Sports. Ludo stared blankly at Amosta, his lips moving, wanting to say something but unable to utter a word.

“You know, Amosta, I’ve never been ambitious. Oh, alright, I promise you, I’ll go talk to the Minister. Getting Umbridge into Hogwarts was just pure nonsense!”

Ludo, panting, glanced again at the parchment he clutched tightly in his hand—his proof of his renewed freedom.

“Yes, you convinced me, Amosta. You’re a devil. You know, I never want to get involved in these kinds of troubles. By the way, how do you plan to implement your proposal? In my opinion, it’s a good idea, but given the current situation, the minister is unlikely to agree to your suggestion. Moreover, if you want to push this forward, you need the consent of the Quidditch World League.”

"Don't worry, Ludo, this matter will definitely be settled by the end of this year. The Minister of Magic won't be an obstacle. As for the Quidditch World League, of course, they'll fight tooth and nail for more profits, and there will be many tough battles, so—"

Amosta smiled.

"I will represent Hogwarts in securing a share of the Quidditch betting profits, and in exchange for my involvement, I can authorize the World Cup league to use my surveillance cameras to broadcast matches worldwide. This is also a very substantial source of income, and considering this, I believe they will be willing to make concessions. Furthermore—"

Amosta stood up, indicating that the somewhat hurried conversation was drawing to a close.

“I also need to correct one of your mistakes, Ludo. I don’t intend to ask you to mediate Fudge’s desire to send Umbridge to Hogwarts. It’s impossible for Umbridge to get into Hogwarts, but I can help her get into Azkaban. I’m meeting with you today simply to…”

Amosta looked down at Ludo, the sharp light in his purple eyes making Ludo tremble involuntarily. He shrank back and asked,

"for what?"

"Simply to gain your support, Ludo."

Chapter 1005 Preparation (Part 5)