Hogwarts' Golden Glory

As soon as Kane disappeared outside the thorny archway, the atmosphere in the space immediately became heavy.

A young soldier suddenly turned around, his mane standing on end with excitement.

"Are we really going to use 'Star Infusion' on a human wizard?"

Ferenc looked up at the starry sky: "Prophecy doesn't lie. His destiny star's trajectory perfectly matches the prophecy."

The young centaur warrior swished his tail uneasily: "But if he uses this power..."

"The stars never make mistakes."

Xing Tong said wearily but firmly, her fingers gently stroking the crystal groove on her forehead where blood was seeping.

"Since the celestial signs are guiding us to help him, there must be a reason for it."

Seeing everyone's determination, he sighed and stopped arguing.

"Prepare for the ceremony," Ferenczek concluded. "Now that the stars have made their choice, we simply must follow it."

At midnight, the Yaxley estate was shrouded in an unusual fog.

The house-elf Grubb trembled as he adjusted the black candles in the drawing room.

The flames twisted into a serpentine shape on the silver candlestick.

The light illuminated several tapestries depicting the coats of arms of pure-blood families on the wall—the one in the very center, depicting the Malfoys' white peacock, was covered by a black veil with a small silver knife pinned to it.

Coban Yaxley struck a crystal bell with his wand.

Grupp immediately began banging his head against the marble fireplace: "The bad elf didn't mix the candle color right! The bad elf—"

"Get out."

The professionally trained man kicked the house-elf into a corner.

Turning to the guests who gradually appeared from the Flying Network.

He forced a smile onto his wrinkled face: "It seems you all aren't careful enough, but don't worry, I can evade the Ministry of Magic's surveillance here."

Signas Nott flicked the ashes off his dragonskin cloak, revealing the vulture crest embroidered on his cuff: "Enough nonsense, pedant. I risked getting a fine from the Magical Traffic Department to come here, not to hear you show off these little tricks."

He went straight to the liquor cabinet, flames shooting from the tip of his wand to scorch the glasses. "What has Lucius done now?"

As Amicus and Alector stepped out from the fireplace.

Herbert Travers arrived last, his right cheek twitching unnaturally as he forced a smile: "I hope this party is worth turning down the Vizengamot dinner."

At this moment, the five high-backed chairs beside the oak table were finally full.

With a wave of his wand, the expert unfolded a bloodstained parchment on the table, its gold-lined data causing everyone's pupils to contract:

The Malfoy family's business expansion (1985-1990)

Knockturn Alley Black Market Share: 27% → 83% (Acquisition of 12 endangered dark magic shops, exclusive supply rights for magical materials)

Magical Creature Materials: 0% → 90% (Funding the Norwegian dragon trainers' strike, acquiring farms at low prices, and signing a "Safe Supplier" agreement with the Ministry of Magic)

Flying Broom Group...

"Merlin's beard!" Herbert Travers' gold teeth gleamed in the candlelight. "Is he going to buy the entire Ministry of Magic?"

Signas crushed a spider with a wine glass, and the juice happened to contaminate the data in Knockout Alley.

After all, several of the shops originally belonged to him.

"The point isn't the money, it's this."

He tapped his wand lightly, and silver threads wove the Black family genealogy tree in the air. "If Sirius gets out of prison, Black's vault, the deed to 12 Grimmauld Place, and maybe even—"

The silver thread suddenly turned red. "—All the dark magic items Bellatrix left in Gringotts will fall into Malfoy's hands."

"You should know that the mysterious man left most of the property he had stolen to these two people to look after."

The mysterious person he described was Voldemort.

Over the years, they had grown accustomed to Voldemort's departure.

They even wished they would never have anything to do with the other person again.

Coban then showed a photo of Narcissa Malfoy holding a Wizengamot amnesty application.

"What's the most ironic thing?"

Alecto Caro sneered, "Back when Mysterio was around, Sirius and the Malfoy family were sworn enemies. Now you're playing the good brother-in-law? And you even want to help him get out of prison?"

Herbert Travers suddenly twitched into a forced laugh: "But Black is Dumbledore's loyal henchman..."

"That's what makes it terrifying." Coban tapped the table, on the goblin-brewed wine brought by a house-elf. "The Malfoys' Galleons, Black's connections in the Order of the Phoenix, and the bribery of several key Ministry officials—once they join forces, where will we have a foothold?"

Amicus Caro suddenly ripped open his sleeve and collar, revealing the festering Black Magic Mark: "What's the point of saying all this? It's only because the Mysterious Man isn't here. If he were, how could he be so arrogant! Why don't we send his manor some little explosive gifts instead!"

"It's too obvious."

Keban pulled a letter from his drawer: "My son met the other family's twins at school. He heard that they bribed school staff to illegally conduct black magic experiments and even isolated and beat up classmates."

He tossed the letter aside, revealing the pattern on the back: "If Rita Skeeter were willing to put pen to paper, these things could be on the front page of the Daily Prophet tomorrow."

Herbert Travers' right cheek twitched uncontrollably, his forced smile contorted into an almost grotesque grin. "Why go through all that trouble?"

He said slowly and deliberately, "The Knockturn Alley trade is a loophole for the Malfoys. If they mix Norwegian dust into their goods..."

He paused meaningfully, "What interesting things will happen when the Aurors of the Ministry of Magic put on those 'anti-charm cloaks'?"

Norwegian Dust is a silver-gray powder made from the spores of cursed mushrooms harvested from the forbidden forests of northern Norway and processed by black elves.

When in contact with protective magical fabrics, it produces a "spell reversal" effect.

For example, the original armor protection would be transformed into a weakened Cruciatus Curse.

Signas suddenly stood up unsteadily.

"If you ask me—"

He reeked of alcohol, and his voice was slurred.

"Just put a curse on those two little brats of his, Draco! Make them turn into something like the Longbottoms—"

"Shut up, you idiot!"

Alecto Caro interrupted sharply, sparks flying from the tip of his wand.

Her gaze swept over the crowd, her voice low, "Don't forget, some people may not be here, but their eyes... may still be watching."

The room fell silent suddenly, with only the slight crackling of the flames in the fireplace.

"Alecto is right,"

Signas Nott finally broke the silence, his voice dry as if he hadn't spoken in a long time, "We...can't take the risk. After all, he might still be alive!"

The others were startled upon hearing this.

These days, the mark on their bodies has indeed shown some reaction.

"But Sirius's matter must be stopped," Coban slowly stood up, shadows looming over half his face. "If Black is released, Malfoy's power will be unstoppable."

Herbert Travers' right cheek twitched again, and he nervously rubbed his fingers together. "We can put pressure on them from within Wisengamour... I know a few senior judges who don't have a good impression of the Black family."

"Okay, that's the only way we can try it now!"