I, Hogwarts Second Time Around.

Chapter 499 Three Hours

"Where's that chatterbox?" Tonks asked through gritted teeth.

"We're out of manpower," Kingsley said in a deep voice. "Lee Jordan, you'll be patrolling independently. If you encounter anyone suspicious, do not attack. Immediately return to headquarters, report your location, and request backup. Understand?"

"Understood, sir."

Kingsley was naturally worried that something might happen to Lee Jordan.

After all, he conducted the interview himself.

All I can say is that, just like traditional Gryffindors, they are reckless at heart, quite capable, but easily deceived.

This mission is a test. If he can get through it safely, he won't be far from becoming a full-fledged Auror.

After the order was given, Kingsley vanished from the spot with a "poof".

When he reappeared, a church suddenly appeared in the surrounding area.

That's Westminster Abbey, one of the most famous churches in England.

It is an important occasion for the Queen and the King to hold weddings and funerals.

In a residential building just one block from the church.

Kingsley stood by the window, gazing downstairs.

"Does the Muggle Prime Minister need more manpower?"

Bill walked up behind him.

Hibiscus was by his side.

"No need." Kingsley frowned, staring at the Muggle police patrolling the streets, as well as the astonishing number of reporters and civilians.

Too many people.

If an accident occurs

"Lupin led a special operations team from the Federation to provide personal protection. Tonks's abilities allow her to remain hidden, giving us a double layer of protection."

"What about the representatives from other European countries?" Bill asked again.

"Moody personally oversaw the operation, with Sirius Black and the Aurors from Germany, France, Switzerland, and Denmark providing full protection."

"Hmm—" Bill responded, then added, "What about Buckingham Palace? The Queen's side."

"Protected by court magicians."

"A court magician?" Bill was taken aback. "I've never heard of him."

"It's normal that you haven't heard of it," Kingsley said casually. "It's a pure-blooded wizarding family with a long history. They've been hiding around the king for generations, protecting him in secret. In a way, they're related to your family by blood."

"Our home?"

"They are all Celtic wizards."

"Well. Looks like London is impregnable?" Bill's stern expression relaxed slightly.

"It seems so," Kingsley said, "but I'm sure there's still some loophole."

"The Muggles are acting very strangely this time. It's a complete provocation against the Death Eaters, and I just can't understand why they would do this. That Muggle prime minister is a complete liar, several times more greasy than Fudge. He rejected almost all of my offers."

"Officials are all the same," Bill scoffed, just as the door behind them opened.

They arrived at an old acquaintance.

He was also the overall commander of this London operation.

Theseus Scamander.

And some members of the organization that was the precursor to the Order of the Phoenix, which Dumbledore created to fight against Grindelwald.

Tina Goldstein and her sister Queenie Goldstein.

The former is Newt's wife, a former Auror of the Magical Congress of the United States, while the latter is the American sweetheart who married the chosen Muggle, a natural Legilimency. Queenie can easily enter (out of her control) other people's minds to read their thoughts, and is even more likely to spy on them when they are in a low mood.

She was the one who found most of the "infiltrators" in the United States last year.

Queenie played a crucial role in enabling the Magic Kingdom to recover its strength so quickly.

Of course, North America is still quite chaotic, but it's much better than the hell on earth it used to be.

Kingsley shook hands with each of the visitors in turn.

When he was with Queenie, his mind became highly focused without his noticing.

After all, he was born with the ability to capture minds and thoughts, and he didn't want his thoughts to be spied on.

Of course, Kingsley still showed the respect due to this nearly 100-year-old man.

However, when he saw Queenie in person, he found that she was not in good condition and looked very depressed.

"Didn't you get enough rest, ma'am?" Kingsley asked softly, her voice full of concern.

Queenie glanced up at Kingsley, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. She shook her head slightly, as if trying to dispel the negative feelings, but ultimately failed.

"I...I'm fine." Queenie's voice trembled slightly as she tried to remain calm, but it was clearly not easy.

Theseus Scamander noticed the conversation between the two, walked over, and gently patted Queenie on the shoulder.

Being able to read other people's minds is not a good ability.

People are complex, and not all of their thoughts are good.

Especially the group of monsters called "The Imposters".

Spying on their thoughts. It's like watching a disgusting horror movie.

She's already quite strong for not having broken down after seeing so many thoughts from "The Pretender".

"Queenie, you need to rest." Theseus's voice was gentle yet firm. "Leave things here to us. Go find a quiet place and recharge."

Queenie seemed about to say something, but in the end she simply nodded and turned to walk into the room next door. Kingsley watched her departing figure, a nameless worry welling up inside him.

He knew the importance of this London operation was self-evident. And Queenie's condition undoubtedly added a layer of uncertainty to the entire operation.

Theseus watched his old friend's departing figure, took a deep breath, and turned back, his face now serious.

"So the plans have all been implemented."

"Hmm." Kingsley nodded. "But I still feel uneasy."

"That's normal," Theseus said. "There's never a foolproof plan. What we need is to adapt to changing circumstances."

"Distribute all your manpower. We need to have our people on every street and in every high-rise building in Westminster."

"clear."

"The time is set for three o'clock in the afternoon," Theseus continued. "At three o'clock, we will make our move simultaneously and arrest all the strange wizards on the streets."

Let's secure them first. The minister will have a headache dealing with what happens next. Our job is just to prevent any trouble.

"it is good."

"Where is that dark wizard?"

"A dark wizard?" Kingsley was taken aback, but immediately realized that Theseus was referring to the dark wizard prisoner captured by Muggles.

He shook his head, a hint of helplessness on his face. "I don't know. Not only do we not know, but even the Muggle Prime Minister doesn't know where they are. Their military is handling this matter alone, keeping it a secret from everyone. They'll only notify the Prime Minister when they arrive."

"Strict," Theseus uttered a single word, "far superior to the structure of the Ministry of Magic."

"While this will cause us some trouble, it will also cause trouble for the Death Eaters."

"Let's check the time—" Theseus looked up at the clock on the wall, "twelve o'clock."

"According to tradition, Muggles will host a luncheon for the representatives from various countries, and they will not begin their journey to the special court until 1:30 or 2:00."

"I'm going out for a patrol," Kingsley said.

"it is good."

Theseus responded, and Kingsley vanished from his spot in the next second.

—Noon, 1:30.

In an unnamed neighborhood in London, Winston Norm is having lunch with Kent Norm, a fellow Saint.

Opposite them was a young girl.

Garona Nome.

An employee of the Department of Mysteries at the Italian Ministry of Magic.

She has a head of brilliant blonde hair and light green eyes, but of course, the first thing that catches people's attention is always her left eye, which, like Moody's, is a demonic eye.

"London is really on the verge of a storm," Winston said, looking out the window.

The shadow of war loomed over the city.

Even an ordinary Muggle would sense the thick, suffocating pressure in the air today.

"What instructions does the mentor have?" Garona asked, taking a bite of her Italian pizza.

"No. She's been busy with things in France and Germany lately."

“However—” Winston whispered, “I’ve heard that the French government may have reached a cooperation agreement with a magical force, but not the French Ministry of Magic.”

"You work for the Ministry of Magic, don't you know which faction it belongs to?" Kent said, raising his prosthetic left arm and holding up a slice of pizza.

"The other side has a lot of power." Winston frowned slightly. "And it's not a wizard leading the charge."

"Not a wizard? Or a Muggle?" Kent looked at him.

I have serious doubts about this.

"But if it's a Muggle, where would a Muggle have the power to support a country?" Kent asked again.

"Unless that Muggle has a magical world backing him that's no less powerful than France," Winston said, frowning.

"Could it be..." Garona looked at the two people opposite her.

The other party returned a similar look.

They clearly all guessed who was behind it all.

"Why would they do this?" Kent asked, puzzled. "For thousands of years, they've never displayed energy so frequently. Do they want to change the magical world order structured by the Federation?"

"Not necessarily!" Winston said, suddenly remembering what his old friend had told him before leaving Australia during the summer.

They were concerned about the chaotic situation in Europe, which was severely impacting their business activities.

At the time, Winston was unaware of the meaning behind those words.

but now……

He immediately shared his suspicions with the two people beside him.

"Just for trade routes?"

"There must be another reason." Kent completely disbelieved the lame excuse.

"It might be related to Outer Gods or ancient magic," Winston speculated.

"They want to interfere?" Garona asked hastily. As the most outstanding young generation in the Saints' Organization, their understanding of that country far surpassed that of most European wizards. They knew very well that if they got involved, everything regarding the Outer Gods and ancient magic would become far more complicated, and all previous plans might be rendered useless. "Are we supposed to fight them?"

"No—" Winston affirmed.

"Master and Dumbledore agree on the Outer Gods and Ancient Magic."

"The only variable is that all the ancient magic is completely controlled by one person, which may arouse their vigilance or even panic."

"So their active involvement in European affairs is for the sake of unity?" Kent said.

"That's possible. You know, people over there always like to have a backup plan, or even a third. Didn't Miss Zhang go to Hogwarts?"

"Hmph—I really hate dealing with these smart people. Their minds are too complicated. Can't they just be straightforward?"

Wouldn't it be better if everyone laid out their needs and then each got what they wanted?

Listening to Kent's complaints, Winston laughed: "Because we are human! That's just the kind of creatures humans are."

"Alright. Time is running out. Let's all go."

Winston stood up and said decisively.

"I have a feeling that what happens in the next hour will completely change the world."

"Otherwise, our mentor wouldn't have sent us here," Garona said, standing up as well.

The digital clock on the wall is ticking with red numbers.

——14:00

Westminster Abbey.

The British established this special court here, and its purpose is self-evident.

As British diplomats have said, the trial of wizards is a matter for the Vatican, and the British government should not compensate for the unrest caused by wizards.

Now—this really is a church.

Moreover, it's a church where ancestral tablets are displayed.

The once bustling streets were now deserted, replaced by armored vehicles everywhere, with soldiers closely monitoring everything.

"As you can see, the level of security this time is unprecedented. This trial, which is scheduled to take place at 3 p.m., is not only a sentencing of criminals from one world to another, but also a gathering of the world's most powerful leaders." This was broadcast on every radio and television station in London by the BBC.

Armed patrol helicopters constantly flew overhead. Soldiers occasionally flashed across the buildings, and sirens blared from the streets, all adding to the somber atmosphere.

"Today, diplomats from various countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, and Poland, are present."

"Let's look at today's weather. London is covered in clouds today, but it will be a cloudy day. Meteorologists say there are very few condensation nuclei in the air, so the chances of rain in London are slim."

Near Westminster Abbey, at least tens of thousands of people gathered, with crowds and reporters waving British, European Union, and other European flags, creating a noisy atmosphere.

Elsewhere.

For example, Dar Somerset Palace, a huge Tudor palace, is where helicopters carrying diplomats from various countries take off, land, and transfer.

These important locations naturally attracted a large group of reporters.

"Oh! Look, everyone, the helicopter that just flew over Darsammerset Palace is the German Chancellor's vehicle." In front of Darsammerset Palace, a host was holding a microphone, and the camera was looking up at the sky. The roar of the helicopter was clearly transmitted to the ears of every citizen watching the live broadcast through the host's microphone.

The helicopter traced a beautiful arc in the air, circled several times above Somerset Palace, and then slowly began to descend, eventually disappearing from view.

(End of this chapter)