The Pacifist Necromancer of Hogwarts

Chapter 343 Theft

"What was stolen?" asked Anthony.

Scrimgeour did not answer him, but stood cautiously in the doorway, watching the wizard known as Alastor hurling dozens of spells into the empty classroom.

"The corridor is fine." Another Auror walked in. "How's it going here, Mad-Eye?"

Hearing the name "Mad-Eye", Anthony finally knew who was in front of him. At this time, the Auror closed the door, and Mad-Eye immediately jumped up as if his legs were caught, turned around and threw a spell at the door. Scrimgeour and the Auror standing at the door raised their wands at the same time to block the spell.

"Don't close the door, Kingsley!" Mad-Eye said in an angry and gruff voice, "Do you want to know what the Exploding Curse combined with the Sealed Room will do? Ha, you will be like a can of tomatoes thrown into the fireplace, and let me tell you, when you are blown to pieces, no one will be willing to pick you off the wall! Not to mention that there is a hiding Dark wizard standing next to you..."

While he was talking he had swept from various corners of the room three pieces of Bubble-Gum, a Dungbomb, several sticky, botched potions, and two Bowtruckles, the poor, bewildered creatures of which Mad-Eye had thrown out of the window with the rest of the stuff.

"I'm inclined to save trouble," Kingsley said quietly and in a low voice. "This is Hogwarts, he's sponsored by Dumbledore, and he has a good track record."

Scrimgeour took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Mad-Eye's eyebrows knitted together.

"Albus... he should learn to be alert!" he grumbled, but he limped over to a chair and sat down - from his sitting posture, he was always on guard for a knife to stick out from the back or cushion of the chair. His magic eye was still fixed on Anthony, and his wand was pointed in his direction.

"Please take a seat, Professor Anthony," said Scrimgeour, pulling out a chair and sitting down.

"Sit over there," Mad-Eye said to Anthony, pointing to a chair bathed in sunlight. "Right there, facing us, eyes on the podium, hands on the table." The scar on his face twisted viciously. "Don't play tricks. I may die from Albus's gullibility, but I guarantee you won't feel any better either."

Kingsley also sat down, cleverly blocking the door. He smiled at Anthony reassuringly: "Don't worry, Professor Anthony."

Anthony took the seat Mad-Eye requested and put his hands on the table. "Can you tell me now?"

"Look at the stage," Mad-Eye hissed. "Don't look at us."

But Scrimgeour obviously did not believe that Anthony had the eyes of a basilisk or Medusa. He did not react to Anthony's gaze, but just frowned slightly impatiently and rubbed his forehead.

After a while, he said, "We received a report. After various investigations, the clues all indicate that you may be related to a recent theft case, Professor Anthony... After discussion, we thought that since you are still in Hogwarts, we should be able to have a frank and friendly chat... Of course, it is very understandable that anyone might be interested in something like that..."

Mad-Eye grumbled something sarcastic in his throat. Scrimgeour pretended not to hear.

"We hope that you will cooperate with our investigation as much as possible, Professor Anthony, and do not deliberately conceal anything. You disappeared from Hogwarts last Friday afternoon with strange whereabouts -"

"And then to Hogsmeade?" Anthony recalled.

"-went to a place we all know." Scrimgeour said, and then he was silent for a moment. When he spoke again, his tone seemed to become very happy. "Let's be frank, Professor Anthony. I actually admire your ability. You know, you always seem to be able to easily bypass those tight defenses. Of course, you probably don't realize it, just like the previous incident... But what will people think? Someone once assured us that you are very happy to stay in Hogwarts and be a professor who gets along well with everyone... Once people know this, they may never see you as a wizard they can trust again..."

He paused, waiting for Anthony to say something. A small cloud of dust swirled in the sun.

Anthony hesitated for a moment, then said honestly, "I don't understand you, Mr. Scrimgeour. What do you think I stole?"

"Of course not, Professor Anthony," said Scrimgeour amiably. "It was just borrowing for a look, wasn't it? People are curious."

He was silent with a hint of meaning, tapping his fingers on the table. Anthony felt that he should say something, so he repeated, "Curiosity?"

"Perhaps a little too curious, but it's harmless," said Scrimgeour slowly. "If we can get it back soon - before it's too late - the matter will be settled. Nothing will happen. Of course, you have been accused of idle things, Professor Anthony. Probably by the pure-bloods. They're worried that Professor Burbage will abandon his post at Hogwarts to focus on trouble with them."

He paused again, and from behind his gold-rimmed spectacles his leonine yellow eyes gazed with authority upon Anthony.

Anthony said, "Well..."

Scrimgeour waited for a moment, but when no further response came, he leaned back in his chair, crossed his fingers, and looked a little disappointed.

"Is it still there?" he whispered, glancing quickly at Mad-Eye, who turned his head sharply and looked at Scrimgeour with his good eye.

"What's still there?" Anthony asked kindly.

His curiosity was now really aroused. Known: Something was stolen from the heavily guarded building last Friday, and the Ministry of Magic is looking for it. Someone has accused Anthony of being involved in the theft. Combined with Anthony's resume, Scrimgeour believes that Anthony is indeed a strong suspect.

Conclusion: The Dementors are missing?

Scrimgeour looked at Mad-Eye again. Mad-Eye's normal eye narrowed and he stared at Scrimgeour without blinking until the other man looked away first.

Scrimgeour sighed slightly. "Professor Anthony, I want to know... does Dumbledore... does he... does he know?"

"Know what?" "The whole thing." Scrimgeour leaned forward slightly, choosing his words carefully. "I know he has always disapproved - but the situation is complicated, very complicated, Professor Anthony... Things are always changing. It's one time, it's another. Destroying it is of course the simplest way, which can save a lot of trouble, but it will also bring us losses... very great losses..."

“It’s always very complicated,” Anthony said.

“That’s right, Professor. That’s right!” Scrimgeour seemed relieved. “So, it’s still there?”

"No, I mean your fine art of language is making things more and more complicated," Anthony said. "Let's get this straight. First and foremost, unless you're looking for chocolate frogs and mint gummies, I have nothing to do with your goal. What's missing?"

"So, Dumbledore..."

Mad-Eye interrupted impatiently, "Put aside your skepticism, Scrimgeour. If Dumbledore wants to do something at the Ministry, he can do it better himself than by entrusting a Dark creature to it."

"You-Know-Who's wand," Kingsley said suddenly. "It's missing."

Anthony had not expected this answer at all. Scrimgeour and Mad-Eye also seemed to have not expected Kingsley to tell Anthony, and they were staring at him.

"Last Friday afternoon," Kingsley continued, ignoring his two colleagues. "The thief must have been very skilled in circumventing our defenses, and hid it in a place where all tracking spells would be ineffective."

Anthony frowned and asked, "Hogwarts?"

"No, no," said Scrimgeour, looking closely at Anthony. "It's the Dark Arts."

"After we found the wand, we put a lot of tracking spells on it," Kingsley said. "It would be almost impossible to undo them one by one. There are only two things in the world that can make all the spells ineffective at the same time: Gringotts, or a lot of Dark Magic."

Anthony said, "Or break it off?"

"Or break it," Scrimgeour agreed reluctantly.

Kingsley nodded to Anthony. "Through some channels, we finally believe that the thief should have hidden it among many dark magic items. We checked some shops, such as Borgin and Burke's, but found nothing..."

"Except for a few things of dubious origin," Mad-Eye muttered, "those shady worms..."

Kingsley said, "Then we received word that you had, quite by coincidence, disappeared that afternoon, Professor Anthony. We also happen to know that you were in possession of a number of Dark Arts items."

Mad-Eye scoffed, "He himself is one of them."

"But it sounds like you had nothing to do with any of this. He's not lying, is he, Mad-Eye?" Kingsley asked.

Mad-Eye looked at Anthony suspiciously. "People like that are always very good at covering up their lies."

Scrimgeour frowned slightly and remained silent for a while. Finally, he stood up and said, "It seems that we can't get anything out of you. From any angle, I hope you can keep this conversation confidential, Professor Anthony. This matter is still top secret. Leaking the secret will not benefit you or me."

"I understand." Anthony also stood up and shook Scrimgeour's outstretched hand. "But you can't pretend forever that it didn't happen."

Scrimgeour sneered wearily. "I would rather it was you who took You-Know-Who's wand, Professor Anthony. At least you're willing to talk to us."

"I didn't," Anthony said.

"I believe it." Kingsley said calmly, and shook hands with Anthony. "We will find a way to find that person. Thank you for your cooperation, Professor Anthony."

Mad-Eye stood in the doorway, still watching Anthony warily.

"Let us go, Mad-Eye," said Scrimgeour, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "Do you have any other ideas? Perhaps a Death Eater on the loose?"

"Those bastards aren't brave enough to break into the Ministry of Magic," said Mad-Eye scornfully.

"At least Hogwarts is safe," said Kingsley. "You should feel more at ease now, Mad-Eye."

"I never feel safe," Mad-Eye said gruffly. "Those scum will seize any opportunity... The last time I dealt with a wandless Dark Magic creature... Oh, I remember, it was that mad vampire. Never let your guard down! Even in Hogwarts, you never know where the enemy will jump out from -"

He opened the door and then jumped away nimbly, pointing his wand at the figure that rushed into the room like a whirlwind.

"Who threw the dungbomb?" Filch asked, panting angrily.

(End of this chapter)