Hogwarts Wasteland: The Witch from the Borderlands

Chapter 81 Director of the Legal Enforcement Department (Seventh update since release)

"Bang!" The ornate wooden door was pushed open with great force, and James Potter stormed in angrily.

"This is the Malfoyburg Law Enforcement Division, not your stinking toilets on Cliff Street," Crouch Jr., who was engrossed in processing documents, looked up and said coldly.

In the large office, many male and female wizards were busy at their respective workstations, while many elves and Muggles were kneeling on the floor cleaning or carrying heavy documents in and out.

Because of the noise James made, they all looked up at the newcomer.

"A Hogwarts student has been attacked, and the culprit is none other than a house-elf from Malfoy Castle!" Mr. Potter, wand in hand, showed no fear of Crouch Jr.'s imposing presence.

"I need a reasonable explanation, otherwise the next person to appear in Malfoy Castle won't be me, but Dumbledore!"

A surge of magic boiled around him, causing the polished floor tiles and the chandelier on the ceiling to twist and deform.

James Potter was also a master of Transfiguration. Although people remember Mrs. Potter more for her amazing potion-making skills, Mr. Potter, as a major force of the Order of the Phoenix, should not be underestimated.

Predictably, if a satisfactory answer is not received today, news of the Phoenix Society's disturbance in Malfoy Castle will be all over the world tomorrow.

"This is a very serious accusation, Mr. Potter! You need to provide evidence before you speak!" Crouch Jr. stood up, and a bone cane similar to Lucius's appeared in his hand.

In an area invisible to the naked eye, equally powerful magic spread, smoothing out the changes in the surroundings caused by Jaime's anger.

But it was clear that all of this was somewhat difficult, and in the silent magical confrontation, Little Barty was at a disadvantage.

Even if he didn't want to, he had to admit that he was no match for James Potter, or rather, that using only the obvious magic wouldn't work. After joining Voldemort's side, he devoted all his energy to studying those evil and forbidden witchcrafts. On the contrary, the part taught in school remained at the level he had when he graduated, although that was still far beyond most wizards.

James Potter is not only older than him, but also a veteran of many battles. He often received guidance from Dumbledore, and his skill in Transfiguration is probably not much less than McGonagall's. Moreover, he is a better fighter.

"Sorry, sir! We can't stop him!" Outside the door, several guard wizards, some with one leg still a chair, ran over. James easily broke through their blockade. Even now, they hadn't been able to undo the transformation. They could only run over with a limp, pointing their wands at James while sweating profusely and trying to find a way to break the spell. They weren't Aurors; they were more like Muggle gatekeepers, much less skilled.

"I recognize Dobby. He's a Malfoy elf. After Lucius went to prison, he should have been confiscated and become a member of the Public Service Division, instead of showing up at Cliff Street to attack a child!" Jaime was not afraid of being surrounded. Both his own strength and the Order of the Phoenix behind him gave him the confidence to speak with his head held high.

Although there was no evidence, the wizarding world doesn't value evidence; a wizard's memories are evidence. If necessary, a wizard can extract their memories, place them in the Pensieve, and show them to the Inquisition. Therefore, Jaime wasn't worried about Barty Crouch Jr. trying to renege on his promise.

What kind of trick is this, claiming "no evidence is defamation"?

Unexpectedly, Crouch Jr. didn't refute him. Instead, he frowned and asked seriously, "What did you say the attacker's name was? Dobby?"

He pulled a piece of paper from the mountain of documents on the table and handed it to him: "Take a look and see if it's him."

"What trick are you playing now?" James cautiously took the paper and found it was a wanted poster.

The image of Dobby was clearly printed on it, his large, fearful eyes looking around nervously, with shifty eyes.

"This little devil escaped from the Public Service Department in early July, and we issued an arrest warrant for him long ago," Crouch Jr. said casually.

"This is impossible! No fairy has ever broken a contract!" James said in disbelief.

"These are Malfoy house elves. This is an ancient family, and nobody knows what strange magic they might possess. It's not impossible that their elves could run away," Barty Crouch Jr. retorted.

"Where is Lucius? Isn't he imprisoned in your water dungeon? Interrogate him! The elves' actions must be orchestrated by their master."

"If Malfoyburg doesn't hold his contract, then who is his master!" James frowned.

"Mr. Potter, please understand one thing: you are not my superior and have no right to order me around," Barty Jr. said coldly.

"Besides, how do you know we didn't interrogate him? The water dungeon guards and the biphasic can both testify that I went to the water dungeon the moment Dobby disappeared, but getting the former chairman to talk is no easy task; moreover, every wizard in Malfoy Castle has multiple roles, and we can't spare too many people to track down a dangerous little elf who can Apparate at any time."

Barty Crouch Jr. applauded his own wisdom. After learning of Lucius's terms of the deal, he had foreseen that this day would come. Before taking Dobby into the water dungeon, he had planned the illusion of Dobby escaping from the Public Service Department and concealed Dobby's presence when entering the water dungeon. Now, the roles were reversed, and the previous incident of entering the water dungeon had become evidence to clear his name. The Chief of the Enforcement Division knew better than anyone how to clear his name.

"So you're just going to let it go? Let this little elf wander around outside? Continue plotting how to murder a student who's not even in second grade?" James was furious.

"Watch your words, Mr. Potter. We've issued a bounty. Any wizard who finds, captures, or kills this elf will receive a reward," Crouch Jr. said earnestly, with a hint of sarcasm. "As for protecting the students of Hogwarts, that's the professors' job. Malfoy Castle's actual territory is only Wiltshire, not the World Government."

"Besides, I don't think any adult wizard would be so bored as to help a little elf escape, risking being wanted by the authorities, just to murder a child. This is probably just a spontaneous act by this foolish little elf."

James sneered, "No matter how eloquently you try to persuade him, Dobby escaped from Malfoy Castle, that much is undeniable. Since you are unable to track down the murderer, Dumbledore will come and inquire about it later!"

He turned and walked away coldly, and the wizard blocking the doorway quickly made way for him, not daring to stop him in the slightest.

"Oh, Dumbledore, mighty Dumbledore," Barty Crouch Jr. said lightly from behind. "We know we're scared. We'll send the head of the elf supervisor of the Public Service Department to Hogwarts to apologize afterwards. Please don't hold these filthy creatures' mistakes against us."

James clenched his fists but didn't turn around. He was no longer at the age of being in school, and arguing was pointless.