The Butcher of Hogsmeade

After much deliberation, Narcissa ultimately didn't offer an answer. Instead, she said with a hint of contempt and sarcasm, "That traitor, now he knows how to care about his family? Has he forgotten that besides Regulus, there's someone else in his family who needs his care—his own mother!"

"I'm sorry, I have no right to interfere in or criticize my friend's family affairs. My inquiry about Regulus was merely on someone else's behalf." Shen Hou shook his head slightly, seemingly sighing for his friend, but in reality, he was secretly observing Narcissa's condition.

"From the day he ran away from home and abandoned my aunt Walbuga, he was no longer my cousin. I know nothing about him and have no desire to have anything to do with a traitor to my family," the Malfoy matriarch declared resolutely.

"Alright, I will relay these words to Sirius Black verbatim. I'm sorry to bother you, Madam." Shen Hou's face was full of deliberate and hypocritical apology. The way he waved his hand was like a helpless shrug after being rejected, but he clenched his fist into a handprint the moment he raised his arm.

"Yakshi!"

"What did you say?" A look of confusion flashed across Narcissa's face. Everything seemed normal, but in that instant, the anger and panic she had shown vanished from her face.

Shen Hou knew the Axii Sign had been successful, and now they had to hurry. "I say, why don't you have your house-elves take us to Mr. Lucius Malfoy? You don't need to face the pressure from the Ministry of Magic and the Aurors alone; that's Mr. Malfoy's responsibility. Let him have a good talk with us. As long as we reach an agreement, all the Aurors will leave immediately, giving you and your children a peaceful home."

"Yes, of course, why not? Your filthy footprints have ruined my estate. Lucius should kick you out immediately." Narcissa's face suddenly turned fierce. "Dobby, Dobby, you come here and take these rude fellows to the master."

"Madam, but..."

"This is an order, immediately, at top speed!" Narcissa, already under the influence of the sign, shouted recklessly, unintentionally waking her infant son.

The house-elf shuddered in fright, and the skin on its ears almost immediately crumpled up.

"Your name is Dobby, right? Come out with us!" Shen Hou knew this was a golden opportunity, so he pulled Dobby towards the door. "Use Apparition to take us to your master, Mr. Malfoy, but not here. Apparition is too loud and will disturb your little master."

Dobby's tiny body was no match for the monstrous strength of an adult. He dared not use magic on the wizard, so he could only turn to Narcissa for help, only to find that his mistress's mind was entirely on the little swaddled baby in her arms and she had not noticed his situation at all.

"Come out, let's talk about how to get there." Fabian carried the house-elf to the door, feeling it was easier than carrying his sister's two naughty twins. He quickly left Narcissa Malfoy's sight and cast an anti-interference spell around himself to ensure that his voice wouldn't be heard.

"What? Dobby heard the lady's orders and will take you to see the master. Dobby can Apparate and will lead you to the master."

"That's not how it works. For your master to be disgraced by an Auror searching Malfoy Manor, you wouldn't want him to lose face in public, would you? If you did that, even if it was the mistress's order, Lucius wouldn't let you off easily. How many beatings have you taken at Malfoy Manor?" Fabian pointed to the scars on Dobby's body that were impossible to cover up and that he hadn't even tried to hide; as a pure-blood wizard, he clearly understood the status and situation of house-elves very well.

Dobby shrank his head, his ears drooping down, almost covering his cheeks.

"Dobby can't embarrass his master, the master will punish Dobby, but Dobby can't disobey the mistress's orders either. Bad Dobby, bad Dobby, how dare you disobey the mistress's orders..."

"Alright, alright, listen to me." Fabian stopped the house-elf from banging his head against the doorpost. "Quietly lead us to your master's vicinity, without letting anyone know. Keep your distance at first, don't get too close."

"Yes, but why?" the house-elf asked.

Fabian spoke sharply, coaxing the house-elf before him as if he were a Hogwarts student: "What if your master has other people with him when we get there? Like friends, acquaintances? If they see two Aurors going to your master, won't people know that Malfoy Manor was searched? Wouldn't he lose face? We can't let anyone know, understand?"

"Understood." Dobby nodded nervously.

"That's right. Take us there. Don't try anything funny. Think of your master. Don't embarrass them or cause them any trouble," Fabian said as he finished speaking, before he and Shen Hou each took one of the elves' hands.

With a loud "bang," they disappeared from the manor.

Almost simultaneously with the house-elves' departure, Narcissa Malfoy awoke with a start in the living room. Recalling the conversation and the commands she had given the house-elves, she let out a piercing and furious scream: "You shameless Mudbloods! You attacked me with spells! Did you use a Confusion Charm, or a Imperius Charm?"

"Be careful what you say, Mrs. Malfoy. No one has ever used any spells on you," Scrimgeour retorted immediately.

"Liars, liars, I remember it all... Dobby, come back here!" Narcissa shouted at the door, but no one answered.

Scrimgeour glanced towards the door, confirming that Fabian and Shen Hou had left, and his courage swelled. He declared confidently, "Your house-elf, acting on your orders, led my men to see your husband, Lucius. Everyone present can testify that you agreed to our proposal and gave the house-elf clear and unambiguous orders. No one cast any spells on you. If you don't believe me, you can request an investigation of every Auror and Striker's wand afterward, but we also reserve the right to pursue any unfounded speculation or defamation."

"Shameless scoundrel! Shameless scoundrel who colludes with the Mudbloods!"

"Let me remind you, verbal defamation is also within the scope of our subsequent investigation, Mrs. Malfoy." Scrimgeour didn't let slip a word, insisting on never admitting to accusations without evidence, but secretly he was wondering if he should learn that magical staffless spellcasting technique from Shen Hou.

They say that this technique, called "Signs," has even affected Alastor Moody.

It seems that it is indeed worth learning!