Amost did not raise his hand above his head, and even, he did not make a vigilant attitude. Instead, his lips twitched, and he turned his back to the person behind him, asking politely with a smile, "Excuse me?"
I'm sorry, dear lady. Have I broken any laws?
Oh, do you not know that?
The voice still retained a serious tone, but it sounded like it was holding back laughter.
"You don't know that, do you, sir? The Auror Office has received permits from the Department of Magical Transportation and Minister Fudge to impose traffic control in Hogsmeade. Any unauthorized individuals arriving by Portkey, Floo Network or Apparition are not permitted, sir! You've made a big mistake!"
"But the Ministry of Magic's recent press conferences, as well as The Daily Prophet, have made no mention of it."
Amost pursed his lips and smiled.
"We've posted the notice at the village's entrance bulletin board. You didn't see it, that's your problem, sir, not the Ministry of Magic's fault!"
Amost had heard the chuckling breath from behind him. Before he could say anything, the person behind him completely gave up pretense and burst into laughter.
"I believe, given your egregious disregard for the law, Amost·Brane, you need to face severe punishment... Ah, I've got an idea. How about a one-semester solitary confinement?"
Amost also laughed. He turned around and looked at the person behind him with a teasing tone, "What about a one-term isolation?"
"Want me to serve solitary confinement? Of course, not a problem, Tonks, provided there's someone to keep me company."
The morning of Hogsmeade village bathed in the cool, refreshing sunlight. The local residents were still not far from their homes, and there were few people on the commercial street. Amost and Tonks laughed as they shook hands.
In the empty Three Broomsticks bar, the sultry Madam Rosmerta, with her sly figure, walked over and put a glass of syrup soda and a cup of green tea on a tray. She nodded in greeting and then walked away wisely.
"....Some things are not secrets that are kept from the public."
Tonks fiddled with her somewhat dim violet hair, turning it into the color of ripe grain in autumn. She curiously eyed Amost, exuberantly saying.
"The Daily Prophet says that the boy and his friends retrieved the Basilisk from the Slytherin's secret chamber, but everyone at the Ministry basically knows that it was you who rescued those kids from the creature's mouth... However, few people in the Ministry know where you came from, and many are out and about trying to find out your background!"
"Then have you told them who I am?"
Amost smiled, showing no sign of much concern.
"I know you don't like to draw attention, Amost..."
Tonks said with a smugness,
"A woman named Umbridge, who's quite annoying, has been asking around the Ministry about you and has even sought me out. I didn't say a word to her."
"Very grateful..."
Umbridge was the senior deputy of the Ministry of Magic. She was supposed to be Fudge's right-hand woman and was very trusted by him. Amost guessed that this woman was probably trying to recruit some young wizards who were physically fit and had good names but not much fame.
By the time in the future, if one day Fudge and Dumbledore have a falling out...The people of the Ministry of Magic, some more loyal to power, some neutral, and a considerable number are Dumbledore's loyal 'disciples', it's really not certain who they'll follow when Dumbledore calls!
"Speaking of which," Amost looked at Tonks in her standard Auror black robe, and his gaze flickered for a moment.
"You've become an Auror? That's a great job. Among the graduates of our batch, besides Bill Weasley who met all the requirements for Auror recruitment, the others' grades seem to be inadequate?"
"I was a special recruit," Tonks said with a lift of her nose, proud.
"You know, Amost, I am an Animagi. I have exceptional talent in disguise and concealment... Of course, Aurors are not an easy job to handle. I am still an 'intern' now... Speaking of which, Amost, what have you been doing these years under assumed names? I mean, before you became a 'Investigator' at Hogwarts in the first half of these years?"
"Freelance worker---" Amost said with a smile, lifting his teacup, "aiming to help some people in trouble solve their current predicaments."
"Sounds like it's not a serious job," Tonks asked suspiciously.
"Yes," Amost nodded seriously, "Aurors are our mortal enemies."
The reddening sun slowly but steadily climbed up to the sky. A wooden cart loaded with oak barrels stopped in front of the bar. Madam Rosmerta, carrying a bag with a colorful pattern, rushed in to meet the cargo. Inside the bar, only Amost and Tonks were left.
Amost leaned back in his chair with a smile, while across from him, Tonks was enthusiastically discussing the exciting experiences from his career as an Auror.
"Only a hair's breadth, Amost..."
Tonks stretched out her finger and gesticulated blindly,
"I swear, we were just a hair's breadth away from catching that group of black wizards smuggling cultural relics... It's a shame. Before that operation, Kingsley privately told me that if I could show impressive performance during the capture, he would help me get a shorter internship period from Scrivener. But in the end, that damned black wizard not only ruined everything and caused me to lie in St. Mungo for two weeks, but also lost us two months of bonuses! I had planned to use that money to buy a broom!"
Amost had no idea how to react and could only continue to maintain his smile....
Reminiscing about the failed mission two months ago, Tonks was so angry that she drained the syrup soda in her glass in one go. She seemed unsatisfied and wanted to find something more stimulating for Madam Rosmerta to serve, but upon looking around, she found the store empty. In frustration, she slammed the glass down on the table.
"Oh, right!"
Gazing at the serene Amost, who is more excited than himself to reunite with an old schoolmate after years, Amost·Brane remained calm and composed---Tonks was not surprised by Amost's demeanor. Since they were in school, this Slytherin wizard who seemed indifferent to everything had always been this way.
"By the way, Amost, why are you in Hogsmeade? I heard you're no longer working at Hogwarts."
Amost knew that the Ministry of Magic had likely arranged for Tonks to be here in order to stake out Black. He certainly wasn't going to tell her that he had come here with the same goal in mind.
"You know everything, Tonks," Amost said.
Amost looked out the window and saw a row of old, dilapidated houses next to the street, with their chimneys emitting white smoke.
"In the first half of the year, I returned to Hogwarts, and of course, I also wandered around this village. I discovered to my surprise that I was quite fond of the living environment here. Well...it reminds me a lot of the happy memories during my time at Hogwarts. So, after careful consideration, I decided to stay here for a while. This time I came here in hopes of finding a rented house in the village--"
According to Amost's understanding of Tonks, she should make a joke upon hearing the phrase 'beautiful memories from when I was studying,' such as, 'Are those beautiful memories about being confined to Professor Snape's office for a semester?'
But what surprised him was that the girl, who was well-behaved, did not show such a lighthearted attitude as he expected. Instead, she looked serious and her eyes were filled with reverence.
"You want to settle in Hogsmeade at this time?"
"Doesn't the Ministry of Magic have a notice posted on the bulletin board at the village entrance that forbids people from doing so?" Amost narrowed his eyes and asked after a moment of silence, in a relaxed tone.
"If it were another time, Amost,"
Getting to the point, Tonks became serious. She alertly glanced at the door where Madam Rosmerta was negotiating prices, and then lowered her voice to warn Amost.
"Now, this is not a peaceful place!"
"..."
Reading Room
