harry potter book of crimes

"...Maka...save them...save them, bastard Maka..."

"As long as you can save them this time, I will do whatever you say from now on, and I will never quarrel with you again..."

"...Maka."

In the afternoon, when Maka was listening to various race reports in the competition coordinator's office, Lupine and others from Black's old house appeared at the door.

But what surprised him a little was that Leni, who was usually too lively, came in at the end with her head lowered this time. And her sister Lena was always half hugging and half hugging her.

Never let go for a moment.

After Lupine, who was the calmest, explained the matter clearly, Leni seemed like she could no longer suppress the guilt and pain in her heart. She rushed over, hugged Maka's arm tightly and started crying.

Her tears have always been like the most precious treasure in her life, never easily seen. And such rare things are often the purest, most sincere, and most crystal clear.

"Maka...save them."

The children were taken away, and a total of seven children were left homeless in the old Blake house. All of them were taken away except for Isla, who was not very sociable.

In fact, Lupine found the place easily. Because there was also left the body of an alienated Acromantula, scattered limbs and round torso, as well as several smashed buildings.

The humanoid stone statue reveals a rather fierce battle.

As for the outcome of the battle, it is self-evident.

"I understand, Leni," Maka gently patted the head of the still crying little girl, "You have worked very hard, although I also want to say to you, 'You did nothing wrong'... But we

We all know that we did something wrong, right?"

"But I think your fault is not that you took them far away or left them in an unsafe place. This fault does not belong to you..."

"Lupine has told me the changes in Hill and the others during this period, so I also understand... you are really growing up and can be a great 'sister'... No, you are now working for Hill

They worry about you feeling guilty, but you are already a great sister."

Having said this, Maka gently separated Leni's hands from holding his arms, pressed her shoulders and looked into her hazy tearful eyes.

"Do you know now? Where did you go wrong?"

After saying that, Maka straightened up and nodded towards Lupine and Sirius.

"My spider died there, right?" He asked with a slight frown, "Is the body still there?"

"Ah... um." Lu Ping nodded immediately and said, "They are still there. I went to join them before I had time to clean up, and then we decided to come directly to your side."

"Okay," Maka thought for a moment, then said, "You and Sirius immediately contact the available members to go out to investigate. Don't worry about whether the other party will find out - of course, you still have to ensure your own safety first.

First things first. As for where the incident occurred, it’s up to me to check it out... Let’s take action!”

"…Uh, Mr. MacLean?"

When Maka was about to walk out with Lupine and the others, the assistant wizard assigned to him by the International Federation of Wizards came to him and stopped him with some embarrassment.

"Sorry, I have to leave for a while," Maka waved her hand, "but I can recommend a person to replace me - you can go to the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts, Sif

Professor Les Snape will help you with your work."

Maka walked as she spoke, and when she reached the door, the assistant suddenly turned around again.

"Mr. MacLean," he said hesitantly, "then...the two ladies inside?"

"Let them stay in there for a while!" Maka said softly, "Don't worry, they are not unfamiliar with Hogwarts. Just wait for them to come out later and take them to the castle."

At this moment, Leni, who was still standing there, suddenly turned around and plunged into the arms of her sister Lena.

"I'm sorry," she cried loudly, "I always make you worry, time and time again... I'm really, really sorry... This... this is my fault, my biggest fault. Just like me

Now you are worried about Sister Hill and the others being like that... no, you must be even more... even more..."

Feeling the emotions conveyed by her sister's body temperature and intermittent words in her arms, Lena, who had never been overly expressive, couldn't help but purse her lips.

…

Maka, who gave up on the things in the alchemy competition, couldn't find any clues where the children were taken away. Well, actually that's not accurate, but... there are clues, but there are no traces that can be traced.

Not a single bit remains.

From the very beginning when he was set up by the old prophet to escape, apart from the fact that he used the fake Edward butler to trap two black-robed cultists, he really hadn't caught any real clues.

He could feel that the old man was like a slippery loach. And an opponent like this would undoubtedly be difficult to deal with... As far as the current predicament was concerned, "waiting for the opponent to hit him" would be the answer.

This is the most unrealistic, but also the most practical means of breakthrough.

Therefore, Maka simply let the Order members go out to search and investigate.

Because he knew that since the other party chose to take away the children, it meant that the other party's purpose was probably to threaten and trade. Then, he decided to use a high-profile search to send a signal to the other party - that he was urgent and willing to accept this.

A deal that is clearly going to be unfair.

Time passed little by little, and the afternoon match quickly came to an end. Under Maka's previous suggestion, the second round was indeed much more interesting than yesterday, and Snape, as Maka's temporary agent,

He also handled many matters one by one very efficiently.

The only pity is that Maka, who has made a lot of contributions to the competition, has only seen a small part of this morning's content.

In the evening, Maka, who had been busy outside all afternoon, finally returned to Hogwarts.

Of course, he came back this time not for the alchemy competition, but to make preparations to accept the other party's request to meet at any time.

If he had not guessed the old man's intentions wrongly, then the other party would definitely find a way to contact him and force him to carry out the transaction. And the location of the transaction would naturally never be in Hogwarts.

As for what the other party wanted, whether it was Nico Flamel's alchemical legacy or the dagger of pain that was not in his hand at all... no matter what he would do, he would have to prepare it first.

"Maka, do you need me to find some people to help you investigate? Although I can't leave, I still have some old friends who can help you..."

"No, no need."

The appearance of Professor McGonagall was not beyond Maka's expectation. From the moment he left the sisters Leni and Lena at Hogwarts, he knew that Professor McGonagall would find out sooner or later.

"Professor, the responsibilities you bear are much heavier than mine," Maka leaned on the desk and did what he was doing without even raising his head, because he knew that Mag didn't care about those false politenesses, "and

, this time it is not a matter of manpower... If it is really necessary, I will go to you."

"Really?" Professor McGonagall nodded and said, "Okay, I think you already have your own method... But remember, you have to be careful yourself. Strong power is obviously not the only means to achieve your goal.

"

Mag's words are actually an explanation of the current situation. This incident was a typical emergency incident. If Rita Skeeter hadn't accidentally discovered the anomaly and quickly found him,

Maybe he would wait until someone came to his door before he noticed it.

And the old man's own strength, judging from the intensity of the magic wave he sensed, was far inferior to his own. Although he felt that there seemed to be something strange about the prophet, it did not make the other party stronger than him.

Otherwise, he wouldn't try to coerce him by taking away the people around him.

"Professor, I understand..." Maka wrote a few more symbols on the parchment, then raised her head and said seriously, "I will pay attention."

After finishing speaking, Maka immediately threw herself into the intense preparation work again.

After all, it is impossible for him to guess when the other party will contact him, so it is naturally best to complete these preparations in advance as soon as possible.

However, to be honest, he had actually taken enough time and considered a lot of things in such a short period of time. But he still did not expect that the other party seemed to be even more anxious than him.

While Professor McGonagall was still in his office and had not even finished speaking, Filch stumbled in from the corridor outside.

"Principal, Professor MacLean...huhu...the school gate...the school gate...many people..."

"who?"

Professor McGonagall immediately asked, and Maka couldn't help but frown and raised her head again.

"I, I don't know...they are all wearing black robes..." Filch may have sensed some external malice, and said with a trembling mouth, "There is also one in the middle who is wearing a white robe. He is old.

It's very big...it looks like a boss, they have a few little ones in their hands..."

"Come so fast? And he even showed up in person..." After hearing Filch's description, Maka couldn't help but be a little stunned, and then quickly turned solemn, "He escaped so decisively last time

Lisuo, let me see, that old man doesn't look like someone who dares to expose himself to danger... Something is wrong!"

Having said this, he suddenly stood up. Behind him, the sky outside the window had gradually darkened, and on the east wall, a few dim stars were emitting a faint blue light.