harry potter book of crimes

"...Ms. McGonagall, I think I have to remind you that Charlotte Witt is a member of our Witt family. Now we want to take her back, and we hope you will call her out as soon as possible... Otherwise, we have a reason

I believe that the younger members of our family have been detained and imprisoned by your Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"

The person currently standing at the school gate and talking to Professor McGonagall was actually the old housekeeper whom Maka met when she went to the Witte family mansion.

This old man is the same as before, with his gray hair neatly combed, and the wizard robe on his body spotless. No matter how you look at it, he is a steady and imposing old wizard.

And just like his sonorous and powerful voice, he also showed an aggressive attitude at all times regarding his actions of coming to Hogwarts to demand people.

It seems that for him, Charlotte, the junior member of the family, is determined today.

But from Professor McGonagall's perspective, the Witte family's behavior is unreasonable.

Although Maka did not explain in too much detail the arrival of Charlotte, Maga had been working with Charlotte for a long time. For example, "Why did Charlotte give up her family's advantages and be willing to

Anyone with a bit of brains would be able to figure out the reason for running back to school to work as an insignificant professor's assistant.

"Mr. Witte," McGonagall heard that the other party actually falsely accused the school of imprisoning Charlotte, but she was not angry. She just retorted calmly, "As the current principal of Hogwarts, I recognize that Miss Charlotte Witte

Indeed, he has served in our school..."

She told this fact seriously at first, but then she changed the subject.

"But I'm sorry," McGonagall said calmly, "Our school has never established any long-term employment relationship with Miss Witte. She only held a temporary position as a 'professor's assistant' in our school. And today, my school is on duty

On the day off, Miss Witte did not come to school to work."

"Humph, you're not here even if you say you're not here! Why don't I believe it--"

Behind the old butler, a younger member of the Werther family seemed to have lost his temper, and suddenly asked a question loudly.

But before he could continue, he saw the old housekeeper glance at him sharply, causing him to immediately shut his mouth and stand up straight as he listened.

In the Werther family, housekeepers have never been classified as servants, because every generation of housekeepers has the same surname of "Werther" brought from their mother's womb.

The term "housekeeper" is not so much a family position as a highly representative family position.

"When Ms. Mag said this, does it mean that my lady is no longer in the castle?" The old housekeeper stared at Mag's eyes and said with a slightly gloomy expression, "If this is the case, please tell me where the lady is? If we

If I can find someone, I won’t bother your school like this again.”

The old man spoke in a high-sounding way, and even vaguely hinted at "both sides take a step back". This actually shows that they are not here to cause trouble today, but really want to give Charlotte to

Take it home.

However, Professor McGonagall knew to some extent that "Miss Werther" would probably not want to return to that family again.

"Unfortunately, although I also want to give you an answer, I don't know the answer to this question." Mag said with a calm face, "Our school has only a very ordinary temporary employment relationship with Miss Witte. As for her personal

Activities are not within the scope of our interference... I hope you can understand."

"No, I don't think I 'get it'."

The old man's words were still as subtle as before, and he seemed to be uncompromising if nothing was gained. However, due to the reasons that the head of the family had warned him, he did not show excessive toughness.

"My young lady works at your school. Even if it is only temporary, your school should take corresponding responsibilities. Now that she has not returned home, but is 'not' in your school...then can I consider that she has disappeared?

?”

At this point, the old butler paused for a moment, and then suddenly said in a deep voice: "...If this is really the case, I think I have to go to the Ministry of Magic and formally submit a search request."

The implication of his words was very clear, that is, if Professor McGonagall did not come up with something useful, he would ask the Ministry of Magic to intervene. And by then, it would be imperative to search Hogwarts Castle, and

It's still justified.

After all, Charlotte is a member of the Werther family, and this is a fact that cannot be changed.

Now that her family wants her to go back, it's one thing that she doesn't want to, but if an outsider like Professor McGonagall comes to try to stop her, overtly or covertly, then it's unreasonable.

In fact, Mag didn't really have a good way to deal with the words of the old housekeeper of the Werther family at this time.

Just when Professor McGonagall pursed her lips and didn't know how to speak, a figure came from the direction of the castle and arrived at her side in a moment.

"Butler Barno...the wind has been really strong recently, and I actually brought you here accidentally?"

Naturally, the only one who could still appear here at this moment was Maka. However, even though he was standing among the more than thirty people from both sides combined, he seemed to not feel the tension in the atmosphere at all.

He tilted his head with a frivolous expression on his face.

"Maka McClain."

When the old housekeeper saw him appearing, although he had been mentally prepared for it, he was still a little upset. After calming down and sorting out his thoughts, he frowned and looked at where Maka was.

"I think, with your current status, there is no need to put on this inexplicable posture anymore, right? You and I both know it very well - you are not a descendant of the Dihel family at all, are you?

?”

However, Maka's expression did not calm down because of the old man's words, and the contempt in his eyes grew stronger.

"Well, maybe my performance in front of you that day was indeed a bit too 'exaggerated'."

When Maka said that word, he crossed his hands and put quotation marks. But in the blink of an eye, he suddenly put away his careless expression and straightened his head that was tilted just now.

"But," he said calmly, "how do you know that I am really not the 'Maka Diher' before?"

When he said this, the old housekeeper Bano was about to speak, but saw Maka quickly waved his hand.

"Don't think that I don't know about my life experience after you have investigated it," he twitched his lips and said pointedly, "If you want to find out who I am, huh, I advise you not to waste your efforts -"

After laughing at herself, Maka asked bluntly:

"Tell me! Why did you suddenly come to ask for Charlotte?"

Back then, Maka used a long-destroyed "Magic Stone" to perfectly frighten the large Werther family. Now they finally come to their senses.

But even though he understood that Maka was probably bluffing at the time, it was already difficult to regain his position now.

After all, no matter what, Maka is now a well-respected wizard in the global magic world, with no shortage of strength, background, reputation, and connections.

What's more, the "transaction" regarding the Philosopher's Stone is not something that can be made public.

Therefore, the old head of the Witte family had already told Old Barno before this directive, saying that he would control the situation within an acceptable range as much as possible without making a big fuss with Hogwarts.

As for how to deal with Maka, the old patriarch only said one thing - don't fight with him!

Seeing Maka asking about the reason for asking for someone, Butler Barno secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Because he came to Hogwarts this time with the only purpose of "bringing Charlotte back".

It would be great if Maka could take the initiative to join in this.

"What else can happen," the old housekeeper pretended to sigh, "Perhaps you still remember that my young lady was already engaged. And just a few days ago, her betrothed came to our Witte family in person.

He insisted that the young lady fulfill her promise and marry him."

"Do you mean to say..." Maka said with vacant eyes, "There's nothing you can do?"

"This... my young lady was engaged to him. If it weren't for you..."

Before Maka showed up, the old man had already made enough strong statements, but now facing Maka, he showed an attitude of understanding emotions and acting rationally.

Although he didn't finish what he said, the meaning he wanted to convey was already very clear.

To be honest, this old housekeeper is actually quite low-profile. Thinking about it, who else besides the old housekeeper can make him communicate so well?

It's a pity that for Maka, it is definitely impossible to hand over Charlotte again. When he was not strong yet, he was able to lead his senior sister out of the dark Werther family. Is it possible that he will compromise now?

?

"Butler Bano," Maka chuckled and shook her head. "Looking at how polite you are today, I won't say anything offensive. Just go back and tell the old Patriarch of Witte that if you are

If you can’t refuse, just ask Charlotte’s fiancée to come to me directly!”

As he spoke, he waved his hand again.

"I will give him and Charlotte a chance to talk face to face - if Charlotte can go with him of her own free will, then I will not stand in the way."

The Witte family doesn't want to cause trouble, so Maka will naturally not take the initiative to provoke. Openly hostile to an ancient wizard family without any necessity, this kind of behavior is not courage and persistence, but downright reckless.

"Of course, if Charlotte doesn't want to leave..."

Maka did not finish her words, but after making her attitude clear, she spread her hands forward, indicating that the old man could go back to find their master.

The old housekeeper stared at Maka a few more times, and finally nodded reluctantly.

"I will convey your thoughts to the head of the family." (To be continued)