Unforgivable Crimes

To get more gold from the betting pools run by the goblins, they had resorted to attacking Hermione?

If that really had been their purpose, then this group could only be described as utterly foolish. Leaving aside the fact that Hogwarts would certainly investigate the matter to the end, Amosta believed that Dumbledore's and his own reputations still carried some weight. Taking such an enormous risk merely for gold went beyond being blinded by profit.

Considering the people in the British wizarding world and other European countries who supported Hermione, news of her attack had not yet been made public. But if the matter remained unresolved for too long, the news would inevitably leak out.

The goblins' intelligence network was no joke. They had long since infiltrated every aspect of wizarding society. Once they received word, there was no way they would fail to react. Freezing the funds wagered on this bet would be the bare minimum. Next, the goblins would seek out these greedy wizards who had disrupted the rules and teach them a lesson.

Amosta fell silent, thoughts constantly flashing through his mind.

Logically, none of this made sense. The organization uncovered through Fraser clearly wielded considerable influence in Muggle society.

Amosta did not believe for a moment that Mr. Pastore had been so devastated by his daughter's disappearance that he had donated all his wealth. The most likely explanation was that it had been secretly transferred away. But that alone showed that this group did not lack ways to amass wealth.

Unless these were two entirely different groups.

Amosta's face remained expressionless, but the light in his eyes was chilling. Though he had no intention of intimidating anyone, the unconscious pressure he exuded made Louise feel as though she were suffocating. She retreated again and again, only