It Should End

"What did you want to ask of me, Hain?"

Amosta looked at the Vogel family's House-elf, his tone calm.

"Hain knows that Master Adam and Miss Jasna have probably violated wizarding law—"

Facing Amosta, Hain bowed deeply. Its breathing was slightly unsteady, and its pleading voice trembled.

"A grave offense, but—just—just for the old master's sake, could you let them come back and see him before sending them to prison?"

"You're clever, Hain, and loyal too."

Amosta raised his eyebrows in surprise.

He had assumed the House-elf would ask him to spare Adam Vogel and Jasna Vogel, but that was impossible. Being sent to prison was the best outcome they could hope for. If they dared resist, he might kill them on the spot.

Even setting Hermione aside, the other crimes they had committed fully warranted such an outcome.

But Hain had not made that request. It had heard what Amosta said to Vogel about Jasna and knew they were beyond redemption. That was why it had asked this instead, hoping at least to preserve their lives.

Amosta remained silent longer than expected.

A breeze swept across the open fields, sending waves through the golden wheat.

Anton Vogel's dignity meant little to him. What he was considering was something deeper.

He had thought Jasna Rosier was a false name, while Vogel was the true surname of the cool, striking woman he had seen in the goblin's memories.

Unexpectedly, that guess had been wrong. The truth was precisely the opposite.

Hain had just told him that Jasna was Adam Vogel's true descendant, brought back from elsewhere by Adam. Adam had also told them that Jasna's ancestors had all died in wars fought to defend wizarding honor.

That was very interesting.

Rosier—one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. A descendant of that family, and