Fine sunlight filtered through the gaps between the branches, casting a warm glow across the leaf-covered courtyard.
It happened to be the morning break. Some students had come out to bask in the sun between classes. A lazy owl postman perched on a treetop, while the caretaker, Mrs. Norris, lay by the roadside with her eyes narrowed and her tail swishing idly.
"Why do you need to seek protection? The Death Eaters' crimes won't implicate their families, will they?"
Looking at Theodore Nott's serious expression, Loren grew curious and carefully recalled the newspaper reports he had read recently.
The trials of the Death Eater group were proceeding in an orderly fashion and were nearing their end. Every so often, newspapers carried sentencing documents issued by Woolworths in New York. Their punishments were essentially settled: they need not worry about enormous fines, nor could they hope to leave prison within their lifetimes.
Kouhaosen was responsible for coordinating the extradition of the criminals as a commissioner.
Although the American Magical Congress still retained the death penalty, laws concerning collective punishment had been abolished. The relatives of these Death Eaters would not be implicated.
"It's a bit complicated to explain..."
Nott seemed to have anticipated his question. He gave a bitter smile and sat down on a nearby stone. "Ever since the Dark—Voldemort returned and the Death Eaters regrouped, those of us related to Death Eaters have been swept into the storm and vortex. First came the enormous bail payments two years ago, then the travel funds they took when they fled England. More than half of our family wealth has been drained away."
This Death Eater's relative seemed not to have finished what he wanted to say, but Loren could tell that he did not wish to dwell on those details, so