I have a friend

Regulus walked across the last stretch of the wet bridge and stopped in front of his parents.

Orion wore a black robe with silver cufflinks peeking out from the cuffs, and the Family Ring on his right ring finger was revealed as he raised his hand.

Walburga stood beside him, his deep burgundy silk robe cascading down to his shoes, his shoulders and sleeves embroidered with a silver family crest, and his hair adorned with a silver hairpin inlaid with Emerald.

"Mother." Regulus smiled at her, and as he approached, his arm was grasped.

Walburga withdrew his gaze from the direction of the school, his eyes softened, and he pulled his son closer to him.

She saw his face clearly, and then looked him up and down.

Regulus gently patted his mother's hand that was resting on her arm, and said with a smile, "I'm fine."

Then he looked at his father, his gaze slightly shifting away.

Silas stood closest to his father, his face hidden by his hood, his shoulders and back much broader than the others.

Further on, more than thirty people stood in the damp, cold wind, their robes occasionally brushing against each other, yet their feet remained firmly planted on the ground.

Crouch's men certainly couldn't harm him, and as for taking him away, that was wishful thinking, something his father was well aware of.

Even so, he brought people with him, and his mother came too, which meant that he was taking over the things he was going to do publicly from his family.

Others could no longer easily attribute this to the heir's momentary impulse, so they bypassed him and put pressure directly on the Black family.

Regulus looked at Orion, nodded in satisfaction, and a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.

He called all the Slytherin members over, and his father also arranged for everyone in the family to come; they seemed to have a tacit understanding.

Orion met his son's gaze, slightly raised his eyelids, and didn't bother to acknowledge him in front of so many people.

He patted him on the shoulder, then gently pressed down along his upper arm, and simply instructed, "Do it your way."

Regulus nodded, turned and stood between his parents. Walburga put his hand on his arm again, and was about to speak when a commotion suddenly broke out on the other side of the bridge.

Students near the Castle retreated to both sides, those in front stumbled as they were jostled, some supporting their companions, turning back angrily, the words of curses about to come out, but swallowing them back when they saw the Auror uniforms behind them.

Walburga raised his eyes, his gentle expression vanishing.

McGonagall turned aside and watched Crouch and Moody walk to the bridgehead.

Aksha was still standing in the passageway when she was pulled and reluctantly moved over. She looked at the Auror passing by with undisguised dissatisfaction in her eyes. After Crouch passed by, she snorted softly.

The dozen or so Auror guarding both sides of the stone bridge converged on the newcomers. The people inside the Castle were still walking out, and several others they had seen in the Corridor followed one after another. Twenty or thirty Auror gathered behind Crouch and Moody.

Crouch walked to the front of the Black family and stopped a few steps away. Moody stood beside him, his shoulder slightly tilted, his gaze sweeping past Regulus and across the group of men in black robes behind them.

Regulus sized them up.

During the break between treatments, the bloodstains on his face had been cleaned off, and even his robe had been put back on properly. However, his complexion was still poor, and his steps were somewhat unsteady.

His Magic Power had almost fully recovered; the professor's Potions were indeed effective. In just a short while, the people who had been lying on the ground were back standing in front of him, continuing to glare at him.

Crouch's thin face still bore that cold, hard expression, showing no trace of the awkwardness in the office. It must be said, with that kind of ambition alone, he could succeed at anything.

The wind blew up from the valley, swirling the robes on both sides, and the thin mist outside the stone railing moved slowly down the slope. The commotion at the bridgehead gradually subsided.

Crouch was also sizing up the other side, his gaze first passing over Orion and landing on the black-robed group behind them, stopping at the tallest figure closest to them.

He had read the reports of the battle fought at the Rowle family's residence countless times.

Silas Kro, a core vassal of the Black family, was easily recognizable by his physique, though his face was obscured.

His face darkened.

Orion arrived, bringing with him the family's core military force.

He had originally thought that with the arrival of the Patriarch to negotiate, the dispute would return to the authorization and investigation procedures. Now, Walburga Black had also arrived, leaving their son in the middle, with a force capable of waging a war standing behind them.

How Orion plans to respond is now clear.

Crouch glanced at the bridgehead, where more and more students were arriving. His brow furrowed so deeply it could crush a Bowtruckle. He looked back at Orion, a twitch in his facial muscles.

He brought the Auror into the school and personally questioned them, only to find them all lying on the ground, while Young Black was led out by the vice-principal.

If he were to hand over Young Black upon seeing any members of the Black family, what would the people in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement were waiting for his return think? What would those who had previously supported his efforts to tighten control over the Pureblood families think?

The injuries in the office could be explained as a sudden Attacks, but if Black is allowed to leave now, he will have to bear the consequences.

Taking Regulus Black away is becoming increasingly difficult; at the very least, Orion needs to admit that he is prepared to use his family's influence to stop the investigation.

The rebellion of an heir, coupled with the Patriarch's open protection of a suspect, is enough to change the course of the matter.

"Orion Black, you've brought so many people to the school, how are you going to handle the incident where Young Black Attacks law enforcement officers?"

Crouch raised his chin, his voice cold and hard, and immediately positioned the two sides as law enforcers and parties who needed to give an explanation.

Orion glanced at the Auror behind him, then looked up at him, his tone indifferent. "Why did Regulus Attacks?"

Crouch paused for a moment, his gaze fixed on Orion's face.

"Edmund Wilton, a member of the Wizengamot, was found dead at his home. The Magic traces left at the scene match those used by Young Black Magic Rowle Manor," he raised his voice, his stern gaze fixed on Orion. "Wilton had drafted regulations for private high-risk Magic before his death, Department of Magical Law Enforcement has a responsibility to investigate whether his death was related to the performance of their duties."

Walburga's gaze turned even colder as he looked at him, then lowered his hand from his son's and held it in front of him.

"The materials have been shown to Young Black.," Crouch said, taking a half-step forward. "He refused further verification and then attacked the Department of Magical Law Enforcement personnel, including me. The murder case is still under investigation, and the Attacks law enforcement officers must be investigated. Whoever comes, the investigation will continue."

After listening, Orion looked at him and gently shook his head.

"You can accompany him to the Ministry of Magic, or you can object to the investigation process," Crouch, his voice hardening as he waited for Orion's reply. "But whether the Department of Magical Law Enforcement continues the investigation is not up to the Black family. Please have Young Black accompany him..."

"Go, take your people and leave this place."

Orion remained silent, Regulus followed suit, and the Black camp remained silent.

"Orion, you brought a private armed force and refused to enforce the law. Have you considered the consequences if this gets out?"

Crouch raised his hand and pointed to the group of men in black robes behind him, his tone softening slightly as he tried to reason. "If any family can take suspects away like this, how can the Ministry of Magic maintain order?"

Orion remained unmoved.

At the bridgehead, Flitwick and Sprout came from among the students to McGonagall's side.

Flitwick was short, and only when he stood to McGonagall's left and slightly in front of her could he see the situation on the bridge. He asked what was going on, but McGonagall shook her head.

Sprout stood to her right, glanced at the black line across the bridge, and kept frowning.

The three deans stood together, at the front of the students, looking towards the other side of the bridge, their expressions serious.

Slughorn arrived shortly after, Crouch's voice still carrying over. He glanced at Regulus and began to ponder.

He had a pretty good idea of the extent of Regulus's power and control; if he were to be injured even more severely, how could Barty possibly still be standing and talking?

But Orion arrived with his family, and Barty gathered all the Auror in front of them, continuing the stalemate. Both sides could...

Call someone.

The Black family's vassals far exceed what's currently in sight, and the Ministry of Magic also has Auror to spare. A single letter or a request for help could force people on the bridge to move out.

Fortunately, this is Hogwarts, with the Castle right behind us. Almost every family we can name has children here, and anyone who dares to launch a large-scale attack first will have to bear extremely heavy consequences.

Both sides should still be able to exercise restraint, so why hasn't Albus returned yet?

He looked at McGonagall.

Minerva looked serious, focusing on the actions on the bridge and the students behind her. She didn't look back at the Castle repeatedly, nor did she rush to urge anyone to go find the principal.

She probably knew Albus's plans, or at least knew more about the current situation than he did.

His gaze returned to Regulus's face, and another thought gradually surfaced in his mind.

Albus planning to let the child handle it himself?

Slughorn pursed his lips, shifting his gaze from Regulus to Crouch.

Crouch's words carried across the bridge, and the scattered whispers behind him gradually subsided.

On one side where the Slytherin were gathered, several upperclassmen exchanged glances.

The Wizengamot members are dead, Regulus Black is a suspect. The Ministry of Magic sent people to take him away, but he resisted and fought back, injuring the Enforcer Auror.

The Black family once again turned their power around, with Crouch representing the Ministry of Magic Black family them.

To the Slytherin, this was no longer a spectacle; it was trouble, a huge problem.

Even just standing by and observing, merely being present at the scene, can be interpreted as having a certain intention or inclination.

Leaving now, I know it's to avoid danger, but if word gets out, it might be interpreted as me publicly distancing myself from Black.

Slytherin has all sorts of surnames, and other houses also have Pure-bloods members; anyone leaving will be seen.

Staying puts room for maneuver, but going out alone becomes a definite action. Before coming, it was just for fun, but after coming, even staying or leaving is no longer a matter of choice.

Some people looked at Avery with reproach and dissatisfaction in their eyes, then shifted their gaze to Alex, their complaints even more intense.

Avery stared straight ahead, his face serious, continuing to look at the bridge. Alex looked at Regulus with a furrowed brow. Lina and Samuel's eyes showed even more worry. Hermes ' eyes were fixed on the Auror behind Crouch, his face grim, his gaze growing increasingly fierce.

Aksha shifted her weight to her other foot, and as Crouch spoke of family and order, she looked away from him and towards Regulus.

She waited a while, and seeing that he was just standing there, a hint of impatience appeared on her lips.

"Orion, you need to give me a clear answer," Crouch pressed, his demands implied, "Is the Black family prepared to use force to obstruct the Department of Magical Law Enforcement's investigation?"

You should know that the status of Pureblood families in the Wizarding World does not grant you such power.

Orion finally raised his eyes to meet his gaze, his voice cold. "Barty, you want to take my son away, but I refuse."

But before you attribute everything to the Ministry of Magic, you'd better think carefully about what you're prepared to let it take on for you.

Crouch's nasolabial folds deepened, and his chest heaved with each breath. "As the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, I demand that he accept the investigation and take responsibility for my decisions. Wilton's death needs to be accounted for, and the injured law enforcement officers also need to be accounted for. No family can use force to evade these responsibilities."

Regulus's gaze fell on Crouch's face.

Crouch's parents and family were there, and he knew perfectly well that no matter how many times he repeated his request, he couldn't bring him back to the Ministry of Magic.

But if the father were to say that he would use force to stop the investigation, today's report could continue to be written.

The suspect Attacks the Auror, the Patriarch openly protected him, and private armed forces obstructed law enforcement. The previous botched incidents can be pieced together using this narrative.

Crouch returned to the Ministry of Magic and could continue to apply for authorization and garner support. As for whether the investigation materials were sufficient, Black would explain why he was opposing the Ministry of Magic first.

He should really be commissioned to write a book called "The Struggle of a Director"; I bet quite a few people in the Ministry of Magic would be willing to buy it.

Regulus lowered his eyes.

From the disputes over the Ancient Pureblood Law to the registration proposal, and now to the investigation targeting him, the methods have changed several times, but people still want to know where Black might retreat to.

Black had fought a family war, and outsiders could still attribute the victory to preparation and numbers, and then figure out how to exert pressure through procedures.

Today they want his cooperation, tomorrow they want his father's assurances; one thing after another, by the time Black turns around, the path he can take will probably have already been arranged by others.

My father brought people here today, so the family's attitude is clear. He will make those judgments based on new facts.

If he only demonstrates his ability to resist arrest, the outside world can portray the incident as an obstruction of law enforcement, and the Department of Magical Law Enforcement can continue to call in more people, including a few more, to discuss how to make Black pay the price.

The situation is escalating towards war, and both sides will repeatedly test each other before the conflict begins, determining who will dominate whom and who will be forced to bear the consequences.

Publicly revealing one's power will naturally make some people more wary, and may also push them to bring to a conclusion what could have been delayed.

He doesn't mind letting people prepare in advance; what's really worth considering is to what extent the preparations should be made before the other side feels they have a chance of winning.

Having more skilled wizards, recruiting more people, and finding the right opportunity—if these can bridge the gap, demonstrating strength will indeed urge the enemy to gather together.

But when the power demonstrated is great enough, exceeding a certain threshold, and making the opponent understand that numbers alone cannot guarantee victory, the cost will be outweighed by the gains.

"Regulus Black!" Crouch finally turned to him, his voice stern, his gaze fixed on him. "I'll ask you one last time, are you willing to return to the Ministry of Magic of Department of Magical Law Enforcement to be investigated?"

If you continue to refuse, you and your family will have to bear the consequences!

Regulus looked at him, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth, his gaze briefly passing over his shoulder, landing on the young Wizards at the bridgehead, before turning back to his parents.

Orion remained calm and nodded slightly to him, while Walburga stared at Crouch with a fierce look in his eyes.

Regulus's voice, carried by Magic Power, resounded throughout the entire arena.

"Mr. Crouch, a friend of mine asked me, just how powerful can wizards be?"