An Interesting Interlude
The patrolling professors arrived, dispersed the crowd, and inquired about the situation. Lucretius, as the Prefect, stepped forward to explain, while Regulus added to the explanation.
The matter was quickly resolved. Finn, Black Market dealer, had stolen a Magic artifact from a Pureblood families and was being hunted by Auror for three days before being apprehended in Hogsmeade today.
After confirming that neither of them was injured, the professor left, instructing all the young wizards that Hogsmeade Week was ending early and that they should return to school immediately without lingering.
The little wizard wailed in agony, but was powerless to resist.
On the way back to Hogwarts, Lucretius remained silent for a long time.
As they neared the Castle gates, he spoke, "Moody, Alastor Moody, an elite Auror, feared and hated by many Dark Wizard."
"I know," Regulus said.
"The way he looked at me just now..." Lucretius paused slightly, then continued, "... like he was judging whether I was Finn's accomplice."
"But you are not," Regulus chimed in.
"He suspects I am," Lucretius said emotionlessly. "The surname Burke carries a special connotation among the Auror, especially among extremists like Moody."
Regulus remained silent. He knew that Moody would become the most steadfast warrior against Voldemort, that he would sacrifice himself, and that he would be impersonated.
But now, in 1973, Moody was still a living Auror, known for his vigilance and suspicion.
The Burke family deals in Dark Arts items, so they're naturally on the Auror ' watch list. Today's events were just a coincidence, but enough for Moody to remember Lucretius's face.
"Be careful," Regulus cautioned. "The Auror Office will wield increasing power in the coming years."
Lucretius nodded, his face regaining the calm mask of a Pure-bloods heir.
They entered the Castle and parted ways in the Entrance Hall.
Regulus returned to the Slytherin Common Room, reflecting on everything that had happened that day.
The three items belonging to the Burke family, the pressure from the Ministry of Magic's investigation, Old Bok's proposed deal, and finally, the unexpected kidnapping.
Everything reminded him that beneath the calm surface of the Wizarding World, the undercurrents were growing increasingly turbulent.
He entered the lounge, where the fireplace burned warmly. Several younger students were playing Wizard's Chess, and they lowered their voices when they saw him come in.
He needed to write a letter to his father, giving a detailed account of what he had seen that day: the three items, Old Bok's suggestion, and his chance encounter with Moody.
The wooden frame of the Owlery creaked, and a cold wind, carrying snowflakes, seeped in through the cracks, hitting my face with a chill.
Regulus took a parchment from his inner pocket, rolled it up, stuffed it into a small brass tube, and handed it to a gray-feathered owl at his feet.
The Castle's outline was faintly visible in the distant mist, and the distant chatter of students could be heard from the Corridor; young wizards always have so much energy.
Stepping into the Slytherin common room, the warm air dispelled the chill.
The fireplace was burning brightly, and several second-grade students were gathered around the chessboard, their brows furrowed, occasionally arguing over a single move.
Regulus walked to the armchair and sat down, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the carvings on the edge of the armrest, his thoughts naturally drifting to everything about Borgin - Burke.
The Burke family has been in the business of Dark Arts items for five generations; this is no exaggeration.
The connections between Pureblood families are never as simple as superficial social greetings; they are intricately intertwined with shared interests.
Regulus knew very well that a family like the Burke must have clandestine distribution channels.
It is possible that high-risk items were transferred overseas through Gringotts ' underground network.
It's also possible that they're using the businesses of other Pureblood families as cover to temporarily seal off sensitive items.
They must even have informants within the Ministry of Magic who can know the focus and pace of the investigation in advance.
The claim that they lack the ability to handle highly dangerous items is completely untenable.
But they've extended an olive branch, Regulus thought, perhaps as a test.
The Ministry of Magic's investigation came suddenly, Barty Crouch's tough style put pressure on the Burke family, who needed an ally with sufficient political weight to back them up.
The Black family's seat in Wizengamot, Orion's extensive network of connections built over many years, and their extensive industrial network across the globe—these are precisely the safety net the Burke family needs.
For the Black family, the advantages of this alliance are equally clear.
The Burke family controls the largest distribution channel for Dark Arts items in Knockturn Alley.
Having access to rare Magic materials and special items is crucial for Regulus's Magic research.
But that's not now; what he has on hand right now is enough for him to digest for a long time.
However, the disadvantages are equally prominent, as the Burke family's business is already operating in a gray area.
Being deeply involved with them will inevitably attract the attention of the Ministry of Magic, and may even arouse suspicion from Voldemort's forces.
The most powerful Dark Wizard is certainly sensitive to the flow of Dark Arts items, and the Black family's sudden intervention in this area may not be acceptable to him.
Moreover, Voldemort's relationship with the Burke family was already ambiguous.
After thinking about all this, Regulus thought of Lucretius. His behavior today was different from usual; he seemed more real and more profound.
As Slytherin Prefect, he may not be the most powerful young wizard at Hogwarts, but he certainly has the best overall abilities.
Needless to say, she excels academically, and she always handles school affairs with a good sense of proportion, neither being too forceful and causing resentment, nor too weak and losing authority.
Within the Pure-blood Circle, he was able to maintain the Burke family's dignity while also keeping good relationships with the heirs of other families.
The message Snape had delivered a week earlier still echoed in my ears: the upperclassmen of Slytherin were having a private gathering, their words radical and filled with fanaticism about blood purification.
As Prefect, Lucretius couldn't possibly be unaware of this.
Regulus could even deduce that he was most likely deeply involved.
His position Prefect allowed him access to more core information, but he never mentioned a single word about it to me. This silence showed that he was discreet.
If he spoke, Regulus would have no choice.
Intervening would prematurely reveal one's own stance; stopping it would offend the fanatics within Slytherin; and acquiescing would appear passive.
If he didn't speak, Regulus could pretend not to know and continue to focus on himself, without getting involved in these disputes that were temporarily none of his business.
My thoughts then shifted back to Borgin - Burke itself.
The so-called prophets are nothing but scattered fragments; the complexity of the Magic world far exceeds the few words and phrases in memory.
Just like the joint venture background of Borgin - Burke, he had always thought it was a single family business, until today he learned that it was a joint venture between Borgin and Burke.
This information gap reminded him that he needed to be cautious at every step and could not act based on vague impressions alone.
The fireplace crackled and popped, Mars flying onto the stone slab before quickly going out.
Regulus stood up, and the Common Room gradually filled with more students.
Most of them had just returned from Hogsmeade, their faces still beaming with excitement, and they gathered in twos and threes to discuss what they had seen and heard that day.
He stepped out of the common room, where the noise in the Corridor grew clearer; several Gryffindor students were gathered around discussing the Hogsmeade kidnapping.
Occasionally, you might hear terms like "Dark Wizard," "Auror," "broken wand," or "unlucky guy."
The Great Hall was brightly lit, and the long table was laden with dinner. The aroma of roast chicken mixed with the sweet scent of Pumpkin Juice filled the air.
The freshly baked bread exudes a wonderful aroma of wheat, making one's mouth water.
Avery and Alex were already seated at the Slytherin table.
Upon seeing Regulus enter, Avery immediately waved, his elbow accidentally bumping into the table and knocking over a small salt shaker. He hurriedly steadied it, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement.
"You've finally arrived!" Avery leaned forward, elbows on the table, his voice not low, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
He bombarded me with questions, mostly out of curiosity. "Is what happened at Hogsmeade true? Were you kidnapped by the Dark Wizard? With Burke?"
Then he said in a series of strong words, "This is simply a provocation against Pureblood families!"
How dare they lay a hand on us in Hogsmeade! The Ministry of Magic must severely punish them, preferably throwing them into Azkaban to never see the light of day again!
My father always said that we can't be lenient with these rule-breakers, or they'll only take advantage of us!
Alex asked cautiously, "Are you alright? I heard from others that the scene was quite chaotic, the Auror even made their move, and that Dark Wizard looked very fierce."
A hint of unease flashed in his eyes. "Things seem to be getting more and more turbulent. I used to only see reports of Dark Wizard causing trouble in the newspapers, but I never thought I'd actually run into one."
My mother wrote to remind me to be careful, saying that things are a bit tense outside right now.
Regulus sat down, picked up his knife and fork, and cut a piece of roast chicken with steady movements. "It's alright. The Auror arrived quickly and didn't cause any real damage. The Dark Wizard's wand is broken; he's no threat."
He didn't go into details; for him, this was just an interlude, and there was no need to make a big deal out of it.