Moody's interrogation

Seeing Slughorn's delighted expression, Will popped a grape cake into his mouth. "Professor? What's making you so happy?"

"Of course it's your business," Slughorn chuckled. "Elder and I have agreed to have a detailed discussion once a week about the Will the Biography of Behrens."

He said that with my cooperation, the progress would be very fast.

"Thank you, Professor."

"No matter what, I'm your professor, it's what I should do." Slughorn was speaking from the heart.

"Then, I'll leave this matter to you."

"How can you call this trouble? I'd be happy to let the whole Wizarding World know how excellent you are," Slughorn shook his head. "Speaking of which, Will, would you like to come over to see me these next few days?"

Let's have a good talk about Potions —you know, some things you can't learn from books alone."

Will with some resignation, "Professor, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. After Christmas, I'll have to leave Hogwarts for a while."

"Leave?" Slughorn's smile froze. "Where to? And why leave school after Christmas? That's against the rules."

"Some... um... family matters," Will didn't elaborate, just shook his head slightly, "An unexpected situation, I have to go back and deal with it, Professor Snape has already approved it."

Slughorn sighed and patted Will on the shoulder, "That's a real shame."

But... at least we can enjoy Christmas dinner together tonight. Will you sit next to me in a bit?

His last words were lighthearted—the feast was a gathering after the dance, attended only by the current members of the Slug Club and their dance partners.

"Of course, I'd be happy to."

As the Christmas bells rang, everyone at the ball left one by one, House-elf immediately began cleaning the room and tidying up the tables and chairs.

Everyone only waited a short while before the House-elf had cleaned the room and set up the long table.

The long table was laden with roast turkey, pudding, Gingerbread men, and Slughorn's favorite Candied Pineapple and Mead.

The group gradually took their seats.

Will sat down to Slughorn's left, with Sylvia next to him, while Luna sat opposite Harry, watching a Gingerbread man with great interest.

The long table quickly filled with people. Besides friends like Neville, Hannah, Astoria, and Draco, there were also several Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students whose names Will couldn't recall—all "promising talents" handpicked by Slughorn.

Slughorn, seated at the head of the table, raised his glass, beaming, and said, "Joy Christmas, my dear friends!"

"Joy Christmas!" Everyone raised their glasses in response.

Various wines and beverages swirl in the glasses, releasing a warm, sweet aroma.

Will a piece of turkey; the meat was tender and juicy, the House-elf ' skills as excellent as ever.

Since everyone knew each other quite well, they quickly struck up a lively conversation.

Across from her, Luna finished her grilled shrimp, tilted her head, and looked at Will earnestly. "Will, do you know what the Crumple-Horned Snorkack likes to eat most at Christmas?"

Will was taken aback. "What?"

"Mistletoe," Luna said seriously, "They dance under the Mistletoe, and if anyone stands under it, they'll steal their shoes."

So, you need to take good care of your shoes.

As she spoke, Luna looked up—and there were several decorative Mistletoe on the ceiling above Will's head.

Sylvia smiled happily, "Then Will better watch out."

Will grinned. "If the Crumple-Horned Snorkack comes to steal my shoes, I'll catch one for you."

"Oh, thank you, Will," Luna said in an ethereal voice, "But be careful they don't eat your Wand."

"I'll be careful, thank you," Will said with a smile— Luna was often ostracized by some Ravenclaw because of such words, but he thought Luna was quite cute.

Luna nodded in satisfaction and continued studying her Gingerbread man.

The banquet continued, Slughorn began to tell stories of his youth—how he studied Potions with Dumbledore.

How did you discover the various obscure uses of some medicinal herbs, and how did you accidentally turn your eyebrows into Candied Pineapple?

Everyone listened with great interest, bursting into laughter from time to time.

The turkey is getting smaller and smaller, the Gingerbread people are getting fewer and fewer, and we're drinking one drink after another...

Will leaned back in his chair and watched this scene unfold—a rare tranquility in the Wizarding World, easily attainable at Hogwarts.

He picked up his wine glass, swirled it gently, and the crimson liquid shimmered faintly in the candlelight.

Sylvia's cheeks flushed slightly as she raised her glass and gently clinked it against his.

"Bite!"

The crisp clinking of glasses echoed across the long table. Sirius downed a glass of Wine in one gulp and laughed heartily.

He reeked of alcohol. "Those stupid Death Eaters! Good riddance! Hahaha! Alastor did a fantastic job, if you ask me, they should have just been smashed to death!"

Dumbledore smiled and looked at Moody: "Oh?"

"Don't look at me like that," Moody said nonchalantly, gnawing on a turkey Chicken Leg. "We've only killed five."

"Actually, there were three others seriously injured; if they hadn't received timely treatment, they would have died too," Lupin added.

"Death Eaters won't heal us," Moody scoffed.

"That's right!" Alice agreed loudly, and several other Auror chimed in.

Lupin didn't say anything more about it—he understood Moody's, Alice's, and the other Auror ' thoughts, especially Alice's, who was, after all, a victim.

"Alright, I'm full," Moody put down his fork and rubbed his stomach. "You guys keep eating, I have something to take care of."

"Where are you going?" Sirius looked up—he was completely drunk and his speech was slurred.

"Go interrogate those bastards, what else are we doing tonight?" Moody said matter-of-factly.

A dozen minutes later, in a room inside the Dungeon of the Order of the Phoenix's dungeon.

Candlesticks were placed on the wall, illuminating the basement brightly.

More than a dozen Death Eaters were dragged from their cells by Moody, tied up tightly, and made to kneel in a row.

Moody stepped forward, his Magic eye swirling and scanning every face.

"Who's in charge?" he asked in a deep voice.

Everyone remained silent, seemingly prepared to fight to the bitter end.

Moody sneered, pointing his Wand at the young Death Eaters on his left. "I knew you bastards wouldn't behave. Cruciatus Curse!"

Screams instantly filled the entire stone chamber.

Still no one spoke, but Moody didn't seem to care much. Wand pointed his wand at another Death Eaters: "Cruciatus Curse!"

The screams grew louder, Moody's Wand moved towards another Death Eaters: "If you don't talk now, it's your turn!"

"I'll talk! I'll talk!" the Death Eaters immediately shouted.

Moody put away his Wand and looked at the Death Eaters Death Eaters, who immediately said, "The one on the far right, his name is Dolohov, he's the leader of this mission!"