Go and Get Mr. Cregan, Quickly!

Portkey is an enchanted item that can teleport anyone who touches it to a designated location.

Compared to Floo Powder, Portkey can teleport multiple people at once, and the destination does not need to have a fireplace.

At the same time, unlike Apparition, Portkey do not require special training and can be used even by underage wizards.

Most importantly, for ultra-long-distance travel, Portkey have an almost overwhelming advantage.

While Apparition struggle to travel across continents or countries, Portkey can do just that easily.

William and Hermione wanted to travel from Albania to the United Kingdom, a distance too far for Floo Powder and Apparition to manage.

Using Portkey is the most convenient and quickest method.

However, the use of Portkey between the two countries requires the approval of the Ministry of Magic.

William and Hermione could not possibly have gotten permission to smuggle themselves across the Adriatic Sea.

Even if it wasn't illegal immigration, it's impossible to get permission from the Ministry of Magic of Albania.

You burned down someone's forest, and then you have to explain yourself. You say you fought Voldemort, but who can vouch for that?

Voldemort?

If the explanation fails, you might even be forcibly detained and then forced to... pay compensation.

Don't overestimate the Ministry of Magic's bottom line. If you encounter someone like Minister Fudge, who acts like he's never seen money before, he'll definitely try to demand an exorbitant amount in compensation.

You only burned some trees?

Fart!

What you burned... was clearly a precious magical plant cultivated by the Ministry of Magic.

Each plant is over three thousand years old. And the fruit on them is even more remarkable:

One bite will refresh your mind, two bites will keep you from getting tired forever, and three bites will grant you immortality.

If this is extortion, even if William were sold, he couldn't afford to pay for it.

He didn't want another prison break that would destroy Venice and then Tirana, the capital of Albania!

Since they couldn't use the official channels, they had no choice but to continue smuggling themselves across the border.

As a veteran and expert in this field, Old Man Newt had imparted to William many of the life experiences of elders.

He even spoke fluently, as if no one knew more about how to illegally cross the border than he did.

Newt also introduced William to dozens of wizards who smuggled Portkey.

He knows people in almost every country that has a Care of Magical Creatures.

Newt himself never secretly made Portkey; in his words:

We must not do anything illegal or disorderly.

Hmm... So you haven't done enough?

Since there's a way, William will definitely choose the Portkey.

Early in the morning, the two arrived at a coastline, looking exhausted.

We found Bertha late last night.

After leaving the forest and shaking off the Auror, William and Hermione went to the Safety Watch and squeezed onto the sofa in the living room for the night.

Therefore, it's inevitable to feel a bit sluggish in the morning.

A wizard was already standing on the shore, his entire body wrapped in a tattered black robe.

"Yo-ho!" The wizard looked William and Hermione up and down.

At his feet was a row of dilapidated iron barrels.

These are all illegally made Portkey; if caught, they will be sentenced to prison.

"Where are you going?" The wizard stared at William's face, seemingly recognizing him.

"United Kingdom."

"I'm sorry, I can't go to the United Kingdom right now." The wizard shook his head.

"Why?" Hermione asked curiously, looking up.

" With the United Kingdom hosting the Quidditch World Cup, there are too many illegal immigrants, United Kingdom Ministry of Magic has increased its detection efforts."

William raised an eyebrow; he had no idea about this.

Okay, he hasn't been in touch with Tonks for a while.

However, William remained skeptical about the accuracy of this information.

The Quidditch World Cup has kept the United Kingdom Ministry of Magic scrambling. Do they really have the time and energy to catch stowaway wizards?

"I suggest we go through France," the wizard said sincerely. "That's closer."

William for a moment, then did not object.

France is fine too. We can just go to Cregan to get the Portkey, directly through official channels, without needing to smuggle ourselves in.

Incidentally, they can also use the captured wizards to boost Cregan's performance record.

How much for the two of us?

"Two hundred Galleon... Thank you for your patronage," the wizard said with a smile.

"Isn't the market price thirty per person?" Hermione was taken aback and furious at the sudden price increase.

"The trip to France costs thirty per person, and the other seventy is to keep quiet about seeing Stark and Granger illegally leave the country."

The Portkey dealer grinned and said to William:

"This is the price of fame, little brother! The whole world knows you."

Everyone knows that you two saved Venice in Italy.

Now he has suddenly appeared in Albania and is trying to smuggle himself into Paris.

All the major newspapers will be interested in this news... I only accepted seventy Galleon as hush money; that's already showing professionalism!

"What you said makes a good point." William shrugged.

"Then pay up."

"I refuse!" William shook his head, "... Let's sell the information in the newspaper instead, we don't mind."

Is it Hermione?

"That's right." Hermione crossed her arms and leaned on William's shoulder.

The Albania Auror had already spotted them. News of their presence would leak out sooner or later; there was no need to be a sucker.

As for illegal immigration... you say we illegally immigrated, so what evidence do you have?

At Hogwarts, there are countless rules, but the first one is to avoid getting caught.

As two typical Hogwarts students, William and Hermione would certainly embody this style perfectly and would resolutely refuse to admit to smuggling themselves in.

They never even came to Albania!

"... Is it really necessary to make such a fuss? It's only two hundred Galleon." The wizard was speechless.

With such great fame, you two don't seem to be short of money at all, so why are you being so stingy!

William glanced at him and said softly, "We just don't want to be taken advantage of."

Do you think I'm Malfoy, getting slaughtered by Fudge every day?

Hermione nodded in complete agreement, clinging to William's arm and pecking at the ground like a chick pecking at rice, "Exactly!"

In daily life, who would complain about having too much money?!

"Are you going to deliver it or not? If not, we'll find another place," William urged.

"Fine, you two win!"

The wizard muttered "How stingy!" as he handed over an iron bucket, cursing, "You'll definitely be caught by the French Ministry of Magic!"

"Let them arrest me, it's not like we haven't done it before."

William and Hermione grabbed the iron barrel.

"We'll depart in ten seconds..." The wizard glanced at his watch and waved his hand.

"Wishing you both... a pleasant... trip to France..."

The two were dragged away and disappeared without a trace.

William landed on the ground and immediately regained his balance. After using it so many times, Hermione only paled slightly.

"What... what did that wizard just say?" Hermione shook her dizzy head and breathed a sigh of relief.

"I didn't hear you either. Have a nice trip..." William shook his head.

"And France magic... or something?" Hermione frowned. "I have a bad feeling about this."

"Um... Hermione, I think... your hunch is right."

William looked around, tugged at her hand, and said softly, "That person was probably referring to... the French Ministry of Magic."

How did you know?

"Because... we're right here at the French Ministry of Magic!"

William glanced back out of the corner of his eye and saw that the area behind him was full of Auror.

They all raised their wands, looking wary.

William cursed inwardly, "Damn it, they're using a sting operation!"

It's an old Infernal Affairs movie!

"No whispering!" a familiar voice rang out.

"You are suspected of illegally using Portkey and are now under arrest by the French Ministry of Magic!"

You have the right to remain silent, but everything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law...

William was taken aback and turned his head away.

"Costa... long time no see. You've really become Auror. How have you been lately?" He smiled.

"Uh... William!!"

Looking at the boy who had once forcibly kissed him in public, Costa's face instantly turned red.

She immediately tossed her hair and stammered, "You... you and Hermione, what are you doing here?!"

"We... came to Paris for fun," William said with a "kind" smile.

All the France Auror gasped.

"Quickly, invite Mr. Cregan, Stark, and Granger... They're in Paris again!"

Run!

William: "..."

Hermione: "..."

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Thanks to Mr. "Trance Xiaobai" for the tip.)