After lending the latest edition of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” to Elara, Kingsley had originally intended to personally keep an eye on this little one who would get into trouble if he wasn’t careful.
However, just one day later, news of Sirius Black’s tracks being discovered swept through the entire British wizarding world.
Leaky Cauldron was once again packed, and many people didn’t even have seats, standing directly to discuss with others.
Every table had a copy of the “The Daily Prophet,” with the front page headline reading: “Black Strikes Again, Fourteen Muggles Brutally Killed by Reducto.”
It reported that 14 Muggles were killed in the outskirts of London.
Although the specific location was not disclosed, it pointed out that the Muggles had been tortured with multiple uses of Reducto, and the methods were extremely cruel.
Fudge of the Ministry of Magic issued an urgent warning:
“The escaped convict Sirius Black is highly likely the culprit of this case.”
“This criminal is proficient in various large-scale destructive curses, disregards wizarding laws and the International Statute of Secrecy, and once murdered twelve Muggles and one wizard in a single night with cold-blooded methods.”
Fudge declared that Black was loyal to the remnants of the Dark Lord, and his purpose in escaping was to carry out large-scale retaliation against Muggles, dismantle the order between the wizarding and Muggle worlds, create panic through massacres, pave the way for the restoration of dark forces, and simultaneously seek revenge on Harry Potter.
The Ministry of Magic announced: Patrols will be strengthened throughout the territory, and personnel will be added to all Muggle-dense areas, stations, and suburban alleys.
At the same time, Fudge will personally go to Hogwarts to discuss protective measures for the school with Dumbledore and will dispatch Dementors to protect the safety of the savior, Harry Potter.
“Report immediately upon seeing Sirius; do not make unauthorized contact.
Lethal force is authorized on the spot.”
Elara knew that they had already discovered the massacre she had committed, and they already suspected Sirius.
And the British Ministry of Magic, which had been putting on a show, was now truly anxious.
Kingsley also had to be sent out.
“Elara, I have to lead the team to hunt down Sirius myself.” Kingsley looked very exhausted, appearing as if he hadn’t slept all night.
“Uncle Kingsley, will it be dangerous?”
“How could it not be dangerous?
You know, when that guy who killed 14 Muggles committed the crime, you were catching a Kneazle.
He might still be active in London.
Don’t go out at night from now on, understand?
Also, your translation work—see if you can do it from home as much as possible, or even drop it altogether; Hogwarts won’t let you go hungry.”
“That’s so scary!” Elara put on a fearful expression, “But before, hadn’t he been in prison all this time?”
Kingsley’s face became even more distressed, and he lowered his voice: “Elara, I’m not sure if I really misjudged him, but the dead were gangsters, not exactly good people.
Maybe he really did it, maybe he has been blinded by hatred.
However, I still believe this massacre wasn’t his doing; perhaps another dark wizard is fishing in troubled waters.
In any case, you must be careful.
If there really is a dark wizard slaughtering Muggles, I hope I can catch that dark wizard.”
“I believe in you, Uncle Kingsley.” Elara was naturally surprised by Kingsley’s attention to detail.
“Be careful with everything, don’t run around.
I estimate the next time we meet will be next year.” Kingsley said goodbye to Elara.
He needed to go and conduct a thorough search.
And this was destined to be in vain.
People around were whispering about Sirius Black, and some even thought that Sirius Black might become the next Dark Lord.
However, everyone reached a consensus: Sirius must have obtained a wand.
Elara calmly helped Tom, who had also become irritable, clean up and discard trash.
She cleaned up, served food in the crowded space, and collected information from snippets of conversation, just like Tom.
Elara calmly accepted the departure of someone who had been restricting her, while continuing to advance her magic.
And her wizard level had reached Level 2.
I don’t know if it was because of the results of her research into magic during this time, or because of the killing.
However, killing is not the goal, but a means.
And on the 23rd, she also obtained the information she needed.
Regarding the detailed address of the Crouch family, she previously only knew it was located in Essex, northeast of London, but now she had obtained the detailed information.
As well as information about the Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, Barty Crouch Sr.—although he had been out of power for many years and remained very low-key, at this very moment, he was gradually showing a tougher attitude outside than Fudge, which won him some discussion.
And Fudge’s position seemed precarious.
Obviously, many people couldn’t help but be restless.
“Is Department Head Crouch the one who judged Sirius back then?” Elara asked the wizards who were whispering.
“Yes, his son became a Death Eater, but unexpectedly he put righteousness above family and sent his son to Azkaban, where he died a few years later.”
“He was famously a man who conducted official business impartially and did not favor his own.”
“However, because his son is gone, he rarely appears in public.
He goes straight from home to work every day, and even the social interaction between pure-blood families is almost non-existent.
It can be considered a state of near-retirement.”
“Perhaps his coming forward this time is also because he is worried about being retaliated against by Sirius.”
“Who’s to say?
Perhaps the first person he wants to kill is Harry Potter, and second, perhaps it’s Barty Crouch Sr.
who judged him.”
Elara listened obediently.
“However, I heard a rumor that Harley is actually a girl?”
“Are you kidding me?
Harley is a girl?”
“Fair point.”
The speaker spoke without intention, but the listener took it to heart.
Elara noted this piece of information.
She should find time to scout out Harry Potter’s home.
A completely Harry Potter-oriented matter was entirely different; it wasn’t just the possibility of Harriet Potter’s personality and the differences in prophecy, but more likely the existence of other variables.
Plus, with her added into the mix, many of her plans based on the original work would need to be adjusted.
In another month, Harry Potter will enter the wizarding world.
But for now, she needed to focus on her current tasks.
As Sirius was suspected of committing a second massacre, Dementors began patrolling the skies above Leaky Cauldron.
This gave Elara an opportunity.
She transformed into a Dementor and slipped out without any obstruction, and the wizards at Leaky Cauldron gradually got used to the cold, gloomy aura caused by the Dementors after a few days of grumbling.
And the Dementors were actually quite respectful and restrained toward adult wizards, unlike how they acted toward young wizards, where they would try to take advantage of any opportunity.
Besides the fact that the happiness of young wizards was purer, it was simply because they bully the weak and fear the strong.
Late at night.
Elara put Fafnir in the small attic.
Leaving it there to guard the door, she came out and headed to the Crouch family estate.
Less than half an hour later, Elara flew to the Crouch family estate—an orderly, solemn, and extremely Victorian old house, where even at night, all the windows were covered.
There were also her colleagues patrolling nearby.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with her colleagues, Elara figured out that they only patrolled this area at night and rested during the day.
And Barty Crouch Sr.
worked at the Ministry of Magic during the day, and recently all holidays at the Ministry of Magic had been cancelled.
Barty Crouch Sr.
naturally led by example.
And Barty Crouch Sr.
also ordered them not to get too close to the estate.
Elara also observed from a distance.
Many plants had not been pruned in time.
The Crouch family’s House-elf, Winky, had always been required to watch over Barty Crouch Jr., so naturally, there was some negligence in housework.
Using magic to storm the place was naturally impossible, and she even had to avoid conflict with Barty Crouch Sr.; the operations of Lord Voldemort and Wormtail were not something she could replicate.
However, fortunately, she already had enough ammunition, and she didn’t know if they were well-prepared for modern weapons.
Elara looked at the stone gate of the Crouch house and smiled.
Wizards never take Muggles seriously; these wizards who have been feigning sleep for years, these arrogant wizards, are exactly the opportunity for her to act with impunity.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”