However, there was a slight issue regarding the ownership license for the Kneazle.
Currently, no one in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures was handling this matter.
“I’m sorry, I just remembered.
Lately, everyone from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures has been sent out to stake out Sirius.
Things have been really tense recently,” Kingsley apologized very sincerely.
“Then what about my kitten?” Elara hadn’t expected this.
“You’ll probably have to wait until things settle down,” Kingsley lowered his voice.
“As long as you don’t show off your Kneazle all the time, most wizards won’t look into it too closely.
And it’ll be even safer at Hogwarts.
Understood?”
“So, Uncle Kingsley, are you going to turn a blind eye?” Elara said with a smile.
“Hardly.
It’s just that I’ve been so busy lately, how could I have time to worry about a young wizard’s cat—whether it’s a half-breed Kneazle or a purebred Kneazle?
Besides, your Kneazle is well-behaved, so there’s no need to worry about it hurting anyone.
But mind you, once things quiet down here, I’ll have you come register it.”
“Understood!”
Next, Elara naturally upgraded her gear, replacing everything on her school supply list with brand new items.
According to Kingsley, she wouldn’t be getting any subsidies next year.
Once the first round of the massive search had temporarily passed,
Elara transformed into a Dementor and made her way to Privet Drive using the map.
It was only about a half-hour flight back.
Even if her flying figure was spotted by wizards, no one would dare to question where she was flying to or where she had come from.
They would only wish to avoid her at all costs.
Row after row of identical houses.
The back garden of Number 4 Privet Drive looked very neat, with the emerald-green lawn trimmed perfectly.
Elara did not dare to get too close and chose to keep her distance instead.
She didn’t want to test whether a Dementor would be repelled by the magic on Harry Potter.
Right nearby on Wisteria Walk lived Arabella Figg, a Squib member of the Order of the Phoenix, along with her horde of cats, which included Kneazles.
Elara was also careful not to go near there—she knew all too well how overly sensitive a Kneazle’s senses were.
Elara suspected that a Kneazle’s senses were even sharper than her own.
After circling a few times, Elara located Barty Crouch Jr., who had been waiting for a long time, staring intently at Number 4 Privet Drive.
Elara landed gracefully.
“Did you see?” Elara communicated telepathically.
“Of course, I’ve tracked down this location.
Obviously, Harley Potter is inside.” Barty Crouch Jr.
held a wand in his hand, while Winky crouched beside him, weak yet stubborn.
“Is that so?” Elara stepped closer to Barty Crouch Jr.
“You’re being foolish.
You must know that Dumbledore has stationed members of the Order of the Phoenix to live near him—wait, Harley?” Elara confirmed.
“That’s right, Harley is a girl.
Perhaps we were fooled by Dumbledore from the very beginning, which is why I’ve been waiting patiently instead of tearing that girl to pieces right now.”
“Obviously, you can’t.
She has an extremely terrifying magic on her, otherwise the great Dark Lord wouldn’t need your strength here.
Don’t even try.
The Dark Lord can withstand such magic, but you are different.
Do you want the great Dark Lord’s plans to fail because of your recklessness?”
Barty Crouch Jr.
seemed very displeased, but he held himself back.
“What do you need me to do?
You didn’t just bring me here to take a look, did you?”
“Of course not.
Let us discuss our true objective now.
You know Bellatrix Lestrange is dead, right?”
“I know.
I also know she was killed by a Dementor during her escape,” Barty Crouch Jr.
said, seemingly hinting at something.
“She sought death willingly, in order to pass on crucial information,” Elara said, perfectly composed.
“The information Bellatrix Lestrange wanted to give you?”
“The Lestrange vault of Bellatrix Lestrange’s family houses the great Dark Lord’s contingency plan for resurrection—Hufflepuff’s Cup.
And we need to retrieve that contingency.”
The fanatical look in Barty Crouch Jr.’s eyes made Elara feel a bit disgusted.
Seeing his expression, which was too excited for words, Elara knew that Barty Crouch Jr.
was fully on board.
“This is wonderful, absolutely wonderful!
Indeed, how could the great Dark Lord not have a contingency plan?
What do you need me to do?
Attack Gringotts directly?
We don’t have enough manpower for that.
Or should I sneak in—”
“It looks like you’ve already obtained a wand.” Elara looked at the wand, which still had bloodstains on it.
“That won’t lead to us being discovered, will it?
We need to keep as low a profile as possible before we act, and strike with a single, fatal blow.”
“It won’t.
I obtained it myself, so there won’t be much evidence.”
“That’s good.
I already have a detailed plan, and others will cooperate when the time comes.
I assume you know how to brew Polyjuice Potion?”
“I do.
What is the specific plan of action, then?”
“How long will it take?” Elara asked instead.
“A month, if there are enough ingredients.
A Dementor can’t take Polyjuice Potion, after all.”
“Of course it’s not for me.
Now, you need to prove your loyalty.” Elara naturally didn’t have enough ingredients on her, and the current timing was incredibly tense.
“Go control Mr.
Borgin, and then brew the Polyjuice Potion.
The day your Polyjuice Potion is successfully brewed will be the day we act.
Oh, and your Confundo—according to the Dark Lord’s instructions, your mastery should be quite impressive, right?
I hope you won’t mess up on the day of the operation.”
After all, Barty Crouch Jr.’s Confundo was powerful enough to directly interfere with a terrifying ritual magic like the Triwizard Tournament.
“Of course there’s no problem.
I’ll go and take control of Mr.
Borgin.” Barty Crouch Jr.’s determined gaze was like a snake ready to strike at any moment.
“The Confundo will naturally not be an issue.
I just hope your side of the operation doesn’t mess up.”
Elara, of course, was not worried.
After all, the Barty Crouch Jr.
before her was a ruthless individual who could capture Moody alive even when Moody was caught off guard.
And dealing with the old and frail Mr.
Borgin would naturally be child’s play for him.
Having learned the general objective and knowing he was working for the great Dark Lord, Barty Crouch Jr.
was already fully satisfied, leaving him to speculate on the rest.
“Of course not.
We had you come look at Harley Potter because we heard some rumors.
Although we can’t hurt her, we can obtain some of her hair—do you need fresh hair?” Elara asked.
“Of course, the fresher the better.
Posing as the enemy?
I’m getting more and more interested in your plan.
In any case, I will have Mr.
Borgin under control within a week.”
Elara waited for Winky to take Barty Crouch Jr.
and leave.
It seemed Barty Crouch Jr.
intended to follow this plan.
She looked toward the small house, quietly waiting for Harley Potter to appear.
She also wanted to see for herself what made this world different.
More than an hour passed.
Neither Muggles nor Squibs could see Dementors; they could only feel a bone-chilling cold.
Then, Harley walked out carrying a large bag of trash.
On her small, oval face were emerald-green eyes, inherited from her mother, Lily—one had to wonder if Snape would go mad over them.
She clearly had a face that belonged to Lily.
With clear green eyes, soft curly hair, and fair, delicate skin, she looked like a creation pitied by fate.
However, when those cold eyes looked in Elara’s direction, Elara felt a sense of restrained indifference.
And Elara realized that she had been spotted.
Hiding in the shadows of the tree, Elara silently gave the Savior a greeting, and then vanished.
This world didn’t look like it would be too dull anymore.
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!”