“You’re going to answer for this, Fisher!” Karkaroff looked as though some enraged magical creature had trampled across his face.
He jabbed a finger at the Auror.
“You brought the most dangerous attack Durmstrang has suffered in years straight onto my grounds!” “And those creatures!” Deputy Headmaster Gilbert marched over, equally furious.
“They could hurt the students!” “I didn’t want any of this either, and you know it!” Fisher glared at the shredded remains of the enchanted bags scattered across the ground.
They were useless as evidence.
He could hardly return to the Ministry carrying a few scraps of leather and call the operation a success.
“I never expected his nephew to be at Durm—” “What exactly are you trying to say?” Karkaroff’s expression darkened further.
Fisher stopped.
Blaming a thirteen-year-old for the disaster would hardly make him look better.
“Fine.
I’ll deal with this.” He gestured irritably towards the remains of the bags.
“What I meant was that I never expected them to be willing to sacrifice this much just to escape.
You understand?
This wasn’t our fault.” “Not your fault?” Karkaroff stared at him, one cheek twitching.
“You should never have conducted an arrest operation inside a school in the first place.” “I’m sorry, Igor, but you know we had no choice.” Fisher’s words were polite.
His tone wasn’t.
He was an Auror.
Arresting wanted criminals was quite literally his job.
Still, when he looked back towards the castle grounds—students pouring outside, professors shouting, magical creatures racing everywhere—his expression tightened.
“All right.
My people will help capture the escaped creatures.” Then his voice hardened.
“And another thing.
Yule Rowle is an extremely dangerous criminal.
He’s the third-ranking member of the Golden Galleon Poaching Crew.
I had no reason to let him walk away.” “Then you should have arrested him—or killed him—before he took the final step onto Durmstrang property!” Karkaroff snapped.
“Instead, you chased the danger directly into my school.” “No.” Fisher met his gaze.
“I’m an Auror, not an executioner.” His voice was firm.
“My duty is to bring criminals before the Wizengamot and let them face lawful judgement.” Karkaroff’s mouth twisted.
“How noble.” Of course, he understood the real reason Fisher wanted the poachers alive.
One living member could lead the Aurors to the rest.
Killing Yule outright would accomplish very little except provoking his companions.
And Aurors had families too.
Friends.
Homes.
The Golden Galleon crew, on the other hand, had never been particularly famous for respecting boundaries.
Still, Karkaroff had no intention of letting the argument escalate any further.
The damage was already done.
“I don’t care who that man is.
I care that you pushed the danger towards my students.” “The boy…” Fisher hesitated.
Then he continued carefully.
“There’s a very good chance he’s the son of the Golden Galleon crew’s leader.
That gives us grounds to—” “You all right?” Somewhere in an unfamiliar forest, David and Yule suddenly appeared out of thin air.
David immediately doubled over.
“Urgh—” Portkeys.
He hated Portkeys.
His stomach seemed to have arrived several seconds after the rest of him.
Yule patted him gently on the back while keeping a wary eye on their surroundings.
“Sorry.
We were in a hurry.
I didn’t exactly have time to arrange luxury transport.” Once David stopped looking like he was about to empty his stomach onto the forest floor, Yule helped him upright.
“If I’d had the choice, I’d have collected you in a rune carriage like a proper gentleman, Master Rowle.” “Please don’t.
Knowing you…” David stopped halfway through the sentence and swallowed hard.
His stomach still hadn’t forgiven him.
Yule found his bearings and helped him towards a narrow path.
“You really should get used to travelling this way.
Portkeys are safe, convenient—” “Yes.
Very safe.
Very convenient.” David gave him a sideways look.
“Such a shame the Ministries don’t agree.
Clearly, they’re all idiots and should have listened to you years ago.” “Save the complaining.” Yule chuckled.
“Especially around your mother.
John’s latest stunt has already put her in a foul mood.” He pointed towards a lonely stone cottage visible between the trees.
“We need to hurry.
You’ve still got a plane to catch.” David looked at him.
Then at the forest.
Then at the isolated, miserable little building ahead.
“A plane?” His voice dripped with admiration.
“Wow.
What a luxurious airport.” Yule was far too accustomed to his nephew’s sarcasm to care.
“You’re spoiled, that’s your problem.
Do you know how difficult it was to find somewhere hidden, secure, and equipped with a fireplace?” “I’m spoiled?” David raised an eyebrow.
“Are you sure this isn’t because you’re afraid the Aurors will track your Apparition?” He looked at the gloomy cottage.
It was exactly the sort of place where a ghost ought to come crawling through the wall.
Preferably a pretty one.
David had standards.
Though given Yule’s taste, any attractive ghost living here would probably ignore David entirely.
He sighed.
“Whatever.
It’s not as though anyone asks me.
You lot have been deciding my life for me since I was born.” “Sorry.” Yule slipped an arm around his shoulders as they walked.
“But this time, it genuinely wasn’t my fault.” David gave him a suspicious look.
“John caused this.” Yule nodded solemnly.
“Honestly.
He really shouldn’t have gone after that dragon.” David’s shoulders slumped.
“I KNEW IT!” He groaned.
“Dad always finds some new way to make our lives interesting.” “You’re actually blaming the wrong person this time.” Yule reached the stone cottage and carefully checked the protective enchantments around it.
Nothing had been disturbed.
Satisfied, he led David around to the rear entrance.
Inside, the place turned out to be little more than an abandoned hunting lodge.
One bed.
One table.
One small fireplace.
Dust everywhere.
And, disappointingly, not a single ghost.
“It was Charles’s idea.” Now that they had safely reached the hideout, Yule finally relaxed.
He grinned.
“Charles said a Norwegian Ridgeback is valuable from nose to tail.
One dragon could equal half a year’s earnings.” David crouched slightly to inspect the tiny fireplace.
It looked just large enough for him to squeeze inside.
“And how did that brilliant idea work out?” “Remember the destination.” Yule knelt beside the hearth and swept away the ash.
“Hag Alley.” He produced a container of Floo Powder he had prepared in advance.
“As for the dragon…” His grin widened.
“She had just laid eggs.” David already knew where this was going.
“Which meant she was in an absolutely murderous mood.
Nearly killed John!” Yule burst out laughing.
“Hahahaha!” Apparently his brother nearly being eaten by a dragon was one of the funniest things he had heard all week.
After a moment, he shook his head with exaggerated regret.
“Shame, really.
Charles was planning to give you one of the eggs for your birthday.” David stepped into the fireplace and took a handful of Floo Powder from the bowl.
His mouth twitched.
“You’ve chosen a wonderful destination, by the way.” He glanced at Yule.
“Hag Alley?
I’m not particularly fond of hags.” Then he added, “And please thank Uncle Charles for me.
I do like dragons.” David paused.
“But I’m still a little young to continue my education in Azkaban.” Before Yule could answer, David threw the Floo Powder at his feet.
With obvious reluctance, he called out, “Hag Alley!” WHOOSH!
Green flames erupted through the narrow fireplace.
David vanished instantly.
Yule watched him go, amused.
He took another handful of Floo Powder and squeezed himself into the hearth.
“You know…” He shook his head.
“I don’t particularly like the name Hag Alley either.” He tossed down the powder.
“Hag Alley!” WHOOSH!
Green fire surged upward.
And Yule disappeared.
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