“Haha, Li, you still need to practice!”
George and Fred laughed, patting Li on the shoulder, and explained their reasoning:
“That’s Mr. Crouch, a high-ranking official who has been in the Ministry of Magic for many years. If he wants to, he can definitely find powerful and professional investigators!”
“Although Weilan is smart, he is still just a student at Hogwarts! Not to mention, once he leaves Hogwarts, his use of magic will be restricted.”
As they spoke, Weilan had already flipped through the first few pages of The Daily Prophet.
“Any new news?” Hermione whispered to him.
“Mr. Bagman has been imprisoned in Azkaban on suspicion of bribery and dereliction of duty.”
Weilan pointed to the report in the most inconspicuous corner of the fourth page and said, “This happened last week, and they’re only reporting it now.”
Hermione commented angrily, “Mr. Bagman is definitely not the only one with problems, but he was caught, so he has to go to Azkaban to bear the sins of everyone.”
Fewer and fewer owls flew in through the windows.
Many students began to disperse, disappointed—it seemed Mr. Crouch’s commission wouldn’t be coming to Hogwarts.
Sure enough, a high-ranking official like him wouldn’t pay attention to a small student detective at Hogwarts.
Weilan thought the same thing.
Hermione said it was a good thing, maybe Bader had simply walked home?
Weilan also thought it was a good thing.
He didn't really want to deal with high-ranking officials, especially Barty Crouch, a cold-blooded man.
As they walked out of the Great Hall, they saw Professor McGonagall hurrying towards them.
She was holding a letter.
Weilan’s heart sank.
He saw Professor McGonagall’s gaze fix on him, and then she slowly walked over.
He guessed the news awaiting him… No, he guessed the wrong person.
Weilan watched Professor McGonagall approach and hand him the letter.
“Mrs. Crouch heard about what you did in Hogsmeade. She said she wants to meet you and your friends.”
Even though his heart was churning, Weilan didn't show too much surprise on the surface.
He took the letter and heard Li behind him sigh dramatically, “George, Fred, you two still need to practice—”
“That doesn’t count, Professor McGonagall said the letter is from Mrs. Crouch.”
“How does it not count? Aren’t they family? A letter from Mrs. Crouch is practically a letter from Mr. Crouch!”
“No, Li, you can’t just equate them like that…”
Weilan pressed his lips together, saying nothing.
As he was about to leave, Professor McGonagall suddenly grabbed his arm and quickly whispered in his ear, “You must be careful, Mrs. Crouch is not an easy person to deal with, don’t offend her lightly.”
“Thank you for the warning, Professor McGonagall.”
Weilan pulled Hermione and Ron and quickly left.
…
“Mrs. Crouch arranged to meet at six o’clock this evening in the letter.”
“She didn’t say what she wanted us to do, only promised us a reward of 500 Galleons after it’s done.”
Weilan admitted that when he saw that number, he was greatly tempted.
If he could get this money, added to his original savings, he would be able to buy the house in Upper Hogsmeade Village directly.
But Weilan was not someone who would be blinded by profit.
Huge profits go hand in hand with risks.
And he found it very strange that Mrs. Crouch hadn’t explained in the letter what exactly she wanted them to do.
Weilan suspected there was a trap.
Professor McGonagall’s last warning still echoed in his ears.
If it hadn't been Mrs. Crouch choosing Professor McGonagall as an intermediary, given Weilan’s personality, he might have directly refused Mrs. Crouch’s commission letter.
“This woman is very smart.” Weilan stared at the neat letters on the letter, “I can’t refuse her.”
Professor McGonagall wouldn’t warn Weilan without reason—“Mrs. Crouch is not an easy person to deal with, don’t offend her lightly.”
“Then we’ll go with you to Upper Hogsmeade Village to see,” Hermione told him.
Weilan nodded: “Also, we need to let Dumbledore know about this, and tell him that we definitely won’t be staying out tonight.”
At six o’clock in the evening, Weilan, Ron, and Hermione stood punctually in front of the Gryffindor common room.
They used Floo powder to transport themselves to the fixed point in Upper Hogsmeade Village.
The fixed point was located at the entrance of Upper Hogsmeade Village, a heavy stone trough containing kindling tools.
The lower part of the stone trough was deeply embedded in the earth, ensuring it wouldn't be casually moved by idle people, and above it was connected a stone plaque engraved with “Upper Hogsmeade Village,” placed upright outdoors.
Although it wasn't a crude hut with only one fireplace for kindling, it was simple and easy to use, and could be placed in large quantities in different areas as a public transportation point.
On a winter night in December, it got dark very early.
At six o’clock, candles were already lit in every household, casting blurry shadows on the windows. Weilan and his companions didn't even need to search to see Mrs. Crouch’s residence.
The tallest and most beautiful four-story villa in Upper Hogsmeade Village was definitely Mrs. Crouch’s residence.
They walked over and saw that the house number was indeed the same as in the letter.
“How luxurious!”
Standing in front of the iron gate, Weilan couldn't help but look up at the magnificent white building.
But his gaze then involuntarily drifted towards the southeast.
To the southeast, the mountains merged into a single mass in the darkness, and the low-lying houses with lights on were clearly outlined in the faint glow.
Weilan tried his best to find the unlit house among them, the small property that would belong to him in the future.
Unfortunately, it was too dark to see.
An old butler came to open the iron gate for them. Weilan put away his thoughts and followed the butler into the villa’s courtyard.
Although the area of this villa was far from comparable to large estates, it stood out in Upper Hogsmeade Village.
They entered the reception room, their shoes sinking into the soft carpet, and found a beautiful, fair-skinned lady of about 30 sitting on a leather sofa.
The lady nodded slightly, and the butler brought chairs.
After the three of them sat down, several cups of black tea appeared on the coffee table.
“No, thank you.”
As Weilan refused, he gestured with his eyes for his two companions not to drink either.
“Mrs. Crouch, you stated your identity in the letter, but you didn’t say what you were commissioning us to do. You see…”
Mrs. Crouch handed over a money bag:
“There are 30 Galleons in here, considered my deposit. I want you to follow my husband, Barty Crouch!”
“Huh?”
Weilan heard Hermione and Ron behind him make sounds of disbelief.
“We did hear that you were in trouble,” Weilan probed the woman's background, “They said you and your husband have been worried about your son recently.”
“I know where Bader went, he was kidnapped by my husband’s mistress!”
Mrs. Crouch said this through gritted teeth.
“Mistress?” Weilan raised an eyebrow. In his memory, Mr. Crouch’s perpetually icy face was still vivid.
“That’s right!” Mrs. Crouch was very certain, “That man has been secretly keeping a mistress behind my back.”
A Knuts copper coin danced on Weilan’s fingertips.
He thought it was impossible, so he performed an instant divination.
“Has Mrs. Crouch, who commissioned me, had a husband who kept a mistress outside?”
The coin leaped up and was caught by Weilan’s hand.
He opened his palm, and the number side was facing up; the divination result was “no.”
“Mrs. Crouch, is it possible you’ve misunderstood your husband? I believe Mr. Crouch is fair and just, upright and incorruptible, he shouldn’t…”
“Impossible!” Mrs. Crouch was agitated, “He often receives pink letters with a scent, and he doesn’t allow me to see the contents of the letters.”
“If he’s not that kind of person… then I…”
Mrs. Crouch spoke very vaguely, but Hermione leaned over and whispered to Weilan:
“Don’t forget that the Mrs. Crouch in front of us is Mr. Crouch’s second wife. So she’s very sensitive about these things.”