The days of hanging out at Hogwarts

"They think there's a niche in the family transportation market."

"But flying carpets will never replace broomsticks in Britain."

"I remember my grandfather had an Axminster pile carpet that could seat twelve people on it... of course, that was before flying carpets were banned."

Barty Crouch's voice was unhurried and steady, as if he was adhering to some strict rules.

Staring at the burning bonfire, Hermione's eyes lit up slightly.

She listened to the words of the three chatting, filtered and deleted redundant information, and then pieced together the trivial information collected. Now she has a clear understanding of the Ministry of Magic's model for managing import and export goods.

It's a bit crude, but it's easy to manage and easy to exploit loopholes.

It's as if... these laws had these loopholes reserved when they were enacted.

While Hermione was thinking this, she slowly raised her head and quietly glanced at Mr. Barty Crouch and Mr. Weasley, who was involved in the relevant business... Both of them mentioned the relevant matters as if they were just chatting, their expressions Frankly, he said whatever he thought of and was completely unaware of such shortcomings.

Loren silently looked at Bertha Jorkins sitting opposite, her dilated pupils and her face full of confusion.

Listening to the conversation between Arthur and his two colleagues, Ms. Jorkins showed a look of reminiscence from time to time, and occasionally a hint of confusion flashed across her face. She probably remembered the things they had mentioned, but confusion would quickly creep up on her. her face.

It seemed that her brain was covered in a thick fog, making it difficult to recall past memories and form new memories.

This state reminded Loren of his respected Defense Against the Dark Arts professor Gilderoy Lockhart.

Such a wizard has obviously lost some of his ability to care for himself and should now be recuperating in a closed ward at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Maladies, but this lady Bertha Jorkins is still at work...

Loren blinked, feeling a little strange inside.

In the Ministry of Magic, which is full of confidential documents, a witch's memory was erased or modified using a powerful forgetting spell, and no one seemed to notice...

Was it a dark wizard from outside, or someone from within the Ministry of Magic?

What could be the hidden secret...

He silently withdrew his gaze, having some guesses in his mind, and quietly observed Mr. Barty Crouch of the Department of International Affairs Cooperation.

The chat among the staff of the Ministry of Magic continued. Most of the time it was Ludo Bagman who spoke. Arthur only intervened when it came to his duties. Barty Crouch’s words and demeanor There is always a rigid dogma, as if every particle of dust in the family is engraved with legal documents. Bertha Jorkins always had a thoughtful look on her face.

Ludo Bagman couldn't get a word in on the flying carpet, so he turned the topic to a field he was familiar with: "How's it going? You're busy enough, Barty?"

Barty Crouch nodded: "I'm quite busy. You know, organizing and arranging portkeys on five continents is not an easy task, Ludo."

Arthur, who was on vacation, said with a smile: "I think you all would rather this matter ends quickly, right?"

Bagman suddenly laughed: "Of course not, I have never been so happy...and after the Quidditch World Cup is over, there is a more important job waiting for us, don't you think so, Barty?"

"We promise not to announce it to the public first..."

Crouch frowned, and seeing that he wanted to continue speaking, he said sternly: "Ludo, it's time for us to meet those Bulgarians."

"There's nothing to hide. I'm willing to bet you that these kids will find out soon. I mean, it happened at Hogwarts..." Bagman waved his hand carelessly, as if he didn't care at all. Confidentiality was an issue, but he still stood up slowly and said, "See you later! You are on the top box with me - I am the commentator of the game!"

Crouch looked at the confused witch: "Bertha, let's go."

Bertha Jorkins paused for a moment before reacting. She stood up in a panic and walked to Crouch's side. But after she stood up, she realized that her wand had fallen to the ground. She ran back to pick up the wand. After some tossing, Then he activated Apparition and disappeared in place.

Crouch shook his head and left with Bagman.

Huh-huh-

The boiling water made an uneasy sound inside the kettle, and the kettle on the campfire spewed out scorching steam.

After hearing the sound, Molly hurriedly ran out of the tent, hurriedly poured boiling water into the teapot, and poured a cup of scalding hot tea for everyone sitting around the fire.

"..."

A group of people were holding hot teacups and couldn't take their mouths.

Molly added firewood to the bonfire and glanced at George and Fred lightly, making them shrink back in fright: "If I find you gambling, you don't need to build your magic wand shop, all that mess. The products will be like these firewood... Do you understand?"

George and Fred kept nodding.

Molly glared at Arthur again, and then began to scold: "Look at the friends you made, do they look a little serious..."

Arthur quickly apologized and smiled: "Don't be angry, Molly, this is just Ludo's hobby, a trivial hobby..."

"Oh, Merlin, there are people who like to let children participate in gambling, why don't the Aurors of the Ministry of Magic arrest him... and you two, I dare say that if it weren't for Loren, you guys would definitely get involved. "

Listening to Molly's nagging lectures on the twins, and occasionally even Arthur's lectures, she looked at the hot tea in the cup. She probably wouldn't be able to drink it for a while. Loren and others around them were afraid of harming innocent people, so they put down the tea and ran away. .

Nearly a hundred thousand wizards continue to pour into the area hidden on the edge of the swamps and forests. As the sun rises and the thick fog gradually dissipates, the camp packed with tents is gradually becoming lively.

Loren and Hermione walked side by side slowly around the tent. After listening to Hermione talk about the loopholes in the regulations she found, Loren nodded noncommittally: "I didn't pay attention to the content of their chat, but I noticed that the uncle Ms. Sarah Jorkins.”

"Bertha Jorkins?"

Hermione thought back to the lady who only said two sentences at the beginning. She didn't want to think about it, but now that she thought about it, there was indeed something wrong.

"The pupils are dilated and she is always remembering..." Loren sorted out the doubts about her little by little, "I have seen these symptoms of memory problems in Gilderoy Lockhart."

"You mean... the Oblivion Curse!" Hermione opened her mouth slightly, "But she is an employee of the Ministry of Magic?"

"I don't know the specific situation..." Loren looked at the colorful tents in the camp, recalling the plot about the Quidditch World Cup in his distant memory, and paused for a moment, "Anyway, we should try to be careful. I have a hunch that this will happen." A football game might not go that well."

Hermione nodded worriedly.

…

As the Quidditch World Cup final approaches, the excitement that has been suppressed for a long time spreads in the camp along with the breath of the wizards. The summer air seems to be unable to bear such excitement and expectation, gradually heating up until it is unbearably hot and trembling slightly. .

As night fell and all the wizards arrived at the scene, the Ministry of Magic could no longer conceal the supernatural scenes and simply relaxed its control, and various signs of magic broke out.

The entire camp was filled with vendors descending from the sky, some carrying trays and some pushing carts filled with strange and weird gadgets.

There are rose-shaped badges that scream and glow, strange wizard hats inlaid with living specimens, small models of flying Firebolts, support light boards for the Irish and Bulgarian teams, and magic statues of famous players...

A lively scene.