Chapter 169: Professor Levent Unselectable
Three-thirty in the afternoon.
Wright was still standing in front of the green bonfire, controlling the silver mist.
The green flames in front of him had merged with the silver mist, with forked filaments like veins on plant leaves or the root system of some massive tree, spreading out into the fireplaces of countless wizarding families across Britain.
The Department of Magical Transportation staff all around were fully focused, observing every step carefully like students in a classroom.
Arthur Weasley was also standing in the crowd; he had slipped in quietly.
Not far away stood Obliviators from the Department of Mysteries, leaders and staff from the Auror’s Office—Scrimgeour, Shacklebolt, and Moody were among them—along with some who had rushed back from field work, all excitedly gathering to watch and discuss.
The green flames surged but were not scorching hot.
Completing the modification would take some time, followed by testing to ensure stable and safe transmission without interfering with normal material transport; formally connecting the projection mirrors might not happen until tomorrow afternoon or later.
Melvin was not involved in the specific modification work; he was attending today only as the person in charge of the Magic Mirror Club, mainly to meet with several department heads and thank them for helping to counter Fudge.
“The Ministry of Magic hasn’t been this lively in many years…”
Madam Bones stood on the outskirts watching, smiling as she said, “The Floo Network Administration last gathered this many wizards probably during the overhaul inspection 150 years ago. They say the entire wizarding world was thrown into panic by that missing person case, even starting to boycott the Floo Network.”
Crouch beside her frowned slightly: “That hardly counts as a missing person case; that erroneous transmission can’t be blamed on the Floo Network either.”
This department head had served in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement before transferring to the Department of International Magical Cooperation and had read the relevant files and materials; he had a deep impression of the case.
“Are you talking about the case where the witch Violet Dearman ran away?”
Melvin asked; he had come across related materials in the library while tutoring on Floo Network knowledge.
It was the autumn of 1855 when the witch Violet Dearman quarreled with her husband Albert and finally jumped into the living room fireplace, sobbing as she used the Floo Network, intending to go back to her parents’ home to complain.
Albert didn’t take it seriously and let his wife vanish into the green firelight. It wasn’t until several weeks later, when their home was in chaos and he couldn’t even find a clean bowl or sock, that he thought to look for his wife.
He used the Floo Network to go to his wife’s parents’ home, but his in-laws said Violet had never returned. Albert, of course, didn’t believe them and angrily searched their home, finally confirming that his wife had truly gone missing.
Violet’s parents immediately reported the case to the Ministry of Magic and published a missing person notice in the newspaper.
But they tried every means and still couldn’t find Violet.
Once the news spread, wizards began to fear using the Floo Network, worried about disappearing during the spatial traversal. The Ministry of Magic had to respond, ordering the Department of Magical Transportation to thoroughly inspect the Floo Network and publicly release an inspection report in the newspaper; it took months to calm the storm.
Twenty years passed, and Albert died of illness. Just when everyone thought the missing person case had become a cold case, Violet reappeared.
It turned out that she had misspoken the place name while crying and was transported to the Outhouse family several counties away. The story afterward was a bit melodramatic: Outhouse was a handsome and gentle wizard, Violet fell deeply in love with him at first sight, bore him seven children, and lived happily ever after.
What could one say? Hard to judge.
“Even though it was Violet’s fault, the Ministry of Magic had vulnerabilities too. If they could have detected and tracked her transmission destination, none of the later chaos would have happened,” Madam Bones said.
Crouch’s brows remained furrowed: “Wizards aren’t gods, Amelia. We can’t foresee every accident…”
The two had different views on the missing person case and couldn’t convince each other, but as department heads, they minded their status and image even in debate, keeping their tones relatively mild.
Melvin quietly shifted two steps to the side, not wanting to get involved in their argument.
He scanned the surrounding staff and asked Old Will: “Will Fudge come to the Department of Magical Transportation today?”
Old Will, head bowed and leaning against the wall with his cane in hand, hesitated for a few seconds: “Probably not; I haven’t received any message.”
“He won’t; he’s helping Umbridge move offices!”
Tonks popped up from somewhere, her purple hair especially eye-catching: “After being publicly contradicted by several department heads at the last meeting, Fudge was furious and plans to teach the Magic Mirror Club… you a lesson. He’s discussing bad ideas with that pink toad Umbridge right now.”
Melvin raised an eyebrow: “What does he want to do?”
“Don’t worry; I’ve found you some help!”
Tonks grinned and pulled out a short wizard from behind her.
……
Leaving the crowded Floo Network Administration room, the group followed the signs to the Apparition Testing Center and was led by the short wizard into one of the offices. With all the Department of Magical Transportation staff outside watching, the entire testing center felt unusually quiet.
They sat on the guest sofa, and just as Melvin was about to ask for details on Fudge’s plan, a steaming cup of black tea was placed in front of him. Tonks also took out scones from the cabinet, clearly very familiar with the place.
While enjoying the Ministry of Magic’s afternoon tea, they listened to the female Auror recount the intelligence she had gathered.
“You mean Umbridge plans to prosecute me for lacking an Apparition license?” Melvin’s expression was odd; even his unconventional Muggle thinking couldn’t comprehend such a bizarre idea.
In the bright office, Tonks nodded and swallowed her doughnut: “They want to teach you a lesson and embarrass you; that’s enough for them.”
“Mr. Lavent, using Apparition without a license violates the relevant regulations; you could be fined up to two thousand Galleons,” the short wizard behind the desk explained. “If the situation is serious and the Minister insists on harsh punishment, you could face three months’ imprisonment.”
Melvin turned to look at this skinny wizard, whose skin was strikingly pale, hair and eyelashes nearly transparent, and pupils almost colorless, giving him a ghostly, ethereal feel, as if a gust of wind could blow him away.
“Wicky Techross, chief examiner for Apparition testing,” the short wizard introduced himself, extending a hand to Melvin. “Pleased to meet you, Professor Lavent.”
Melvin shook that slender, fragile hand, hesitating slightly before asking curiously: “Does Mr. Techross have albinism?”
Because magic nourished the body and embryo, wizards rarely suffered from physical Muggle diseases; even after dozens of generations of inbreeding, the worst was mental illness. Such obvious genetic conditions were almost nonexistent.
“I’ve heard of the condition too, but I’m not.”
Techross shook his head with a smile: “My current appearance comes from long-term frequent Apparition; my body was affected by unknown magic, weakening my constitution.”
Melvin found it strange and couldn’t help but look a few more times.
“Let’s talk about the license instead.”
Techross looked down at a data sheet: “We hold Apparition classes at Hogwarts every year and issue licenses based on graduation exam results. Adult wizards must apply on their own; the process is quite troublesome, and there are only three opportunities each year… Professor Lavent, did you obtain an Apparition license from the American Ministry of Magic?”
“No.”
“……”
Techross frowned and pulled a parchment from the stack of materials on the desk, listing this year’s schedule for adult wizard exams:
“The last exam was in December, just passed; the next is after Easter in three months. If that Umbridge prosecutes you, it could be tricky.”
“They just want to drag you to the tribunal to embarrass you and show off their authority; no matter the final penalty, it’ll be trouble…” Tonks frowned too. “That pink toad really knows how to disgust people.”
The office fell quiet for a moment, with only the sound of Techross turning parchment pages.
“Your analysis makes a lot of sense.”
Melvin savored the Ministry-special desserts, wiped his hands with a napkin from the tray, and said calmly: “Now there’s just one sticking point: prosecution requires evidence. How are they going to prove I used Apparition without a license?”
The other two in the room looked up at him in confusion; Tonks reminded: “They’ll use the Prior Incantato charm to check your wand.”
Melvin spread his hands: “I generally use wandless spellcasting.”
“There might be witnesses.”
“I generally don’t Apparate in front of others.”
“……”
The two Ministry of Magic staff fell silent; they had been in their posts too long, only thinking of legal ways to avoid Umbridge’s lawsuit, never considering that this professor had never been a rule-abiding wizard.
……
In the evening.
Mrs. Ekko and several staff escorted them all the way to the fireplace in the Great Hall.
They were almost all Old Will’s friends, plus some Obliviators and Department of Magical Transportation staff, discussing technical issues with Wright. Bones and Crouch, as department heads, had their own departmental affairs to handle and did not join in.
Only one idle department head was mingling among them: Ludo Bagman.
He had neat golden-blond short hair, blue eyes, a flattened nose, and a ruddy complexion. His loose-fitting standard robe looked tight and narrow on him, with the fabric stretched taut over his round belly, giving him a very approachable appearance.
During the last Wizarding War, Bagman had passed intelligence to the Death Eater Rookwood, so he was brought to the tribunal. But due to the light nature of the crime and his accumulated connections, he was not sent to Azkaban, not even dismissed; after paying a fine, he continued working in the Department of Magical Sports and rose to department head.
His little gambling hobby kept his vault perpetually empty, and recently, after betting on Quidditch in taverns, he owed a large sum and urgently needed some golden things to bail him out.
As far as he knew, the Magic Mirror Club’s business was highly profitable.
“Professor Lavent, once the Floo Network modification is complete, we can watch projection mirrors from home. Now there’s one question: where should we go to buy them?” Bagman asked with a smile on his face.
“There are currently no shops selling projection mirrors, and the Magic Mirror Club has no plans to open a specialty store.”
“……”
Bagman’s eyes lit up.
Taverns across the country had earned tens of thousands of Galleons last year; if he could become a projection mirror distributor, his vault would surely be as full and plump as his belly!
Melvin glanced at this department head and said calmly: “If needed, you can order from nearby tavern owners; they are the projection mirror distributors, and the price will be jointly negotiated and decided by us.”
Old Will was right beside him, hobbling slowly with his cane.
He looked at the patterns on the floor, thinking that Jack and Alfie would be very happy to hear this.
Their choice had been the right one.
