"Guesses the riddle?!" Everyone's attention shifted away from how Ivan had persuaded Zuosey's "conscience." Now, their focus was entirely on the shocking case at hand. This case involved not only murder but also the largest robbery and resale of ancient magical items in the Egyptian wizarding world in over a century. The sums of money involved were astronomical, and the cultural relics were of immeasurable value.
Gringotts had attempted to protect Zuosey, but after he sobered up, he denied all involvement. However, this had little effect. First, the evidence against him was overwhelming, and he couldn't explain the origin of the vast amount of gold he had. He couldn't even remember how he had acquired it. After Ivan modified his memory, all he could recall was his conversation with the young wizard (Ivan) who had persuaded him to confess. He felt as though he had been insane at the time.
Moreover, nobody was inclined to believe the word of a Goblin. Wizards did not trust Goblins, especially in such a situation. While the Egyptian Ministry of Magic might have hesitated if Zuosey had been a wizard, they had no such reservations when dealing with a Goblin.
Quickly, the Aurors applied Veritaserum to Zuosey, forcing him to divulge all the details. As Bill had expected, Zuosey's confession had severe consequences, not only for Gringotts but also for the wizarding world. His demise meant that Gringotts' influence in Egypt was diminished. Pure-blood wizarding families and dark wizards were also implicated. The Egyptian Ministry of Magic even sought assistance from the International Confederation of Wizards to retrieve the ancient magical items that had been resold.
It remained to be seen whether Lucius Malfoy could be summoned, potentially creating more trouble for Voldemort. Ivan had a thought that perhaps Death Eaters connected to Lucius and Zuosey could be imprisoned in an Egyptian wizarding prison. Voldemort might not be able to rescue them so easily. However, this idea was far from realistic.
The Egyptian Ministry of Magic didn't plan to escalate the matter. They lacked the power to do so and had limited influence on the international stage compared to the British Ministry of Magic. Their target was primarily Gringotts and the Goblins, compelling them to compensate. In this regard, public opinion would likely be on their side.
Now, all exploration of Egyptian magical relics had come to a halt. The Ministry of Magic would conduct a comprehensive assessment of the excavation projects led by Goblins, including the Sun Vestige. This particular excavation project would come to a permanent halt.
Bill had informed Ivan that the Egyptian Ministry of Magic was considering inviting experts from Britain, France, and Germany to form joint Curse-Breaker teams and continue excavation projects. However, this matter had no bearing on Ivan, as he had no intention of venturing into potentially dangerous ancient tombs.
Ivan didn't expect that the matter would eventually find its way to him a year later, but that was a story for another time.
Upon his return to Egypt, Ivan and his companions continued to explore the country. They visited pyramids, temples, and other historical sites, often using flying carpets for transportation. If it weren't for the fact that they were in Egypt during the summer vacation, they might have also visited the Egyptian wizarding school.
Laurie, who had accompanied them for some time, was a knowledgeable guide on Egyptian history and magical practices. She eagerly shared her insights and explained various aspects of Egyptian witchcraft and culture. Ivan was particularly intrigued by the magical item on her wrist—a rare prop known as the Shaman's Strength, which allowed communication with animals of ancestors and nature. This was a branch of magic with unusual and unexpected capabilities.
Laurie mentioned that the Shaman's Strength had its origins in the ancient traditions of some African tribes. She planned to research more on this topic once she returned to school and promised to share her findings with Ivan. He hoped she might uncover information about the tribe to which Schwella belonged. Ivan had promised to apologize to her tribe for the delay and inform them of her fate, but he didn't know where to find them.
On another note, the ongoing termination of excavation projects had led to many vacant rooms in the inn. They switched to a new room, and strangely enough, Gabrielle didn't want to sleep alone. After some discussion, it was decided that she and Hermione would share Ivan's room, while Fleur had her own.
With Gabrielle sandwiched between them, Ivan found himself unable to act on his feelings for Hermione, despite her proximity. It was a frustrating but necessary decision.
However, for several nights, Hermione would quietly wake Ivan, coaxing him to accompany her to watch the night sky by the pyramids. She seemed entranced by the beauty of the tall structures against the starry backdrop. Ivan found these moments to be deeply romantic.
A month later, the Zuosey case finally came to a close, and they were allowed to leave Egypt. The Egyptian Ministry of Magic rewarded Ivan with a substantial amount of gold Galleons for his role in persuading Zuosey to confess. His bonus alone was five thousand gold Galleons. If they knew that he had sifted through Zuosey's treasury and taken valuable items, they would likely be less generous.
The Ministry of Magic also informed Evan that they had applied for the first-level Order of Merlin medal on his behalf. If the application was successful, they would send the medal to him by mail. It seemed that the Egyptian Ministry of Magic had limited influence, and the British Ministry of Magic held more authority in the matter.
Evan had originally planned to spend more time in Egypt, as he had been enjoying a leisurely and carefree stay, exploring various aspects of Egyptian magic and culture. However, they received a letter from Lupin, informing them of a troubling situation. Harry had gotten into serious trouble, facing charges of violating the International Statute of Secrecy by using the Patronus charm in front of Muggles. Furthermore, it appeared that Fudge was using this as an opportunity to remove Harry from Hogwarts.
"I'm not sure why Harry would do such a thing," Hermione said. "The Patronus charm is quite rare, and it's usually..."
"This suggests that he must have encountered Dementors," Evan interjected.
"Why would there be Dementors? They're all in Azkaban," Hermione replied, her eyes widening as she realized something. "Wait, are you saying someone has ordered Dementors to attack Harry?"
Hermione thought of Voldemort instantaneously; only then could he order dementors to attack Harry. Evan knows it's not Voldemort, but the order is under Umbridge, though this doesn't have many differences. Voldemort will definitely control the dementors; it's only a matter of time. Not to say for certain, but now both sides are connected; dementors have the possibility of treachery anytime.
When comparing it to the Ministry of Magic, Voldemort can probably offer much more; it's more attractive. Unlike giants, dementors are absolute dark creatures; they appear and disappear in groups in the darkest and dirtiest places in the world. Cheers are corrupt, and despair rules; there simply is no way to communicate or convince; they can only be eliminated. Furthermore, dementors are creations of evil gods themselves; they have fundamental differences from normal biology.
"This matter is very complex. In the letter, it said that Fudge is preparing..." Evan said, ambiguously looking down at the letter in his hand. "After Dumbledore mediated, they had to relent and request Harry to stand trial at the Ministry of Magic; the situation is very disadvantageous for us."
"They can't do that; it doesn't make sense," Hermione said. "They can't dismiss Harry; it's not allowed in the 'Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery.' In life-threatening situations, magic can be used. We must go back to help him. I remember many legal regulations."
Due to this matter, they didn't have the mood to continue staying in Egypt. This time travel had to be completed, and now was the time to go back. In the meantime, Gabrielle invited Evan and Hermione to be guests in France, and they agreed to visit when she had vacation time to spare.
As for Fleur, without any surprises, they would meet again soon. As planned, she was preparing to find work in Britain and practice her English skills. Bill also planned to return to his homeland. Because of his involvement in the Zuosey case, he felt awkward staying at Egyptian Gringotts. It made more sense for him to go back and find an office job while simultaneously aiding in the fight against Voldemort and taking care of his family members.
While Evan and Hermione were preparing to return, Harry lay weakly on his own bed. A thick feeling of despair surrounded him; the room remained dim, with no lamp lit. He had spent the entire day in his bedroom, only leaving for the bathroom when necessary. He looked down at his hands for a moment, then let out a sigh. This was undoubtedly the worst summer vacation he had ever experienced. He was trapped in 4 Privet Drive, cut off from the magical world, unable to hear any news he wanted to know, just like an idle Muggle.
What was worse was facing the constant taunts of Mr. and Mrs. Dursley every day. He longed to know any news related to Voldemort, Dumbledore, Sirius, and what his good friends were doing, and he also wanted to help. But there was nothing; everyone seemed to have forgotten about him, not even sending a single letter.
This sense of isolation weighed heavily on Harry, and as he lay there, he couldn't help but think about Evan and Hermione enjoying their time in Egypt, while he was stuck in Privet Drive, unable to move. The thought was unbearable.
As he replayed the scenes of their laughter in his mind, he noticed the chocolate and Egyptian sweets they had sent him before leaving. He hadn't opened them and had left them untouched. That night, after finishing Aunt Petunia's dinner salad, he regretted not indulging in them.
Harry sighed, crawled out of bed, and realized that his current mood was not conducive to sleep. His memories continued to haunt him, and he couldn't forget the previous evening when he had encountered dementors in a nearby alley in Little Whinging. Two dementors had suddenly attacked him and Dudley, and Harry had used the Patronus incantation, expending tremendous energy to drive them away and save Dudley's life. But there had been no praise for his actions, only a letter from the Ministry of Magic dismissing him.
The letter lay on his desk, and Harry took it, holding it up to the faint light from the street. His mood sank even further as he read it:
"Dear Mr. Potter,
We have received information that you used the Patronus spell in a Muggle community in front of Muggles on the night of August 12th at 9:13 PM. This action constitutes a serious violation of the 'Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery,' and as a result, you have been dismissed from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The Ministry of Magic will send a representative to your residence shortly to confiscate your wands.
In light of your prior warning for violating the 'International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy' on the 13th, we regret to inform you that you must appear at the Ministry of Magic for trial on the morning of August 12th at 9:00 AM. Please take care.
Yours truly, Mafart Hopkirk Ministry of Magic Improper Use of Magic Office"
In that moment, Harry's mind went numb, and he felt a sense of hopelessness. The reality hit him like a paralyzing dart; he had been expelled from Hogwarts, and it was all over. He couldn't return. Harry wasn't willing to sit and wait for his fate. Hermione had given him advice before leaving, and he knew that due to Voldemort's return, Fudge and the Ministry had turned against him. He was now a prime target.
His only option was to escape, to run away from here before the Ministry arrived to confiscate his wands. He hoped that if he could escape, Sirius and Evan would help him. He was still angry with them, but they were the only people he could rely on at the moment. Otherwise, he would be wandering the world alone.
Harry had a fleeting thought, hoping that two years ago when he had left the Dursleys with his box, he would meet Evan on a dark street. But quickly, he received a second letter, this time from Mr. Weasley.
With black ink on a piece of scrap parchment, Scabbers wrote several lines of characters: "Dumbledore has just rushed to the Ministry of Magic to investigate the whole situation. Do not leave your Aunt and Uncle's home, do not use magic again, and do not surrender your wands."
So, Harry decided to stay put. He reluctantly explained the situation to Mr. and Mrs. Dursley. He didn't understand why dementors had come to Little Whinging, and he couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't a coincidence. Perhaps the Ministry of Magic had lost control over the dementors. Maybe some dementors had escaped from Azkaban and joined Voldemort's ranks, as Dumbledore had once predicted.