https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-169-Adults-Like-to-Break-the-Rules/12526263/
Chapter 168: What Does He Want?
Chapter 168: What Does He Want?
Recently, Hoktok has been feeling particularly unlucky. He had mysteriously lost his Golden Membership Card while watching an opera in France, and his potion research, which had been going smoothly, suddenly encountered a slew of issues, stalling his progress.
Even consuming Felix Felicis, a luck-enhancing potion he had stockpiled, failed to improve his fortune.
Hoktok had not yet reported the loss of his Golden Membership Card to the Extraordinary Potion-makers' Association, nor had he dared to tell anyone else about it.
Sometimes, having too many people involved only served to bring more trouble.
Hoktok had no illusions about placing a lost item ad in the Prophet, expecting it to help recover his card.
Using his connections, Hoktok sought a prediction: his Golden Membership Card would be taken to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Currently, he should go to Hogwarts and negotiate with Dumbledore to identify the boy who found his card among the students.
However, this was undoubtedly a bad idea.
Just as Hoktok was agonizing over this matter, he received an owl with a letter that read: "It seems you're facing some troubles. I can offer you assistance."
Attached was a note: "I enjoy my evening tea on the terrace at eight o'clock."
The sender was Bade Brood.
Hoktok was acquainted with Bade Brood; both were members of the Wizengamot, although they had not truly conversed much.
After all, their areas of expertise and social circles were completely different.
There was a reason for the saying, "People in different fields are like strangers."
Nonetheless, Hoktok decided to visit Bade Brood. Since the other party had taken the initiative to reach out, he surely had a purpose.
Seven-thirty.
Hoktok arrived early at the lake, where the breeze was cool, temporarily dispelling the summer heat.
"Quite a connoisseur of pleasure, isn't he?" Hoktok looked into the distance, narrowing his eyes slightly. "And Disapparition is prohibited here?"
Hoktok illuminated the tip of his wand and walked along the lakeshore, finally stopping at a dilapidated dock. Gazing at the lone, shabby boat, he fell into a brief silence.
As Hoktok stepped onto the boat, it sailed towards the island in the lake under the cover of night, guided by the gentle breeze.
After a short journey, the boat reached the island's dock just before sinking. A house-elf was waiting there to greet Hoktok's arrival.
"The master asked me to wait for you here, Mr. Hoktok Dagworth. Please follow me." The house-elf bowed to Hoktok and then led the way, holding up an oil lamp.
They walked along a path paved with pebbles and passed through several defensive enchantments before entering the manor.
"Good evening, Hoktok. You're earlier than I expected," Brood greeted his guest from his seat by the round table on the terrace.
"I'm here. Now, tell me, what news do you have?" Hoktok asked, suppressing his inner turmoil.
"Oh, so the rumors are true. You've lost something valuable," Brood said with a smile, gesturing for Hoktok to take a seat.
Hoktok sat down and patiently listened to Brood's ramblings. As long as Brood could provide some useful intelligence, he didn't mind waiting a while longer.
"I have a young friend who wrote to me about some strange happenings recently," Brood said as he poured red wine into Hoktok's glass. "He mentioned that he had just returned from a vacation in France when he inexplicably received a letter from the Ministry of Magic for using the Summoning Charm. However, he has just completed his first year and hasn't yet learned how to cast that spell."
Hoktok opened his mouth but ultimately remained silent.
"This is a gift he brought back for me from his trip to France—a Muggle red wine. It's quite delightful," Brood said, giving Hoktok a smile that wasn't quite a smile.
Even a fool could understand the implication of Brood's words—the young friend he mentioned was most likely the boy who had found Hoktok's Golden Membership Card.
"What's his name?" Hoktok asked, taking a deep breath and lowering his voice.
Brood didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked at Hoktok calmly and asked, "How do you plan to handle this matter? Are you going to demand the item back from him directly?"
"What does it have to do with you?" Hoktok blurted out, instantly regretting his words.
"Of course, it concerns me," Brood said, sizing Hoktok up and down before shaking his head. "It seems you need a glass of red wine with ice to calm yourself."
Hoktok fell silent for a long moment before speaking again. "My apologies, I was rude. I've been facing a string of bad luck lately, and it has frayed my temper."
"I understand," Brood said, not taking offense at Hoktok's earlier outburst. He handed Hoktok the letter Albert had written to him.
After reading the letter, Hoktok looked up and asked, "What do you want me to do?"
"It's not what I wanted." Brood corrected, "It seems you've caused some trouble for that young boy of mine."
"I will compensate him," Hoktok quickly replied.
"Oh, it seems you haven't quite understood me." Brood interlaced his fingers and looked at Hoktok, offering a gentle reminder. "He doesn't need any compensation from you; you just need to clean up the mess you've made."
"Mess?" Hoktok repeated softly.
"Isn't it?" Brood countered.
"In a way, yes, it is a mess." Hoktok didn't deny it. "But it's not a big deal."
"For him, it might be." Brood stated.
Hoktok fell silent and nodded again, indicating that he understood.
"Thank you, Mr. Brood." Hoktok stood up to express his gratitude and prepared to leave.
"Won't you stay for a cup of evening tea?" Brood smiled and asked, "We can sit and chat..."
"No, thank you." Hoktok politely refused. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm quite busy and have a lot on my plate. I don't have much time to indulge in leisurely moments."
"I suspect you'll soon be willing to sit down and chat with me." Brood didn't mind and smiled at Hoktok. "Our next meeting won't be here."
Hoktok left the lakeside cottage and once again boarded the small, dilapidated boat to return to the lakeshore. He now knew the boy's name, and the next step was to negotiate with him to retrieve his Golden Membership Card.
"He's gone!"
As soon as Hoktok left, McDougal cheerfully took his seat, picked up the untouched wine glass, and sipped the red wine, smacking his lips. "It's not bad. But why didn't Anderson send me a bottle as well?"
"Because I'm his professor!" Brood stroked his beard and laughed.
"Do you think Hoktok will succeed?"
"If he cleans up the mess he's made, he'll get his item back." Brood said with a smile.
"By the way, why did you meet Hoktok here?" McDougal asked.
Indeed, the lakeside cottage was one of McDougal's homes, and although it was called a cottage, it was actually a small manor.
"That guy will definitely not get his Golden Membership Card back. When he comes to look for me, he won't be able to find me." Brood said happily.
"How did you guess it was the Golden Membership Card?" McDougal asked.
"Otherwise, what do you think Hoktok would be so concerned about retrieving?" Brood replied with delight.
"Then why..."
"Why will he fail?" Brood countered.
"Hmm."
"Anderson is different from the other children," Brood said softly. "If Hoktok intends to resolve this with compensation, he will definitely hit a wall."
"Hmm, I heard Rowena intends to go to Hogwarts to serve as the Professor of Dark Magic Defense." McDougal suddenly changed the subject.
"This..." Brood frowned and took a sip of the red wine.
McDougal's tone turned serious, and he furrowed his brows slightly. "What business does he have at Hogwarts?"
"Does Gerber know about this?" Brood suddenly asked.
"Not sure yet." McDougal shook his head. "Let's go and ask him what's going on!"
"Gerber will definitely not tell Rowena about the inheritance because of their family ties." Brood shook his head, dismissing the most likely possibility. "As a direct descendant of the Smiths, he must have seen some related records. Rowena is clever, and he probably guessed something from those records."
"He's clever, but his personality isn't a good fit." McDougal said softly, "And... never mind, since there are now two suitable candidates, we can just choose between them later."
"Hmm, before that, keep an eye on them."
"I will." McDougal smiled and swirled the wine in his glass. "This wine is nice. By the way, I won the last bet, didn't I?"
"I remember most of your books were given away!" Brood shook his head helplessly. "How many did you sell?"
"Probably half?" McDougal thought for a moment and laughed. "A bet is a bet."
"Alright, he's yours." Brood pointed to the opened bottle of red wine. After that, he picked up the bottle and poured himself a small glass.
"Let's go and find Gerber to figure out what's going on." McDougal tapped the cork with his wand, and it automatically jumped back into the bottle, resealing it.
McDougal picked up the half-full bottle of red wine and walked towards the fireplace, with Brood following close behind. They disappeared into the emerald green flames of the fireplace.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
