Hogwarts: This professor is too Muggle.

Chapter 101 The Possibility of Embezzlement

Moonlight shone obliquely into the simple wooden house through the window. The man sitting under the kerosene lamp put down the report, leaned back in the chair, frowned and thought.

Looking out the window, there was a mess of scorched earth. Faintly, one could see black and gray smoke rising. If one breathed closely, one could even smell the distinct smell of sulfur.

"A total of 23 dragon eggs have been stolen." Anton Vogel said frankly to these guests who had come from afar. "We've already notified the Aurors to block and investigate incoming and outgoing wizards. The situation isn't optimistic; they may have already escaped... If these dragon eggs aren't recovered, many female dragons may suffer from postpartum depression."

Melvin asked thoughtfully, "Twenty-three dragon eggs were stolen simultaneously. The operation was swift and left no trace. This must have been an organized and planned operation."

"Who says it isn't, Professor Lewynter? Your perception is very sharp." Vogel nodded and picked up the teapot on the table and filled it with red liquid for the guest. "Try this, dragon's blood brandy, our local specialty. It doesn't have any alcohol, but relies entirely on the dragon's blood for the stimulating flavor."

Melvin took a sip and put down the teacup calmly.

Hagrid and Kettleburn would have liked it, but they weren't here, out there helping to calm and handle the dragon as professionals.

"They are well-trained, have been planning for a long time, and are very familiar with the reserve... I must remind you, Mr. Vogel, that they may have accomplices within the Fire Dragon Reserve." Melvin paused, "And more than one."

"More than one..."

Vogel repeated in a low voice, looking at the young professor in front of him, who was powerful and quick-witted... He felt a stir in his heart, and an idea popped up in his mind. He sighed deeply and began to complain:
"Yes, Professor Lewynter, we've had suspicions for a long time. The protected area has an extremely strict management system, but the underground dragon trade in the surrounding area is still very rampant. Poaching dragons and stealing dragon eggs occurs every year. The Ministry of Magic has asked the Law Enforcement Department to conduct thorough investigations several times, but it can only calm the situation for a while. Once the storm has passed, those thieves and scum will come back again..."

Melvin pretended not to hear his thoughts and listened to him finish talking about the security situation in Romania with a smile: "It's very regrettable, but I believe the Aurors will be able to arrest those illegal dark wizards."

Vogel opened his mouth and originally wanted to seek the professor's help, but after thinking about it carefully, he realized that although the professor's magic was terrifyingly powerful, he knew nothing about the situation here. When it came to investigating the case, it seemed that he could not be of much help.

What if something is found out?
Vogel nodded and took a sip of the dragon's blood brandy. "Professor, are you planning to leave now?"

"Leaving? Of course not." Melvin smiled. "On the contrary, I want to ask when the reserve will open. I haven't had a good look at the fire dragon yet."

"That depends on how the dragons recover," Vogel sighed. "Dragon eggs have been stolen before. It probably takes about a week. I hope no female dragons suffer from depression..."

Ten minutes later, Melvin said goodbye. Vogel also said he had to work overtime tonight. Before leaving, he expressed his gratitude again: "Professor Lewinter, our reserve will remember your help."

The Romanian Ministry of Magic increased its immigration and exit inspections and required ordinary tourists to cooperate with management. Charlie helped to send them out, and they floated in the night sky for half an hour before staying in Aibo's hotel again.

……

At ten o'clock in the evening, Melvin, Kettleburn and Hagrid walked on the streets of Budapest, feeling the moist breeze from the river.

Hagrid shrugged his head and thought about the dragon mothers. He was in a very low mood. He felt a little empathy. He and Norbert were so sad to part with each other, and those mother dragons would be even sadder.

Melvin and Kettleburn didn't comment on this and didn't say much, just treating it as a way to relax Hagrid.

"Melvin, don't be fooled by that Vogel." Kettleburn looked at the swaying lights on the Danube.

"Is there something I don't know?" Melvin was a little surprised.

“You should know that Britain has many Death Eaters who escaped trial. Among these former criminals, some have withdrawn from public view and kept a low profile, while others have changed their identities and taken up important positions in other countries.” Kettleburn paused slightly. “For example, Bagman of the Department of Physical Education at the Ministry of Magic, and Karkaroff, the headmaster of Durmstrang…” “Vogel is one of them?”

"He is also a criminal who escaped justice, but he is not a Death Eater, he is a witch saint."

"Witch Saint... Vogel..."

Melvin kept repeating the name. He felt that the name was somewhat familiar just now. When the professor mentioned it, relevant information about the history of magic emerged in his mind and he slowly remembered it.

Vogel was once a name in textbooks, but in modern magical history, names like Dumbledore, Grindelwald, Picquery and Scamander are too brilliant, making this German Minister of Magic and former President of the International Confederation of Wizards seem unknown.

In the early twentieth century, when Vogel was in office, he led the capture and escort of Grindelwald in the 20s. In the early 30s, he organized the election of the President of the International Federation.

For unknown reasons, the German Ministry of Magic headed by him almost all turned to the Witch Party and plotted to make Grindelwald the new president... Later, Dumbledore and Scamander defeated Grindelwald, and Vogel was liquidated and dismissed, and his whereabouts are unknown.

Decades later, unexpectedly, the former UMNO members became high-ranking figures in Romania.

"So that's it..."

No wonder the director was not surprised when the internal spy was mentioned.

This land is truly blessed with outstanding people and a mixed crowd of all kinds.

Melvin was in a delicate mood.

"Very strange, isn't it? A former Death Eater is now the headmaster, a member of the Witch Party is a high-ranking official, and right next to the reserve is a black market. This ecosystem has lasted for nearly a hundred years."

"They won't steal from the inside, will they?"

"Probably not. They are making such a big fuss for their long-term interests. They seem more like foreign wizards."

"We are also foreign wizards. I wonder if the businessmen here will welcome us."

Melvin looked at the bridge spanning the river.

There are nine bridges across the Danube in Budapest. The oldest of them is the Széchenyi Chain Bridge, also known as the Chain Bridge. It is located between Széchenyi Square in Pest and Krak Adam Square in Buda. It is one of the city's landmarks and also the entrance to the Wizard Black Market.

The three-arch iron bridge has two piers six hundred feet apart. The bridgeheads on both sides are two tall and majestic stone triumphal arches. The arches are exquisitely carved and there are huge stone lions on both sides with heavy bases.

Latin letters introducing the bridge are engraved on the side of the stone lion's base.

Tapping the letters of the alphabet with their wands, the three continued down the aisle, disappearing through the arches of the ancient Chain Bridge.

(End of this chapter)