The Silent Witch of Hogwarts

Chapter 19: Vida Rozier

Upon seeing the newcomer, Scrimgeour's expression immediately turned serious, especially when he saw the old woman.

"Mr. Austin Rozier, could you explain to me what this secret room is for?" Even so, Scrimgeour asked with a stern face, "Is it related to dark magic items?"

"Director Scrinker, you're overthinking it," the old man said with a smile. "Please, both of you, have a seat."

"Let's sit down and talk," he said, gesturing to the sofa in the living room.

"..." Scrimgeour remained silent for a few seconds, and after glancing at the old woman, he walked over and sat down on the sofa.

Austin and the old woman slowly sat down opposite Scrimgeour, but their expressions were completely different.

Austin smiled obsequiously while cautiously observing the two, while the old woman remained nonchalant, seemingly disregarding the Ministry of Magic.

Her gaze didn't linger on Scrimgeour for long; instead, it was fixed on Loila for a considerable amount of time.

Who...who is she?

Loila had a bad feeling... Could it be Vi... Vida...? She gently shook her head, forcing herself not to think about that terrible possibility.

"Director Scrimgeour, what brings you here?" After a brief silence, Austin asked slowly, "Our Rozier family has always supported the work of the Ministry of Magic."

“I know that very well,” Scrimgeour said, emphasizing each word. “But this inspection includes all pure-blood families.”

As he spoke, he glanced at the fireplace: "Moreover... the Rozier family doesn't seem to be as they claim..."

"Those are just personal things, hahaha." Austin gave a slightly embarrassed smile. "After all, every family has its own...secret vaults, right?"

His explanation didn't seem to convince Scrimgeour, who pursed his lips and said, "Then, Mr. Rozier, could you have the Ministry of Magic examine the contents?"

"This doesn't seem... quite right," Austin paused before saying, "This is the Rozier family's private property..."

"Mr. Rozier, you must understand... the Rozier family supported Grindelwald's horrific cause fifty years ago, and their continued existence after his failure is only due to the Ministry of Magic's mercy." Scrimgeour's expression grew increasingly serious; the knownly tough man seemed somewhat angry. "If it were personal matters, we would naturally apologize, but if it involves Dark Magic items..."

The atmosphere... seems a bit off!

Loila felt the atmosphere, which had been relatively relaxed, suddenly become tense. Her eyes, hidden behind her mask, carefully observed the two people opposite her.

Austin's expression was rather unpleasant, while the old woman... she seemed to be merely watching Mr. Scrinker with considerable interest...

Even so, the somewhat oppressive atmosphere still made Loila feel a little scared. She shrank back, completely enveloping herself in the softness of the sofa.

Austin was somewhat embarrassed by Scrinker's words. He wanted to say something, but couldn't speak for a long time. After opening and closing his mouth a few times, the old woman beside him slowly spoke.

"Director Scrinker, you seem to be exaggerating." Her tone was elegant, and although her aged face was full of wrinkles, she still seemed to retain the noble air of her youth.

As she spoke, she bowed slightly: "Let me introduce myself... I am the head of the Rozier family of France."

"Vida Rozier".

Vivivivida...

Upon hearing the name, Loila shuddered as if electrocuted, and then she knew nothing more.

"Ms. Rozier, it's been a long time." Scrimgeour, completely unaware that his assistant had fainted, said seriously, "The last time we met was at the Wizengamot Wizarding Inquisition."

"Haha, I also remember Director Scrimgeour... Oh, back then he was just an Auror, right?" Vida smiled slightly. "I didn't expect that after so many years... Mr. Scrimgeour has been promoted to Director."

She said with a hint of sarcasm, "What a pity... I thought you would become a minister, or at the very least a director."

Seeing Scrimgeour's somewhat unpleasant expression, Vida continued, "The current Minister for Magic of England... seems to be Mr. Cornelius Fudge, right?"

"That's quite a suitable choice for a British wizard."

Her words made Scrimgeour take a deep breath before slowly saying, "It was Minister Fudge's order to come here and inspect the dark magic artifacts."

"Is that so?" Vader said slowly. "This has nothing to do with our greatest headmaster, Dumbledore, does it?"

"..." Scrimgeour paused for a few seconds and then said, "The Ministry of Magic is the Ministry of Magic, and Headmaster Dumbledore is Headmaster Dumbledore."

"Of course, of course," Vida nodded with a smile. "But I remember this was also an order from the Wizengamo Wizarding Council, right? And Headmaster Dumbledore just happens to be the Chief Wizard of the Wizengamo Wizarding Council."

Scringer's face flushed red; he realized he was no match for this Frenchman in the debate...

"Alright, Ms. Rozier, I didn't come here today to discuss these things with you," Scrimgeour said, tapping the table. "I'm here to investigate dark magic artifacts."

"The contents of those secret chambers must be examined by the Ministry of Magic."

"Director Scrimgeour..." Austin was about to say something hurriedly when Vida interrupted him.

"Mr. Scrimgeour, those things don't belong to my dear cousin, they belong to me." Vida smirked. "I suppose the British Ministry of Magic has no right to investigate...the belongings of a French wizard, right?"

"..."

Her words silenced Scrimgeour. He pursed his lips, wanting to say something, but didn't know how.

"You might want me to prove those things belong to me... but I'm sorry, Mr. Scrimgeour," Vida said to himself, as if he knew what Scrimgeour was likely to say. "Those things have been passed down through generations of the Rozier family... I don't think such things as receipts existed hundreds of years ago, right?"

Seeing Scrimgeour's face turn red, Vida smiled and looked at the masked stranger who had been silent all along.

"Mr. Scrimgeour, may I ask who this wizard beside you is...?"

Scrimgeour paused for a few seconds, then said with a grim expression, "She is an advisor sent by Hogwarts, Miss Hammill."

"Miss Hamel... It's a pleasure to meet you." Vida nodded slightly to Loila.

She had always been very curious about this wizard who remained silent for some reason... She was sure she had never seen a wizard wearing a mask like this before.

And was she the one who just figured out the mechanism on that fireplace, the one who was Hogwarts' advisor?

Vida looked thoughtfully at the wizard in front of her, but unfortunately, she remained silent, as still as an iceberg. Her silence gave Vida a sense of "keep away."

This is a bit tricky...

"Miss Hamel seems to dislike me even less than I thought," Vida said slowly in the slightly eerie atmosphere, then she fell silent and began to think.

Then... an awkward silence fell between the four of them.

"Hmm..." After a long while, Loila woke up slowly and looked at the group of people who were not saying a word. She subconsciously shrank her neck.

Did I just faint...? Could I have... caused some trouble?

Did she... recognize herself?

Even though she was wearing a mask, Loila didn't dare to look Vida in the eye... what if she recognized her... even though she was currently wrapped in a robe and wearing a mask... if she were recognized.

So what awaits me is the Killing Curse?

He would still use the Transfiguration Charm to truly turn himself into a parasite...

Loila lowered her head nervously and quickly began to memorize the knowledge of the magic array.

It felt like another fifty years had passed, until an Auror from the Ministry of Magic walked up to Scrimgeour and whispered, "Director, we haven't found anything suspicious."

"I understand." Scrimgeour nodded with a grim expression, then looked at Vida. "Then I won't bother you any longer, Ms. Rozier."

Then he said to Loila, "Miss Hammir, let's go."

"Ugh!" Loila stood up stiffly and followed Scrimgeour out of the hall, trembling.

“…………”

"Cousin Vida..." Austin wanted to say something, but Vida gently shook her head.

"Miss Hamel, I've never heard of her before," she said slowly. "Have you heard of her?"

"No……"

"I understand." Vida paused, then continued to speak to himself, "I have a feeling she's somewhat familiar..."

As she spoke, she walked to the open fireplace, glanced at the contents with a hint of nostalgia, and then waved her wand to close the fireplace.