“…… Maca ...... Save them...... You're going to save them, bastard Maca......"

"As long as you can save them this time, I will do whatever you say in the future, and I will never quarrel with you again......"

“…… Maca. ”

In the afternoon, when Maca was listening to the various event reports in the tournament coordination office, the Luping people from Black's old house appeared at the door.

It was only to his surprise that Lennie, who had always been a little too lively, came in with her head hanging down this time. And her sister Lena has always been half-hugging and half-hugging her, and has never let go for a moment.

After Lupin, who was the calmest, explained the matter clearly, Leni seemed to be unable to suppress the guilt and pain in her heart, and rushed over to hug Maca's arm and cry.

All along, her tears have been like the most precious treasures in her life, never easy to see. And rare things like this are often the purest and most sincere, the most crystal clear.

"Maca...... Save them. ”

The children were taken away, and a total of seven children who remained homeless at Black's old mansion were all taken away except for Isla, who was not very social.

In fact, Lupin found the place quite easily. Because there was also the corpse of an alienated eight-eyed giant spider, scattered limbs and round torso, as well as several smashed humanoid stone statues, revealing a rather fierce battle.

As for the outcome of the battle, it is self-evident.

"I see, Lennie," Maca patted the still crying little girl's head, "you've worked hard, though I want to say to you, 'You didn't do anything wrong'...... But we all know that we do something wrong, don't we? ”

"But I don't think it's your fault for running away with them or leaving them in an unsafe place, it's not your fault......"

"Lupin has told me about the changes in Hill and their families during this time, so I understand...... You're really growing up to be an amazing 'sister'...... No, you, who are now worried and guilty about Hill, are already a great sister. ”

With that, Maca gently parted Lenny's hands that were clutching his arms and pressed her shoulders to look at her pair of hazy teary eyes.

"Now you know? What did you do wrong? ”

With that, Maca straightened up and nodded at Lupin and Sirius.

"My spider died there, didn't he?" He frowned slightly and asked, "Is the body still in place?" ”

"Ah...... Well. Lupin immediately bowed his head and said, "It's still there, I'll go and join them before I can clean up, and then we'll decide to come directly to you." ”

"Okay," Maka said after a moment's thought, "you and Sirius immediately contact the members who can be dispatched to investigate, and don't worry about whether or not they will find out—of course, keeping your own safety the first priority." As for the place where the incident happened, I will check it out...... Let's do it! ”

“…… Uh, Mr. McLean? ”

As Maca was about to go out with Lupin, the assistant wizard assigned to him by the International Confederation of Wizards walked up to him and stopped him in some embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, I have to leave," Maka said, waving her hand, "but I can recommend someone to replace me - you can go to the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts, and Professor Severus Snape will help you with the job." ”

As she spoke, Maca walked out the door when the assistant suddenly turned her head again.

"Mr. McLean," he hesitated, "then...... The two young ladies inside? ”

"Let them stay in there for a while!" Maca said softly, "Don't worry, they're not strangers to Hogwarts, just take them to the castle when they come out later." ”

At this moment, Lenny, who was still standing in place, suddenly turned around and plunged into the arms of her sister Lena.

"I'm sorry," she said loudly with tears in her voice, "I've always made you worry, again and again...... Really, really sorry...... This...... It's my fault, my biggest fault. Like I'm worried about Sister Hill now...... No, you must be more ...... More ......"

Feeling the emotions conveyed by the sister in her arms through her body temperature and intermittent words, Rao is Lena, who has always had no excessive expressions, couldn't help but purse her lips.

……

Maca, who had abandoned the Alchemy Contest, failed to find any clues to the place where the children were taken away. Well, it's not accurate to say that, it's just ...... There are clues, but there are no traces left to trace.

From the beginning after being designed by the prophet old man to escape, except for the fact that he used the fake Edward butler to trap the two black-robed cultists, he really didn't catch any real clues.

He could feel that the old man was like a slippery loach. And an opponent like this is undoubtedly very difficult to deal with...... As far as the current predicament is concerned, "waiting for the other party to collide with itself" has become the most unrealistic, but also the most practical means of breakthrough.

Therefore, Maca simply let the members of the Order of the Phoenix go out to search and investigate.

Because he knows that since the other party chose to take the children away, it means that the other party's purpose is probably to threaten and trade. He then decides to send a message to the other party with a big search that he is urgent and willing to accept the deal that will obviously become very unfair.

Time passed little by little, and the afternoon schedule quickly came to an end. With Maca's previous proposal, the second round was indeed much more interesting than yesterday, and Snape, as Maca's temporary agent, was very efficient in handling many things one by one.

The only pity is that Maca, who has contributed a lot to the competition, only saw a small part of this morning's content today.

In the evening, after a busy afternoon outside, Maca finally returned to Hogwarts.

Of course, he didn't come back this time for the alchemy competition, but to make some preparations for being able to accept the other party's request to meet at any time.

If he hadn't guessed the old man's intentions, then the other party would have found a way to contact him and coerce him into making a deal. And the place of the transaction, naturally, will never be at Hogwarts.

As for what the other party wants, whether it is Nicol Lemay's alchemical inheritance or the dagger of pain that is not in his hands at all...... No matter what to do, he has to prepare first.

"Maka, do you need me to find someone to help you investigate? I can't leave, but I have some old friends who can help you get there......"

"No, no."

Professor McGonagall's appearance did not surprise Maca. From the moment he left Leni and Lena at Hogwarts, he knew that Professor McGonagall would know sooner or later.

"Professor, your responsibilities are much heavier than mine," Maka fuss about the task at his desk without even raising his head, knowing that McGonagall didn't care about the courtesy, "and it's not a matter of manpower this time...... If it really is necessary, I will go to you. ”

"yes—" Professor McGonagall nodded, "well, I think you've got your own way...... But remember, you have to be careful yourself, great power is obviously not the only means to an end. ”

McGonagall's sentence is actually an elaboration of the current situation. This incident was a typical suddenness, and if it hadn't been for Rita Skeeter's accidental discovery of the anomaly and her quick arrival at him, he might have waited until someone came to his door.

And the old man's own strength, judging from the strength of the magic fluctuations he sensed, was far inferior to his own. Although he sensed something strange about the prophet, it did not make the other person stronger than himself, otherwise he would not have tried to coerce him by taking the people around him.

"Professor, I see......" Maca scribbled a few more symbols on the parchment before she looked up and said seriously, "I'll pay attention." ”

After saying that, Maca immediately threw herself back into the intense preparations.

After all, it is impossible for him to guess when the other party will contact him, and these preparations in advance must be completed as soon as possible.

However, to be honest, he was actually in a hurry enough, and he had thought about a lot of things in such a short period of time. But he still didn't expect that the other party seemed to be more eager than his side.

While Professor McGonagall was still in his office, and before he could even finish speaking, Filch stumbled in through the hallway outside.

"Chancellor, Professor McLean...... Whew...... School Gate ...... School Gate ...... A lot of people ......"

"Who?"

Professor McGonagall immediately asked, and Maca frowned and looked up again.

"I—I don't know...... They were all dressed in black robes......" Filch may have sensed some foreign malice, and said with a trembling mouth, "and the other one in the middle is wearing a white robe, and he is very old...... Looking like a head, they have a few little guys in their hands......"

"So fast? And even he himself appeared......" After hearing Filch's description, Maca couldn't help but be a little stunned, and then quickly turned solemn again, "Last time he escaped so decisively, I want to see that the old man doesn't look like a guy who dares to expose himself to danger...... Something is wrong! ”

With that, he stood up abruptly. Behind him, the sky outside the window had gradually darkened, and on the eastern wall of the sky, a few dim stars emitted a faint blue light.