The Prisoners of Hogwarts

Chapter 262: A Reminder Regarding the Dinner Arrangements

Chapter 262 A Reminder About the Dinner Arrangements (5K) (2/2)

the other side.

At the edge of the Forbidden Forest at Hogwarts, after announcing that Hagrid had passed the test, Lynch did not linger.

He nodded slightly to Hagrid and the three students as a farewell, then turned and walked leisurely along the path toward Hogwarts Castle, his figure quickly disappearing into the deepening twilight and shadows of the trees.

However, just after he had walked a distance, the black raven that had been quietly perched on his shoulder flashed a glint in its eyes that was identical to that of Lin Qi himself.

It gently flapped its wings, silently drawing a low arc, and swiftly flew towards the white stone house deep in the forbidden forest.

A crow glided into the quiet room through the open window and landed precisely beside the fireplace.

The next moment, its body began to twist and elongate, transforming into the shape of Lynch amidst subtle magical fluctuations.

Without pausing, the transformed "Lynch" walked straight to the fireplace and reached into an exquisite silver box, grabbing a handful of glittering Floo Powder produced by the Stone Tower Merchant Guild.

With a steady swing of his arm, the powder was evenly sprinkled into the still-embering fireplace.

"Stone Tower Merchant Guild, Reggie's office!" he said clearly to the suddenly rising green flames.

The flames roared and instantly engulfed his figure.

The next moment, in the heavily guarded office of Reggie's on the top floor of the Stone Tower Chamber of Commerce in Diagon Alley, green flames rose from the fireplace, and Lynch stepped out.

The bookshelves on the inside of the office slid open silently, and Reggie, shrouded in a gray robe, stepped out.

His hoarse, flat voice came from under his hood: "Here I am."

"Hmm." Lynch nodded, walked to Reggie's huge desk, and sat down behind it.

He reached out and pressed an inconspicuous silver bell on the table.

Almost immediately, an assistant dressed in a chamber of commerce uniform, with a sharp expression, pushed open the door and entered, standing respectfully.

"Has Vice President Malfoy arrived?" Lynch asked, his voice steady.

"The vice president has arrived at the Chamber of Commerce and is checking the inventory of the logistics warehouse," the assistant replied.

"Please ask him to come over."

"Yes, sir."

The assistant silently withdrew and gently closed the door.

About ten minutes later, there were two cautious knocks on the door.

"Enter."

The door was pushed open, and Lucius Malfoy appeared.

He was dressed in a dark green travel cloak, looking travel-worn, and wearing dragon-skin gloves, as if he had come directly from the warehouse.

He first bowed slightly to Lynch behind the desk: "Mr. Lynch." Then, his gaze turned to the silent gray figure by the window, and his posture became even more respectful: "Mr. Reggie."

He stood at the doorway, not coming in immediately.

Despite being forced to take office as vice president, he maintained a respectful distance from the two "hangers'" confidants.

"Please have a seat, Mr. Malfoy," Lynch said, gesturing to the chair opposite his desk.

Lucius then stepped forward, took off his dragon-skin gloves, and carefully placed them along with the snake-headed staff beside his knees before sitting down with a slightly stiff posture.

"In these turbulent times, it's kind of you to come all the way from the warehouse," Lynch said, his tone calm. He started with a polite remark, then changed the subject and asked, "How are the preparations for the banquet going? The Ministry of Magic is in complete disarray because of Black's escape. I hope this won't affect our plans."

Lucius immediately perked up; he knew this was the real issue.

He gathered his thoughts and reported in as professional and calm a tone as possible: "Preparations are progressing according to plan, Mr. Lynch. The invitation list has been finalized, including the heads of various departments of the Ministry of Magic, key members of Wizengamor, and heads of major families. The editor-in-chief and several key commentators of the Daily Prophet have also confirmed their attendance."

He gave a suitable look of embarrassment: "However, as you might expect, the ministry is in a state of panic. Minister Fudge is overwhelmed by the Black and Dementors' out-of-control situation and has little interest in social activities."

When I last visited him, he seemed—very irritable. The other directors, though verbally agreeing, were also clearly distracted. He didn't voice his guess—that Fudge might also be instinctively wary of the Stone Pagoda Chamber of Commerce's overly high-profile activities during this sensitive period.

Lynch listened quietly, his fingers tapping lightly on the smooth tabletop unconsciously.

"The matter of Black—it is indeed the Ministry of Magic's top priority right now," he commented casually, as if it were a trivial matter unrelated to him. "But the more this is the case, the more we need to demonstrate stability and strength. A successful banquet can not only boost morale but also let some people see who the real force can provide support in these turbulent times truly is."

He looked sharply at Lucius: "You need to make Fudge understand that attending the dinner and siding with the Chamber of Commerce will help him solidify his crumbling authority. If necessary, remind him of the Chamber's 'support' for the Ministry of Magic's work, especially during these difficult times, which is consistent and cannot be ignored."

Lucius understood immediately; this "support" naturally referred to the power of Galleons.

"I understand. I will communicate again to ensure that the key people are present."

"How's it going with the Daily Prophet? What's their reaction?" Lynch continued to ask.

"I've already made initial contact with Barnabas Guffey, the editor-in-chief of the Daily Prophet." Lucius's face showed a cautious, analytical expression. "Guffey's attitude—is subtle. He outwardly expressed honor at the Chamber of Commerce's invitation, but also revealed a clear wariness. He's aware of our commercial influence and seems worried that our entry into journalism will shake the Daily Prophet's position. I've sounded out his intentions; he prefers to maintain the status quo and is reserved about introducing a strong competitor. However, his key columnists and news directors, especially those in charge of the financial and social sections, are relatively more flexible. They are more interested in the potential GG revenue and—cooperation opportunities—that the Chamber of Commerce might bring."

Lin Qi listened quietly, his eyes deep.

"Gu Fei's wariness was expected. No one is willing to give up the cake that's already in their mouth."

He said calmly, "Therefore, this dinner should not only invite him, but also show him our strength and determination, making him understand that cooperation is far more in his interest than confrontation. You need to ensure that at the dinner he can directly sense that the higher-ups of the Ministry of Magic and the major families welcome, or at least tacitly approve of, the Chamber of Commerce's entry into the news field. Isolate him, or make him feel isolated."

He looked at Lucius, his gaze sharp: "Focus on those among his men who are wavering. Make them feel respected and—potentially—at the dinner. Sometimes, the foundations crumble from within."

"I understand what you mean," Lucius said knowingly. "I will arrange 'one-on-one' meetings with those key figures to ensure they receive our clear message before and after the dinner."

At that moment, Reggie stirred by the window, his broken voice low and menacing: "Guffer—is the key. We can't—let him ruin things."

Lucius immediately turned to Reggie and solemnly assured him, "Please rest assured, Mr. Reggie. I will concentrate resources to ensure that Editor-in-Chief Gufair and his key personnel participate in the dinner in an appropriate manner and fully understand that cooperating with us is the wise choice."

Lynch nodded: "We trust you with the details. The time remains the same, before Christmas. This dinner must be our stepping stone to enter the world of journalism."

After the dinner and the business of the Daily Prophet were over, the atmosphere in the office seemed to ease a little, but Lucius was still on edge and dared not relax in the slightest.

Lynch casually mentioned it, his tone relaxed yet carrying an undeniable air: "Also, there's another small matter, Mr. Malfoy. It concerns that the game keeper at Hogwarts—now a professor of Magical Creatures, Rubeus Hagrid."

Lucius felt a chill run down his spine, immediately recalling his son Draco's injury and his subsequent actions, as well as the message he had received from Mr. Lynch asking him to "suspend" the pursuit of Hagrid.

He quickly reassured them, his tone respectful: "Please rest assured, Mr. Reggie, that since receiving your previous instructions, I have completely ceased all actions regarding Hagrid and have not taken any further action."

"The previous suspension ends here," Lynch looked at him, his tone polite yet firm. "Now, this matter needs to be completely resolved. I don't want to see or hear anything more about Professor Hagrid's position. Can you assure me of that?"

Lucius immediately and firmly assured them, "Of course! Please rest assured, both of you, that all matters concerning Professor Hagrid end here, and there will be no further developments. I guarantee this with the honor of the Malfoy family."

He answered without hesitation, but his mind raced.

The fact that they're demanding such a "complete end"—could it be that the half-giant—

He hesitated for a moment, but couldn't suppress the curiosity that came with his cautiousness. He lowered his posture even further, his voice even softer, and asked with a strong sense of probing, "Excuse my boldness—Mr. Lynch, is this Professor Hagrid—not—also one of us?"

He asked in a very subtle way, but the meaning was clear—was Hagrid also a member of the "Hangers"?

If so, then his previous harassment was simply courting death, and he will need to adjust his attitude towards Hagrid in the future.

Lin Qi glanced at him, his gaze indifferent, and directly denied it: "No, he has nothing to do with this. This is just my personal consideration, a private matter."

This answer secretly relieved Lucius, but also made him even more puzzled.

Is it really worth Mr. Lynch's high regard for a teaching position as a guard of a half-giant hunting ground, and even his explicit demand for a "complete end"?

What merit or ability does Hagrid possess?

However, the word "private matter" also acted as an invisible barrier, preventing him from exploring further.

Knowing full well that he shouldn't ask questions he shouldn't, he immediately assured them again, "I understand! There will be no further developments."

"Very good." Lin Qi nodded, seemingly satisfied with his statement.

Then, he changed the subject, saying, "However, I don't want you to feel like you've missed out on an opportunity—well, to be concerned about—Hogwarts affairs."

His tone was tinged with sarcasm: "Here's what we'll do: you choose two shops under the Chamber of Commerce, and the net profits for the next three years will go directly to the Malfoy family. Consider this my way of showing that this matter is completely settled."

Upon hearing this, Lucius was not pleased at all; instead, his expression changed slightly, and a cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.

He stood up almost immediately, his attitude both fearful and sincere as he declined, "No, no, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Reggie! This—this is far too much! It is an honor for me and the Malfoy family to share your burdens. It was only right that we followed instructions and temporarily suspended our operations. How could we dare to ask for anything in return? This is absolutely unacceptable!"

Having been born into a world of purebloods, he knew all too well that such seemingly "gifts" often came with deeper constraints or tests.

Just as he was declining repeatedly, Reggie, who had been standing silently by the window, slowly turned around.

That flat, emotionless voice rang out again: "Here, take it."

Lucius's refusal came to an abrupt halt, and he froze on the spot.

Regina's gaze, hidden in the shadow of his hood, seemed to fall on Lucius as he continued in his distinctive, broken voice, "We always do things fairly and justly." He deliberately slowed his pace, "We've used the influence and resources of your pure-blood families to serve the Chamber of Commerce, so naturally we can turn a blind eye to your actions of appropriately seeking some benefits for yourselves."

He paused slightly, allowing Lucius to process the meaning of his words, before adding with a hint of coldness, "But the premise is that there must be limits. If you take what you're entitled to, you must do what you're supposed to do, and—know when to stop."

Lucius was confused, and he was about to express his loyalty in accordance with Reggie's words.

Regina's broken voice, like a cold iron chain scraping against a stone slab, instantly choked Lucius's unspoken denial: "Warehouse No. 3, Knockout Lane."

These five seemingly random words startled Lucius.

That was one of the strongholds where several of their core pure-blood families handled certain "special" resources.

Reggie's voice continued slowly: "Last week's shipping records—don't match the arrival manifest."

He paused, then continued, "The difference—went to the underground auction house under the Nott family's name."

Lucius's face instantly turned ashen.

The Nott family!

They actually dared to do something behind his back, outside of the already tacitly agreed-upon quota!

This is not only a violation of the rules, but also a blatant challenge to his authority as the "leader".

Even more frightening is that Reggie was clearly aware of this—meaning that none of their actions had ever escaped the control of this mysterious chairman.

Regina's gaze, hidden beneath his hood, seemed to pierce through space, locking onto Lucius, whose expression was shifting rapidly: "It seems someone feels—the current 'balance' is not yet satisfactory."

These words, though spoken lightly, struck Lucius's heart like a heavy hammer.

This is a questioning of Lucius Malfoy's control over the pureblood faction!

"Keep your men in check, Lucius," Reggie said finally, his hoarse voice carrying an undeniable warning, "or—find someone else to manage them."

This blatant threat instantly soaked Lucius's back with cold sweat.

Shocked and angry at the Nott family's betrayal and folly, his instincts, honed from years of navigating various factions, forced him to quickly calm down.

He immediately realized that his reaction at this moment was crucial.

He must demonstrate sufficient compliance and efficiency, but must never reveal any attitude that could be interpreted as "disobedience".

He immediately bowed deeply, his voice filled with unprecedented solemnity and a genuine anger directed at the Nott family for being offended: "Mr. Reggie, Mr. Lynch, please give me some time! I will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly and give you a satisfactory explanation! Any behavior that breaks the rules or harms the interests of the Chamber of Commerce will not be tolerated!"

The moment he made his statement, his brain was already racing, driven by fear and the will to survive.

Refusing the "gifts" from those two shops again at this time would be inappropriate.

What he needs is a clear, humble, and non-threatening stance.

Lin Qi seemed oblivious to the turmoil within him, and simply continued the previous topic, calmly bringing it up again: "So, about those two shops—"

Almost the instant Lynch finished speaking, Lucius raised his head, his face displaying a perfectly balanced expression of gratitude and caution. He answered in a clear and decisive tone—as if this choice were something he had already carefully considered: "Thank you, Mr. Lynch and Mr. Reggie, for your generous gifts! The Malfoy family is deeply grateful! In that case—I choose 'Wrinkled Gills Cloth Shop' and 'Old Smoker's Cookware Shop.'"

The two names he uttered caused even the usually composed Lin Qi to show a barely perceptible hint of surprise in his eyes.

These two shops are located in the most remote corner of Diagon Alley. Their business has been sluggish for a long time, and they have always been ranked among the bottom five in terms of revenue within the Chamber of Commerce. They are practically half dead.

Choosing them is tantamount to receiving only a symbolic, almost negligible "compensation".

This is a silent signal, an extremely clever statement.

Lucius's choice was a message to the two leaders before him: I have received a warning, I understand my position, I am not greedy, and I will immediately and wholeheartedly address the issues you have raised. All my energy and resources will be devoted to "managing people well," rather than seeking additional benefits for myself.

Lynch gave Lucius a deep look, as if trying to see through his submissiveness and shrewdness, before finally replying indifferently, "Okay."

Lucius felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders, knowing he had made the right move.

He bowed again, picked up his cane and gloves, and, maintaining utmost respect, left the office.

The moment the door closed, all the expressions on his face vanished, leaving only icy anger and an eagerness to clean house.

Meanwhile, silence returned to the office.