Chapter 19: Vinda Rosier
At the sight of the newcomers, Scrimgeour's expression immediately hardened, especially when he saw the old woman.
"Mr. Austin Rosier, perhaps you can explain what this secret room is used for?" Despite the interruption, Scrimgeour pressed on, his face grim. "Is it related to Dark artifacts?"
"Director Scrimgeour, you're reading too much into it," the old man said with a laugh. "Please, both of you, sit. Sit."
"We can discuss this sitting down." As he spoke, he gestured toward the sofa in the hall.
"..." Scrimgeour was silent for a few seconds. His gaze swept over the old woman, and only then did he stride to the sofa and sit down.
Austin and the old woman also took seats opposite Scrimgeour, though their expressions were entirely different.
Austin wore a forced, placating smile, warily sizing up the two. The old woman, however, looked perfectly at ease, as if she held the Ministry in no regard whatsoever.
Her gaze didn't linger on Scrimgeour. Instead, it rested for a long time on Lyra.
She... who is she?
Lyra had a sinking feeling. It couldn't be... V... Vinda... She shook her head, trying to force the terrible possibility from her mind.
"Director Scrimgeour, what brings you here today?" Austin finally asked, breaking the short silence. "The Rosier family has always been supportive of the Ministry's work."
"I'm well aware of that," Scrimgeour said, his words clipped. "But this inspection includes all pure-blood families."
He glanced at the fireplace. "And... the Rosier family doesn't seem to be quite as cooperative as they claim..."
"That's just a few private belongings, ha, ha." Austin gave an awkward laugh. "After all, every family has its own... private vault, doesn't it?"
His explanation did not seem to convince Scrimgeour. Scrimgeour pressed his lips together. "In that case, Mr. Rosier, will you allow the Ministry to inspect the items inside?"
"That... doesn't seem appropriate, does it?" Austin faltered. "These are the Rosier family's private..."
"Mr. Rosier, you must understand," Scrimgeour's expression grew severe. His reputation for being tough was well-earned, and he looked angry. "The Rosier family supported Grindelwald's terrible cause fifty years ago. That your family still exists after his defeat is entirely due to the Ministry's mercy. If they are merely private belongings, we will, of course, apologize. But if they are related to Dark artifacts..."
The atmosphere... this is bad!
Lyra felt the relatively calm mood suddenly snap taut. Her eyes, hidden behind the mask, darted nervously between the two people opposite her.
Austin's face was a mask of discomfort, but the old woman... she just seemed to be watching Mr. Scrimgeour with detached interest.
Even so, the oppressive atmosphere was making Lyra terrified. She shrank into herself, letting the sofa's soft cushions envelop her.
Austin was visibly losing face from Scrimgeour's words. He wanted to say something, but no words came. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, but his companion, the old woman, finally spoke.
"Director Scrimgeour, you seem to be overstepping," she said, her tone elegant. Though her face was lined with age, it still held the high-born air of her youth.
"Allow me to introduce myself," she said with a slight incline of her head. "I am the matriarch of the French Rosier family."
"Vinda Rosier."
V-V-V-Vinda...
The name struck Lyra like a bolt of lightning. Her entire body convulsed, and then... she knew nothing at all.
"Lady Rosier. It's been a long time." Scrimgeour, completely unaware that his consultant had just passed out, continued sternly, "The last time we met was at the Wizengamot trials."
"Haha, I remember you as well, Director Scrimgeour... Oh, you were just a common Auror back then, weren't you?" Vinda smiled faintly. "I didn't expect that after all these years... Mr. Scrimgeour has climbed one whole rank to become Director."
"Such a pity," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I truly thought you'd be Minister by now. Or at the very least, a Department Head."
As Scrimgeour's face began to darken, Vinda continued, "The current British Minister for Magic... is Cornelius Fudge, I believe?"
"What a... suitable choice for the wizards of Britain."
Her words made Scrimgeour take a deep breath. He said slowly, "We are here inspecting Dark artifacts on Minister Fudge's direct orders."
"Is that so?" Vinda replied. "And this matter has nothing at all to do with our great Headmaster Dumbledore, correct?"
"..." Scrimgeour was silent for a few seconds. "The Ministry is the Ministry, and Headmaster Dumbledore is Headmaster Dumbledore."
"Of course, of course," Vinda smiled and nodded. "It's just that, as I recall, this is also a decree from the Wizengamot, isn't it? And Headmaster Dumbledore just so happens to be the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot."
Scrimgeour's face flushed crimson. He realized he was no match for this Frenchwoman in a verbal spar.
"Enough, Lady Rosier," Scrimgeour said, rapping his knuckles on the table. "I am not here to debate this with you. I am here to investigate Dark artifacts."
"The contents of that secret room must be inspected by the Ministry."
"Director Scrimgeour..." Austin began to protest, but Vinda cut him off.
"Mr. Scrimgeour, those items do not belong to my dear cousin. They belong to me." Vinda's lips curled into a smirk. "And I highly doubt the British Ministry has the authority to investigate the private property of a French citizen, correct?"
"..."
His words caught in his throat.
"You might hope I can prove they belong to me... but I'm afraid, Mr. Scrimgeour," Vinda continued smoothly, anticipating his next move, "those items are Rosier family heirlooms, passed down for centuries. I highly doubt receipts existed for them hundreds of years ago, don't you?"
Watching Scrimgeour's face turn purple, Vinda smiled sweetly and turned her gaze to the silent, masked stranger.
"Mr. Scrimgeour, may I ask who this witch at your side is...?"
Scrimgeour was silent for a few seconds, his face dark. "She is the consultant from Hogwarts. Miss Hamil."
"Miss Hamil... a pleasure." Vinda nodded politely at Lyra.
She had been curious about this silent witch... She was certain she had never seen a witch who wore a mask like this. And a consultant from Hogwarts... was she the one who spotted the mechanism on the fireplace?
Vinda studied her, but the witch remained perfectly still, as silent as a block of ice. Her wordlessness gave Vinda a distinct "keep away" feeling.
A bit thorny...
"Miss Hamil seems to dislike me even more than I imagined," Vinda said into the strange atmosphere. Then she, too, fell silent and began to think.
An awkward silence descended over the four of them.
"Ngh..."
After a long moment, Lyra slowly woke up. Seeing the silent group, she instinctively shrank.
Did I... faint just now? I didn't... cause any trouble, did I?
Did she recognize me?
Even with the mask, Lyra didn't dare meet Vinda's eyes... If she recognized me... even with the robes and mask... if she knew... she'd hit me with the Killing Curse, wouldn't she? Or would she transfigure me into an actual freeloader...?
Lyra lowered her head, terrified, and immediately began to mentally recite Magic Formation facts.
It felt like another fifty years passed before one of the Ministry Aurors walked up to Scrimgeour and said in a low voice, "Director, we didn't find anything suspicious."
"I see." Scrimgeour nodded, his face grim. He looked at Vinda. "Then we won't disturb you any further, Lady Rosier."
He turned to Lyra. "Miss Hamil, we're leaving."
"Ngh!" Lyra got to her feet on stiff legs, trembling as she followed Scrimgeour out of the hall.
"..."
"Cousin Vinda..." Austin started to say, but Vinda held up a hand.
"That 'Miss Hamil'... I've never heard of her." Vinda said slowly. "Have you?"
"No..."
"I see." Vinda paused, then said, more to herself, "I just feel... she seems familiar..."
As she spoke, she walked to the fireplace that had been opened. She glanced inside with a nostalgic expression, and then waved her wand, sealing it shut.