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Chapter 711: Quick, Hide!!
Betsy looked at Darren in surprise. For a moment it seemed she might laugh, but she said nothing more and turned away, leaving without another glance.
A moment later, a slender witch stepped out of another fireplace—it was Hermione.
Then two more figures climbed out behind her.
"This doesn't feel good," Harry muttered.
Hermione didn't hear him. Her attention was fixed on the enormous statue Darren had been looking at earlier.
Disgust flashed across her face.
"Alright," Darren said quietly, pulling her along. "Muggles are exactly where they're supposed to be here. Let's move."
Hermione nodded.
The Ministry was crowded with wizards. They quickly merged into the flow of people, blending into the crowd.
Just as they were settling in, a voice rang out—
"Cattermole!"
Harry's heart lurched as he turned.
It was Yaxley.
Harry recognized him immediately—the same man who had been present the night Dumbledore died, the one who had helped create the opportunity for Snape to act.
Harry forced his expression into something neutral.
Ron, however, looked as if he might collapse.
Because Yaxley was calling him.
"I know you heard me, Cattermole," Yaxley said coldly. "My office is leaking. Go fix it. Otherwise…"
He smiled thinly.
"I believe you know who will be judging your wife today."
Ron swallowed hard.
Yaxley looked irritated.
"What's that expression? Hurry up. I can easily add a few more charges to her case. You know I can."
He leaned closer.
"If it were me, I'd marry a proper pure-blood witch. If my wife were some Mudblood, I'd kill her myself."
Ron nodded stiffly.
"Then move!" Yaxley snapped.
Ron hurried off.
Yaxley turned to leave. As he did, he seemed to give Darren a brief look—almost a signal—but Darren couldn't be sure.
He dismissed it and focused on Ron.
Thanks to the threat, Ron now had a legitimate reason to separate from them.
Only the three of them remained together.
They entered the lift.
Ron looked miserable.
"What do I do? If I don't fix it, he'll ruin Cattermole's wife. But I don't know how to fix a leak!"
"Try the Impervius Charm," Darren said calmly. "And Aguamenti for controlled water. You can also attempt Reparo. If necessary, rebuild the structure from scratch."
Ron immediately pulled out parchment.
"Slow down! Write the spells too—I don't remember half of them!"
The lift continued upward as Ron scribbled frantically.
It stopped on Level Two.
Hermione pushed him out.
"This is your floor. Go!"
The doors began to close—
A hand stopped them.
It was Betsy.
She looked over everyone in the lift with open disdain, then fixed her eyes on Darren.
"Yaxley," she said coolly, using his assumed name. "Shouldn't you be writing your confession in your office instead of wandering around?"
"I'll finish it when I return," Darren replied.
Betsy sneered.
"I doubt you'll have time. I'm assigning you additional work."
Harry and Hermione went pale.
They were ready to knock her out if necessary—
But Darren stopped them.
He looked at her steadily.
"What work?"
"You'll clean and reorganize my office," Betsy said. "Until I'm satisfied."
Harry and Hermione's faces turned even paler.
They knew Betsy Greengrass's reputation from school. She was no one to take lightly—and her family openly supported You-Know-Who.
But Darren gave them a subtle look.
Go.
Reluctantly, they left.
Harry still felt uneasy.
Something about Betsy's tone hadn't sounded like simple punishment.
---
The moment the door to her office closed, Betsy's expression changed completely.
Her face turned pale.
"What are you doing here?" she whispered urgently. "If I hadn't recognized you, you'd already be caught. Do you think they really believe you were kidnapped by Harry Potter?"
Darren was genuinely surprised.
He hadn't expected her to see through him so quickly.
But he kept his voice firm.
"I won't cooperate with them. I—"
Betsy stepped forward and kissed him, cutting off his words.
Darren froze in shock.
She pulled back quickly, running a hand through her hair as if nothing had happened.
"I needed an excuse," she said briskly. "Listen carefully."
Her voice dropped.
"That name is under a tracking spell now. If you say his name, the Death Eaters can locate you instantly.
It hasn't been announced publicly yet. Only insiders know.
They're using it to catch people who openly oppose him."
Darren's expression hardened.
"You shouldn't have told me," he said quietly. "If they find out—"
"I already told you," Betsy said. "If they discover this, I'm dead anyway."
Darren shook his head.
"No. I won't drag anyone down with me.
Listen carefully, Senior Betsy. In a moment, you should lose your temper and throw me out. Show no mercy.
Even if I die here today, you must not hesitate."
[Ding, Father +100]
Betsy stared at him, half angry, half helpless.
"You idiot—"
Before she could finish—
Knock. Knock.
Someone was at the door.
Betsy's face turned white.
She grabbed Darren's sleeve.
"Quick," she whispered urgently.
"Hide!"