Not long after, wizards from the Reversal of Actal Magit Team began arriving. As they assessed the chaotic se and the restrained Death Eaters, many cast curious g Alex. Capturing five Death Eaters in one go wasn’t an everyday occurrence.

  The team quickly took over, rest the site and tending to affected Muggles with Memory Charms. The Aurors handed over their prisoners and regrouped around Moody, awaiting further orders. Moody turned back to Alex. “Since you’re skipping the hospital, e with me to the Ministry of Magic. We need your statement to plete the report. Besides, Minister Bagnold might want to meet you. You’ve done a brilliant job tonight.”

  Alex hen reached into his pocket, pulling out a fiscated wand. He ha to Moody and leaned in to whisper something. His eyes briefly flicked to one of the restrained Death Eaters—Torquil.

  Moody’s magical eye spun toward Torquil before a sly grin tugged at his lips. “You’re onto something there. Don’t worry; I’ll make sure he’s kept under close watch. This might be the break we o put ao the Travers family.”

  Straightening up, Moody barked more orders. “Alright, it up! Escort the prisoners back to the Ministry. Keep them isoted, and no visitors without my express permission—not evement heads.”

  He turo Alex. “Let’s head back.”

  Alex smirked. “As you wish.” He pced a hand on Moody’s shoulder, and together with the Aurors, they Disapparated.

  When Alex opened his eyes, he found himself in a vast, gleaming hall. The polished dark wooden floor reflected the light from a peacock-blue ceiling, where golden symbols shimmered and shifted like a giant magical bulletin board. On both sides of the hall, gilded firepces fred to life as wizards stepped out, their robes billowing.

  In the ter stood an ornate fountaiuring golden statues of a wizard, witch, taur, goblin, and house-elf. Water cascaded gracefully from various points, catg the light.

  The arrival of Alex and the Aurors caused a stir among Ministry employees. Their attention so the bouh Eaters, and whispers rippled through the crowd.

  The wizards gathered nearby grew even more curious. Five Death Eaters had been apprehended—a signifit enough to spark hushed, excited whispers. Some ed their necks, trying to get a better view of the prisoners being marched through the hall. A few noticed Alex, standing calmly amidst the crowd, but no one seemed to suspect him of anything.

  After scolding the strikers, Moody turo Alex, gesturing toward the grand interior of the building. "This must be your first time at the Ministry of Magic," he said gruffly. "This is the reception hall. Past the security checkpoint up ahead, Apparition is restricted, so we’ll have to walk from here."

  Alex nodded with a polite smile, his eyes sing the bustling hall. The vishly decorated space hummed with activity as wizards came a. As he observed, Alex noticed a few wizards ag suspiciously. Their eyes darted toward the captured Death Eaters, and their faces paled as if they’d reized someone. Without wasting a moment, they slipped into one of the firepces on the hall's right side and disappeared. Alex smirked to himself, amused. ‘So, they’ve noticed. Good. Don’t make me wait too long.’

  Moody, oblivious to Alex’s rea, ushered him toward the elevators. Onside, he resumed speaking, this time in a slightly more upbeat tone. "We’re currently on the eighth floor underground. Each floor above us houses a differement. Starting from the seventh floor, there’s the Department of Magical Games and Sports, followed by the Department of Magical Transportation on the sixth. Then es the Department of Iional Magical Cooperation, the Department for the Regution and trol of Magical Creatures, and the Department of Magical Acts and Catastrophes. Our stop, the Department of Magical Law Enfort, is on the sed floor."

  As the elevator asded, Moody g Alex and added, "If you’re serious about getting into the alchemical props business, you’ll o get certified by the Department of Iional Magical Cooperation. All business dealings in the wizarding world have to follow the Iional Code of Magical Trade Standards. Without it, you’ll be sidered a smuggler. Got it?"

  "Got it," Alex replied, feigning curiosity. "But why are the wizarding world’s business rules so plicated?"

  Moody snorted. "It’s not too bad if you stiestic trade, but cross-border dealings be a nightmare. Each try has its own rules, and some are stricter than others. Here in the UK, we’re especially cautious because we’re so close to the European ti. If we’re not careful, fn goods could flood the market and harm local industries."

  He shot Alex a pointed look. "Take magic carpets, for example. They’re the go-to flying equipment in many tries, but here? Banned ht to protect the broomstidustry. You won’t find a magic carpet being sold legally in Britain anytime soon."

  Alex’s mind raced as he pieced together Moody’s expnation.’ So it’s about proteg local is… but it seems like the Ministry’s solution is to blopetitioirely.’ "Doesn’t that lead to a lot of smugglers?" Alex asked, tilting his head.

  "More than you’d think," Moody replied, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. "Ba the day, we Aurors spent a lot of time crag down on smuggling operations with the help of the Iional Magical Cooperation and Magical Creatures departments. Magical materials, rare creatures—you —smuggled in and out of the try like clockwork. And a lot of the big pyers in these schemes were pure-blood families." He shook his head bitterly. "Of course, we mostly caught small fry. The big families know how to cover their tracks. Getting hard eviden them is o impossible."

  Alex’s i deepened. ‘So, the key in my possession might be worth more than I inally thought.’

  He tinued probing Moody with casual questions, and the seasoned Auror, in a surprisingly good mood, didn’t hold back. By the time the elevator reached the sed basement floor, Alex had gathered plenty of valuable information. Moody led Alex into a room that resembled a lounge. "Wait here for a bit," he said gruffly. "I’ve got to put those Death Eaters in custody first."

  Moody had already made up his mind to personally look after Torquil and ensure his safety. The baby was far too vulnerable, and giveeuation, it wasn’t beyond possibility that certain individuals might attempt to harm him i. Moody couldn’t trust anyone else with such a critical task—who knew if there were Death Eaters lurking in the Ministry or insiders from the Travers family pulling strings behind the ses?

  “You rest up here. You’ve been through a lot,” Moody said, his voice gruff but tinged with . “I’ll make sure no one disturbs you. Rex a some sleep. If you need anything—food, water, whatever—there’s plenty in the et. Once you’ve had a ce to recover, e fi the Auror and. I’ll take you to see Minister Bagnold after that.”