fantasy novels Chapter 236 Framing
Chapter 236 Framing
Chapter 236 Framing (5.2K)
Lynch's gaze was calm and profound, as if he could see through the turmoil in Harry's heart.
He leaned forward and placed his hands on Harry's shoulders, the pressure light but firm enough to leave Harry with no room for doubt.
"Stop with your unrealistic ideas, Harry." He repeated, each word clear to Harry's ears, "Finding Sirius Black, tracking him, even fighting him—none of that is your job, never has been."
Hali bit her lower lip hard, her emerald green eyes filled with resentment, and her lips moved as if she wanted to refute.
But Lynch didn't give him a chance to speak. He continued, his voice low and powerful: "I'm telling you this not to get your blood pumping and go looking for trouble. On the contrary, it's to make you see clearly what kind of storm you're standing in. It's so that you won't be kept in the dark, like an unsuspecting target, only reacting hastily when danger is right in front of you."
His fingers tightened slightly, as if trying to convey his resolve: "I did promise to face Voldemort's threat with you, but that doesn't mean you have to deal with things completely beyond your capabilities right now—I'll give you some relatively simple tasks first."
"You're only thirteen," Lynch said, his gaze fixed on Harry. "Right now, what you should be doing is learning, growing, absorbing everything that makes you stronger, until the day you can truly face all of this—if that day is destined to come. I will never stop you from making your own choices."
"But that day is not today, not when you, as a student, are to confront a desperate Azkaban fugitive."
He looked at Harry's still tense, stubborn face, and his tone softened: "So, Harry, listen to your Uncle Lynch: stay vigilant, trust the professors around you, trust Dumbledore. Leave the hunt for Black to the people in charge. And I, I'll keep an eye on this, I promise you."
He released his grip and took a half step back: "I'll tell you everything you need to know. But what you need to do is protect yourself. This isn't just for you, it's for—everyone who cares about you. Understand?"
A myriad of thoughts collided fiercely in Harry's mind. Finally, he took a deep breath of the cool air and forced himself to suppress all the churning emotions back into his heart.
He nodded emphatically.
"I understand, Uncle Lynch." His voice was still a little unsteady, but his eyes had already tried to regain focus. "I will—try my best to stay calm."
He knew it would be difficult, almost against his instincts at that moment.
But Uncle Lynch had explained the principle so clearly that he felt he had to, and deserved to, try to do it.
After returning to his penthouse suite at the Stone Tower Merchant Guild in Diagon Alley, Harry spent a few days in a daze.
The experience in Godric Valley was like a heavy and vivid nightmare, constantly replaying in his mind.
The parents' gravestones, the ruins of the old house, the astonishing inside stories Lynch told about Blake—all of this information needs time to process.
He spent most of his time in his room, staring blankly at the bustling crowds on the streets of Diagon Alley outside his window, or unconsciously stroking Hedwig's feathers, his feelings a complex mix of emotions.
Lynch understood that he needed space, and aside from asking a few brief questions during necessary mealtimes, he didn't bother him too much.
But a few days later, when he saw the confusion in Harry's eyes gradually replaced by an empty sense of aimlessness, he spoke up at breakfast.
"Harry," he put down the Daily Prophet and looked at Harry, "Life in Diagon Alley may be safe, but that doesn't mean you can waste your time. I think you need some—structured daily activities."
Harry looked up, somewhat puzzled.
Lynch continued, "I have two options for you that will allow you to connect with the outside world and also develop yourself. First, go work as a sales assistant at the 'Cornflower & Shooting Star' broom shop on the second floor. They're preparing for the new Quidditch season and need people to introduce and recommend brooms to customers."
Upon hearing the word "broom," Harry's eyes lit up almost instinctively.
Flying is what he is best at and what he loves most.
"The second option," Lynch noticed his subtle reaction, but still calmly offered another choice, "go to the Wizarding Card Battle Arena on the first floor and help the staff there maintain order."
As you know, that place is always a gathering place for a large number of young wizards who are enthusiastic about battling. Sometimes, disputes arise over the rules of play or the outcome of a fight, sometimes even escalating into small-scale magical chaos, requiring someone to intervene and mediate in time.
Upon hearing the second option, Harry immediately recalled the chaotic scene he had glimpsed on the first floor—at a wizarding battle table, two young wizards were arguing heatedly over the effect of a rare card, sparks from their wands nearly igniting a card pack on a nearby shelf; elsewhere, a group of children surrounded a boy who was wailing and crying because he had lost a match, with staff members frantically trying to comfort him, and colorful smoke with a strange smell emanating from the sparks of spells drifting around them.
He felt a slight tingling sensation on his scalp; the noise and unpredictable chaos made him instinctively resistant.
In contrast, while the broom shop might also be busy, at least it revolves around things he knows and loves—flying brooms and Quidditch.
Just thinking about being able to get up close to the latest Nimbus series models and smell the unique woody and magically treated fragrance emanating from the broom tail made him feel inexplicably relaxed.
"I think—I'll go to the broom shop, Uncle Lynch." Harry looked up, his tone not particularly loud, but much better than the somber mood of the past few days. "I like brooms."
Lynch nodded, seemingly unsurprised by the choice. "Very good. Aura Fleming, the owner of 'Shooting Stars and Cornflowers,' is a reliable lady; she's promised to give you some guidance. Remember, this job isn't just about selling goods; it's about learning how to deal with people and gaining a deeper understanding of how the Quidditch industry works. This will be a valuable asset for your future."
And so, Harry Potter's new life in Diagon Alley began at the Cornflower and Shooting Star broom shop.
The air is filled with the distinctive scent of premium wood and polishing agents, and rows of gleaming new brooms float on display shelves, awaiting their owners.
For Harry, this place temporarily became a haven where he could catch his breath and rediscover a sense of familiar joy.
Meanwhile, after making proper arrangements for Harry, Lynch walked through the quiet, carpeted corridor back to his private office.
The heavy solid wood door closed silently behind him, completely shutting out the noise from the outside world.
The office was dimly lit, with only the flickering flames in the fireplace and a few crystals emitting a soft glow on a large desk providing illumination. The air was filled with the scent of old parchment and ink.
Because his trusted lieutenant and sharpest blade—Reggie, also known as Regulus Black—was fully engaged in the investigation of Sirius Black's whereabouts and the truth behind the events of that year, his magical avatar, centered around a raven, had to remain stationed here for an extended period.
The core mission of this clone stationed here is twofold: first, to handle the daily decision-making and strategic planning of the vast commercial empire of the Stone Tower Chamber of Commerce, ensuring the normal operation of this public institution and providing financial and resource support for deeper activities; second, and more importantly, to coordinate the various affairs of the secret organization "First Order".
He reached for a secret report from Knockturn Alley's "special channels," quickly skimming through information about black market goods and suspicious individuals, his fingertips tapping unconsciously on the smooth tabletop. With his other hand, he picked up a magic quill and signed his name—Jim Lynch—smoothly and forcefully on a document concerning the Magical Congress of North America's latest trade policies.
Dealing with these complicated matters was already routine for him.
His mind works like the most sophisticated instrument, seamlessly switching between tasks of different natures.
One moment he's a ruthless business tycoon, assessing the risks and returns of an investment; the next he transforms into a master strategist, analyzing the potential crisis hidden behind a certain clue.
Occasionally, his gaze would drift to an inconspicuous crystal ball on the corner of the table.
What appeared inside the sphere was not a constellation, but a real-time scene inside the "Cornflower and Meteor" broom shop—he saw Harry awkwardly but earnestly explaining the features of Nimbus 2001 to a customer. The boy's face finally broke free of its heavy gloom and revealed a pure enthusiasm for flying brooms.
Upon seeing this, a barely perceptible hint of relaxation flashed in Lin Qi's deep eyes.
Introducing Harry to Quidditch-related matters was indeed the right choice, helping him stabilize his emotions and temporarily extricate himself from the vortex of hatred and confusion.
But this respite was short-lived.
When a parchment scroll marked "Top Secret," delivered through special channels, appeared on his desk, Lynch's eyes sharpened again.
He slowly unrolled the scroll, and the title immediately caught his eye—"Standard Protection Plan for the Residences of High-Ranking Officials of the Ministry of Magic (Revised Edition)."
His gaze quickly moved downwards, precisely locking onto a name in the list of users:
Director of the Legal Enforcement Division, Batty Crouch.
This plan details the standardized protective magic system established by the Ministry of Magic to safeguard the safety of its high-ranking officials and their families, making it essentially an official "family security guide."
Its core components include:
Anti-Apparition Barrier: Covers the entire mansion area, prohibiting any unauthorized spatial movement; this is the most basic protection.
Intrusion Alert Charm: Connected to the Ministry of Magic's alarm network, it immediately triggers an alarm if an unregistered wizard crosses the border or if a strong dark magic fluctuation is detected.
Physical Protection Enhancement: Apply permanent reinforcement and anti-interference spells to walls, doors, and windows, making them resistant to most common anti-interference spells and physical impacts.
Tracking (for underage family members): If an official has underage children who are wizards in their household, the tracking threads on their person will link with the residence's security system, providing an additional layer of surveillance.
Of course, a cautious and powerful official like Crouch would never rely entirely on the department's standard setup.
He must have added custom-made protective magic to his mansion. These are unknown variables and may include more vicious anti-intrusion spells, mental interference barriers, or even some ancient family protective magic.
While these self-added parts require caution, they are not insurmountable problems for Lynch.
What truly drew his gaze and made his fingertips tap lightly on the parchment was a seemingly routine but actually crucial clause in the Ministry of Magic's standard procedure—"Recordation of Magical Traces".
This provision explicitly states that all protective magic placed by the Ministry of Magic in the residences of officials will continuously and passively record the unique magical imprint of any wizard who casts a spell within that area.
This record doesn't monitor all activities in real time, but rather acts like an invisible log, etching the magical signature of each "visitor."
The key is that this recording system is deeply integrated with the Ministry of Magic's wizard register, the Magic Register, and the files of known magical creatures.
In theory, with this arrangement, once the protection is triggered or an investigation is conducted afterward, the Ministry of Magic has the ability to trace it back to every registered wizard or magical being, making it virtually impossible for them to remain hidden.
However, to enter Crouch's mansion and confirm whether the hidden person is indeed Barty Crouch Jr., it is impossible not to use magic.
This looks like a dead end...
But a cold smile curled at the corner of Lin Qi's mouth.
He immediately realized the enormous hidden danger and—opportunity—in this situation.
The Ministry of Magic's protective measures around Crouch's residence are like a spiderweb woven in the shadows and connected to official databases. Any touch by a registered wizard leaves a traceable mark. This poses an extremely high risk to anyone attempting to secretly approach or investigate Crouch's mansion.
However, this also means that if the system can be cleverly used or interfered with, it might be possible to obtain information about who tried to approach Crouch's mansion, or even—to use it to mislead the authorities.
His gaze fell on another, less conspicuous piece of intelligence on the table—a record of recent purchases by the Crouch family's house-elf, Sparkle, obtained by First Order intelligence agents through long-term surveillance of Crouch Manor.
Records show that she would regularly visit several specific shops in Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley to buy daily necessities.
Occasionally—there will be some slightly extravagant foods that don't quite fit Director Crouch's public image.
But Lynch's focus wasn't on what she bought, but on her pattern of action.
The accompanying observation log states that Flash always travels by directly Apparating into the store or at the entrance, completing the purchase, and then Apparating away again.
Apparition—direct entry and exit—a knowing glint flashed in Lin Qi's eyes.
House-elves have a completely different magical system from wizards; they possess their own unique spatial movement abilities that are not subject to many of the limitations of wizarding magic.
This means that by using house-elves, most of the defensive magic within Crouch's mansion can be bypassed.
Lynch tapped heavily on the "Magic Trace Record" clause of the protection plan with his fingertip.
However, this does not bypass the defense. Even house-elves will have their magic recorded if it touches the barrier.
Therefore, the house-elves in the factory were ruled out, and the Ministry of Magic would focus its suspicions on the Stone Tower Merchant Guild, which had a contractual relationship with these house-elves.
He cannot take this risk.
Any house-elf that has an owner and can be traced is unsafe. I need a piece whose magical traces can be recorded, but whose ownership can be misleading.
His gaze fell once again on the purchasing records for Shanshan, and his mind raced through calculations.
A name and image suddenly became clear—Dobby, the Malfoy family's house-elf.
Last year at the Hogwarts Quidditch pitch, this eccentric elf tried to injure Harry with a traveling ball in order to "protect" him, and his recklessness and potential exploitation impressed Lynch.
The key point is that Dobby is still Malfoy's property.
His gaze unconsciously swept over another intelligence summary on the table, a report on the recent movements of pure-blood families across Britain.
Although he used his identity as the Mist Hangman to subdue Lucius Malfoy, turning him into a pawn, and tacitly allowed the pure-blood families led by Malfoy to "erode" the Stone Tower Merchant Guild.
But it's hard to change the nature of this group of people.
The report shows that, out of his sight, some families began to make frequent private contacts again, engaging in constant underhanded activities. They were clearly not completely docile, and their fascination with black magic and their greed for power still flowed in their blood.
A group of stubborn parasites that urgently need to be eliminated.
A flash of extreme coldness and disgust crossed Lin Qi's eyes.
He loathed dark wizards and families obsessed with the superiority of pure blood; none of them would be spared from his future purge list.
However, the time is not yet fully ripe, and for the time being, they still have value as pawns and buffer zones.
It's time to find them something to do, so they don't have too much energy and always covet things they shouldn't.
With that thought in mind, a brilliant plan instantly took shape in Lin Qi's mind.
If he could get Dobby into Crouch's mansion to gather information for him, then the Ministry of Magic's "Magic Trace Recording" system would capture a house-elf's magical signature that was unmistakably branded with the Malfoy family's mark!
At that time, regardless of whether Dobby successfully discovers anything, as long as his magical traces are recorded, it will be equivalent to leaving a mark belonging to Lucius Malfoy in the Crouch family's protective log.
This is a golden opportunity to muddy the waters between the Malfoy family and Barty Crouch, the Chief Justice!
Lucius Malfoy, a former Death Eater and now a powerful pure-blood nobleman who is well-connected within the Ministry of Magic, has a subtle political rivalry and historical grudges with Director Crouch, who is known for his toughness and integrity.
Crouch led a series of raids against the purebloods last summer, seizing a number of dangerous contraband items.
If the Ministry of Magic discovers that the Malfoys' house-elves are suspected of spying on the residences of high-ranking officials, it will inevitably be seen as an attempt by the pure-bloods to retaliate, causing a huge uproar and enough to bring another wave of trouble to the pure-blood families led by the Malfoys, and even trigger internal suspicion and power strife within the Ministry of Magic's upper echelons.
This layer of fog and chaos was precisely the perfect cover that Lynch needed.