Wasn't this a case of the poacher game-keeping? Hermione thought, half amused, half horrified.
Mrs. Granger chuckled and ruffled her daughter's hair.
When it comes to these matters, you have to learn to be flexible. If it's harmless and won't cause any serious consequences, you can turn a blind eye—then everyone gets along.
Exactly," said Mr. Granger, who was driving. "Sometimes you have to be slick, especially if you plan to go into politics later."
Hermione nodded as though she only half-understood. Beside her, Lynn blinked mechanically at Mr. and Mrs. Granger's words.
Weren't rules supposed to be followed absolutely? Shouldn't breaking them bring punishment?
Why would anyone turn a blind eye? Lynn instinctively searched her mind for the answer.
She quickly sorted out her thoughts: turning a blind eye depended on the situation. When it came to disposal, if the child belonged to the elite, they could escape unscathed.
Still, Mr. Weasley's actions hadn't broken any law.
Lynn spoke in a flat tone. She knew every regulation of the Ministry of Magic by heart; she had studied them the moment she finished reading the Hogwarts school rules.
"Hmm?" Hermione tilted her head, puzzled. Mrs. Granger watched with interest, and Mr. Granger, though keeping his eyes on the road, couldn't help pricking up his ears.
According to the Ministry's Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects, if a Wizard casts magic on a Muggle object without the intent to use it, no offense is committed.
As long as Mr. Weasley's intent isn't to use the object, he's not breaking the law.
However, since the person who amended the regulation was Mr. Weasley himself, I interpret it as a deliberate loophole he left for his hobby.
Wow," Hermione said, raising her brows. Looks like Mr. Weasley really loves Muggle things.
He'd even carved out a legal loophole for his hobby.
She couldn't help shaking her head at the Ministry's current state.
Leaving loopholes in the law is dangerous—especially one this obvious.
Clearly, combining magic with Muggle items works better, yet instead of open cooperation and proper regulation, the Ministry simply bans everything outright.
She felt the Y Country Ministry of Magic had a screw loose.
Mr. and Mrs. Granger shook their heads as well; if Hermione had thought of it, so had they—after all, they'd raised her.
With the Ministry acting like this, it was a wonder people weren't protesting in the streets.
Outside St Mungos Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, Lynn and Hermione each took one of the Grangers' hands so they could all enter together.
Inside, the scene felt almost familiar to Mr. and Mrs. Granger: witches and Wizards in white coats looked much like Muggle doctors and nurses.
The Weasleys deftly registered all seven children who'd been on the scene, then took them for examinations together with the Grangers.
Worried the children might have been hurt by Dark magic or curses, the tests focused on detecting any trace of spells or jinxes.
After a hectic half-day at St Mungos, the results showed none of the seven children, Lynn included, bore any sign of Dark magic or curses.
Reassured, the Weasleys and Grangers escorted the children back to the villa, where they would stay until term began.
Then they would head to King's Cross Station to board the hogwarts express.
What they didn't see was Malfoy father and son visiting the brain-injury ward at St Mungos.
Narcissa Malfoy was furious at what had happened to her husband and son.
She didn't approve of their habit of provoking others, but still, she felt her son was right: the Weasleys were blood-traitors, that Granger girl was a mudblood, and as for Lynn—Narcissa's brows drew tight. "Lucius, are you sure that girl did this to you and Draco?"
You're certain no adult Wizard helped her?"
No, Narcissa," Lucius said from the bed, shaking his head. "I made sure—only that strange girl cast the spell."
Hmph," Draco muttered, head still spinning. "She's weird, and every Professor likes her."
Then she must be exceptional," Narcissa said, stroking her son's hair lovingly. "Is she pure-blood in her homeland?"
No idea," Draco answered, disgust on his face. "But the way she shoveled food down—Merlin, it was like she'd never eaten. No manners at all. She can't be pure-blood."
Narcissa nodded, her earlier admiration gone, and turned to Lucius in the next bed.
What do you plan to do? Her husband and son couldn't be humbled for nothing.
Lucius fell silent; a bad feeling gnawed at him. That girl, Lynn—
Her eyes, her utter indifference, gave him a sense of dread deeper than the Dark Lord himself.
Given the power she'd shown, Lucius felt provoking her further would only bring regret.
But this concerned his son, and Narcissa was watching. He glanced at Draco, then at her.
Slowly he said, "Leave it to me. I won't let her off lightly."
He narrowed his eyes slightly; though his head still throbbed, it didn't stop him scheming.
Attacking the girl himself would be foolish, but if the Ministry could do it for him… that would be perfect.
With just a hint and the right incentive, Fudge would gladly make life difficult for a student—
Especially one with no family backing.
Back at the villa, Hermione had her arm around Lynn as they watched television, Lynn munching crisps bite by bite, utterly unaware of Lucius's plans kilometers away.
Not that she would care: nothing she'd done violated a single Ministry regulation.
In her view, under those circumstances no one had any grounds to trouble her.
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