Chapter 800
The Temperamental Moody
Chapter 800 The Temperamental Moody
The smoke from the explosion had not yet dissipated, and the once tidy path was now covered with charred explosion marks and broken stones, with a pungent stench permeating the air.
Even though the powerful curse was violently broken, it left behind a trail of evil energy on the ground, an energy that could even make Muggles feel vaguely uncomfortable.
Upon seeing this scene, Mrs. Weasley immediately gasped in shock and asked, her face turning deathly pale:
"Oh, Merlin! What happened? Are you alright? Are you hurt?... Good heavens! Alastor, how are you?"
Mr. Weasley, also looking shocked and worried, said in a heavy tone:
"Alastor, Moody! Who did this?"
Fred and George immediately drew their wands and shouted, "Are the people who attacked you still nearby?"
Harry's heart clenched instantly. He rushed to the group and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that they were not fatally injured. But then a surge of intense anger and lingering fear welled up inside him.
"Who is it?" the boy asked, his voice suppressed. "How dare they attack in broad daylight?"
"They're after you again, aren't they, Wade?"
Michael walked around the scorch marks on the ground and pondered, "This street is full of people, how did they manage to pinpoint the exact moment to set the trap?"
"Perhaps someone leaked their whereabouts!"
Sirius's face was terribly grim, his gray eyes burning with rage. He strode over and asked:
"Mad-Eyed Man, Moon Face, can you tell whose job it was?"
A cacophony of voices rose from the crowd. Moody waved his uninjured hand and said roughly:
"You won't die! Don't make such a fuss!"
He seemed completely unwilling to explain, and his attitude was extremely tough.
“I need to know who the enemy is, Mad-Eye,” Sirius said dangerously.
"what!"
Moody scoffed dismissively, casually patted Wade on the shoulder, and said:
"See this kid?"
Sirius glanced at Wade, then looked away and said, "I saw it... so what?"
"When someone is too dazzling, anyone shrouded in their shadow can become an enemy! Even friends, relatives, or seemingly insignificant passersby!"
Moody's nostrils twitched slightly, and his dangerous gaze swept over the tenants who had been drawn by the sound of the explosion. He said:
"If you presumptuously lock onto a target, you might miss the real source of danger!"
"Therefore... doubt everything! Be wary of everything! Sirius, this is what we should do!"
The atmosphere of the conversation between the two adults made the children, even though they were anxious, afraid to interrupt.
Upon hearing this, several clever individuals turned their inquisitive gazes toward the strangers with their varied expressions.
The hotel owner adjusted his glasses and said:
“Several guests were attacked outside my hotel, and White Bridge Hotel bears undeniable responsibility. As compensation, I can waive your fees for these days.”
"What a malevolent aura of curse." The witch in the dark gray cloak squinted, examining the traces at the scene, and whispered, "Which dark wizard... dared to set up something like this nearby?"
While everyone was discussing, a dazed ordinary person seemed to realize that the "sandstorm" had stopped. He opened the door and saw the scene after the explosion. He was shocked and his eyes widened. Then he screamed and ran back into the house.
"Swish! Swish! Swish!" Nearby residents quickly drew their heavy curtains, and people inside the shops hurriedly ran to the restrooms or behind the counters.
Upon hearing the explosion, not a single ordinary Muggle ran out to watch the commotion; even people just a street away immediately turned and ran to more distant places.
"boom!"
Suddenly, a series of popping sounds, like gunshots, rang out from the nearest alley. Ordinary people screamed and ran even faster, but the wizards could tell that it was the sound of Apparition.
Everyone turned their heads and saw Salina leading several Aurors, striding over.
Her expression was serious, her gaze sharp as she quickly scanned the explosion marks, magical remnants, and bloodstains on Moody's body. The faint aura of dark magic made her frown in disgust.
"Seal off this area! Immediately analyze the remaining magic! Check for any potential traps!"
Salina gave clear and calm instructions to the Aurors, then strode up to Moody and the others, her stern expression softening slightly compared to before.
“Mr. Moody, how are your injuries? Do you need to go to the magic hospital?” Salina asked.
“It’s just a superficial wound, no need for that!” Moody said impatiently.
Salina nodded, turned her gaze to Wade, and after confirming that he was alright, said, "If you don't mind, I'd like to know what happened here."
Moody sneered, "Simply put, it seems that all your rules and regulations only restrict us foreign wizards, while making it easier for dark wizards to attack us?"
He squinted at Salina and the others, his eyes full of suspicion, and he didn't mind speaking his mind:
“I’m starting to have doubts… Miss Goldstein, what exactly is the Auror’s stance? Can they really guarantee… safety?”
The other Aurors all showed expressions of anger, but Salina remained calm:
“I understand your anger and suspicion, Mr. Moody. But if you want to find the people who did this to you, you still need the power of our Magical Congress… I don’t think taking your anger out on them or arguing will help, don’t you think?”
"Hmph, you have a point!"
Moody said with a sour expression, "Let's go inside and talk... I guess you don't want to stand in the street and be stared at?"
"Please follow me," the innkeeper said quickly. "I will provide you with complimentary honey butter beer."
"no!"
Moody said in a still-aggressive tone, "I wouldn't dare drink anything you offer right now. Who knows who in this hotel is working with that masked man?"
Lu Ping's expression subtly relaxed.
He was just considering how to politely refuse or subtly replace the drink offered by someone else, but before he could even speak, Moody cut him off. This made Lupin realize the benefits of Moody's blunt attitude.
Before this, Lupin had a hot-tempered companion who brought him almost nothing but trouble—he was constantly racking his brains about how to salvage the extremely tense situation that Moody had created.
"The masked man?"
As she entered the hotel, Salina didn't forget the key points of Moody's words. She waved for her subordinates to take notes and asked:
"What kind of masked person is he? Have you noticed his features?"
This time, Moody kept quiet, and Lupin recounted what had happened:
"Well, today we were invited to visit Ms. Serafina Picqueli, and on our way back..."
(End of this chapter)