Gilderoy Lockhart was taken away.
Donna Lockhart looked blank. The once ruthless and cruel pure-blood young lady, now softened by love, suddenly didn't know what to do. It took her a long time to recover.
It was just a charge of privately possessing Dark Arts items, and that notebook was brought back from Hogwarts by her husband—so it couldn't be a big deal. Perhaps he'd be brought back to the Ministry for questioning and released that same afternoon. At most, it would mean paying some fines.
In previous years, Avery would often be fined for the same charge; most of the time, it was because the Ministry of Magic couldn't pay salaries, so they would pull this stunt every now and then. She had long grown accustomed to it. Her current panic was merely because her loved one was involved, making her worry too much.
Donna took a deep breath and returned to the dining table. What a pity—the loving meals she had meticulously prepared for her darling would go to waste.
Lockhart was not released that afternoon as Donna had imagined. Even by the fourth day, Lockhart had not returned.
This time, Donna truly panicked. She rushed to the Ministry of Magic to inquire about the situation, only to be told that Lockhart had committed a serious crime, with conclusive evidence, and had already been sentenced two days prior to a lifetime in Azkaban.
It was just that it was the Christmas holiday, and most Ministry of Magic employees weren't working. The few on duty had an endless workload every day, so they failed to notify Donna Lockhart in time.
"I request a visit!"
—Currently, Lockhart is temporarily detained at the Ministry of Magic. After the Christmas holiday, he will be transferred to Azkaban.
"Sorry, Madam Lockhart. Your husband's charges are [Crime of Seriously Threatening Wizarding Society Security] and [Crime of Deliberately Harming Others]. He has been identified as a senior Death Eater, and given his special social status, Minister Fudge does not permit any form of visitation."
Death Eater?! Didn't Donna know whether Lockhart was a Death Eater?
Her husband must have been framed!
Hmph! And no visitation allowed?
Donna gritted her teeth—this kind of trick was being used on her!
"Here are thirty Galleons, my sponsorship to the Ministry of Magic."
The employee grinned as he pocketed the Galleons, immediately changing his demeanor. He stood up and said:
"Madam, please follow me. As a philanthropist sponsoring the Ministry of Magic, you should be happy to follow me on a tour of our Ministry of Magic, right?"
Stepping into the elevator, Donna followed the employee directly to the Ministry's temporary prison.
She saw Gilderoy Lockhart, disheveled and with vacant eyes.
Watching her beloved collapse listlessly in the corner of the cell, the damp and foul air stung Donna's nose, breaking her heart.
"My dear!"
Donna grabbed the iron bars of the cage.
"How are you? My dear!"
Lockhart's eyes gradually focused. When he saw Donna, he immediately jumped up:
"Baby, they framed me! They say I'm a Death Eater! They even said they'd lock me up until I die! I still have a brilliant future—I can't just end like this! Baby, you're from Avery, you must save me!"
Donna grasped Lockhart's hand through the bars; that once warm hand was now as cold as ice. She held it tightly, hoping her body temperature could warm him a little.
"Don't worry, my dear. Tell me—why do they say you're a Death Eater?"
Gilderoy Lockhart took a deep breath and replied:
"It's that diary. Mainly that diary—if it was just about abusing Memory Charms to harm others, I'd at most be out in two years. But who knew that notebook was actually You-Know-Who's item?! Dumbledore even testified in court—that diary was a very important item of You-Know-Who! Merlin's beard! That diary was put on my desk by someone—I don't even know who! It's not mine at all! This is a blatant setup! But Minister Fudge and the jury wouldn't listen to me! They're terrified of You-Know-Who!"
Donna's heart sank. If that diary was so significant and involved You-Know-Who, then the Ministry's attitude would surely be: better to kill the innocent than let a guilty one go.
Her mind was in a whirl; she wanted to comfort Lockhart but didn't know how to begin.
"Baby, you must have a way to get me out, right?"
Donna shook her head with difficulty—if Avery had a way, they wouldn't have let that kid, Dana Avery, take the fall for Gai Avery back then.
A Death Eater—especially a Death Eater close to the Dark Lord—the Ministry of Magic would absolutely not let go. And that diary was proven to be one of the Dark Lord's crucial items. For Lockhart to overturn the case—it would be as hard as climbing to the sky.
Lockhart disappointedly released Donna's hand, took two steps back, and slumped down.
The two looked at each other in silence.
After a while, the employee at the side impatiently spoke:
"Lockhart, please hurry up."
Donna was so anxious that tears streamed down her face; she stared blankly at Lockhart, not knowing what to do.
Just then, Lockhart suddenly remembered something. He jumped up and shouted loudly at Donna:
"Donna! Go find Dantes! He's my best friend! He needs me—he definitely won't stand by and do nothing! Find him! He will definitely come forward to save me!"
Donna recalled what she had seen and heard at Dentis Castle that day—indeed, Dantes was the wealthiest person she had ever met! And he also had enough power—his black dragon followed his lead, and his attendants were numerous!
Having both power and wealth meant authority!
That day, even Minister Fudge had to fawn over him—
Yes, that adult would definitely be able to save her beloved!
"My dear, wait for me—I will definitely get Dantes to save you!"
Dana lay on a lounge chair in the Castle garden, holding Natural Magic in his left hand, and a tender green rune appeared on his right forearm, as flowers and plants danced with the direction of his fingertips.
This magic that could control plants was so useful. Thinking of the thousand acres of Chinese Chomping Cabbage and Venomous Tentacula he had arranged for the Fire Serpent Party to plant, Dana almost laughed out loud.
Dantes was skilled in lightning magic, while the Fire Serpent Party leader excelled at controlling plants.
The Fire Serpent Party threatened the British Wizarding World, while Dantes protected the British Wizarding World—
Hmm, a very good script.
Under the tug-of-war between these "good" and "evil" sides, the British Wizarding World's social order—rotten to the core—would probably be like a decaying ladder, collapsing with a single push.
"Dantes, Donna Lockhart is here to visit."
Dana, who had transformed into Dantes, showed a meaningful smile and nodded.
"Go. Take the lady to the second-floor reception room, serve her some refreshments, and tell her I'm still busy and to wait a moment."
"Yes, Dantes."
For more chapters
patreon.com/Liamlivingstone