Thinking of this, Umbridge couldn't help but snort, but in the next moment, a pair of deep blue eyes appeared in her vision. Because their conversation was repeatedly interrupted, William's voice sounded somewhat cold as he seriously watched Umbridge stand up—
"Anything else?"
Firstly, this matter was purely accidental. Secondly, he had already helped this pink toad recover. Lastly... Umbridge truly had a knack for being downright unpleasant.
Whether it was in appearance, attire, or manner of speaking, everything about her was off-putting on a visceral level.
To achieve that, this woman is quite remarkable in her own way.
"No, no..."
Under William's gaze, Umbridge felt like a frog with its throat clamped shut. It wasn't until William and Sirius left that beads of sweat began trickling down her back. Staring at the office door that had already closed, she was still recalling that suffocating sensation.
It was as if... she was being stared down by the Grim Reaper, and if she said one more word, a scythe would come slashing down from behind her.
"... Director?"
Who exactly is this person?
"Director?"
Why, why did just one look from him almost freeze me in place?
"Director!"
"What?"
Mafalda's third call finally brought Umbridge out of her trance.
"These are the registration forms for the two people just now, needing your stamp—" The woman said as she handed over the two forms.
Umbridge took the forms absentmindedly, looked at the two photos on them, and silently sat back down. Mafalda, knowing her superior's character, wisely refrained from speaking and instead turned to handle other duties—
After all, this is the Office of Misuse of Magic, and registering Animagi is just a side task.
Sitting back in her own seat, Umbridge gazed blankly for a moment before her lips curled slightly. Then, she stuffed the two reports into the pile of books on her desk, right at the bottom. Everyone knows that some people very much enjoy making the most of their abilities to annoy others.
...
...
On the other side, the two who just entered the elevator had no idea what happened after they left.
"I thought that toad wanted to make things difficult for us—"
Sirius, with his hands behind his back, walked into the elevator. The rush hour was over, and there weren't many Ministry of Magic employees around. However, when those few people saw his face, they instinctively stepped back half a step, quickly giving the two plenty of space.
Only Arthur Weasley, looking perplexed, turned to look at his colleagues.
"Hey, Arthur, fancy seeing you here."
Sirius slung an arm around his shoulder, acting very familiar, although they weren't really that close since Arthur wasn't a member of the Order of Phoenix. However, because Sirius was, in a sense, a protector of Ron, Mrs. Weasley had written to Sirius several times to express her gratitude.
Moreover, Sirius was naturally outgoing. After Peter Pettigrew's death, much of his vendetta disappeared, and with his newfound freedom plus having spent ten whole years in Azkaban, according to Lupin, Sirius was now even more eccentric and socially intimidating than before—
The kind of social intimidation that induces fear in society.
With the conversation going, the elevator started to ascend slowly, until the mechanical female voice spoke again, "Fourth floor, Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, including the Beast, Being, and Ghost Office, Goblin Liaison Office and Pest Consultation Office."
In the next moment, a dark figure darted into the elevator from outside, crashing straight into William's arms.
Kabuda?
Looking at the Niffler hiding in his arms, William instinctively looked up, and what he saw was an image he would never forget—
First, a wing-flapping Aethonan (a type of winged horse) was galloping towards the elevator, and on its back were several Crups and Kittys. In mid-air, a swarm of Chomping Fairies fluttered their wings, enough to make anyone with trypophobia cringe—
They were biting at the Aethonan's hindquarters every now and then.
Within this runaway group of magical creatures, there were also a few running wizards, but they appeared to be in a strange predicament as their rear ends constantly sprayed sparks. Of course, once you noticed the flesh-colored Murtlaps clinging to their heels, it was no longer surprising.
In the distance, a few Leprechauns were babbling, throwing Golden Galleons randomly and hitting the heads of surrounding Ministry employees.
It would be great if those Galleons were real.
"Squeak, squeak!"
Still hiding in William's arms, Kabuda made urgent noises, and seeing the two winged horses about to charge into the elevator, William didn't have time to hold them accountable and quickly raised his magic wand—
"Whoa—"
A robust voice rang out beside him, and then, a red vapor sprayed from the side. The Chomping Fairies flying in the corridor dropped to the ground as if they'd encountered insecticide mosquitoes, while the Aethonan, no longer pursued, slowly came to a stop under reassurance, its chestnut mane gently swaying.
"Newt?"
Seeing the elderly figure come from the side, William called out in slight surprise.
"Oh, William, hello hello—"
The elder calmed the somewhat agitated winged horse, and a group of small animals that had been on its back leaped down with his actions, none of which tried to escape. The Kittys meowed and gathered around William's feet, with one brave one even jumping into his pocket as if wanting to elope with him.
"All right... no telling who was careless enough to let the Doxy out."
Seeing the stragglers fleeing in different directions mid-air, Newt muttered under his breath while William, standing next to him, grimaced slightly as he pulled Kabuda, trying to shrink away and escape, from his pocket.
"... Squeak Squeak?"
Held by the scruff, Kabuda held up its paws, feigning cuteness.
"Congratulations, your summer homework is doubled."
William kindly squinted, showing eight teeth in a smile.
"!"
Stuffing Kabuda back into his pocket, which seemed to be trying to pull something out to atone for its deeds, William turned to look again at Uncle Newt, who had handed the winged horse back to the following Ministry employees. He asked in a low voice, "Are you working at the Ministry now? That's such a heavy punishment?"
Before their last parting, Newt mentioned that going home might not end well for him, and to work at the Ministry was evidently a sort of torture for someone like Uncle Newt, who loved freedom above all else.
"No, no, no, just came here to handle some affairs."
Newt said with a grimace. Seeing William reminded him of his recent adventure to Greece to catch a "new pet" without Tina's knowledge. On Christmas Eve, he returned home and faced half a month's worth of his wife's cold shoulder. The old man couldn't even stay home recently; compared to home, even the Ministry seemed welcoming.
"Oh, since we bumped into each other..."
Apparently remembering something, Newt couldn't help rubbing his hands together.
"You want to see Lina?"
Noticing Newt's somewhat expectant eyes, William continued his thought for him since his "desire" was still with him.
"Ah, yes, indeed."
Newt nodded somewhat embarrassedly. Being a bit socially anxious, and now repeatedly troubling William— the elder unintentionally tightened his grip on the small suitcase.
"Oh, no problem at all, no problem."
William agreed with a broad smile, eyes fixed on the elder's suitcase.
Heh heh, last time, due to unfamiliarity, he didn't get much, but this time is different. Once is chance, twice is familiarity, and William was determined to seize the opportunity.