"Oh, by the way, Weasley, Cadil let me inform you that the matter of the toilet has been resolved. You can ignore the message he sent!"
Golstein told Percy this and then left joyfully, completely without the imposing air he had come with.
Click—
The office door closed, and Amostha pushed the dumbfounded Percy back to the coffee table. Just as Percy's bottom touched the sofa, his whole body shot up. He stared at Amostha, his eyes wide with surprise and anger,
"Are you planning to plea for Ali Bashir, Mr. Brawn? Do you know him?"
"I've never heard that name before, Percy--" Amostha shook his head slightly.
"And why did you agree to Goldstein, when you see Mr. Crook, to defend him, know that Ali Bashir--"
Amostha raised a hand to interrupt Percy's lengthy speech and calmly said,
"I'm not solving this Bashir's trouble for you, Percy--"
After letting Percy sit down again, Amostha said slowly,
"When you meet Bat, I don't plan to mention this matter to him. As for the flying carpet, I suggest you send Bat a letter. If Bat responds, follow his instructions in the letter. If Bat doesn't respond, then follow the procedures and send a formal request to the Minister's office."
Percy blinked his eyes, he finally realized that this matter might not be as simple as it seemed. However, he was unclear about the logic of the solution proposed by Mr. Brawn.
Seeing his bewildered expression, Amostha remained silent for a moment, still patiently said,
"This Ali Bashir, behind him is probably Cornelli..."
"What?"
Percy was shocked and pale, tired brain in an instant clear, and then, he suddenly remembered Goldstein last said thing, he said it.
"But... eh, Professor Umbridge..."
"Goldstein said that the Osvald family is responsible for selling flying carpets within the United Kingdom. I think you must know that this family has a relative relationship with Lady Fang."
Not having heard this before, Amostha spoke confidently as if he knew the entire event.
"Umbridge is just a cover for Fang. When was Bashir captured, Percy? And when did Bat start taking leave?"
"Ali Bashir was arrested mid-last month, and Mr. Crouch was absent for leave four days ago..."
Percy was stunned.
"When did Goldstein come to see you?" Amostha continued to ask.
"Yesterday--" Percy's answer stumbled, as if he realized something.
"Since Bashir was arrested nearly a month ago, and most of this person's time, Bat has been at the Ministry of Magic, have you considered, Percy, why Goldstein did not communicate this matter with him on the days when Bat is present, but deliberately chose the day when you are on duty?"
Amostha guided him persuasively.
"He wanted to use me--" Percy said, his face gradually pale, "But I didn't let him succeed."
"The logic of the whole thing is as follows..."
Amostha crossed his fingers on his lap.
"The history of selling flying carpets in Britain is long, and this business has been mainly handled by the Osvald family, that is, the family of Fang Minister's wife. However, the ban on selling flying carpets was passed just when Connelly Fang was serving as the Minister of Magic. Do you think who did this?"
It was Percy, once the top student of Hogwarts, who opened his mouth and looked like he understood something.
"Got it? The whole thing is a political confrontation between Connelly Fang and Bat Crouch. I don't know how Bat managed to do it, but it definitely involves a trade-off. He won the confrontation and successfully pushed the flying carpet ban bill through review."
Amostast said indifferently,
"But it's obvious that Connelly is not satisfied, so he ordered, which was probably the Ali Bashir, the so-called Osvald family gloves white, to do it. You can think of it as provocation, or before the law takes effect, cleaning up inventory and recovering principal. And Bat did not tolerate such a provocation. So, Bashir was arrested."
Goldstein is likely a man of Connelly's, and his actions were sanctioned. It so happens that you've been handling Bat's daily affairs recently, so he came to you as a shot in the dark. This is why he never mentioned Umbridge or the Osvald family to you. If it succeeds, Goldstein would undoubtedly get in good with Connelly and get promoted. And you would be taking the fall, because it would be your signature on the release order for Bat."
Listening to Professor Brawn's reasoning, Percy's heart was beating rapidly, as if he doubted life itself.
"I didn't destroy Crouch's plan, I didn't sign it..."
Percy said blankly.
"Then have you considered that your refusal to sign may offend the Minister of Magic very much, which may lead to your career being hopeless?"
Amostha's laughter said it all, and scared Percy's face white. His lips trembled as he tried to ask for help from Professor Brawn, but remembered his previous little thoughts and couldn't say anything.
"At the door just now, Goldstein proposed to see Bat himself, which indicates two points. First, he probably realized that you are not someone he can take a chance on. Second, he still wants to get this matter done for the Minister to show his abilities. So, going to see Bat is probably his own idea privately. Perhaps, he will come up with something to try and persuade Bat."
"Since it's like that, Professor--"
Percy didn't realize that his attitude had completely changed. He now looked somewhat like the Percy before graduation, when he and Penelope asked Professor Brawn to help them write a letter of appeal at the Three Broomsticks pub.
"Why are you still helping him--"
"You don't let Goldstein go to see Bat, and you don't want to sign it yourself. This means that you want to take on all the anger of Connelly for Bat. Are you willing to use the influence of the Weasley family for this thing, Percy?"
Amostha calmly looked at Percy, who stammered.
"Have you considered that when Goldstein reports to Fang, he might shift all the blame for the incomplete task onto you?"
"The scoundrel!" Percy roared angrily, "I will fight him to the death!"
Percy cursed and cursed, venomously cursing Goldstein. Seeing his appearance, Amostha couldn't help but sigh. Arthur had spent most of his life in the Ministry of Magic, with connections to all departments. Hadn't he ever given any advice to his son?
"You can't make your own decision on this, Percy. Do you understand?"
After all, his student, Amostha did not want to see him exploited, with the attitude of guidance to the end. He said seriously, "Percy, it is really not your decision. You should understand that..."
"I'm asking you to write to Bat for a report. First of all, no matter whether Bat agrees or refuses, the responsibility for this matter will not be on your shoulders. If it works out, Fang will thank you for writing this letter for him. And if it doesn't work out, he has no reason to take it out on you."
Secondly, writing a letter is also for the sake of protecting Bat. For example, if Bat tells you that he cannot release Bashir, but then he turns around and discusses this matter with Connelly and says something else. He may say that you misunderstood him. And at that time, Bashir has already been in Azkaban for a while. Then to release him, it saves the face of the Minister while not making yourself look weak. The only problem is that you might have to take some responsibility."
"Crouch won't do that, professor!"
Percy almost forced out this sentence through his teeth, but from his expression, it seemed that he himself did not quite believe it.
"Politics is like that, Percy. Since you are in it, you should not have any illusions about others." Amostast said solemnly.
"Yes, of course. If Bat doesn't reply to you, then, you follow the normal procedures to seek the Minister of Magic's advice on how to deal with Bashir. It's legitimate and justified, even if Bat returns and can't find any problem with you. You've informed him, so it's not an unauthorized report, right? Percy?"
(End of chapter)
