Not long after, wizards from the Reversal of Accidental Magic Incident Team began arriving. As they assessed the chaotic scene and the restrained Death Eaters, many cast curious glances at Alex. Capturing five Death Eaters in one go wasn't an everyday occurrence.
The team quickly took over, restoring the site and tending to affected Muggles with Memory Charms. The Aurors handed over their prisoners and regrouped around Moody, awaiting further orders. Moody turned back to Alex. "Since you're skipping the hospital, come with me to the Ministry of Magic. We need your statement to complete the report. Besides, Minister Bagnold might want to meet you. You've done a brilliant job tonight."
Alex nodded, then reached into his pocket, pulling out a confiscated wand. He handed it to Moody and leaned in to whisper something. His eyes briefly flicked to one of the restrained Death Eaters—Torquil.
Moody's magical eye spun toward Torquil before a sly grin tugged at his lips. "You're onto something there. Don't worry; I'll make sure he's kept under close watch. This might be the break we need to put an end to the Travers family."
Straightening up, Moody barked more orders. "Alright, wrap it up! Escort the prisoners back to the Ministry. Keep them isolated, and no visitors without my express permission—not even department heads."
He turned to Alex. "Let's head back."
Alex smirked. "As you wish." He placed a hand on Moody's shoulder, and together with the Aurors, they Disapparated.
When Alex opened his eyes, he found himself in a vast, gleaming hall. The polished dark wooden floor reflected the light from a peacock-blue ceiling, where golden symbols shimmered and shifted like a giant magical bulletin board. On both sides of the hall, gilded fireplaces flared to life as wizards stepped out, their robes billowing.
In the center stood an ornate fountain featuring golden statues of a wizard, witch, centaur, goblin, and house-elf. Water cascaded gracefully from various points, catching the light.
The arrival of Alex and the Aurors caused a stir among Ministry employees. Their attention snapped to the bound Death Eaters, and whispers rippled through the crowd.
The wizards gathered nearby grew even more curious. Five Death Eaters had been apprehended—an event significant enough to spark hushed, excited whispers. Some craned their necks, trying to get a better view of the prisoners being marched through the hall. A few noticed Alex, standing calmly amidst the crowd, but no one seemed to suspect him of anything.
After scolding the strikers, Moody turned to Alex, gesturing toward the grand interior of the building. "This must be your first time at the Ministry of Magic," he said gruffly. "This is the reception hall. Past the security checkpoint up ahead, Apparition is restricted, so we'll have to walk from here."
Alex nodded with a polite smile, his eyes scanning the bustling hall. The lavishly decorated space hummed with activity as wizards came and went. As he observed, Alex noticed a few wizards acting suspiciously. Their eyes darted toward the captured Death Eaters, and their faces paled as if they'd recognized someone. Without wasting a moment, they slipped into one of the fireplaces on the hall's right side and disappeared. Alex smirked to himself, amused. 'So, they've noticed. Good. Don't make me wait too long.'
Moody, oblivious to Alex's reaction, ushered him toward the elevators. Once inside, he resumed speaking, this time in a slightly more upbeat tone. "We're currently on the eighth floor underground. Each floor above us houses a different department. Starting from the seventh floor, there's the Department of Magical Games and Sports, followed by the Department of Magical Transportation on the sixth. Then comes the Department of International Magical Cooperation, the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, and the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes. Our stop, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, is on the second floor."
As the elevator ascended, Moody glanced at Alex and added, "If you're serious about getting into the alchemical props business, you'll need to get certified by the Department of International Magical Cooperation. All business dealings in the wizarding world have to follow the International Code of Magical Trade Standards. Without it, you'll be considered a smuggler. Got it?"
"Got it," Alex replied, feigning curiosity. "But why are the wizarding world's business rules so complicated?"
Moody snorted. "It's not too bad if you stick to domestic trade, but cross-border dealings can be a nightmare. Each country has its own rules, and some are stricter than others. Here in the UK, we're especially cautious because we're so close to the European continent. If we're not careful, foreign goods could flood the market and harm local industries."
He shot Alex a pointed look. "Take magic carpets, for example. They're the go-to flying equipment in many countries, but here? Banned outright to protect the broomstick industry. You won't find a magic carpet being sold legally in Britain anytime soon."
Alex's mind raced as he pieced together Moody's explanation.' So it's about protecting local interests… but it seems like the Ministry's solution is to block competition entirely.'
"Doesn't that lead to a lot of smugglers?" Alex asked, tilting his head.
"More than you'd think," Moody replied, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice. "Back in the day, we Aurors spent a lot of time cracking down on smuggling operations with the help of the International Magical Cooperation and Magical Creatures departments. Magical materials, rare creatures—you name it—smuggled in and out of the country like clockwork. And a lot of the big players in these schemes were pure-blood families." He shook his head bitterly. "Of course, we mostly caught small fry. The big families know how to cover their tracks. Getting hard evidence on them is next to impossible."
Alex's interest deepened. 'So, the key in my possession might be worth more than I originally thought.'
He continued probing Moody with casual questions, and the seasoned Auror, in a surprisingly good mood, didn't hold back. By the time the elevator reached the second basement floor, Alex had gathered plenty of valuable information. Moody led Alex into a room that resembled a lounge. "Wait here for a bit," he said gruffly. "I've got to put those Death Eaters in custody first."
Moody had already made up his mind to personally look after Torquil and ensure his safety. The baby was far too vulnerable, and given the tense situation, it wasn't beyond possibility that certain individuals might attempt to harm him in secret. Moody couldn't trust anyone else with such a critical task—who knew if there were Death Eaters lurking in the Ministry or insiders from the Travers family pulling strings behind the scenes?
"You rest up here. You've been through a lot," Moody said, his voice gruff but tinged with concern. "I'll make sure no one disturbs you. Relax and get some sleep. If you need anything—food, water, whatever—there's plenty in the cabinet. Once you've had a chance to recover, come find me at the Auror Command. I'll take you to see Minister Bagnold after that."