Upon hearing Hermione’s explanation, Weilan and Ron immediately understood.
Mrs. Crouch continued to resentfully accuse her husband:
"Now everyone outside is saying that man abandoned his work to write letters everywhere, gathering people to find his son."
"Hmph, he disguised it well. He went to the Ministry of Magic to network, so he could cover up the mistress who kidnapped his son!"
"He's a heartless man; he has never spent the night with me since we got married!"
Seeing her agitated, Weilan wisely chose to humor her:
"Alright, Mrs. Crouch, we generally understand what you mean."
According to Mrs. Crouch’s statement, if Mr. Crouch had never spent the night with her, then Bader’s birth was actually a mystery.
But Weilan believed it was necessary to temporarily set aside this gossipy question—he still had a doubt.
He wanted to know why this woman could not be easily offended.
"Mrs. Crouch."
Weilan spoke to her in a relaxed, pleasant tone, as if chatting about daily life:
"You must be a very warm and popular lady, aren't you? Professor McGonagall of Gryffindor House spoke very highly of you."
Mrs. Crouch lowered her long eyelashes and sipped the red tea in her cup:
"Before I married Barty Crouch, my surname was Greengrass."
A prominent maternal family, so that was it!
"Then why did you choose us?" Weilan was determined to clarify everything. "We believe that a lady of your distinguished background must have access to more powerful individuals than us."
"Precisely because you are weak, my husband will not notice you."
Mrs. Crouch gave an unexpected yet unassailable reason:
"My husband served as the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and many powerful Aurors were promoted by him personally. How could I possibly choose them?"
This woman had an extraordinary demeanor and a distinguished background. Weilan mused that she certainly wouldn't be easy to fool, but what if Mr. Crouch found out…
Mrs. Crouch saw Weilan’s apprehension and pushed a paper contract in front of the three:
"You and I will both sign this contract. Don't worry, it only has legal effect, not magic effect. If Barty discovers you, just present this contract, and I will bear all responsibility."
Weilan opened Minute Observation, observed the contract, and confirmed that there was indeed no magic on it.
He then handed the contract to Hermione to confirm that there were no hidden traps in the clauses.
Weilan fell silent.
Currently, the price offered by this noblewoman seemed very reasonable.
And her gaze was exceptionally resolute, leaving Weilan no room to refuse.
Recalling Professor McGonagall's reminder, Weilan decided to accept the task.
"We will do our best to track Mr. Crouch and report his daily schedule to you."
"But we hope you understand that, apart from tracking Crouch, we will not interfere with any other matters."
"That's enough."
Mrs. Crouch lifted her chin:
"You will begin tracking from tomorrow morning. My husband will leave this house at 6:30 AM to go to Hogwarts for his daily work, returning home at 9:30 PM. You will record his itinerary for the day."
"He is old and in poor health, and cannot stand the suffocating sensation of Apparition, so he hardly ever uses Apparition."
"You can rest assured on this point; if he suddenly Apparates and disappears, there's no need to look for him, just write it in the tracking report."
"He also doesn't use Floo powder much, because the smoke from the flames is very choking. If he uses the fireplace at home to go somewhere, I will send my owl to notify you."
"Around midnight every night, you will send me yesterday's tracking report, and I will give you 10 Galleons for that day's remuneration. The tracking will last for 47 days."
"Regarding the school, I have already communicated with your Dean, Minerva McGonagall. The Christmas holiday is starting next week. You can take leave for the remaining two days of classes this week."
"Other matters do not require your intervention."
Weilan extended his hand: "Then, a pleasant cooperation, Mrs. Crouch."
"A pleasant cooperation."
Mrs. Crouch shook his hand.
This negotiation was not the trap they had imagined.
On the contrary, Mrs. Crouch accurately grasped the common human psychology of loving money and fearing trouble, clearly explaining and arranging everything face to face.
Most importantly, she was willing to bear all responsibility if Mr. Crouch discovered them.
Weilan couldn't even find any reason to refuse this woman.
It was almost eight o'clock in the evening when they walked out of the Crouch mansion in Upper Hogsmeade Village. The stars had vanished from the sky, and a strong wind was blowing outside.
The biting cold wind of the winter night made Hermione and Ron huddle their necks, pulling their cloaks tight, battling the howling north wind as they walked towards the designated Floo powder transfer point.
Weilan walked ahead of them. Under his thick sweater, a dragon scale amulet was transmitting warmth throughout his body.
Weilan's mouth and nose exhaled white mist as he calmly distinguished directions in the cold wind, leading Ron and Hermione to the Floo powder transfer point at the village entrance.
The warmth from the dragon scale amulet made Weilan unafraid of the current cold.
However, at this moment, the disadvantages of this simple transfer point began to show.
Because it was outdoors, in bad weather, it was difficult for them to light a fire and then sprinkle Floo powder to leave.
Ron tried several times before finally lighting a small, bright flame in the stone trough.
Weilan cupped his hand around the small flame to protect it from the cold wind, while urging Ron and Hermione to quickly sprinkle Floo powder and leave.
"What about you? If you leave last, the wind will blow out the flame."
Hermione reminded him with concern: "The wind is very strong now. Without someone to shield the flame, you won't be able to sprinkle Floo powder and leave."
"I'm planning to buy a house in Upper Hogsmeade Village," Weilan told Hermione. "Tonight, I want to find that old seller, have him open the door for me to see my house. Then I'll use the fireplace in that house to go back."
"Be sure to come back early."
Ron had already gone ahead. Hermione sprinkled Floo powder into the small flame, and before stepping in, she gave Weilan a reluctant look.
"Don't worry! I'll be quick."
After Weilan escorted Hermione into the emerald green flames, the moment the flame returned to normal, it was swept away and extinguished by the strong wind.
Weilan walked towards a house on the southeastern edge of the village.
He knocked on the door, and a disheveled old man greeted him. A long white beard grew wildly on his chin, but his bright black eyes gleamed under the indoor light.
"Hello, Mr. Thomas, I'm Weilan Costa from Hogwarts," Weilan grinned at the old man. "I discussed a business deal with you, do you remember?"
"You said you'd sell me that small house on the edge of Upper Hogsmeade Village for 400 Galleons—I'm about to earn enough money now, can I see the house?"
"It's cold outside, come in first." Thomas stepped aside and invited Weilan into the warm interior.
Sitting on the soft sofa, Thomas poured Weilan a cup of hot milk:
"But, my boy, I didn't say those words."
"What I said at the time was, if that house doesn't sell within four years, I'd sell it to you for 400 Galleons."
"Then what's your selling price now?"
Weilan could even accept a price slightly higher than 400.
Thomas didn't answer him immediately.
His bright black eyes under his thick, short white eyebrows scanned Weilan’s faded, worn cloak with its loose lining, and his hoarse throat uttered a number:
"A minimum of 450 Galleons, no lower. Many of the furnishings inside, I can't move, and I plan to give them directly to the next owner."
"Okay!"
Weilan didn't bargain and immediately agreed.
Based on average housing prices, any house under 500 Galleons was not considered expensive.
"Is that house connected to the Floo network? Can I see it tonight?"
"Yes."
Thomas slowly stood up, took a large bunch of keys from beside a large bag of cat food hanging on the wall, and began to sort through them one by one.
"The fireplace inside is connected to the Floo network. After you've seen the house, lock the door, and then use Floo powder to go back. It's so cold, don't stay outside for too long."
