Maurise retrieved his suitcase and unceremoniously tossed the unconscious Sirius inside.
There was absolutely no need to worry about the man suddenly waking up. The Stunning Spell he had cast was powerful enough to keep an ordinary person out cold for at least three or four days.
"How do you plan to collect the bounty?" Fred asked.
Suitcase in hand, Maurise casually replied, "I will just take a trip down to the Ministry of Magic."
George immediately spoke up. "That is against the rules, Maurise. During a Hogsmeade weekend, no student is allowed to leave the village without permission."
The fact that the Weasley twins were actually reminding someone to follow school rules was incredibly bizarre.
Maurise just smiled. "I am sure the school will understand. You two do not need to come with me. I can handle this alone."
"Well then," Fred asked, raising an eyebrow, "do you even know where the Ministry of Magic is?"
"I will figure it out."
He genuinely had no idea where the Ministry was located, but that was hardly an issue. He just needed to find someone who knew the way to act as a guide.
Take Frick, for example. According to the shopkeeper, when he first opened his business, he received complaints and reports almost every single day, forcing him to visit the Ministry constantly to sort things out. It was only after he started paying protection fees that the trouble finally stopped. Frick undoubtedly knew the layout of the Ministry like the back of his hand.
"That is good to hear." Fred nodded. "George and I will head back for now. We have some other business to attend to."
Right as they reached the entrance of the secret passage, he turned back. "By the way, Maurise, you do not mind if we tell people that you took down Sirius Black, do you?"
"Do whatever you want." Maurise waved a hand dismissively. As long as he got his bounty, he could not care less about anything else.
"Brilliant!" Fred's eyes lit up, clearly already plotting some new scheme.
Suitcase firmly in hand, Maurise walked out of the Shrieking Shack.
By the time he reached the main street of Hogsmeade, it was well past nine o'clock. A rare, pleasant sunlight bathed the village. The street was packed with Hogwarts students, their cheerful chatter and laughter blending into a lively, bustling atmosphere.
As Maurise navigated through the crowd, he gradually began to notice something unusual. There were an exceptionally high number of adult wizards roaming the streets today, and judging by their rugged attire, they did not look like tourists on vacation. While it was completely normal for Hogsmeade to have a fair share of locals and visitors on a weekend, the ratio of adults to students today was noticeably skewed.
Mildly puzzled, Maurise did not break his stride and headed straight for the Three Broomsticks.
The moment he pushed the door open, Madam Rosmerta's voice rang out from behind the bar. "Sorry, sir, but all the tables are full."
That made sense. Maurise glanced around the pub and saw that it was packed to the brim. Aside from the usual crowd of Hogwarts students, there were quite a few unfamiliar adult faces. They sat in small clusters in the corners, conversing in hushed tones.
Had something major happened? Whatever it was, it had absolutely nothing to do with him.
Maurise withdrew his gaze and ignored the suspicious crowd. His only goal was to use the pub's Floo Network to get to Diagon Alley, grab Frick, and head to the Ministry of Magic to claim his hard-earned bounty. He could have used Apparition, of course, but he was not particularly fond of the sensation it caused.
Right at that moment, he caught sight of two very familiar figures.
Professor McGonagall. And standing right next to her was a stout man wearing a pinstriped cloak and a lime-green bowler hat. Cornelius Fudge.
The two of them were standing near the bar, deep in a hushed conversation. What a wonderful coincidence. It seemed a trip to the Ministry of Magic would not be necessary after all.
Maurise adjusted his path and stopped just a few feet away from them. Snippets of their conversation drifted to his ears. They appeared to be discussing Sirius Black.
Professor McGonagall kept her voice low, but it was just loud enough for him to hear clearly.
"Publishing that bounty was not a wise idea, Cornelius," she stated, her tone laced with obvious disapproval. "There are now countless unsavory wizards prowling around Hogsmeade looking for a payout. They pose a significant threat to our students."
Fudge sighed heavily, taking off his bowler hat and turning it nervously in his hands.
"I completely understand your concerns, Minerva, but Sirius Black has been spotted right here in Hogsmeade. We must take every possible measure. A bounty encourages more people to keep their eyes open."
"The problem is," Professor McGonagall interjected sharply, "these so-called bounty hunters flocking in from all over the country care about nothing but those five thousand Galleons. They could very easily end up harming a Hogwarts student in their blind greed."
Hearing this, Maurise nodded to himself. That perfectly explained the unusual influx of shady wizards today. They were all here hunting for the prize money.
It was truly a pity that none of them knew the five thousand Galleons were already resting comfortably in his hands. He glanced down at the suitcase he was carrying, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"I hope you can understand my position as well, Minerva," Fudge replied, his tone tinged with helplessness. "For every single day Black remains at large, the Ministry endures mounting pressure from the public. Perhaps the school should consider temporarily canceling these Hogsmeade weekend visits?"
"This is the students' final opportunity to relax before their exams begin," Professor McGonagall retorted, her brow furrowing deeply. "Do you expect me to tell them that they are confined to the castle simply because the Minister's bounty has attracted a horde of dangerous mercenaries?"
Fudge did not offer a response. He simply placed his bowler hat back onto his head.
"Good morning, you two." Maurise stepped forward, smoothly inserting himself into their conversation without rushing.
Professor McGonagall and Minister Fudge turned their heads simultaneously, their eyes landing on him.
"Maurise?" Professor McGonagall looked mildly surprised. "Is there something you need?"
"Oh, nothing major." Maurise shifted his gaze to Fudge. "Actually, Minister, I was hoping to speak with you."
Fudge immediately put on an overly affable smile. "What can I do for you, my boy?"
Maurise did not answer right away. Instead, he took a deliberate look around the room. The pub was bustling with people, and the wandering eyes of several shady wizards had already begun to drift in their direction. Their target was quite clearly Fudge.
"We should speak somewhere more private," he suggested quietly.
Fudge raised an eyebrow, picking up on the cue. He turned back to the bar. "Rosmerta, my dear, I need a private parlor."
Fudge knew perfectly well that the young man standing before him was no ordinary student. He held Maurise in very high regard, still vividly remembering how the boy had effortlessly defeated two fully trained Aurors single-handedly.
Madam Rosmerta gave a curt nod and bustled out from behind the counter. "Right this way, Minister." Even on her busiest days, she always made sure to keep a private parlor or two empty for important guests or emergencies.
Professor McGonagall looked at the student. "Do you need me to accompany you?"
"That would be perfect, Professor," Maurise replied politely. It was always much safer to conduct business with a reliable witness present.
The three of them followed Madam Rosmerta to a sturdy wooden door at the back. She pushed it open and stepped aside to let them in.
The private parlor was on the smaller side, but it was comfortably furnished. Maurise vaguely recalled having been in this exact room before.
"Just give a shout if you need anything," Madam Rosmerta said warmly before gently pulling the door shut behind them.
Fudge took a seat, placing his lime-green bowler hat on the small table. Professor McGonagall took the chair beside him. Maurise remained standing across from them, his grip firm on the handle of his suitcase.
"Alright, my boy," Fudge began, his voice taking on a cheerful, accommodating tone. "We have privacy now. What was it you wanted to discuss?"
"It is nothing too complicated," Maurise replied, his tone remaining incredibly relaxed. "I just wanted to ask about the wanted poster for Sirius Black. I assume the bounty is still active?"