Chapter 1145 Collusion
Dusk.
Katrina, who had just finished jogging and was catching her breath, was sitting on the swing in the corner of the courtyard to rest. She looked up at the sunset on the horizon, then withdrew her gaze and looked at the flowerbed in the yard again, letting her body sway slightly with the swing. Know what's going on in your heart.
Since Isobel and Albert started traveling after their marriage, the home has become empty, leaving only her and her mother.
Even though house elves help take care of everything, and her life is very comfortable. She can do what she likes every day, and she doesn't need to be as scared as the wizards in the outside world, but Katrina is still a little tired of this boring life.
In fact, she also knew that she was very stupid and even a little bit mean to have such an idea.
It was very unsafe outside. Even if the Ministry of Magic suppressed the Death Eaters, those vicious guys still often came out to cause trouble. What's more, because of Albert's relationship, she was easily targeted by the Death Eaters.
In fact, it is undoubtedly a very lucky thing to be able to stay here as a rice bug and survive the current turbulent period, but...
“It seems that you are still too idle.”
Mrs. McDougal's voice interrupted Katrina's thoughts.
“Didn’t I help you compile that book every day?” Katrina raised her head and protested to her mother dissatisfied.
“Tell you something.”
Mrs. McDougal ignored Katrina's complaints and suddenly spoke.
"What's up?"
Katrina was a little impatient. She always felt that it would not be a good thing.
"I plan to give you all the galleons I earned after the book was published," Mrs. McDougal said calmly.
“Give it to me, why?” Katrina expressed doubts, “And, are you sure that book will be a hit?”
"I'll give you the start-up capital." Mrs. McDougal was very confident that her book would sell well. "Isobel is taken care of by Albert. They don't lack the money at all. And you have just graduated and need to have some money on hand." Money.”
“Oh, well, you’re right, I do need a few galleons.”
Katrina didn't have much psychological burden about getting the money. She had been helping to compile the book and never expected the book to earn many galleons. From the beginning, Albert was worried that they would be too much. Just looking for something to do.
"So, the rest of the compilation work is left to you." Mrs. McDougal nodded with satisfaction, "Don't worry, I will be responsible for helping to keep an eye on it."
“Are you sure you’re not kidding?”
Katrina couldn't help but widen her eyes. She suspected that her mother just disliked her for being too idle and deliberately found things for her to do.
"You don't want to open a beauty shop, you must have a start-up capital." Mrs. McDougal stared at her worried daughter, "That's it, or do you want to rely on Albert? Although I think Albert I probably won’t care about helping you, but is this really a good idea?”
Katrina was silent.
Although she did think about opening a beauty shop, she really had not considered the issue of Galleons. According to the original plan, she should open a beauty shop with everyone.
"Even if you don't want to open a store, you still need some savings of your own after all. It's not a good idea to always rely on others!" Mrs. McDougal reminded, "Don't forget, we don't know how long we will stay here, so don't waste yourself. Precious life.”
"You really think I'm too idle." Katrina was extremely depressed, "There is a meaning to life and it's not just about making money."
“We are not publishing this book just to make money.” Mrs. McDougal corrected. “In the near future, people will need it.”
“You just believe what he says.”
Katrina actually wanted to say something more, but in the end it turned into a helpless sigh.
“When you have a job, it’s not easy to have random thoughts.” Mrs. McDougal sat on the swing next to her.
“I’m not thinking wildly.”
Katrina didn't bother to argue with Mrs. McDougal. She reached out and touched the fat cat lying steadily on the swing, changed the subject and asked, "Are they back?"
"Not yet..." Mrs. McDougal sighed softly and asked, "Have you read the book I gave you?"
“It’s not me who is pregnant.” Katrina became even more depressed.
“Isobel needs your care,” Mrs. McDougal reminded.
“I don’t think Isobel needs my care. She has never needed anyone else’s care since she was a child.” Katrina curled her lips, feeling something indescribable in her heart.
“She is your sister,” Mrs. McDougal reminded.
"I know what you mean."
"You have grown up, and I don't want to nag you all the time." Mrs. McDougal glanced at her daughter and continued: "Think about it carefully and talk to Isobel when you have time. They should tonight Will be back."
Katrina didn't say anything. She stood up from the swing, picked up the fat cat who was still lying and yawning, put it on the ground, and walked towards the bathroom alone.
“Ah, what a troublesome fellow.” Mrs. MacDougal shook her head.
Because I said hello in advance, today’s dinner is particularly sumptuous.
While the house elves were bringing sumptuous food to the table, the door of the dining room was pushed open, and Albert and Isobel, dressed in lazy home clothes, walked in.
"Welcome home."
Katrina stepped forward and gave Isobel a warm hug. After kissing the other person's cheek, she pulled her to sit on the seat next to her.
“Not that exaggerated.”
Isobel felt a little funny and looked at Tom who was rubbing his head against Albert's ankle excitedly.
"Long time no see Tom." Albert knelt down and touched the head of the excited fat cat, then picked it up and tipped the weight, and said with a smile, "He's fat again."
“Okay, let’s eat first.” Mrs. McDougal greeted with a smile.
Dinner was very strange, fried dumplings, mixed fish soup, Italian fried noodles, potato goulash... It felt like delicacies from all over the world were put together.
While eating, several people talked about traveling after marriage.
“So, you are actually hiding under the sea for your honeymoon?” Katrina couldn’t understand what they were thinking.
“It should be said on the boat.” Albert corrected.
Katrina didn't pay attention to Albert's words. She ate the food on the plate and looked at her sister secretly. She always felt that Isobel was more beautiful than before.
“Are you sure?” Mrs. McDougal asked, “I’ll check it for you later.”
“Well, actually I’ve already checked it.”
Isobel couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed when she thought of the scene when she and Albert went to the Muggle pharmacy to buy things.
“It still needs to be re-examined, and there are some things that should be paid special attention to after pregnancy.” After dinner, Mrs. McDougal took Isobel to the specially vacated medical room.
"Is there anything wrong at home?" Albert asked as he picked up Tom.
“No, it’s just that I’m bored staying at home all the time.” Katrina glanced at Albert, who was petting the cat, and said calmly, “That cat is very lazy, and I can’t get it to get up and exercise.”
"It doesn't matter, that's it, Tom, there's no need to force it." Albert didn't care about this and continued to ask, "Where is the British wizarding community?"
"I have left all the more important newspapers for you, and they are all here." Katrina walked to the cabinet, took out a stack of newspapers and placed them in front of Albert, recalling: "Scrimgeour has been busy lately. The fact that he sentenced dark wizards to death and that he fined Death Eaters was exposed, and his reputation in the wizarding world was polarized."
"The effect is not bad." Albert was not too surprised by this. Scrimgeour's approach undoubtedly offended some purebloods.
If he had not known in advance that he was likely to die during his term of office, Scrimgeour would probably not be so extreme.
It's a pity that someone has a foot in it.
"Most of the dark wizards are hiding, afraid to come out to cause trouble for fear of being caught and sent to trial." Katrina suspected that Scrimgeour's radical approach was related to Albert. "However, the Death Eaters are still Still active, they burned Scrimgeour's home in retaliation."
"Also, your "Self-Defense Guide" has been a big hit and is estimated to become the best-selling book this year." Katrina pointed to the new version of the "Self-Defense Guide" on the table and said, "The Ministry of Magic is looking for someone to take your original copy. Deleting part of it, the Galleons sold will still belong to you, well, the main reason is that the Ministry of Magic issues discount coupons to everyone, and you can get half of the subsidy, and almost all families are willing to spend 1 Galleone to buy a copy."
"It's a very clever approach, isn't it?" Albert said softly: "No matter how much the Ministry of Magic subsidizes it, it is only a thousand galleons, but Scrimgeour can get a large number of supporters and can follow me. If we have a good relationship, why not?"
“Isn’t this your idea?” Katrina looked at Albert suspiciously. It's no wonder she thinks that way, because Scrimgeour did enact many policies that were beneficial to Albert.
“Why do you say that?” Albert asked.
"The Ministry of Magic has also set up a store specializing in defense against the dark arts. It is said that it is to allow everyone to buy qualified defense against the dark arts." Katrina pointed to a newspaper on the table and said, "Of course, some people think this is The Weasley family's conspiracy to monopolize defense tools against the Dark Arts."
“It seems that there are a lot of jealous people!” Albert was not too surprised, because it was so profitable.
"I think it's normal for someone to think like that. Who knows that the store is next door and all the products sold in it are your store's products?" Katrina dared to pat her chest and assure that this matter is definitely related to Albert. What do you think? It's like Albert found a bodyguard for his store.
“This is actually very clever.”
Albert began to read the newspaper about the Defense Against the Dark Arts store.
"It's really smart." Katrina nodded and analyzed, "Skrimgeour can really win over a large group of people."
"Winning over Arthur Weasley and his Order of the Phoenix, winning over Harry Potter, and winning over you, a genius, can also solve the problem of inferior dark magic defense items flooding the market so that everyone can buy them. We can obtain safe and reliable dark magic defense props and bring them under the supervision of the Ministry of Magic, which can save the Ministry of Magic a lot of expenses...and also solve the security problem of Diagon Alley."
“And the Ministry of Magic only needs to dispatch a few employees to show everyone Scrimgeour’s determination to combat dark wizards and protect everyone’s lives.”
"By the way, not long ago, Harry Potter also publicly supported Scrimgeour in his fight against dark wizards." Katrina sighed softly, "It seems that our new minister is very powerful and full of courage. A while ago, Every day we see another dark wizard sentenced to death."
“Well, it’s indeed amazing.” Albert also sighed with emotion, “If it were anyone else, he would probably still have a headache on how to wipe Fudge’s butt!”
"Next, are you going to... hide here all the time?" Katrina never thought that Albert was a peaceful guy.
“Is there any problem?” Albert asked.
“I thought you were going to fight You-Know-Who through the Ministry of Magic.”
"It's not my job to fight against the mysterious man." Albert put down the newspaper and said calmly, "Scrimgeour won't tolerate an outsider telling him what to do, so why make yourself uncomfortable?"
This is a disguised admission of his relationship with Scrimgeour.
To put it bluntly, the two of them just use each other to get what they need.
Although Scrimgeour changed a lot of things under Albert's influence, he didn't have much time.
After Dumbledore's death, Scrimgeour's death was not far away.
This is undoubtedly a very cruel reality.
Of course, Albert also had a way to help Scrimgeour escape, but he didn't think the other party would be willing to do that.
"Whatever you want to say, just say it directly!" Albert said looking at Katrina who was hesitant to speak.
“Nothing.” Katrina shook her head.
"By the way, I plan to go out. You can tell Isobel about it later." Before Albert left the living room, he suddenly turned around and ordered Katrina.
“Are you really restless?” Katrina frowned and said, “You just came back and are about to go out?”
“Well, I have some things to take care of, and I will be back soon.” Albert began to prepare for his trip.
When Albert came to the entrance under Katrina's gaze, a familiar voice suddenly sounded in his ears.
“My dear, where are you going?” Isobel looked dissatisfied at Albert who was about to leave.
"I have to take care of the store over there in Diagon Alley. Fred, George and Lee Jordan have probably scolded me countless times in their hearts." Albert turned around and walked to Isobel's side. Kissed her cheek and said.
Looking at the wooden door that was closed again, Katrina looked sideways at her sister, "If you don't want him to run around, you should tell him directly."
"How do you feel about staying at home?" Isobel looked back at her sister and asked.
"It's not very good, it's boring, and..." Katrina was interrupted by Isobel before she could finish her words.
“We haven’t chatted together for a long time, let’s go to your room!” Isobel suddenly suggested.
“Chat? Oh, okay!” Katrina looked a little complicated, and finally walked to her room helplessly.
(End of this chapter)