"...Ms. McGonagall, I think I have to remind you that Charlotte Witt is a member of our Witt family. Now we are taking her back, and we hope you will call her out as soon as possible... Otherwise, we have reason to think, The younger members of our family have been detained and imprisoned by your Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"
The person who was standing at the school gate and talking to Professor McGonagall at this moment was actually the old housekeeper that Maka met when she went to the Witte family mansion.
This old man is the same as before, with his gray hair neatly combed and the wizard robe on his body spotless. No matter how you look at it, he is a steady and imposing old wizard.
And just like his sonorous and powerful voice, he also showed an aggressive attitude at all times regarding his visit to Hogwarts to demand people.
It seems that for him, Charlotte, the junior member of the family, is determined today.
But from Professor McGonagall's perspective, the Witte family's behavior is unreasonable.
Although Maka did not explain Charlotte's arrival in too much detail, Mag's time working with Charlotte was not short. For example, "Why would Charlotte give up her family's advantages and be willing to go back to school to work as an insignificant professor's assistant?" Anyone with a bit of brains would be able to figure it out.
"Mr. Witte," McGonagall heard that the other party actually falsely accused the school of imprisoning Charlotte, but she was not angry. She just retorted calmly, "As the current principal of Hogwarts, I recognize that Miss Charlotte Witte It’s true that he worked in our school…”
She told this fact seriously at first, but then she changed the subject.
"But I'm sorry," McGonagall said calmly, "Our school has never established any long-term employment relationship with Miss Witte. She only held the temporary position of 'professor's assistant' in our school. And today, my school is on duty On the day off, Miss Witte did not come to school to work.”
"Hmph, you're not here even if you say you're not here! Why don't I believe it—"
Behind the old butler, a younger member of the Werther family seemed to have lost his temper, and suddenly asked a question loudly.
But before he could continue, he saw the old housekeeper glance at him sharply, causing him to immediately shut his mouth and stand up straight as he listened.
In the Werther family, housekeepers have never been classified as servants, because every generation of housekeepers has the same surname of "Werther" brought from their mother's womb.
The term "housekeeper" is not so much a family position as a highly representative family position.
"When Ms. Mag said this, does it mean that my lady is no longer in the castle?" The old housekeeper looked into Mag's eyes and said with a slightly gloomy expression, "If that's the case, please tell me where she is? If we If I can find someone, I won’t bother your school like this again.”
The old man spoke in a high-sounding way, and even hinted at "both sides taking a step back". This actually shows that they are not here to cause trouble today, but they really want to take Charlotte home.
However, Professor McGonagall knew to some extent that "Miss Werther" would probably not want to return to that family again.
"Unfortunately, although I also want to give you an answer, I don't know the answer to this question." Mag said with a calm expression, "Our school has only a very ordinary temporary employment relationship with Miss Witte. As for her personal Activities are not within the scope of our interference... I hope you can understand."
"No, I guess I don't 'get' it."
The old man's words were still as subtle as before, and he felt like he would never compromise if he didn't gain anything. But due to the reasons that the head of the family had warned him, he did not show excessive toughness.
"My lady works at your school. Even if it is only temporary, your school should take corresponding responsibilities. Now that she has not returned home, but is 'not' in your school... Can I consider that she has disappeared?" "
At this point, the old butler paused for a moment, and suddenly said in a deep voice: "... If this is really the case, I think I have to go to the Ministry of Magic and formally submit a search request."
The implication of his words was very clear, that is, if Professor McGonagall didn't come up with something useful, he would ask the Ministry of Magic to intervene. And when the time comes, searching Hogwarts Castle will be imperative, and it will be justified.
After all, Charlotte is a member of the Werther family, and this is a fact that cannot be changed.
Now that her family wants her to go back, it's one thing that she doesn't want to, but if an outsider like Professor McGonagall comes to try to stop her, overtly or covertly, it's unreasonable.
In fact, Mag didn't really have a good way to deal with the words of the old housekeeper of the Werther family at this time.
Just when Professor McGonagall pursed her lips and didn't know how to speak, a figure came from the direction of the castle and came to her side in a moment.
"Butler Barno...the wind has been really strong recently, and it actually brought you here accidentally?"
Naturally, the only one who can appear here at this moment is Maka. But I saw that although he was standing in the middle of the thirty or so people from both sides, he seemed to be completely unaware of the tension in the atmosphere, tilting his head with a frivolous expression on his face.
"Maka McClain."
When the old housekeeper saw him appearing, although he had been mentally prepared for it, he was still a little upset. After calming down and sorting out his thoughts, he frowned and looked at Maka's location.
"I think, with your current status, there is no need to put on this inexplicable posture anymore, right? You and I both know it very well - you are not a descendant of the Dihel family at all, are you? "
However, Maka's expression did not calm down because of the old man's words, and the contempt in his eyes became stronger.
"Well, maybe my performance in front of you that day was indeed a bit too 'exaggerated'."
When Maka said that word, she crossed her hands and put quotation marks. But in the blink of an eye, he suddenly put away his careless expression and straightened his head that was tilted just now.
"But," he said calmly, "how do you know that I am really not the 'Maka Diher' before?"
When he said this, the old housekeeper Bano was about to speak, but saw Maka quickly waved his hand.
"Don't think that I don't know about my life experience after you have investigated it," he twitched the corner of his lips and said pointedly, "If you want to find out who I am, huh, I advise you not to waste your efforts-"
After laughing at herself, Maka asked bluntly:
"Tell me! Why do you suddenly come to ask for Charlotte?"
Back then, Maka used a long-destroyed "Magic Stone" to perfectly frighten the large Witte family. Now they finally come to their senses.
But even though he understood that Maka was probably bluffing at the time, it was already difficult to regain his position now.
After all, Maka is now a well-respected wizard in the global magic world, with no shortage of strength, background, reputation, and connections.
What's more, the "transaction" about the Philosopher's Stone is not something that can be said openly.
Therefore, the old head of the Witte family had already told Old Barno before this act of instruction, saying that he should control the situation within an acceptable range as much as possible without making a big fuss with Hogwarts.
As for how to deal with Maka, the old patriarch only said one thing - don't fight with him!
Seeing Maka asking about the reason for the request, Butler Bano secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Because his visit to Hogwarts this time really only had the purpose of "bringing Charlotte back".
It would be great if Maka could take the initiative to get involved here.
"What else can happen," the old housekeeper pretended to sigh, "Perhaps you still remember that my young lady was already engaged. And just a few days ago, her betrothed came to our Witte family in person. He insists that the young lady fulfill her agreement and marry him."
"Do you mean to say..." Maka said with vacant eyes, "There's nothing you can do?"
"This... my young lady was engaged to him. If it weren't for you..."
Before Maka showed up, the old man had already made enough strong statements, but now facing Maka, he showed an attitude of being understanding and rational.
Although he didn't finish what he said, the meaning he wanted to convey was already very clear.
To be honest, this old housekeeper is actually quite low-profile. Thinking about it, who else besides the old housekeeper can make him communicate so well
Unfortunately, for Maka, it is definitely impossible to hand over Charlotte again. When he was still not strong enough, he was able to bring his senior sister out of the dark Werther family. Is it possible that he would compromise now
"Butler Bano," Maka chuckled and shook her head. "Looking at how polite you are today, I won't say anything offensive. Just go back and tell the old Patriarch Witte that if you are If you can’t refuse, just ask Charlotte’s fiancée to come to me directly!”
As he spoke, he waved his hand again.
"I will give him and Charlotte a chance to talk face to face - if Charlotte can go with him on her own terms, I won't stand in the way."
The Werther family doesn't want to make a big fuss, so naturally Maka won't take the initiative to provoke. Openly hostile to an ancient wizard family without any necessity. This kind of behavior is not courage and persistence, but downright reckless.
"Of course, if Charlotte doesn't want to leave..."
Maka did not finish her words, but after making her attitude clear, she spread her hands forward, indicating that the old man could go back to find their master.
The old housekeeper stared at Maka a few more times, and finally nodded reluctantly.
"I will convey your intention to the head of the family."