Just as Pius wondered whether to advise the Minister to pause the investigation, someone knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Pius took a sip of tea and said wearily.
An Auror entered and nodded. "Director, Captain Dawlish wants to see you. He says he has something important to report."
"Dawlish?" Pius paused, looking at Supervisor Scrimgeour.
"Dawlish is captain of the Ninth Team," Scrimgeour explained quickly. "I sent him to investigate a dark magic shop in Knockturn Alley."
The investigation hadn't originally included Knockturn Alley. But some time ago, the department had suddenly changed focus, someone claimed the shop was selling dark magical items on a large scale, and Scrimgeour was told to send people to check it out.
As head of the Aurors, Scrimgeour had worked at the Ministry long enough to know there was something suspicious about the whole thing.
Anyone who could open a shop in Knockturn Alley had connections. He wasn't stupid enough to become someone's weapon and add to the Auror casualties.
So Scrimgeour had warned Dawlish in advance and sent the cautious captain with a small team to handle it carefully.
But Dawlish had taken this long to return, and now he had something important to report. That gave Scrimgeour an unpleasant feeling.
After explaining to the Director, Scrimgeour sighed and looked at the Auror. "How is Dawlish? What about the other two who went with him? Are they in the hospital?"
Pius frowned, preparing for bad news.
"Captain Dawlish looks fine," the Auror said, his expression odd. "Savage and Ellison are outside too. They all seem... happy."
"What?" Scrimgeour raised his head. Had the Aurors he sent been hexed stupid? Hit with the Imperius Curse?
The Auror hesitated, then continued. "They came back with a bunch of items. Looks like magical objects."
Scrimgeour perked up. Pius suddenly thought of something.
If Dawlish came back with so many items, that could only mean they'd successfully completed the task and actually raided a dark magic shop!
If that were true, it would be the biggest success since the operation began!
With this achievement, the Ministry wouldn't blame him for the manpower losses...
Though it seemed almost unbelievable, the facts were right in front of him. Pius slapped the table and stood up excitedly. "Bring Dawlish in immediately!"
---
In the waiting room, Dawlish sat holding a pile of magical items. Ellison and Savage stood behind him, their faces full of satisfaction.
Their expressions didn't match the tense atmosphere in the Department. Aurors hurried past constantly, many glancing at them in surprise.
Those in the know were shocked. They'd heard Team Nine went to Knockturn Alley to investigate a dark magic shop. Some had thought the three might not come back. Now they'd returned with loads of dark magical items...
This was a rare achievement!
"Captain Dawlish, you can go in now," an Auror said, stepping out of the office. "The Director wants to commend you personally."
The Director himself? A personal commendation?
Ellison and Savage looked confused. They'd just visited a shop in Knockturn Alley and bought some things. They hadn't really done anything, had they?
Dawlish had a sinking suspicion. He'd explain once he got inside.
But as soon as he entered, Director Pius came forward immediately. He clapped Dawlish's shoulder enthusiastically and spoke with admiration. "Dawlish, I knew I could count on you! You're the most careful of all the Aurors. I knew you'd complete the Ministry's assignment."
Supervisor Scrimgeour also looked at the three with approval. When he'd given Dawlish this task, he'd never imagined they'd actually pull it off.
"Director... Director, this is..." Dawlish stammered, trying to explain. But Pius didn't give him a chance. Instead, he looked at the magical items in Dawlish's arms with satisfaction.
"Are these the dark magical items you confiscated? Has the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office verified their effects yet?"
"Director, these aren't dark magical items," Dawlish said carefully. "They're products we paid for."
"What? You bought them?" Pius's excitement turned to confusion.
If Dawlish had said he bought a few dark magical items, they might have thought he was collecting evidence. But knowing these weren't dark magic, why buy them?
Supervisor Scrimgeour's expression froze. After a moment, he said furiously, "Dawlish, I sent you to investigate a dark magic shop, not to go shopping!"
"Director, Director Scrimgeour, we did investigate the shop," Dawlish said, swallowing hard. "There's no problem with it." Under Scrimgeour's darkening expression, he pressed on. "We found some very useful magical items. We thought they might help the Ministry, so we bought samples."
Pius looked down at the objects in Dawlish's arms.
A pair of expensive-looking gloves, several round irregular objects, a quill, a few sloshing potion bottles, and various other odds and ends.
Pius felt the Auror captain had been fooled. But Dawlish tried his best to introduce the items.
"Director, please look at these Extendable Ears. Wear one and you can hear what's happening near the other. Only sixteen Sickles! It's incredibly cheap!"
"And this Quick-Quotes Quill. With it, staff handling paperwork can work much more efficiently..."
"Most important is this Protective Ring. Put it on and channel magic through it, and it instantly forms a full defensive barrier. Not only can ordinary spells not penetrate it, they bounce back!"
Dawlish introduced each item one by one. The expressions on Pius and Scrimgeour's faces gradually changed from impatient to surprised...