"Heavens, Harry! You're still training in this weather?"
Hermione said in surprise.
Today it had been stormy all day, students going to class had to run quickly through the corridors with their heads down, yet the Gryffindor team hadn't stopped training.
"The match against Slytherin is coming up, Wood doesn't want to miss any training session—thanks, Leian." Harry said wearily.
Leian cast a spell, helping him get rid of the water and mud on him.
Michael casually cleaned up the muddy footprints on the floor and asked, "Didn't you run into Filch when you came back?"
"I did... he didn't give me a hard time."
Harry said, rummaging through the food cabinet for snacks and mumbling with his mouth full of chocolate.
Seeing everyone gathered in a circle, he asked, "What are you guys doing?"
"Vid is casting the Undetectable Extension Charm on our bags, isn't it cool?" Michael said excitedly.
"...That's really impressive." Harry genuinely remarked, "I know that spell's difficult."
Whenever he felt he was exhausted to the extreme, looking at Vid and Hermione made Harry wonder if he wasn't working hard enough.
But when comparing himself to Ron, Seamus, Dean, and others, Harry felt he was working too hard.
Vid cast the Undetectable Extension Charm on everyone's bags, seeing them happily filling their bags, then turned to Harry and asked, "Do you need it too?"
Harry shook his head, saying, "Sirius helped me with it."
He hesitated for a moment, then softly asked, "Vid, do you remember what Remus and the others said before? About... those vampires possibly being controlled by Muggles..."
Vid nodded and said, "Of course, it's only been two days, I naturally remember."
"Then do you know why it seems like Remus and the others... seem like they don't want to investigate?" Harry asked, "I can't quite explain it, but that's the impression they give me."
"Simple, because whether it's investigation, interrogation, or retaliation against Muggles, it violates the Confidentiality Law." Vid said.
"Just because of that?" Harry was stunned, "But... Hagrid once turned my cousin Dudley into a pig..."
"So he actually violated the law."
Vid said, "But for certain reasons — like your relationship, the place you live is under strict surveillance by the Ministry of Magic, and your aunt and uncle are informed about the Magic World, so it doesn't count as a breach of the magical community's secret, that's why he wasn't punished."
"But if it's about influential people in the Muggle world, any actions against them must be cautious, or it could become a major problem for the entire magical community — magical ministries across countries are very alert to this."
"Even if the Muggles are the unreasonable ones? Even if they've already harmed our people?" Harry asked incredulously.
Vid was silent for a moment, then said, "The Confidentiality Law, no matter in which country, is one of the most strictly enforced laws, even Dumbledore can't just break it as he wishes."
"—Dumbledore? He encountered this kind of thing too?" Harry asked.
"When Professor Dumbledore was young, his sister was harmed by several Muggle boys; his father attacked those boys for revenge and was sentenced to life in Azkaban, eventually dying in that prison." Vid said.
Harry was completely stunned.
In his impression, the headmaster had always been that wise, powerful, and old figure, as if he was born that way.
Harry had never thought that Dumbledore had moments of weakness, much less could he imagine such a tragedy happening in his family.
"So do you understand?"
Vid patted his shoulder and said:
"Sirius and Lupin won't let those who acted in the dark get away, but this kind of thing can only be secretly investigated, it cannot be done openly, nor can it be publicized, nor can they seek help from the Ministry of Magic."
"If others knew they were investigating some Muggles, ignorant people would only laugh, and those slightly more capable and knowledgeable would become obstacles, prohibiting their investigation or revenge."
"Remember in your heart, even for Hermione and Ron, don't speak of this."
Harry nodded silently.
…
The next day was Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
Vid used the Time Turner, arriving at the castle's second floor earlier than his classmates, seeing Professor Abigail pacing outside the classroom from afar.
The professor had a slight frown, spinning her magic wand casually like a fan, occasionally sending a spark from the tip of the wand.
Vid watched for a while before approaching.
"Oh, Vid." Professor Abigail noticed him, raising an eyebrow, seeming to want to smile but restraining herself.
"Professor." Vid took out a bag, handing it over, "About that thing you asked me to do last time, I've finished it."
"Finished?"
Professor Abigail showed a hint of astonishment, pausing before showing a pleased smile.
"—So fast?"
—Why, is it too fast for you?
Vid looked at her somewhat puzzled.
"Oh, let me see."
Professor Abigail took the bag, inspecting the snakeskin bag just a bit larger than a fist, then loosened the string.
The bag contained a pile of poppets of magical creatures, roughly estimating two or three dozen, each only the size of a finger joint.
"Uh..."
Professor Abigail glanced at Vid, doubting if he hadn't understood her request correctly, yet felt Vid wouldn't make such a basic mistake.
So she took out a Kappa.
This was a Japanese water creature, a Kappa, entirely green, covered with scales, webbing between its fingers, a shell on its back, and a shallow dish filled with water on its head.
This Kappa enlarged as it was removed from the bag. Professor Abigail tossed it onto the floor, and in the blink of an eye, it was more than a meter tall, its triangular little eyes slyly watching the two of them.
In front of its chest, there was a marking "Kappa 03."
Professor Abigail instinctively grasped her magic wand, filled with vigilance, slowly relaxing only after realizing it was just a poppet.
"So lifelike... simply unbelievable, that this is a man-made creation." Professor Abigail asked, "Can it move?"
"Of course." Vid said, "It's waiting for your command!"
—It certainly looks like it.
Professor Abigail suppressed a slight thrill and ordered, "Kappa 03, let me see your skills—attack the students who will soon enter this corridor."
Vid: "..."
This professor's style is as consistent as ever!