So that really was a fairy's magic wand...
For Grindelwald, the feared Dark Wizard, isn't this a bit of a letdown...
He thought this as he lowered his eyes, pointing his magic wand at the blue banana plant beside him, conjuring a soft and comfortable chair for himself.
After sitting down, Vid asked, "You've 'invited' me as a guest, and I appreciate your kindness. But I've been quite busy recently, and may not be able to go out for long. Please speak directly."
Grindelwald coughed twice, then smiled and said, "Do you know who I am?"
"I guessed." Vid didn't feign innocence or ignorance, but said candidly.
"It's rare for a child of your age to know me," Grindelwald leaned back in his chair and said, "Vid Gray, you're a smart kid. So, can you guess why I personally invited you here?"
Vid was silent for a moment, then asked, "For the poppet's production technology?"
"Hmm? Someone covets your technology?"
Grindelwald guessed and from Vid's expression inferred the answer. He shook his head, "I don't believe in things that can think independently."
"Then you're after..." Vid selected through his inventions in his mind and asked, "—the Flow Mirror?"
"That's right." Grindelwald smiled, "I've heard that nowadays, every wizarding family has at least one Flow Mirror, and it's on all day long, used even more than Muggle televisions, and all the programs come from that Aslan Magic Workshop?"
"Not entirely."
Vid cautiously said, "Aslan Magic Workshop is negotiating with the Ministries of Magic of various countries, and eventually, there will be time slots allocated for broadcasting news from each country's magical community."
"Moreover, some stubborn wizards believe that the Flow Mirror monitors their lives and threatens their safety, refusing to accept this invention."
"That's just the foolish opinion of a few." Grindelwald said, "When I was young, many believed cameras would steal their souls, but now nobody thinks that."
"You're right." Vid said offhandedly.
He had already guessed the other's intention and was weighing the pros and cons in his mind.
But Grindelwald didn't give him much time to think.
"As the inventor, can you bypass that Magic Workshop and make all the Flow Mirrors display our designated images?"
Vid looked up at him.
It was said that organizations deeply connected with Muggles coveted the poppet's technology, while Grindelwald, who had spent nearly fifty years in prison, immediately realized the importance of controlling magical community opinion.
After a long silence, Vid asked, "What if I say I can't?"
"Do you think I can't discern a child's lie?" Grindelwald pointed to his eyes and said, "I know you can, child, I see that you can."
Vid remembered that this person had eyes that could see the future—he was a natural Prophet.
Had he seen future scenes related to himself?
Vid wasn't sure, but the Dark Wizard in front of him certainly didn't have Dumbledore's good temper. Although he was currently acting friendly, Grindelwald could be ruthless when he turned his back.
Vid slowly exhaled and said, "I need materials."
...
After leaving the room, Grindelwald handed a parchment filled with magical materials to the blond wizard and said:
"While he's making it, have one of our people watch over him."
"Understood... Do you want to learn his production technique?" The blond wizard Delaine, afraid he misunderstood his meaning, added.
"Just to be cautious," Grindelwald said, "lest he creates something powerful and destroys the base to escape."
Delaine, though doubtful that a child possessed such skill, still nodded and said, "Understood!"
"Also..."
After walking a bit further, Grindelwald pondered and said, "Investigate this Vid Gray... even if he's Muggle-born, I want to know who his parents are, how he performed in school, his views on wizard bloodline theory, non-human magical creatures, and so on... the more detailed, the better."
"Yes, sir." Delaine replied.
Nowadays, the power of the Witch Pure Party wasn't what it once was, but wizards live much longer than Muggles, and after fifty years, many old comrades were still alive, with their children active in various fields.
Moreover, as the Muggle society developed rapidly, the space for wizards was becoming squeezed. Some young wizards felt that threat and spontaneously leaned towards the Witch Pure Party, with thoughts and behaviors even more radical than some who experienced war and massacre.
Today, the Witch Pure Party was like deep water beneath the ice and still possessed significant power, capable of inquiring into any news smoothly.
And ahead, Grindelwald's eyes gleamed with interest.
——Clearly, just a thirteen or fourteen-year-old child, but his level of Occlumency was exceptional; even Grindelwald couldn't invade his memories unknowingly.
When would it be necessary to use Occlumency in school? Hogwarts wasn't Durmstrang...
Maybe Dumbledore gave him special training?
Of course, using a magic wand to forcefully use large amounts of high-skill Legilimency might unearth those hidden memories, but it would irreversibly damage that precious mind.
Therefore, Grindelwald was willing to spend more time waiting for his subordinates' investigation results.
...
After making a circle, the owl flew back again.
Harry untied the scroll of paper from the owl's claw, only to find it was the same letter he had sent out, engulfed by immense disappointment and worry.
Michael was leaning on the windowsill and said, "I told you, owls are useless; otherwise, Dumbledore and the others would have found them by now."
The "useless" white owl, Hedwig, angrily pecked Michael's hand, then spread her wings and flew out of the window.
Michael's parents were both currently abroad, so for safety's sake, they had to stay at the Burrow.
The Weasley Family had many members, and the rooms were cramped. To make room for the two boys, Ron needed to temporarily stay in his brother Percy's bedroom.
Percy was very dissatisfied with this, thinking Ron would disturb his NEWTs exam revision; Ron made a face as if he was going into a fire pit.
"Spending the whole Christmas holiday with Percy is bad enough, but sharing a bedroom is a nightmare!"
Ron grimaced, mimicking Percy's tone, "Ronald, get your socks off my bed! Ron, be quiet, I'm reading a very profound Transfiguration Technique paper!"
Harry knew he should laugh in agreement at this point, but he just couldn't, feeling even worse inside.
After Ron had packed up and gone upstairs, Harry tried to write another note for Hedwig to deliver.
After the owl returned without success, the two of them lay beside the window; it was already late, but neither wanted to go to bed.
Suddenly, they heard the "whoosh" of owl wings flapping, and full of hope, they looked up to see one owl after another flying through the window, dropping gifts of all sizes and then immediately flying away.
"Oh, Christmas presents," Michael said blankly, "I forgot today is Christmas."
They stood there for a while, and then Harry leaned down and picked up a box, which turned out to be from the Dursleys—inside was a plastic bag, likely picked up by Aunt Petunia at random.
Harry found he wasn't surprised or angry at all; he just put the plastic bag aside and picked up another box.
Then, Harry froze.
"Michael..."
He said, his voice trembling.
"What is it?" Michael asked.
"Look." Harry turned the package around, the side with the name pointing at Michael, "This is from Vid!"