...
Bidding farewell to the overly worried Vorvillet, Vid returned to his bedroom, looked at the crescent moon in the sky through the narrow window, and then sat by the table, pouring himself a cup of black tea.
This place probably had House-Elves providing service, but Vid had never seen them. They weren't considerate enough to prepare hot water for him every day, so at night, if he wanted to drink something warm, black tea was the only option.
However... black tea is better.
Vid slowly finished drinking the black tea, leaving a small amount of tea which he gently swirled, then turned the teacup upside down, watching the leftover tea flow in a meandering path. He tapped the bottom of the cup with his fingers to let the tea leaves fall.
After a moment, Vid picked up the teacup, rotated the saucer, observing the patterns on it.
Door: A turning point is coming.
Box: A gift is on the way.
Envelope: Will receive a long-awaited letter or item.
Rake: At a crossroads of fate.
The seemingly unremarkable pile of tea leaves, when turned in different directions, revealed distinctive patterns in his eyes.
All other signs indicated good news, but...
Crossroads of fate?
Will he face a very important choice? What if he chooses incorrectly?
Vid frowned and reconsidered, then put the teacup back down and prepared for bed.
After lying down, he fretted for a while, then decided to stop pondering the issue.
Before the choice comes, he doesn't even know what he has to choose, thinking too much will only add to the troubles without any help.
"That's why I don't like Divination..."
Vid mumbled to himself, pulling the blanket up to his chin and closing his eyes.
Turning point... gift...
All things considered, it's still mostly good news, right?
...
In the dead of night, a House-Elf appeared silently in the bedroom.
He used a Small Magic to completely mute his sounds, quietly tidying up the room. Seeing the upside-down teacup on the table, the House-Elf paused for a moment and then took it away as it was.
A minute later, the saucer and teacup appeared in front of Delaine.
"Tea leaf divination?" Delaine's companion said in surprise, "He still believes in this? A little shaman, isn't he?"
"Wait, I remember his grades in Divination Class should be good."
Delaine looked through Vid's records, seeing the usual comments given by Trelawney.
Unlike his classmates, Vid never concocted fanciful ways he would die, yet Trelawney still regarded him as "very gifted."
"Seems he's quite skilled in this area..." Delaine lifted the teacup and asked the House-Elf, "You didn't mess with the tea leaves inside, right?"
"No," the House-Elf said softly with his head down, "Bibic was careful, didn't shake or touch it."
"Alright." Delaine looked down at the shape of the tea leaves, "A rectangle?"
"Wait, let me check!"
The companion pulled out a divination book, rustling through it for a while before saying, "Mm... a rectangle represents a rupture..."
"We aren't exactly allies with him, nor can we say rupture." Delaine contemplated, "So it's... a rupture with his former allies?"
He thought this was a good omen.
The companion rotated the teacup again, continuing to search the book.
"This looks a bit like a thick cross, symbolizing attack... We are indeed preparing for an attack; and then there's a comb, which means improving appearances—I heard you're arranging for him to have a cloak?"
Delaine nodded.
"That matches up too!" The companion, feeling encouraged, continued turning the teacup, "This way... it looks like a fence, implying temporary restraints. He's indeed restrained by us now..."
The last three interpretations dovetailed exactly with their current situation, making the first interpretation seem even more credible.
Rupture...
Will Vid Gray break with Dumbledore?
——Mr. Grindelwald would surely be pleased if he knew, wouldn't he?
Delaine thought.
His companion, meanwhile, shook the saucer, marveling at the tea leaves, "Turns out tea leaf divination is actually quite accurate? I never realized this when I was in school..."
"Stop playing around." Delaine took the saucer from his hands, handing it to the House-Elf, "We have two more people to interrogate tonight, hurry up and try to finish before midnight."
"Got it!" The companion replied carelessly.
The House-Elf Bibic shivered silently, holding the teacup and disappearing from the spot.
...
"Hiss—"
A stream of steaming water poured into the cup, causing the curled tea leaves to unfurl.
Ryan Troka watched his nephew attentively pour tea for a young girl, while the friend he brought along watered flowers at the window with tears in her eyes, finding it all very strange.
"Why aren't you having breakfast?" Ryan asked.
"I... I'm not hungry, Uncle Ryan." Gall forced a smile, "I'll eat later."
"Alright then..." Ryan Troka turned to another person, saying, "Stop squeezing in work, Mr. Lockhart, why not sit down and take a break?"
"No need, no need!" Lockhart waved his hand with a contorted expression, saying, "I prefer standing, I really do."
Ryan Troka thought they were both acting strangely today, but they always seemed to be hiding secrets, so he habitually refrained from probing further.
As children grow up, it's important to let go when necessary; ask too much, and they might think they're not welcome to stay in the house, so what then?
Troka then asked Mabel, "Have you reached your parents?"
Mabel set down her fork, her face clouded as she shook her head.
Troka quickly comforted her, "Don't worry, maybe it's just that they're too far away, and the owl hasn't arrived yet... In any case, you can stay at my house until they come to pick you up."
"Thank you, Mr. Troka." Mabel whispered her thanks.
Seeing her looking like a timid little girl, Lockhart couldn't help but make a pained expression.
Last night, they tried to sneak attack while Mabel was asleep, hoping to at least control this dangerous child, but ended up almost getting strangled!
When Mabel was asleep, the black creature on her didn't sleep along with her, something Lockhart and the others hadn't foreseen at all.
When Lockhart changed his mind and tried to escape from the house, he was caught by a black mist at the ankle as he was running to the front door and dragged back!
The bumpy experience along the way was something Lockhart never wanted to recall in his life; in any case, even after drinking Magic Potion, his tailbone still hurt too much to sit today.
Lockhart was moved to tears.
——How could someone be so unlucky?
Are those fans he deceived cursing him together?
...
After breakfast, Troka hurried back to the study to prepare his lessons. He had an entire seven grade classes to sort out, which was quite a workload; he had virtually been living in the study these days.
As soon as he left, the atmosphere in the living room changed abruptly.
Mabel's face darkened, faint tendrils of black mist emerged around her, and Lockhart and Gall nearly knelt to her.
"No need for this." Mabel was annoyed by their trembling appearance, saying, "As long as you stick to your promises, I won't harm you."
Gall forced a smile, "Yes, yes." all while rolling his eyes internally.
When the black mist lasso had let him fall from the rooftop last night, Mabel hadn't been talking to them that way!
Luckily, Vampires had resilient life force, Gall was able to transform into a bat; otherwise, he'd be in a worse state than Lockhart today.
However, observing Mabel's demeanor, Gall realized she truly didn't remember that part of the encounter, and he felt a sense of relief.
Obscurials and Obscurus, truly not one and the same...but that Obscurus was terrifying; the three of them in this house together still weren't a match for that thing...
"Why haven't I received a reply?" Mabel frowned, asking, "Can owls really deliver packages? You're not tricking me, are you?"
"Never, never." Gall found a reason for Vid Gray's lack of response humbly, "Perhaps... perhaps he received too many Christmas presents... or maybe he went abroad during the holidays, and the owl hasn't found him yet!"
Mabel accepted the latter explanation, sighing, "I guess he went abroad... Hope he comes back soon."
She unconsciously looked out the window, hoping to spot a long-distance-traveling owl but instead saw a streak of fire pass through the sky.
"What's that?" Mabel asked.
Lockhart took a glance and casually guessed, "Fireworks?"
"Bang."
The Firebird landed on the window sill, sizzling smoke rising softly, with its slender claws leaving several charred marks behind.
It tilted its head, observing the few people inside the house.