There's still a day before school starts, but Michael has already packed his trunk for school, eagerly waiting to return to Hogwarts, see the headmaster, and ask about Vid's rescue progress.
These days, he's been writing several letters every day, but he never gets the reply he wants. The exhausted owls have pecked his hand hard several times.
At the Weasley house, they barely know anything. Mr. Weasley leaves early and comes back late, rarely seen, and when Mrs. Weasley is asked, she always says, "You're all just kids," "This isn't something you should be involved in."
Even the Flow Mirror in the living room was enchanted by Mrs. Weasley, not allowing anyone to open it. If it weren't for Harry having a small piece, which allowed them to see a bit of news from the outside world, Michael felt he would have gone mad.
To be honest, Mrs. Weasley is very warm and caring, taking care of them as much as possible, treating them even better than her own children. But her way of pampering everyone like babies made Michael feel overwhelmed.
Harry felt this is what a mother should be like, always behaving well under Mrs. Weasley's discipline. Of course, he'd also sneakily break the rules behind the scenes.
As for Michael's parents, they are very loving to each other, and they've always been more lenient with him. He's used to taking care of himself and doesn't like being managed by others.
After dinner, Harry and a few of the Weasley children quickly helped clear the table, excusing themselves to the bedroom to write homework, when in reality, they just hid there to watch the Flow Mirror.
They wanted to know as much as possible about what's happening outside.
But unexpectedly, Michael didn't join them, saying, "You go ahead, I just want to take a walk nearby."
Harry was a bit surprised, but thinking about how Michael's mood hadn't been great lately, figured he really needed to clear his mind, so he didn't insist.
The group noisily headed upstairs, while Percy, looking puzzled, watched them, not understanding why his brothers suddenly became so enthusiastic about studying.
But he had a letter to write to Penelope today, so he didn't think much about it and quickly returned to his room as well.
Ever since Ron moved back to his own bedroom to rest, Percy felt like he could breathe more easily, and what once felt like a cramped bedroom now seemed precious.
As long as those troublemakers didn't disturb him, he couldn't care less about what they were up to.
Oh... just hope Ginny doesn't get led astray...
...
Michael threw on a cloak, preparing to go out, only to be pulled back by Mrs. Weasley.
A few minutes later, he was bundled up in a thick scarf, wearing gloves, with a bottle of warming flames in his pocket, and his boots were enchanted with a waterproof and moisture-proof spell before he was allowed outside.
Michael held the bottle of magical fire and stepped out into the snow. He was the only moving figure on the hillside, while smoke wafted up from the village at the foot of the mountain, with a few people vaguely visible on the road.
Michael walked slowly along the woods.
He didn't want to watch the Flow Mirror today because it only occasionally showed short videos of Witch Pure Party activities, repeatedly emphasizing how abhorrent Muggles were, and claiming the Witch Pure Party wasn't attacking randomly but to protect the Magic World, yet there was no trace of Vid.
The Ministry of Magic did send people to search the attacked places, but they basically went to clean up after the Witch Pure Party, without finding any trace of those people.
The teenager was extremely frustrated but didn't know what else he could do. He wandered aimlessly for a while, and when circling around a big tree, he suddenly felt something was off.
Michael turned his head abruptly and saw, under a tree not too far away, a House-Elf dressed peculiarly, with a little deer hat that looked out of place with its shabby appearance.
Michael almost cried out, but as he stepped back in panic, the House-Elf deeply bowed, making Michael temporarily abandon the idea of fleeing.
"Who... whose House-Elf are you?" Michael cautiously asked, holding his Magic Wand, "What are you doing here?"
"Dobby, sir, I'm a free House-Elf, Dobby." Dobby said, mustering his courage, while clutching his hat with both hands.
"Dobby?" Michael relaxed slightly, saying, "I've heard of you... After leaving the Malfoy family, did you not find a new master?"
He noted the rarely used word "free" attached to a House-Elf.
"No, no one wants to hire a House-Elf who wants pay."
Dobby said, "But that's not important now. Dobby managed to find Mr. Kona because he knows Mr. Kona is Mr. Gray's best friend. Dobby wants to ask, where can he find Mr. Gray?"
"Good question." Michael said with a bitter smile, "I want to know the answer to that as well."
The House-Elf unsurprisingly tilted his head, sighed, and said, "Dobby understands. Dobby will go ask others then."
When he was about to Apparate, Michael suddenly said, "Wait!"
Dobby stopped and looked up at him.
Michael felt like something had dawned on him. He paced back and forth on the ground, nearly flattening the surrounding snow, then suddenly turned to look at Dobby, his eyes slightly brightening.
"Though I don't know where Vid is, I can tell you a few directions to look."
Michael said while quickly organizing his thoughts.
"The ones who kidnapped Vid must be Grindelwald. They need Vid's help to intercept FMC's signal to broadcast their own videos to the world's wizards."