Vid peeled off the unique wax seal, unfolding the envelope, and as he took out the letter paper, he discovered there was something weighty inside.
Vid picked up the letter paper and tipped it downward, a small metal pendant clattered to the floor.
It was a jewelry piece common among teenagers, silver metal twisted into rings of varying sizes with a tiny sword in the center, giving off a cool vibe at first glance.
At the very moment Vid's fingertips touched it, he immediately recognized what it was—
A Portkey with an expertly applied Masking Spell.
His heart tightened slightly, and his fingers swiftly spread open the entire letter.
...
[Dear Vid:
I hope you are enjoying your holiday, but forgive me, I must ask you to temporarily set aside your leisurely holiday life for a long journey.
Due to reasons we are both well aware of, I currently cannot leave the United Kingdom. Therefore, there is a matter I wish to entrust to you—
I hope you can go to the United States to participate in the upcoming Alchemy Competition, and during this period, privately visit a lady, who is one of the competition's judges and once served as the President of the American Magic Congress—Seraphina Picquery.
This old friend of mine, through certain channels, has acquired some crucial information. But for safety reasons, she cannot relay it to me through conventional means.
Thus, she insists that this information must be conveyed through the oldest and most reliable method—face-to-face communication; it must be someone absolutely trustworthy, and without arousing suspicion, to safely bring back the intelligence.
At this point, I think you understand the importance and urgency of this matter, as well as why I am entrusting it to you.
I must confess to you, my child, that involving you in this, fills my heart with guilt. At your age, you should be enjoying youth and time freely, not bearing such a heavy burden.
However, the shadows of our time often force us to make choices beyond our control, and in the current situation, you are the only one I can entrust with peace of mind. I believe—your wisdom and courage far exceed your years, and you possess everything needed to complete this mission.
You are not going alone, Alastor Moody will travel with you in the guise of a neighbor, along with your tutor Remus, who will ensure your safety and fully assist your actions.
Enclosed is a Portkey, which can bring you safely back to Hogwarts when you need it most.
I must particularly emphasize this, while also hoping you will adhere strictly—
Vid, if the situation takes a sudden turn for the worse, you must not hesitate to use it immediately. Any clues and intelligence are nowhere near as valuable as your own safety.
Sometimes, the wisest courage lies in knowing when to retreat, so that you can continue moving forward in the future.
May all go smoothly, looking forward to your reply.
Sincerely yours,
Albus Dumbledore]
...
Inside the Alchemy Room, it was unknowingly quiet. The poppets had stopped their antics and gathered around Vid, craning their necks to secretly glimpse the letter's contents.
When Vid put down the letter paper, the poppet Vise turned its head, its gray eyes staring at its master, asking calmly and clearly:
"Have you decided to go, master?"
Vid checked the pendant, confirming it was a trigger-based Portkey, then hung it around his neck and said calmly, "Of course."
No sooner had he spoken, the cloak leaned against Vise's back suddenly soared into the air, circling excitedly and shouted loudly: "Take me! Take me!"
Vise turned its head, saying, "I want to go too, I can act as your substitute, most people can't tell us apart."
This proposal seemed to open a switch, as other poppets followed, voicing their desire to accompany as well.
Vid stroked the ocelot lying on his lap, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding poppets, and said, "Don't worry, I'll take you all... but in a more covert way."
"Covert way?" queried the cloak in confusion, "Isn't the pencil case covert enough?"
Mikhail perched on a nearby pillar, though silent, the tilt of its head seemed to express the same doubt.
Vid glanced at them, his thoughts momentarily drifting away.
He recalled Newt Scamander, the man who guided him in building the wardrobe space.
Scamander, due to his suitcase, applied with The Undetectable Extension Charm to hold various Fantastic Beasts, was blacklisted by multiple nations.
So far, Vid hasn't reached that level yet, as he isn't accused of "nearly destroying a city," but during the last competition, his possession of a large storage space was exposed throughout the Magic World.
Undoubtedly, just as Scamander's departure would trigger strict scrutiny, Vid Gray might not escape the same fate.
Muggle machines may not detect the wardrobe space, but as soon as he sets foot on American soil, Ministry of Magic officials will certainly inspect any "potentially carried" space items.
Vid wasn't afraid of the inspection, but worried that afterward, what he'd get back would turn into a real "pencil case," with his treasures gone.
Although his poppets were not objects to easily surrender, causing trouble would needlessly complicate his mission.
Moreover, he couldn't stealthily travel to the United States without contacting the Magic Ministry there—this time, he carried a mission that required a legal identity and a public appearance.
As for Muggle shipping methods... although it avoids wizard detection, there's a risk of loss. Plus, if he or his companions went to retrieve a cross-country parcel, it might attract attention.
Vid was acutely aware of the value he currently represented.
...
"So... this is the only way." Vid gazed at the small, thin House-Elf standing before him, asking, "Dobby, can you help me with this task?"
Dobby's eyes, as big as tennis balls, instantly filled with disbelief, joy, and excitement, his large ears twitching akin to his current mood.
"Mr. Vid Gray needs Dobby's help!"
He exclaimed shrilly, his voice elevated from extreme excitement, as though almost breathless, yet he puffed up his chest and declared loudly:
"Dobby swears to you! Mr. Vid Gray, Dobby will definitely accomplish it for you! Perfectly accomplish it! Not a single mistake shall occur!"
"Of course, I knew you could do it."
Vid, with utmost solemnity, entrusted the seemingly ordinary, yet secretly intricate pencil case into Dobby's hands.