With the poppet in hand, Vid felt a bit more confident at heart.
While the competition days hadn't yet arrived, he unfolded the closet space in his room and continued repairing the previously damaged poppets, even adding some dangerous functions to them.
Moody and Lupin helped him cover up to avoid anyone discovering the secrets in the room.
At rest time, Vid packed up the closet space, stuffed the pen case into his pocket, and prepared to go out for a meal.
Just as Lupin unlocked the spell on the door, voices of several people came from outside—
"See, what did I say? This place is much better than the Leaky Cauldron! At least there isn't decades of grime on the tables, and the floor doesn't stick to your shoes!"
One woman raised her voice, with a tone of finally being able to relax.
Another deep male voice agreed: "Indeed, the walls are clean, and so are the utensils and tables. It seems this time, we won't have to worry about Doxy crawling out from the bed when we sleep at night."
"If you ask me—"
The woman's voice suddenly lowered: "Hotels run by ordinary people are more reliable... No matter how bad they are, they have some standards. Hotels run by wizards are like gambling; lose the bet, and you'll sleep in the trash!"
"Ah, hahaha... it isn't that bad, right?" the man said weakly.
The footsteps stopped diagonally opposite Vid's room, and the guests' voices became clearer:
"So, is the room number correct?"
A young boy's voice interjected lazily: "Hurry in and rest! Flying is so tiring, why can't the Ministry of Magic set up some Magic Doors for everyone to use?"
"Not a bad idea. Why not make it your goal to study Magic Doors diligently from now on?"
The man, sounding like his father, said: "If in my lifetime I could see your research creations spread worldwide like Vid Gray's inventions, I'd have no regrets!"
"What are you saying, Dad!" the boy said reproachfully: "That should be my wish—so when will you work hard to let me experience the joy of being the child of a celebrity?"
As the family of three bantered, the room door opened, and the parents entered with their luggage first.
Meanwhile, the boy sensed the door behind him being opened, and a beam of light flooded out from the doorframe.
He intuitively looked back and saw Vid standing by the door, smiling at them.
"Aha, Vid! Our rooms are so close!"
Michael was overjoyed, dropped his luggage, and walked over, happily bumping his shoulder: "What a coincidence!"
"Indeed, it's a coincidence." Vid staggered a bit from the bump, laughing: "I was just thinking about asking when you were arriving!"
"Hey, I messaged you as soon as I was on the plane!" Michael said: "If you open your Friendship Book now, you'll see I sent you at least thirty messages along the way!"
The flight was extremely boring, but fortunately, Muggle planes didn't ban wizards' Friendship Books. Michael chatted with friends throughout.
He pinged Vid's page almost every half hour, but he knew once Vid was immersed in studying or researching, he wouldn't be distracted. So, he wasn't bothered by the lack of response, continuing to report his journey live, preparing to reunite upon arrival.
Meanwhile, Michael's parents also came out of the room. Mr. Kona was the first to extend his hand to Vid:
"Good evening, Mr. Vid Gray."
The middle-aged man smiled sincerely: "I didn't expect to meet you here, we really ought to thank you—"
"Thank you for specifically inviting Michael to such an important competition's opening ceremony. He was excited beyond measure from the day he received the message, almost talking our ears off."
"Yes." Madam Kona nodded in agreement: "It's a rare learning opportunity for him, and we're grateful you could invite him."
"Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Kona," Vid politely replied: "You're being too kind, Michael is my friend, inviting him requires no thanks."
"Yes indeed!" Michael hooked Vid's shoulders, saying to his parents: "Vid wasn't even planning to participate; if not for my strong urging, his invitation would've ended up in the trash!"
Madam Kona's face changed instantly, raising her eyebrows: "Michael, you mean...you forced a friend to accept an invitation he wasn't planning to, just to satisfy your own curiosity?"
Seeing his mother's face brewing a storm, Michael hastily said: "No, no! I was kidding! Right, Vid?"
Vid also explained: "I wasn't forced, I wanted to witness the level of Alchemy abroad myself."
"Oh..." Madam Kona wasn't sure if she believed it or not; in any case, she eyed Michael meaningfully, filled with the promise of an after-the-fact reckoning.
Michael silently cursed himself, hastily pulling Vid aside.
"I'm screwed, I shouldn't have said anything."
Michael spoke rapidly: "By the way, did you do Professor Snape's holiday homework? 'On the Catalytic Role of Moonstone Powder in Soothing Potions,' just the title makes me want to sleep! Do you have any ideas? Help me out!"
Vid looked at his distressed expression and couldn't help but laugh, knowing this guy was being lazy again.
So Vid temporarily put aside the New York atmosphere of the past few days and said, "The Moonstone Powder in a Soothing Potion is like providing a stable energy framework, harmonizing chaotic energy during the stirring process. You can start the paper by addressing points of contradiction..."
Michael nodded, saying "Hmm, hmm," while also raising his own question: "Should I explain how it transforms from an inert ingredient into a catalyst here?"
The two teenagers unabashedly discussed their holiday homework in the hotel corridor, as if the upcoming international competition wasn't the most important thing, but rather how to cope with the strict demands of the Potions teacher.
Lupin, who had stepped out of the room to greet the Konas, couldn't help but glance at the two kids, his face still holding a gentle smile, yet his mind wandering slightly.
At this moment, Lupin seemed to suddenly realize that Vid really was a fifteen-year-old, still a school-going teenager.
Ironically, he often reminded himself of this in his heart—
Vid was still too young... He was still a child... It wasn't his time to bear these responsibilities...
But standing in front of the other party in reality, that clear consciousness in his heart always unconsciously blurred the lines.
He found himself unable to take on the mentor's role to guide him, instead instinctively and almost dependently, treating the teenager before him as the leader and core of action.
Just like he did in front of Dumbledore.