When Vid went out, there weren't many students on campus.
The corridor was spacious and silent, echoing only his footsteps. He spiraled down the winding staircase of Ravenclaw Tower, passed under those drowsy portraits, and through several tall windows reflecting the morning light...
This path he had walked for four years now felt strangely unfamiliar.
Soon, Vid arrived at the hall, which was already decorated for the most part. Compared to previous Christmases, this year the hall boasted a few tall fir trees adorned with shimmering golden balls, and upon closer inspection, there were tiny fairies inside those translucent globes.
Vid sat at his usual spot at the Ravenclaw Long Table, observing everything with a sense of appreciation and nostalgia.
Having endured the storm in the United States, looking at Hogwarts now, he couldn't help but feel an illusion—as if this school was placed inside a crystal ball, possessing a peace and beauty secluded from the outside world.
Vid had already had breakfast; he just wanted to sit in the hall for a while. He poured himself a glass of juice and casually flipped through a copy of "Today's Transfiguration Technique."
After some time without study, his dorm was piled with various subscribed magazines and newspapers, and Vid planned to take his time going through them.
The Magic World recently released a dozen new books, and Machioni sent him the three most valuable ones, which were presently in Vid's backpack.
As students gradually arrived in the hall for breakfast, the surrounding sounds increased—clinking cutlery, low student whispers, and owls flitting their wings delivering packages...
"Pop!"
His shoulder was suddenly clapped from behind, causing Vid's eyes to shiver sharply, followed by hearing a familiar voice:
"Why are you late today? Don't tell me you slept in too?"
Michael said jokingly as he naturally sat down next to Vid, his gaze sweeping over the empty plate in front of Vid, his brows involuntarily furrowing.
"Just juice for breakfast? Aren't you worried about being suspected?"
He said softly, taking it upon himself to fork a piece of bacon into Vid's plate, "At least have some bread or perhaps an omelet?"
"Listening to your tone, someone who didn't know might think you're my guardian!" Vid relaxed his shoulder, lifted his eyes from the magazine, eyebrows slightly raised, "I already ate, you better keep it for yourself!"
With that, he swapped the plates in front of them without hesitation.
Michael stared at the plate now containing a piece of bacon, quickly raising his head, his eyes widening even further as he stared intensely at Vid's face, stammering, "You... you are..."
Vid teased, "A slice of bacon doesn't seem enough, perhaps add some bread...or an omelet?"
He waved his magic wand, sending an omelet flying onto Michael's plate.
After a few seconds of hesitation, Michael's expression shifted through surprise, delight, and disbelief. He opened his mouth as if to shout, but swallowed it back, his expression twisting slightly as a result.
Finally, he punched Vid's shoulder, grinningly complaining, "What's the deal? Why didn't you wake me this morning? Sneaking down here on your own!"
Vid laughed, the tranquility between his eyebrows subdued somewhat.
He said, "I wanted to look around the school on my own... Besides, don't you enjoy sleeping in?"
"Hey, I'm not lazing around every day, and there's Magic Potion Class this morning..."
As he spoke, Michael gazed at Vid, who seemed somewhat unfamiliar, murmuring:
"Looking closely, he actually doesn't resemble you much anymore... Seems like you've grown quite a bit taller during this time, hmm..."
He suddenly pondered, turning his head to scrutinize Vid with more seriousness.
"What is it?" Vid instinctively touched his face, smiling, "You don't think I'm an imposter, do you? Need me to mention a couple of things only we know to prove my identity?"
However, Michael didn't follow up with a joke; his excitement slightly faded as he spoke in an almost whisper:
"Vid... Dead people were involved where you went... right?"
Vid was stunned, his mind flashing to the blood-soaked chamber in the Stonefield family, almost asking—"What do you know?"
Then he realized, to a student like Michael, "dead people" certainly didn't refer to such a scene of carnage.
In their eyes, even the death of one or two strangers is heavy enough.
Before Vid could speak, Michael had already read the answer on his face.
He sighed heavily, with a rare solemnity in his voice, "No matter what, it's good that you returned safely."
He recalled the series of events on the flight back from the United States, carefully saying to Vid:
"Regardless of what you've done after leaving school, Vid, I hope you're still you—the Vid I know who can play around, discuss homework, research spells—definitely not some 'hero Vid.'"
After pausing, he seemed to think his point wasn't clear and added:
"Don't feel you must become what others expect by going on adventures beyond your limits. Even Merlin has blunders at times... Don't always think to solve every problem alone!"
Vid couldn't speak for a long while.
Seeing the evident worry and unconditional support in his friend's eyes, the feeling of alienation hovering since returning from America was tangibly eased.
He couldn't help but smile, saying, "Rest assured, I know my limits."
Michael's lips twitched; from his expression, he seemed to want to say something like "What limits do you know?"
However, before he could speak, another voice rang out first—
"Hey, Michael!"
Anthony Goldstein stood across from the table, waving, "Don't forget this afternoon, we need to decorate the North Tower hallway, as Professor Flitwick mentioned yesterday!"
"Got it."
Michael lazily raised his hand, waving it off.
Anthony then sat down to eat, with his plate piled high with food, including five chicken legs.
After not seeing him for some time, Vid noticed Anthony had indeed grown quite a bit taller, even his voice had deepened significantly; Vid initially didn't even recognize his voice.
Looking at Anthony, Vid's mind suddenly flashed another image—of another "Goldstein," an Auror named Selena who died exposing the darkness.
His gaze faintly shifted, recalling that person's stern demeanor upon first meeting.
It's said Selena's brother, Samuel, has been appointed by Bullet as the new Auror Office director.
Yet, according to Vid's knowledge, the man seemed to have deep doubts about the integrity and capability of Magic Congress officials.
Because of Laira and others being "all unaccounted for," Samuel, seeking vengeance for his sister, chose to secretly join a more powerful organization in his view—the Witch Pure Party.
"Anthony had a distant aunt pass away."
At this moment, Michael whispered to Vid, "I heard they got along well; last year she even sent him gifts... In any case, I feel this guy is channeling his grief into appetite, taking on lots of tasks with professors lately."
He advised Vid based on personal experience, "In short, best to keep up Vise's style, don't engage him. Otherwise, once you start talking, you'll be assigned tasks."
"I think it doesn't matter," Vid snapped back to reality, whispering as well, "Doing Christmas decorations sounds quite interesting."
Michael looked at Vid with a complex expression, "Who are you? Is Harry pretending to be Vid? Quickly hand over the Polyjuice Potion!"
"Huh?"
Across the long table, Harry vaguely heard someone call his name. Holding half a sausage, he bewilderedly raised his head, glancing around.
Joking aside, Vid suddenly felt the peculiar presence of eyes on him; he looked up and met an unusually protruding pair of light-colored eyes.
Luna Lovegood was tilting her head, staring at him with slightly tousled pale golden hair. She didn't seem surprised to meet his gaze, instead gently blinking her eyes.
"Welcome back."
The girl mouthed silently.
Vid curved his lips, raising his drink toward her in acknowledgement.