Harry stared at those two lines, a buzzing sound in his head.
Ezra Hughes... turned into a baby... that child in the Medical Wing, Vid also mentioned "turned into a baby"...
Is this a coincidence? Are two or even more people attacked by Time Magic at the same time, yet only that American Auror Office director makes it to the newspaper?
Or... is the man in the news the same person as the baby in the Medical Wing?
If it's the former reason, then this affair is terrifying—it means more people have suffered, some possibly dying silently.
If it's the latter reason... but how could a powerful wizard across the ocean be connected with Vid, a student at Hogwarts?
Numerous questions bubbled up from Harry's mind like bubbles from a boiling kettle, making his head spin.
At times like these, he wished he could borrow Hermione's brain… or even Michael's would do...
Right then, Ron sharply inhaled: "No way! Gellert Grindelwald? How's he mixed up in this?!"
The reason why the news of the Auror Office director turning into a baby only occupied a single line was naturally because the reporter had some more explosive news to focus on.
The latter part of the report read:
[The most spine-chilling, of course, is Gellert Grindelwald's appearance… Why would he personally take action for Nikolo Hossun? What deep, dark bond exists between them?
We can't help but speculate, is the Time Magic secretly researched by Hossun resonating with Grindelwald's old dangerous ideals? Or is the Magic Congress Chairman himself a pawn placed by Grindelwald long ago?
Regardless, the only certainty is that Grindelwald's shadows have never dispersed and have seeped into the core of American magical power…]
Ron's pupils shook with drama, shocked: "Even the Magic Congress President is his man… Is that Dark Wizard going to start a war again? He's been preparing so long; could it be larger in scale than last time?"
Hermione's reading speed was faster than theirs, and she had already finished the entire report.
Seeing the fear on Ron's face, she said dismissively, "Don't believe everything the newspaper says! Look, the following lengthy speculation is all baseless hypotheses, the writer of this piece is clearly stirring the pot!"
Vid glanced at the name at the end of the article, and sure enough, it was Rita Skeeter, feeling amused.
This time, due to Vid's interference, Skeeter didn't slander Hermione, nor did she portray Harry as a little misery crying under the covers at night, but Hermione still seemed to see through her essence at a glance, expressing disdain.
"Hermione!" Ron stared at the girl in disbelief and said, "Do you know who that person is? He once ruled the European Magic World, Grindelwald! You don't know how many terrible things he's done..."
"Of course I know, I've read all about it in books."
Hermione interrupted him, saying, "I just think we shouldn't be led by an article."
"And based on recent years' actions, Grindelwald and his followers evidently have altered their methods. Though their true intentions remain suspect, it's not all necessarily bad."
"I don't believe... I don't believe someone like him would change." Ron turned to Harry and Vid for support: "What do you guys say?"
Harry snapped back to attention, not having followed their argument, only aware that they were once again in a disagreement.
So Harry, as usual, mumbled, "I think… uh... I don't know… they're both reasonable, maybe..."
Vid then said, "It's wise to observe until we gather more information. But concerning the Hossun affair..."
He flipped through the newspaper, picked out another sheet by date, placed it on the table, and pointed: "Look, he's actually been framed."
Ron furrowed his brows, reading the report on Hossun's acquittal and Laira Piqueley becoming a wanted figure.
"Oh, I've read that one. I knew the name Nikolo Hossun sounded familiar; I just didn't recall at first."
Hermione looked somewhat indignant, asking Vid, "You memorize every news article in the paper?"
Meanwhile, she even entertained the idea: Maybe I should try memorizing news too? I wonder if it will improve memory...
As she tried to maneuver her mental schedule, attempting to allocate half an hour daily for a news memorization task, Vid spoke:
"How could that be? It's just because it involves Time Magic, so I've been especially attentive to related reports recently."
Hermione's mental schedule shattered with a "snap," and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
But Harry, sitting nearby, secretly thought: No, Vid's focus on this news isn't due to its relation to Time Magic but because the people mentioned in it are right here at Hogwarts...
"But I still feel something's not right, very not right..."
Ron crossed his arms, assuming a worried and foresighted posture, saying:
"A Dark Lord more frightening than the Mysterious Man landing in America, that side's Magic World is probably in danger, the Magic Congress might have fallen into his claws..."
Vid glanced deeply at him, just as Ron posed an imitative thinker's expression, with his fist tightly pressed to his lips, furrowing his brow, eyes lowered.
Vid promptly and decisively looked away.
...
By the time the group packed up to head to the dining hall, Ron's stomach was already growling, and his foresight seemed dispersed by the scent of roasted beef.
At the long table, Ron ate heartily, discussing with roommates Seamus and Dean the good news that the Quidditch Pitch might be open in the afternoon.
After the meal, a group of Gryffindors, undeterred by the biting wind, noisily rushed to the pitch, yelling about flying a few laps on broomsticks. Ron instantly perked up, eagerly following, not forgetting to call out:
"Come on, Harry! Bring your Firebolt!"
Normally Harry would've been the first to respond, but today he shook his head and said: "You go ahead, I… I have something to do."
Ron was a bit surprised but didn't inquire further, waved a hand, and chased after the others.
At the other end of the long table, Ginny saw Harry hadn't gotten up, hesitated whether to go up and ask, the next second she was pulled up by a girl beside her:
"What are you standing there for! Don't you want to join the academy team? How will you have a chance if you don't take the opportunity to practice?"
Ginny: "But..."
The girl glanced at Harry from afar and said: "Chasing after others won't give you a chance. You need to make yourself better, even beat him, for him to truly see you!"
Ginny paused for a second, then stood up boldly, eyes igniting with two bright and scorching flames.