The storm outside the school had not subsided. The public opinion campaign pushed by the pure-blood families had only just begun.
Angry wizards frantically wrote letters complaining to the Ministry of Magic. Under intense pressure, the Ministry could only hand over Peter Pettigrew to take the blame.
Under the witness of reporters specially dispatched by the Lestrange family using memory stones, Peter was forced to drink Veritaserum.
Brand new front-page headlines spread wildly throughout the wizarding world, finally diverting the wizards' hatred away from Sirius.
"Where am I?" Aiden opened his eyes and saw Dumbledore's beloved galaxy model spinning lazily above him.
He stretched with feline grace, his gem-like heterochromatic eyes revealing drowsiness.
"Did you sleep well, Aiden?" Dumbledore's voice came from below.
"It would be better if I could sleep in my own big bed at home," Aiden replied, getting up from the bed and casually using a spell to tidy up the sheets.
"Perhaps you should look at this," Dumbledore said, picking up a newspaper and handing it to him.
Aiden grabbed the newspaper and began reading with growing interest.
"He escaped?" Aiden saw the news on the front page.
This day was truly difficult for the Daily Prophet, as they had to print three editions of newspapers because of the Black situation.
The final edition of the Daily Prophet recorded that Peter Pettigrew had successfully escaped from the custody of twelve Aurors.
"Didn't you tell them Peter was an Animagus?" Aiden asked Dumbledore in confusion.
Dumbledore shrugged innocently, looking like he had mentioned it but no one had listened.
It seems it's not just Fudge. There are other invisible hands within the entire Ministry of Magic. But that's just as well, it saves me from having to act to let Peter escape, Aiden thought.
He stroked his chin thoughtfully while also touching the monocle on his eye socket, sending the information out.
"Young man, thank you very much for this time. The Black family owes you a favor," Principal Phineas said to Aiden from his portrait.
"How is Sirius doing?" Aiden didn't look up but still wanted to know the follow-up.
"He's hiding back at the ancestral home now. Once Dumbledore helps him handle the lawsuit, he can restore his identity and walk in the sunlight again."
Phineas Black was also somewhat moved, not expecting the Black family to suddenly have a successor again.
Aiden nodded. After understanding the general situation, he walked straight out of the headmaster's office.
Passing through the floors, Aiden went to the hospital wing to visit Ron.
"Let me tell you, Aiden, last night Harry and the others were in the room one moment, then came in from outside the door the next," Ron was saying, eating snacks in his hospital bed.
Aiden slapped his injured leg hard, and Ron's expression immediately twisted in pain.
"My dear brother Ronnie, have you been living too peacefully lately, causing your dueling skills to deteriorate?" Aiden put on a "kind" smile.
"I'll report this truthfully to Aunt Molly, just you wait."
After speaking, Aiden turned and left the hospital wing, leaving only Ron's screams echoing in the empty medical wing.
In the afternoon, the Weasley couple rushed to the school to see Ron in the hospital wing.
"My poor Ronnie baby, you've suffered," Mrs. Weasley first comforted Ron.
Then, she learned from Madam Pomfrey that Ron had only suffered minor external injuries.
"Ron Weasley, you little rascal, how did Mum teach you at home? To actually be bitten by a dog... are you even a wizard?"
The mother's gentle, jade-like care didn't last more than a minute before turning into storm-like love.
"But Mum, that was an Animagus, he was a wizard," Ron defended himself.
"Without a wand, only hand-to-hand combat... what about your training? It seems Aiden was right, last summer vacation was too comfortable for you." Mrs. Weasley was already preparing new training plans.
When Arthur was about to speak to mediate, the hospital wing doors were pushed open.
Dumbledore entered with Aiden. Upon seeing Molly, Dumbledore immediately wanted to turn around and leave.
"Professor Dumbledore, you're here," Molly greeted him.
"Molly and Arthur, good afternoon," Dumbledore said, caught red-handed and unable to leave.
"Aunt, Uncle," Aiden also greeted them.
"Professor Dumbledore, you should know the purpose of our visit to the school, right?"
Molly narrowed her eyes, then reached out and grabbed Aiden's ear.
"I need an explanation." The death stare wasn't only directed at Dumbledore but also swept over Aiden.
Dumbledore brought everyone to the headmaster's office.
The old man and the young one sat side by side, being scolded.
"I can't imagine that a dark wizard actually hid in our house for thirteen years. You two..." Aunt Molly's scolding was endless.
Finally, Arthur stepped forward to share the fire for both of them.
"Alright, how should we handle that Peter fellow? He won't seek revenge on us, will he?" Arthur asked.
"No, he's under my control now." The dragon lowered his head and quietly admitted.
"How did you do it? It's not dark magic, is it?" Arthur looked at Aiden seriously.
"No, it's one of my abilities. I can walk in the collective unconscious and create virtual personalities to send into other people's consciousness."
To reassure the Weasley couple, Aiden selectively revealed some of his abilities.
"Such abilities... Aiden, don't abuse them," Dumbledore said after listening, giving only a slight reminder without trying to stop him.
"Dreams themselves are a world that belongs completely to us. Entering other people's dreams means you must face the darkness of the human heart directly. Be careful, Aiden," Arthur also reminded him.
"Oh, by the way, congratulations, Aiden, you've completed the pursuit of generations of Prewetts," Molly said, giving Aiden a warm hug.
Subsequently, Arthur led the calmed-down Mrs. Weasley out of the office.
The Weasley couple's visit didn't affect other matters, and the young wizards quickly returned to their intense studies.
"Aiden, what exactly did you do that day?" At the Ravenclaw table, Edmund intercepted Aiden and asked.
"Wasn't it just having the Lestrange family send people to publish the report about Peter?" Aiden shrugged.
"No, my father asked me to find out how you managed to suddenly make all wizards believe in The Quibbler," Edmund's eyes sparkled with intense curiosity.
"Trade secret, can't be revealed," Aiden finished his meal and left with a smile.
"Hey, Aiden, wait..." Edmund also quickly finished his steak and followed.
Returning to normal classes, Harry felt like his recent experiences were like a dream.
But he was actually very happy inside because he had family again.
In Potions class, Malfoy was still tirelessly pretending to be a Dementor trying to scare Harry.
But Harry, who could now summon a corporeal Patronus, was already immune to this childish behavior.
Instead, it was Ron who couldn't stand it anymore and picked up a crocodile heart, throwing it at Malfoy's head.
The crocodile heart hit Malfoy's head precisely, but unfortunately this behavior was discovered by Snape.
"Gryffindor, disrupting classroom order, fifty points deducted," Snape said, bending down and glaring at Ron.
After class, Ron could only endure Hermione's nagging while staying behind to clean cauldrons.