Vid casually said a sentence, then continued to flip through.
The newspaper still had lengthy introductions about Obscurus, and the decades-dead Credence Barebone (Aurelius Dumbledore) was brought up again with exaggerated descriptions of the destruction he caused.
The journalist for this report clearly didn't do enough homework, using conspiracy theories to arbitrarily attribute Grindelwald's burning of Paris to Credence. I must say, when seen as ordinary fiction, it's quite intriguing.
After Vid put down the newspaper, he casually glanced around.
There weren't many students reading the paper, and even fewer gave it another look after finishing it.
The students who had become tense due to Percy Weasley's assembly were now like Harry, thinking the matter had concluded—except for the Obscurus that might still be on Great Britain.
Vid could actually understand.
It's like in his past life, even though he heard about fires, earthquakes, floods, and catastrophes with severe impacts in the news, as long as it's not happening near oneself, most people remain indifferent.
——Don't participate, don't discuss, don't care, at most give a like when it's brushed upon. That's all there is.
But at this moment, perhaps because there are so few people in the Magic World, or perhaps because Vid himself is personally involved, he feels an indescribable helplessness towards people's dullness.
"Let's go." Michael shouldered his backpack, urging, "It's time for class."
Vid: "..."
Monday mornings always start with three overlapped elective classes.
He rolled up the newspaper and stuffed it into his backpack, touched the Time Turner hanging around his neck, and stood up as well.
...
Even though it's close to the Christmas holiday, the difficulty of various courses is not decreasing but increasing. After the morning classes, even Vid is too busy to think about other things.
Until after lunch, he twisted the Time Turner back a notch, finding time to contact the people he wished to connect with.
[Ferdinand: You'll be back for this holiday, right? Of course, if you want to stay at school and celebrate with friends, that's okay too, it's just that your mom saw the news and really wants to see you.]
[Fiona: Your dad misses you too, he's just too shy to say it!]
After that was drawn a mischievous ghost face.
Vid smiled, put away the Friendship Book, and stuffed the Communication Pea into his ear.
——He naturally had long since sent his parents, friends, and several important contacts the Communication Pea with added various functions.
Vid leaned against the window, pressing the pea, "Connect to Fiona Gray and Ferdinand Gray."
"Beep——Beep——"
After two rings, the call was immediately connected.
"Hi, Vid!" Fiona's cheerful voice rang out, "You're out of class?"
"Hmm." Vid responded, unable to hide his smile, "I've got no class right now."
Then came Ferdinand's voice, "You saw today's newspaper content, right, Vid?"
"I saw it."
"It's today's hottest news!" Fiona chimed in, "It's everywhere on the Flow Mirror too! And in the news... I mean the Muggle news—Reuters, News United Association, Daily Telegraph, they're all talking about it."
Vid gazed at the distant gloomy sky, saying, "Actually, there are some rumors at school too—like how the kidnapped children might not just be 82."
"One could imagine," Ferdinand said, "that's just the number rescued this time... I'm just wondering, back then... maybe the Johnsons were also..."
"Dad." Vid paused before speaking, "Carrel has appeared, he's right here at school... at Hogwarts."
He initially didn't plan to mention this, but Vid worried that one day Carrel might "accidentally meet" the Greys on the street and then use the old family ties to trick them into trusting him.
If his parents don't understand the inner details, they might find it hard to guard against such schemes.
He doesn't want his original protective measures for his family to ultimately become the reason they fall into danger.
"——What?"
Ferdinand exclaimed, Fiona also gasped.
After a long silence in the Communication Pea, Vid finally heard Ferdinand's somewhat difficult voice, "How... how is he now?"
"He's quite good." Vid said, "Lively and cheerful, even learning Magic pretty well."
"Well... does he know... know Mrs. Johnson has already..." Fiona struggled to continue.
"I don't know."
Vid lowered his eyes, saying, "Since reuniting, he's never mentioned his parents. I suspect he might have already forgotten them—you know, Magic can easily achieve that."
"Moreover, Carrel... I'm certain that during his disappearance, he was influenced negatively by something. I just want to inform you—should you ever encounter him... don't trust him."
"... Understood." Ferdinand said.
Vid thought he heard a very soft sigh, or maybe it was an illusion.
"Poor Annie..." Fiona murmured.
Annie Johnson was Carrel's mother, first hit by the Forgetfulness Spell, later strangled by a Magic Necklace in a sanatorium.
Fiona previously wasn't fond of that lady, but now that she's passed away, all Fiona can remember is all that was good about her.
"Do you remember, Vid? Annie's cookies were delicious; every time she visited, she would bring us a box... no matter how busy she was, she never forgot..."
Fiona got choked up as she spoke.
Vid remained silent, waiting for her to adjust her emotions, or in other words, for his father to comfort his mother, before changing the topic—
"After those few days when the holiday starts, I would like to invite some friends to our place to play, is that okay?"
"Of course." Fiona quickly said, "I'll help you prepare the rooms."
"This place is too small, and with us here, the kids won't have enough fun," Ferdinand said, "Vid, you can take your friends to stay at the Westminster house, it's also convenient for attending Christmas activities."
"Alright." Vid naturally agreed.
Actually, he understood that his father was just worried about a bunch of kids being too destructive, not wanting his mother to get worn out.
"The Christmas feast can't be outside either," Fiona said, "I'll buy the best turkey in advance... who all are coming, Vid?"
"Harry and Michael... I'll ask others later," Vid said.
"Harry? That Star of Salvation Harry Potter?" Fiona said surprised, "He's the kid on the Flow Mirror fighting the Basilisk?"
"... Yes, that's him," Vid said.
"Oh my! Oh my! Harry Potter is coming to our house..." Fiona said excitedly, "I truly didn't expect... to save the world as a baby, he must be hiding some extraordinary powers..."
Vid: "... Have you been watching some superhero movies lately?"
"What?" Fiona didn't hear clearly.
Vid: "Nothing..."
...
After chatting with his parents for a while, nearly an hour passed before Vid ended the call.
One advantage of the Communication Pea is that no matter how long you use it, it never gets hot.
Vid pressed the pea again, "Connect to Rita Skeeter."
"Beep——"
"Oh, I knew you would definitely contact me."
Rita's voice sounded hurried, surrounded by many chaotic noises.
She quickly moved somewhere with "clatter clatter" sounds, after a "bang," the surroundings finally quieted.
"The newspaper office has been terribly busy these days... let me clarify, it wasn't my intention for the report to be written like that. But if I didn't write it that way, the reporter role would be replaced by someone else, I had no choice."
Rita Skeeter quickly explained.
"I understand." Vid asked, "I want to inquire from you, does the Ministry of Magic have any further arrangements? Is there any news about Mabel?"