"My allegiance is to the Ministry of Magic," Percy said. "It has nothing to do with which house I was in before."
"But you refused my suggestion."
Terra pointed out, "Veritaserum or Mind Reading, either one could help us quickly get what we want."
"Why won't you agree, Weasley? Three days isn't a very long time."
Percy frowned and said, "Using those methods on a prisoner without Ministry approval is illegal! You even want to use them on students!"
"If it gets exposed, can we... can we still work in the Ministry of Magic?"
"Oh? Is that so?" Terra laughed, "I thought you were so insistent to protect those students!"
Percy said cautiously, "What nonsense are you talking? Isn't our purpose at Hogwarts to ensure the safety of the students?"
Terra stared at Percy, her eyes flickering slightly.
She saw it clearly, he was just an official who only moved within the rules. He was smart but would never break the law, risking his future promotions, or even imprisonment.
Perhaps he's worried that it would become a handle against him, making him susceptible to threats and constraints in the future?
So this guy, even if he was eager to prove his abilities and climb the ranks, would never use methods beyond the boundaries.
Everything he did, good or bad, had to be under the directive of the Ministry of Magic.
Violation = Leaving a devastating taint = Career roadblock, this equation had become a deeply ingrained safety wall in his mind, unbreakable by anything.
After a moment, Terra put down her quill, stood up, and said, "Alright, then you continue asking. I'm going to check out other parts of the school."
Her hand rested on the doorknob, she glanced back at Percy and said:
"Those who voluntarily submit reports are prepared. The students who never approached you... might be our true targets."
She opened the door, walked into the corridor, and casually lifted her wrist to glance at her Peeping Watch.
The hands were quiet, there were no eyes watching her nearby.
Groups of students passed by in the corridor, some carrying thick books in their arms, others holding brooms, and some leaning against walls laughing and chatting.
When they saw Terra, their gazes would always pause slightly and then move away, as if avoiding eye contact with her.
Terra's lips curled into a slight smile, she walked forward lightly, her gaze sweeping across every young face, also looking at every window, every branch, and any corner that might hide someone.
Her steps suddenly stopped.
Outside the window, on the lawn in front of the castle, a giant figure like a wild man was running toward the castle, its thick brown coat flapping open.
Terra had heard from Percy that this wild man was called Rubeus Hagrid, the school's Gamekeeper and Care of Magical Creatures professor, a simple-minded, muscular being.
That hurried posture... was Marina's investigation bearing results?
Her lips curled into a smile, she stared at the direction he was running, to see if he was going to find Dumbledore.
Since they arrived at the school, they hadn't seen the legendary headmaster! It had always been Professor McGonagall receiving them.
Word had it that Dumbledore was busy studying new uses for Phoenix Tail Feathers lately, only appearing occasionally during dinner time.
Terra watched Hagrid enter the castle, then turned and walked towards the staircase.
Just then—
"Ahahahaha... Surpri—se!"
A sharp, gloating laugh sounded from the other end of the corridor, followed by several students shrieking simultaneously.
Terra turned her head sharply, seeing a semi-transparent ghost floating in the air, madly swinging an ink bottle in its hand.
Three students were splattered with ink all over their heads and faces, shrieking as they clutched their heads and scurried away.
Nearby students, upon seeing the scene, cried out in alarm, "Run, it's Peeves!"
The whole corridor of students was running away, Peeves laughed even louder, flipped in the air, and chased after the students with the ink bottle, loudly asking:
"Run faster! Run faster! Whoever's last will receive my gift! Hahaha..."
"Hello, Mr. Peeves!" Terra raised her voice and called out.
The ghost stopped abruptly, turned to look over, its eyes spinning around, and casually tossed the empty ink bottle out the window.
"Oh my, oh my, it's a big shot from the Ministry of Magic."
The ghost exaggeratedly made a bow in the air, slickly saying, "What can Peeves do for you?"
Terra glanced out the window, deciding not to join in the fun Marina had created.
She had her own task.
Looking at the notorious troublemaker before her, she smiled and said, "I've long heard of you, Mr. Peeves."
"Oh?" Peeves wobbled its head and asked, "Does Beauxbatons know my reputation too?"
"Of course," Terra laughed, "I heard you're the only ghost at Hogwarts who can cause chaos as you like, doing whatever you want without professors or the Ministry being able to handle you."
"That's right!" Peeves giggled, "No one can kick Peeves out of the school! None of them can! Does Beauxbatons have a ghost as impressive as me?"
"Naturally not," Terra praised, "The ghosts at Beauxbatons are all very boring."
Peeves twirled in a circle, becoming even more smug.
"But..." Terra asked, "You've been playing the same game for hundreds of years, aren't you bored?"
Peeves blinked, its smile slightly freezing.
"Of course not bored." Peeves said in a sharp voice, "Peeves has new tricks every day! The students' screams never get old!"
"But we can play some more interesting games. Wouldn't you like to try?" Terra asked softly.
"...More interesting?"
"Exactly, games that truly scare the students out of their wits—like those secret societies, having gatherings in hidden places, doing things that professors shouldn't know about..."
Terra licked her lips and smirked, "If such a gathering were exposed, they would certainly be terrified, a thousand times more than if they were splashed with ink!"
"Mr. Peeves, do you know where such places are?"
Peeves' mouth slowly stretched into a grin, looking at Terra with eyes shining brightly as if something had been ignited.
"Of course I know... Peeves knows everyone's secrets in the school, every single one! Those sneaking out at night! And those hidden in secret rooms doing experiments! Peeves knows it all!"
"That's amazing!" Terra clapped her hand journal and praised, "As expected of Mr. Peeves! So why don't we pull off such a prank, what do you say?"
"Great idea!"
Peeves darted, popping right in front of Terra, tilting its head to look at her, and said:
"Mr. Peeves now graciously permits you to join in his pranks! Madam, whose secret do you want to expose?"