"I'll go grab two bottles of butterbeer first, and then we can talk about what's going on."
Hermione glanced at the two boys sitting opposite her with "lowered heads," patted Amanda on the shoulder, stood up, and stepped over the Christmas tree branches to head out.
"Merlin... I hope she isn't angry."
Only after Hermione had walked far away did Ron dare to carefully turn his head and whisper to Harry.
"I don't know," Harry also lowered his voice to the minimum and shook his head honestly.
How would he know if Hermione was angry! But... looking at her, even if she were angry, she probably wasn't that angry.
Otherwise, she would have given both him and Ron a rap on the head already.
"Hermione isn't truly angry." Amanda's calm voice suddenly joined the conversation. Her eyes stayed on Harry, half dead and half tranquil.
"According to micro-expression analysis, she's just worried you'll be hurt by Black if you're out, but mostly she's happy for you that you can come out for a stroll during the Christmas holidays."
"Ah," Harry scratched his head with a bit of guilt, "I'll be careful. I'm sorry."
"Why the sudden apology?"
Hermione stepped back into the booth and handed one of the two bottles of butterbeer to Amanda.
"Thanks." Amanda took the butterbeer and had a large gulp.
Harry pursed his lips and looked up at Hermione. "I'm apologizing for being reckless and sneaking out, making you all worry."
Hermione was stunned for a moment before she realized what happened. She glanced at Amanda, who was drinking her butterbeer in silence.
"Amanda told you?"
If Amanda hadn't told him, Hermione didn't believe Harry and Ron could have guessed her concerns so accurately or realized she wasn't truly angry.
"Yes," Harry nodded.
"Actually, it's nothing, Harry," Hermione shrugged. "We've all broken school rules; we're all kids this age."
At this, Hermione reached out and gently twirled Amanda's hair, raising her eyebrows at the two boys opposite her.
"If one isn't young and reckless now, then when?"
The conflict and guilt on Harry's face quickly faded, replaced by a look of profound disbelief.
Ron also snapped his head up to look at Hermione. This... Hermione hadn't been "corrupted" by them, had she?
Seeing the two boys' surprised expressions, Hermione didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Please, I'm a Gryffindor too."
Before Harry and Ron could say anything more, Amanda, feeling a cold wind blowing in, instinctively looked toward the entrance of The Three Broomsticks pub.
There, Minister for Magic Fudge, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, and Hagrid were walking in.
Without thinking much, Amanda quickly withdrew her gaze. With a slight movement of her eyes, Harry felt a massive force pressing him down under the table.
The momentum was so fierce he almost spilled the butterbeer in his hand.
"What's happening?"
Ron froze for a moment, instinctively looking back in the direction Amanda was staring, and immediately gasped.
Hermione had the same reaction; she even reached out a hand and pressed down on Harry's head under the table to stop him from climbing out.
"What's going on?"
Out of trust for Amanda, Harry stayed extremely still under the table with his butterbeer, having no intention of trying to climb out.
Realizing this, Hermione awkwardly withdrew her hand.
Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Hagrid, and Fudge have come in together."
Ron turned his back to them and whispered with his head down.
"What?!"
Harry felt his whole body stiffen for a moment. Why would the Professors think to have a drink with Fudge, and even come to Hogsmeade for it?
Couldn't they have gone to the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley... With them here, he couldn't even get out from under the table.
Harry's question was soon answered. The Landlady of the Three Broomsticks pub personally walked over to the booth where Professor McGonagall and the others were to take their order.
After taking the order, she also asked warmly, "What brings you here, Mr. Minister?"
Fudge gave a formulaic fake smile. "Didn't Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall go to the Ministry of Magic a while ago to voice some concerns about the Dementors? So I came over to confirm if they are doing their jobs properly."
"And to ensure they aren't doing anything else they shouldn't be."
He said the last sentence to Professor McGonagall, nodding with a smile at the same time.
Professor McGonagall snorted inwardly, but on the surface, she still gave a polite nod in response. Regardless, outward courtesy had to be "maintained."
"Oh, that matter..." The Landlady of the Three Broomsticks pub couldn't help but frown after hearing his words.
"If you ask me, those Dementors really should leave. You don't understand, Mr. Minister, they've seriously affected our business. No one dares to go out at night."
"Haha, well," Fudge laughed awkwardly and spread his hands to show he was powerless. "Isn't it for safety's sake?"
"And we must protect Mr. Potter."
"Mr. Potter? Harry Potter?" the Landlady of the Three Broomsticks pub asked in confusion.
"What does that have to do with the boy?"
"Sigh..." Fudge let out a long sigh. "The Ministry of Magic has never publicly explained this matter because it—it is truly disgraceful."
Then, accompanied by Fudge's slightly somber voice, everyone at the table, the Landlady of the Three Broomsticks pub, and the four people nearby including Amanda heard the "truth" from thirteen years ago.
Sirius Black was originally The Potters' best friend, or rather, James Potter's best friend.
When The Potters were being hunted by Voldemort, Headmaster Dumbledore developed a Charms that protected a secret within a person's soul.
This way, as long as that Secret-Keeper did not leak the secret, the secret they were responsible for keeping would never be known by others.
In The Potters' case, as long as the Secret-Keeper didn't actively provide information to Voldemort, no one would ever know where they lived.
Even if Voldemort pressed his ear against their bedroom wall, he wouldn't hear the slightest sound or discover anything.
For this Secret-Keeper, Headmaster Dumbledore originally wanted to do it himself, but The Potters chose Sirius Black.
It was this very choice that cost them their lives and left Harry without parents.
"What does that mean?" the landlady asked with a trembling voice.
"The meaning is obvious, isn't it?" Fudge nodded with a bitter smile. "Black betrayed them, and then they were murdered."
"Damn it!"
Hagrid suddenly roared. His cheeks, already flushed from drinking, grew even redder as he slammed the table hard.
"I can't believe I ran into him when I went to get Harry. I should have... ripped him... to pieces!"
"Don't be impulsive, Hagrid," Fudge frowned. "Black is dangerous. Even the most experienced Aurors in the Ministry of Magic would find it difficult to deal with him."
"Later, another friend of theirs went to find Black, wanting to avenge his friends, The Potters, and was then murdered by him."
Peter Pettigrew..." Professor Flitwick said softly. "I will always remember that name."
"Yes," Professor McGonagall closed her eyes, which were now slightly moist. "Black and James were always inseparable, and he was always following behind James and the others—a boy who wasn't particularly bright."
"Merlin, I shouldn't have criticized him in class."
"You aren't a seer either, Minerva," Fudge said somberly.
"Poor boy... and those thirteen Muggles who were caught in the crossfire. Merlin above, fourteen lives lost."
Professor McGonagall lamented in a raspy voice. Afterward, Amanda and the others heard news such as Peter Pettigrew receiving the Order of Merlin and the largest remains found being just a finger.
Facing this news, Amanda quickly began to organize and synthesize the information.
The friends of The Potters that could now be confirmed were Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew.
Based on previous deductions that Sirius and Lupin were likely friends, it could be concluded there was an eighty percent chance that The Potters' friends were these three: Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and Professor Lupin.
Recalling the impact marks on the outside of the Shrieking Shack, a conclusion instantly surfaced in Amanda's mind.
That horned Animagus whose identity couldn't be confirmed before was either Harry's father, James Potter, or Peter Pettigrew.
As for specifically who, the information was incomplete, and Amanda couldn't analyze further.
However, the "truth" just spoken by Fudge and the Professors contradicted some of Amanda's previous deductions.
And this contradiction could very likely lead to two completely different outcomes.
"Don't be impulsive."
Two small whispers broke Amanda's train of thought, pausing her mental operations. Looking down, she saw Harry's shoulders being held down by Ron and Hermione on either side.
He himself was already red with rage, his hand gripping the butterbeer so hard his knuckles were white.
"Don't be impulsive," Amanda also whispered a warning, followed by a sentence that completely calmed Harry down. "There are deductive errors in this matter, points that don't make sense."
"What Sirius Black is actually like cannot be determined yet."
Harry pursed his lips and gradually calmed down, sitting quietly under the table until the Professors, Hagrid, and Fudge left the Three Broomsticks.
"Amanda, you said just now that there were deductive errors... what's that about?"
Amanda looked at Harry expressionlessly, her tone as flat as water. "Do you remember my previous analysis that perhaps Sirius Black doesn't want to hurt you?"
"Because he didn't act when you left your aunt and uncle's house, nor did he act when you were in Diagon Alley."
"I remember," Harry frowned, thinking as he spoke. "But could it be because there were too many people in the Muggle neighborhood, and killing me might have caused bad consequences?"
"And Diagon Alley is full of Wizards coming and going; he'd definitely be caught if he killed me. That's why he didn't act both times."
"No." Amanda categorically rejected Harry's theory.
"Why?"
Harry looked at Amanda in surprise. How did she know that was impossible?
"According to what Fudge and the Professors just said, Sirius Black once recklessly blew up half a Muggle street and turned Peter Pettigrew into dust, then stood there laughing as he let the Ministry of Magic take him away."
"From this, it can be seen that he does not fear death, nor does he fear being caught. He is a man with no scruples whatsoever."
Amanda's brain worked rapidly, and her words became faster and faster. "Therefore, given his personality, he wouldn't care about the population density of a Muggle neighborhood, nor would he care about the gathering of Wizards in Diagon Alley."
"If he truly wanted to harm or even kill you, he would have acted without hesitation."
"B-but..." Harry was so shaken by Amanda's deduction that he stammered, "That has nothing to do with him betraying my parents."
"No," Amanda narrowed her eyes slightly. "Based on the fact that he doesn't want to hurt you, and the dynamics between Black, your father, and Peter Pettigrew that Professor McGonagall just described, the probability of Peter Pettigrew betraying your parents is higher than that of Sirius Black."
Because in such a dynamic, Peter Pettigrew, who was in a following position behind the two, would be more likely to develop negative emotions like jealousy and hatred.
Following this deduction, the possibility of him betraying The Potters is actually greater.
"Hiss... which one is the truth then?"
Ron clicked his tongue. Amanda's analysis and the Ministry of Magic's investigation were simply two different results; it was almost making his head spin.
Not just him—Harry felt he was getting confused too.
The only one who could still maintain calm and think was Hermione.
"The Ministry of Magic's investigation is based on the evidence they have, but their findings clearly contradict the current specific situation to some extent."
"After all, Harry, what you heard before was that the Ministry believes Black wants to kill you, right?"
"Yes." Harry nodded; that was what he had heard Mr. Weasley say.
"But he actually doesn't want to hurt you. That's the most likely fact; otherwise, there's no way to explain how you're still alive."
As Hermione spoke, she gestured toward Harry, who was indeed still alive and well. Harry lowered his eyes and nodded in understanding.
"Additionally, the Ministry's investigation results have a huge discrepancy with the personality profiling Amanda mentioned, and this discrepancy..."
Hermione pursed her lips and didn't finish the sentence.
"And this discrepancy, if true, is enough to swap the positions of Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew."
Amanda's voice took over without a ripple, completing the final conclusion. "Therefore, my suggestion is to remain vigilant, and to expand the targets of that vigilance from just Sirius Black to both him and Peter Pettigrew."
"And immediately begin investigating the case from thirteen years ago. I need more information to conduct a more detailed deduction."
After a short silence, Harry looked up at Amanda with determination. "I understand. I believe you. From now on, I'll be even more careful."
"I'll also work hard on collecting information about the case."
"I'll ask my dad and see if he can get some materials for you."
Ron patted Harry's shoulder. The four people in the booth settled on the same direction at the same time.
---------------------------------
I hope you're enjoying the fanfiction so far! If the story has you hooked and you can't wait to see what happens next, you can unlock 30 chapters in advance over on my Patreon: patreon.com/TLHimejima1
Every bit of support means the world to me so if you're loving the ride, don't forget to drop a Power Stone and let me know.