Vid looked into her eyes filled with trembling, grief, and determination, confirming his suspicions in an instant.
Stella was the one who took great risks, extracted Jensen's memory, and handed this precious memory to Ms. Picquery!
Time... If Vid was correct, it should have been when she was eliminated from the Magic School Tournament and returned to the United States from Hogwarts ahead of schedule?
She personally witnessed the aftermath of that tragedy, perhaps even lent a hand to save Jensen, who attempted to go to the United Kingdom... From their last conversation, that ponytail wizard seemed to be someone important to Stella as well?
She and Jensen, two originally unfamiliar strangers, established deep trust in an extremely short period because of that determined young wizard, becoming comrades who entrusted life and death.
Her previous behaviors — panic, arrogance, aggressiveness — were all brilliant performances to complete her mission.
Vid looked into her eyes solemnly and said: "We will... of course we will!"
Stella choked up, nearly shedding tears. She covered her mouth and repeatedly said: "Thank you... truly... thank you all..."
"Ding—dong!"
Just then, the doorbell rang suddenly.
The two turned around together, looking toward the outside of the door.
Outside stood a brown-haired man carrying a briefcase. He was around thirty-five or thirty-six years old, of medium height, slender, and slightly slumped.
At the moment, the man's gaze was resting on them. After meeting their eyes, he pulled out a document and unfolded it.
"Elijah Watkins."
The man said: "Magic Accident and Disaster Department, here to visit Ms. Picquery, I have an appointment."
"Ah, Mr. Watkins!"
Stella reacted swiftly, instantly putting away her tears, her face showing impatience again, saying to Vid:
"Please, Mr. Gray. I think you've been escorted enough!"
After speaking, Stella left Vid aside and quickly walked over to open the door, speaking rapidly:
"Mr. Watkins? You arrived so quickly... but I must say, this isn't entirely my fault; of course, I might not have managed my pet well, maybe spoiling it too much usually..."
"I will investigate thoroughly, Miss Picquery."
Elijah Watkins said calmly, his sight resting over Stella's shoulder on Vid —
"Mr. Vid Gray?"
Vid also restrained his emotions, stepped back towards the door, slightly nodded upon hearing, saying:
"That's me. Hello, Mr. Watkins."
Elijah Watkins asked: "Are Mr. Gray's travels in the United States going well? When do you plan to return?"
Stella looked at him somewhat surprised, this questioning seemed rather blunt.
Vid carefully replied: "Very well, thank you for your concern. The competition has ended, my affairs in the United States have also been handled, I should be returning soon."
Upon hearing this response, Elijah Watkins seemed to relax slightly, a very faint, satisfied look flashed in his grey-blue eyes.
He nodded and said cordially: "Very well... wishing you a smooth journey."
Vid: "..."
The expression, as if he was some kind of big trouble.
"Thank you."
Vid politely nodded again, turning to Stella and saying: "Then, Miss Stella Picquery, I shall take my leave... And again, thank Ms. Picquery for the invitation."
Stella forced a fake smile that was obvious at a glance and waved dismissively.
Elijah Watkins's gaze discreetly glided past Stella's slightly reddened eyes, pondered without much focus.
Young people in their teens, intertwined with love and hate, the noisy relationships, he has seen far too many, neither curious nor concerned, only wishing for some potential risk factor to quickly leave his domain.
"Can I take a look at the Crup first, Miss Picquery?"
"Of course, please follow me..."
Stella now appeared much more well-behaved, leading the brown-haired wizard into the mansion with a maid taking over her task of seeing off guests.
Vid witnessed Stella's slender back, recalling that gentle yet resilient voice from Jensen's dark memory.
He didn't probe Stella about the details of that incident, nor did he attempt to find out the identity of the ponytail wizard —
Some wounds don't need to be inspected; some sacrifices only need to be silently remembered.
He just needed to know what he was supposed to do now.
...
Vid waited briefly at the entrance when he saw Moody and Lupin hurriedly coming from the garden path beside the mansion.
Moody's face was even more foul than when he went in, his Magic Eye was spinning furiously, impatiently complaining:
"... That's enough! Drinking tea felt like sitting in an interrogation room, stricter rules than the Ministry of Magic! A bunch of nonsense!"
Lupin smiled wryly, his face carrying his usual gentleness and a hint of helplessness.
He comfortingly smiled at Vid, asked: "How is it? Vid, is everything going smoothly?"
Moody lowered his voice and said: "How come you're out earlier than us?"
Vid nodded and said: "Very well, Ms. Picquery is knowledgeable, and after conversing with her, I learned a lot."
Such an official response...
Lupin seemed to understand something vaguely, quickly glanced toward the mansion, and smiled: "That's good, I was worried you might face difficulties from them!"
"Not really, Ms. Picquery is very gentle, but her niece Miss Stella seems to have some opinions about me."
Vid shrugged helplessly: "You know, I was the one who eliminated her before..."
"In any case, she was quite rude when seeing me off, even chased away the maids. I got distracted and forgot to notify you."
Moody snorted, tore off his tie and held it in his hand, roughly urged:
"As long as we made it out alive! Finished talking, then let's leave, there are eyes everywhere nearby, making one feel uncomfortable!"
"Let's go." Lupin smiled: "Harry and the others seem to plan to return to the United Kingdom tomorrow, the tickets are all booked. Vid, I don't think you've properly explored the United States?"
He suggested: "Why don't we relax for a few days and then head back?"
If Elijah Watkins heard Lupin's words, he would certainly wrinkle his brow like a hemp rope.
But Vid knew that Lupin had no intention to play, he asked this to find out if Vid had any other plans.
This overseas mission was entirely based on Vid's opinion, this was Dumbledore's instruction before their departure.
At that time, Lupin and Moody understood that Vid's trip to the United States was not just for a mere competition... He and Dumbledore had other purposes.
Despite disliking Dumbledore's mysterious manner, and even more disliking him entrusting important tasks to Vid, this child, since Vid has chosen to accept it, Lupin could only bear it and cooperate as much as possible.
Even the seemingly manic Moody looked towards Vid, his gaze was calm and inquiring.
Vid thought for a moment, smiled and said: "I think it's better to skip it... The United States can be visited again in the future, but I'm about to start school, and I haven't finished my summer homework yet!"
Lupin revealed a smile: "Alright... let's go back."