"After Mr. Potter and Lanlock died together, their friends vanished without a trace," Hagrid said, shrugging. "But a hundred years have passed. Even if they were still alive, they'd be very old by now."
He added thoughtfully:
"Time is always relentless."
"But they were all very talented people," Harry frowned. "Surely they wouldn't have been forgotten so easily."
Hagrid shook his head. "I don't know about that, but I've never heard of any of Mr. Potter's friends from that time appearing again. Many people even thought he was just a fictional character."
After a few more words about the past, Hermione drew attention to the Gringotts robbery mentioned in the newspaper.
"So Gringotts isn't as secure as they say," Hermione said, reading aloud:
"Latest news on the Gringotts heist: The investigation into the Gringotts robbery on July 26 continues. It is believed to have been carried out by dark wizards and witches, whose names have not been disclosed. The goblins of Gringotts reiterated today that nothing was stolen. The underground vault searched by the intruders had been emptied earlier that day. A goblin spokesperson said this afternoon: 'We cannot disclose the contents of the vault; it is best not to interfere.'"
"July 26?" Harry suddenly remembered that this was the day Hagrid had taken him to Gringotts to withdraw money.
"So, Hagrid, the day of the Gringotts robbery was the same day we went. It's very possible we were there when it happened!"
This time, Hagrid didn't answer. He lowered his head, avoided Harry's gaze, and handed him a cup of tea.
"Try this," Hagrid said, trying to change the subject. "It's good for gum inflammation if you drink water with this infusion."
Seeing Hagrid's reluctance and attempt to divert the topic, Harry didn't insist. After all, it was something Dumbledore had entrusted to him, and he couldn't just say anything.
He took the newspaper from Hermione and read carefully: the underground vault searched by the intruders had been emptied earlier that day. Considering Hagrid's reaction, the vault the mysterious wizard had broken into must have been the same one they had visited! But it was already empty, meaning only a small cloth bag remained inside.
It seemed the target of the mysterious wizard was precisely what Hagrid had taken.
Harry reflected on the way back. As he thought, he remembered Orminus, the Slytherin boy who had been his "external brain" for years. If Orminus were here, he would certainly help unravel the mystery and analyze useful clues.
Harry wasn't just thinking about the Gringotts intrusion; he also missed his old friends. He still couldn't believe that such brilliant classmates had simply disappeared without a trace. Something must have happened.
Two names came to mind: Cassandra Malfoy and Gareth Weasley. Their descendants still attended Hogwarts, one of whom was now a close friend of Harry. But how should he ask? If he asked Rony directly, "Hey, did you have an ancestor named Gareth?" he would probably hear: "How do you know my great-grandfather?"
As for Malfoy, that cheeky brat would never answer.
Just as he thought of Rony, he heard him speaking loudly beside him.
"Muggle flying machines are so awkward," Rony said. "I nearly crashed into a glider while flying Charlie's old broom…"
Hermione raised her eyes, staring at him very seriously. Her expression said: "You know what I'm going to say."
Rony's face turned red; he had forgotten that the know-it-all in front of him came from a Muggle family. Oh no, he had gotten into trouble with a master of showmanship. Luckily, Hermione just glared at him without exposing his arrogance, and Rony breathed a sigh of relief.
While he didn't boast, Draco, at the Slytherin table behind them, began loudly showing off.
"What a pity, Weasley, you almost hit a glider," he said, bragging. "You've probably heard about that time I nearly crashed into a Muggle helicopter while flying. Luckily, I dodged just in time. My father was terrified and gave me a good scolding."
"It's a shame first-years can't join the Quidditch team, otherwise I'd have really shown off," he added.
"How boastful!" Hermione exclaimed to Harry and Rony. "A little wizard like him, who can't even use magic properly, would have been chopped to pieces by the helicopter blades."
Rony was her friend, so she didn't expose him then, but Draco was different. He always insulted her and even touched her wand since they had met.
Did they expect her to go easy on Draco? Not a chance.
"Hey! You… Mr. Know-It-All!" Draco abruptly interrupted, calling Hermione by the nickname. "You think you know anything about flying brooms? I bet you wouldn't dare fly one!"
Hermione smirked and retorted, "Oh, Draco, I may know nothing about flying brooms, but I know everything about helicopters."
Malfoy's face suddenly turned red, and he began babbling about how annoying Muggles were and how much of a know-it-all he was, filling the Gryffindor table with a lively atmosphere.
"Draco, let's ignore them," said Pansy Parkinson, trying to persuade him. "They're just jealous of your flying talent. Don't worry, we'll show them what you can do in flying lessons."
Perhaps Pansy's words worked, and Draco regained his arrogant posture. After all, except for the helicopter part, the rest wasn't a big deal. He had complete confidence in his flying abilities.
Since he was four years old, Draco had been flying around the Malfoy Manor on a child-sized broom. Imagine the weight of a seven-year-old flying!
Harry also loved flying. Although Headmaster Phineas Black had banned Quidditch, he hadn't missed a single flying lesson.
But now, Harry clearly had more important matters to attend to: checking on his old friends.
That night, he decided he would go to the Chamber of Maps on the lowest level of the castle. Perhaps Villarreal, who also possessed an ancient magical heritage, had left him a clue there.
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