Chapter 83: Badge, Approved
Chapter 83: Badge, Approved
Vidar took note of McGonagall's warning, but he didn't need to worry about it just yet.
In the past, he often practiced potion-making in the empty Potions classroom, and he was probably seen by Slytherin students a few times. But they didn't know that ever since Vidar discovered the Room of Requirement, he had rarely gone back to the Potions classroom.
As for who those people were, Vidar naturally had a good idea.
He decided to give them the cold shoulder for a few days, but he couldn't drag it out too long—if he took too long, those Slytherins might choose to give up on their own.
After class on Thursday, Vidar went to find Professor Moore as usual. On his way, he unexpectedly met a few seventh-year students. They were much taller, but they were all dejected, making them seem shorter for some reason.
A girl was saying to the person next to her, "I want to kill Jennifer! She used to tell me that Alchemy classes were interesting, and Professor Moore's requirements weren't high—and she calls this not high?"
"Professor Moore used to be really easy to talk to! Remember when we were in our sixth year?" Another student sighed. "But this year, the professor took on a new student, and suddenly, he started disliking us—he used to really like me."
The girl in front said resentfully, "Learning Runic on her own in her first year? She's crazy! If we weren't all at school, I would have thought this was a lie!"
A student lamented, "Oh... why doesn't he spend more time on Quidditch?"
"Have any of you studied the Friendship Book?" a boy suddenly asked.
"I've tried."
"It's difficult."
"Can't be cracked."
"Using a heating charm or displaying characters with a Revealing Charm is simple, but to simultaneously display complex text or even pictures on parchment, a fragile material, while ignoring spatial distance, that's a bit..."
The boy was talking animatedly when someone suddenly poked him in the arm, cutting off his voice.
At the corridor's turn, several people suddenly encountered Vidar.
The two sides stared at each other. Seeing Vidar Grey, who still looked like a child, and thinking about what they had just said, the group felt extremely embarrassed. After a moment of stiffness, they stiffly nodded and walked past each other.
After walking a long way, the sound of talking could be heard again.
"—So that's Vidar Grey?"
"Yes."
"—He's... quite good-looking."
"Mhm."
"...He didn't hear us, right?"
"—I think he did."
"Ahhh... Why did you have to say that out loud! Couldn't you have lied to me?"
"Stop shaking... I really want to die now... seriously."
...
"Hmm?" Professor Moore looked at Vidar with a puzzled expression. "You seem a little different today... is something wrong?"
Vidar smiled and asked, "Professor, what do you think is different about me?"
"It seems there really is a change... Hmm..." Professor Moore stroked his chin and examined Vidar carefully. After a long while, he said uncertainly, "It seems... you've become better-looking than before? But it's not the effect of a beauty potion..."
Vidar smiled and took off a badge from his chest.
Suddenly, the visual effect of his skin being fair and flawless, as if glowing with a faint light, disappeared. Even though his features were still exquisite and handsome, he no longer shone as brightly as before, and people no longer felt compelled to focus their gaze on him.
"Oh?"
Professor Moore took an interested look at the badge in his hand—of course, there was no anti-detection charm on the work Vidar had given him to inspect.
"Lumos charm... Reflection charm... and solidification..." Professor Moore looked at Vidar with a smile in his eyes. "You've utilized light, haven't you?
"Yes," Vidar replied. "As you know, I've been taking a lot of photos recently. In the process, I've discovered that the key to photography lies in the manipulation of light. Proper lighting can conceal facial flaws, create a slimming effect, enhance the three-dimensional features, and make one look more attractive. So, I created this Soft Glow Badge. It reflects just the right amount of light onto the wearer, making them appear more... dazzling and captivating."
In other words, it was the wizarding world's version of a beauty filter.
"You always manage to surprise me with your ingenious ideas," Professor Moore praised. "Many people would have to drink a Beautification Potion to achieve a twenty-minute effect, but you've accomplished it with a tiny badge. How long does the effect of this badge last?"
"About ten days," Vidar answered.
"That's not bad." Professor Moore didn't seem to place much importance on such a trivial item and casually said, "There will be some young, silly girls who will adore it. Are you planning to continue having Magiocioni's Magic Emporium produce and sell them?"
"Yes," Vidar said as he took out the application form for Hogsmeade Village from his pocket and continued honestly, "Actually, I came here today to ask for your permission to visit Hogsmeade on Saturday. Regarding the modifications to the Friendship Book and the production of the Soft Glow Badge, I need to have a detailed discussion with Mr. Magiocioni in person."
"Just for that?" Professor Moore looked a bit skeptical.
He had come to understand Vidar quite well over this period—given Vidar's character, he wouldn't have specially requested his permission for something that could be easily resolved through letters.
"Well... I also want to meet someone," Vidar said a little embarrassedly. "As you know, many things are inconvenient for me at school. My father is also not suitable for frequent interactions with wizards, and I'm afraid he might encounter danger because of this. So, I found an agent—this Saturday, I plan to meet with him as well."
"An agent?" Professor Moore shook his head disapprovingly. "An unreliable agent is more dangerous than having none at all. Who is this person you've chosen? Did you know him before, or is he related to your parents in some way?"
"I don't know him," Vidar said, feigning innocence. "I asked my father to place an ad in the newspaper, and he sent a job application. After meeting him, my father thought he was a mild-mannered and reliable person, so he was chosen as the agent. His name is Remus Lupin."
Vidar knew he didn't need to explain to his parents why he trusted a stranger—they would choose to believe in him without any excuses, as they had always done. However, he felt he ought to provide a reasonable explanation to Professor Moore, Dumbledore, and the rest of the wizarding community.
So, Vidar slightly twisted the cause-and-effect relationship—instead of him specifically recruiting someone, it was the other way around; someone had responded to the ad and was subsequently hired.
"Remus Lupin?" Professor Moore furrowed his brows slightly, his expression tinged with a hint of melancholy and reminiscence.
"You know him?" Vidar asked curiously.
"Yes," Professor Moore lowered his eyes, his voice turning low and somber. "He and his three friends were quite the celebrities at Hogwarts in their time, making quite a few headlines during their school days. Hardly anyone didn't know them. It's just a pity..."
"A pity...?" Vidar prompted.
"That some died, and others became traitors. That's all there is to it—such things are common during times of war, nothing worth mentioning." Professor Moore changed the subject. "You said you've arranged to meet him on Saturday?"
"Yes."
"I can approve of that." Professor Moore crossed his fingers and said solemnly, "But I will have to be present as well."
(End of Chapter)
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