Last night Vid asked in the Friendship Book, and Michael, Neville, Hermione, and Theo all said they'd come. Padma asked if she could bring her sister. Leian went on a trip to Italy with his family and would be back in a few days. Harry hadn't sent any message.
Green flames flared up, and everyone arrived one by one.
They were used to seeing each other in black school uniforms. Now, dressed in casual clothes, they brought a refreshing visual experience.
Especially the Patil Sisters, who were wearing colorful long dresses with light makeup, their wrists and necks adorned with sparkling jewelry, dazzlingly beautiful and gracefully poised.
"Good morning! Hope we're not late," the girls said in unison.
The Patil Sisters were already very pretty, and being twins only amplified their charm several times over.
Michael had been leaning on the windowsill watching the animals outside. Upon hearing the voices, he practically flashed to the hearth, elegantly raising his hand in greeting.
"No, we just got here too," he said happily.
"Miss Patil and Miss Patil, welcome to Granian Farm."
Steven said, then turned to look at Vid, raising an eyebrow slightly.
Vid understood what he meant instantly—
Such pretty girls, why aren't you being more proactive?
Vid shook his head.
Steven was probably conditioned by his dad's nagging about marriage, picking up the matchmaker trait.
Neville came out of the fire, letting out a long sigh of relief.
"My grandmother didn't want me to come," he said, still shaken, "but when she heard the top two in our class were here, she changed her mind."
Theo had just arrived and hadn't had a chance to speak when the Patil Sisters let out a cry.
"What happened?"
Everyone thought they were under attack and ran over to see.
"My necklace and earrings are missing!" Padma said, touching her empty earlobes.
"And my bracelet and hairpin," Pavarti added anxiously, "they seemed to vanish in an instant!"
Steven understood immediately.
"It's the Niffler," he said helplessly. "These little guys love shiny things. Don't worry; I'll find them for you."
He whistled, and a Crup with a forked tail came running, sitting upright like a soldier.
Steven petted its ears and whispered a few words, sending the Crup running off.
Soon after, it returned, carrying a bluish-black Niffler in its mouth, which looked somewhat like a platypus.
The Crup wagged its tail rapidly, wearing a proud expression.
Steven took the Niffler, patted the Crup on the head, and praised, "Good boy."
"Is this a Niffler?" Pavarti asked curiously, looking at the little creature, puzzled. "I don't see any jewelry! Is it hidden in a nest?"
Steven said, "This is a Knarl Niffler, different from an Irish Niffler. It has a magical pouch—look!"
He shook the Niffler by its hind legs, and the Patil Sisters' gold jewelry clattered out, along with Occamy eggshells, golden cutlery, and some shiny stones.
The little guy looked furious when placed back on the ground. It tearfully gathered up the scattered items, then ran off.
"I think you'd better put your jewelry away," Michael advised. "Otherwise, it might get stolen by Nifflers again."
Theo suddenly exclaimed, "Look, it's a fairy!"
Everyone looked over.
At first glance, it seemed like a group of dragonflies fluttering among the flowers. But on closer look, they were human-shaped apart from their colorful wings.
The delicate little figures wore clothes made of petals or leaves, busily flying about. Sometimes they'd pause on a leaf, as if resting.
Everyone watched breathlessly, not daring to exhale, fearing they'd scare them away.
A fairy seemed attracted by the scent and flew over to Padma. After circling twice, it landed on Theo's finger.
"Merlin..."
Pavarti moaned softly.
Theo delightedly looked at the green-haired fairy, which held a tiny magic wand, sometimes emitting golden and red sparks as it flew.
Another fairy with transparent wings flew over, and the two communicated in low buzzing noises before flying off together.
Theo touched his finger, feeling a sense of loss.
"Some wizards treat fairies as exquisite decorations, using spells to fix them on candlesticks or Christmas trees,"
Steven said with a hint of sympathy, "But I think... they're most beautiful when they fly freely."
"Fixed on a candlestick?" Padma asked. "Can they still live like that?"
"Some people release the fairies after using them... but not everyone is willing to do that," Steven said.
"Do they feel pain?" Theo asked softly.
"Fairies are considered to have low intelligence, their minds probably akin to insects,"
Steven replied, "But any living creature can feel pain. It's just that arrogant wizards can't empathize with their suffering."
This left the young wizards in silence for quite a while, each feeling somewhat moved.
Hermione arrived in the afternoon, looking worried.
"Have any of you been in contact with Harry lately?" she asked the group.
They exchanged looks and shook their heads.
"Harry doesn't seem to have opened the Friendship Book at all," Hermione said with concern. "I even rented an owl to send him a letter, but he hasn't replied. Ron's in the same situation..."
"Could something have happened to Harry?" Theo frowned.
"Maybe his Muggle relatives locked him up," Michael guessed correctly, "I knew he wasn't treated well!"
"Locked up? Muggles dare do that to him?" Pavarti asked in shock, then suggested, "How about we go check on him together?"
"Sure, let it be a group activity!" Michael said enthusiastically.
"No!" Vid advised against it. "So many of us appearing in the Muggle Community would draw too much attention. I'll go check it out myself."
"And what can a kid like you do?" Steven asked. "I'll go with you."
"I want to go too!" Hermione said; "I just can't stop worrying."
"No need!" Vid saw Theo was about to speak and firmly refused, "Besides, I'm not going alone... I'll ask Remus to go with me."
"Him?" Steven frowned at first, then recalled something: "Oh... Remus Lupin, I remember he was good friends with James Potter."
When James Potter started school, Steven was almost graduating. They weren't in the same house and didn't know each other.
But that group of four was the talk of the school, and Steven had heard their names and some of their exploits.
If Harry Potter was indeed in danger or mistreated by Muggles, then Remus Lupin, as his father's friend, was the most appropriate one to step in as an elder.