On Elba Island's beach.
A young couple walked hand in hand across the soft sand, into the sea breeze that still carried the daytime heat.
"I really didn't expect there to be so many Muggles on the beach at night." Isabelle bent down and nudged Fat Cat Tom, who was stubbornly sprawled on the sand and refusing to move.
"That's normal. This is a famous beach in Italy, and it's only August. Lots of people like to come here for their holidays."
Albert picked Tom up and tried to perk him up again. "All right, walk a little farther, then we'll head back."
"Meow!"
Tom rubbed himself against Albert's ankle and let out a coquettish cry.
"No. I can't carry a big fat pig like you. Walk by yourself." Albert rubbed Tom's head, took Isabelle's hand, and continued onward.
Tom reluctantly followed. It knew that if it did not keep up, it might go hungry later.
"It really used to be hard to imagine that the Muggle world was like this."
Isabelle looked back at the receding bustle, her voice carrying a trace of emotion. "Many wizards think Muggles without magic must live difficult lives, but now it seems arrogance and prejudice blinded them. They never truly understood what the Muggle world was really like."
"Few books in bookstores that depict the Muggle world are fair. In the stories they tell, Muggles without magic don't live very well."
Isabelle tilted her head toward Albert and blinked, waiting for him to continue.
"The reason is simple. Many wizards can't stand seeing Muggles living better than they do, nor are they willing to admit it. So books saying Muggles live well have no readers, and books nobody reads naturally get eliminated by the market." Albert smiled. "Actually, wizards aren't the only ones