"How could that be! That's Vizet!"
"Yeah! I've seen that kid—how many crises has he resolved already?"
The entire Headmaster's Office erupted into noise as the portraits of former headmasters began questioning Old Barty Crouch's words.
After calming the portraits, Dumbledore blinked, drew a deep breath, and said, "Old Barty, just as you said earlier..."
He seemed to be struggling to compose himself. He tried to pick up his tea for a sip, but the tremor in his fingertips betrayed him the moment he touched the cup.
The eyes behind his half-moon spectacles seemed far brighter than usual, like springs on the verge of overflowing.
"Vizet has only disappeared. You haven't..." He drew his hand back, his voice hoarse.
His lips trembled, as though he lacked the courage to say the word "body." In the end, he could not force it out. He merely shook his head weakly. "I mean... you should understand what I mean."
"As for the Department of Mysteries, the Silent People are the professionals. Perhaps we could have them..."
"Albus!" Old Barty Crouch called out, stressing his words. "You should know my way of doing things very well."
"When I had the Floo Network Authority arrange the Floo Network, I contacted those Silent People under Amelia's instruction and had them reveal what they knew about the Time Hall."
"I must reiterate that unfortunate news..." He sighed. "Vizet is dead. There is no possibility of his return. He... even his body has vanished. It is... deeply unfortunate!"
The Headmaster's Office fell silent. Dumbledore seemed frozen, his entire body rigid where he stood.
Even the former headmasters in the portraits fell quiet. Several of them seemed unable to bear the shock and vanished directly from their frames.
Not only Dumbledore—Old Barty Crouch and Snape also remained motionless. They