The Peacock and Quill Showing Off

Rita Skeeter stopped delaying. "The Muggle World now... seems different from what the History of Magic tells us, at least in North America..."

"These days I've been working for The 《New York Ghost Newspaper》, searching for interesting news... and that's when this happened..."

"Several Muggle have photos of the New York Attack Incident, and your image is captured in those photos... and that's how they're looking for you."

She opened her crocodile-skin handbag, took out the pictures, and placed them on the table. "Following the Statute of Secrecy is a wizard's duty. I erased their memories and left these behind."

Wizet glanced at the picture. The buildings in the picture were indeed those that had been attacked by the Fire Dragon. This was evidence provided by Rita Skeeter to verify the credibility of her statement.

"Mr. Lovegood, aren't you going to say anything?" Rita Skeeter took out a pen and paper from her purse. "They seem to regard you as...a god? Do you have any clue?"

"No," Wizet replied casually. "You just mentioned the 《New York Ghost Newspaper》, what did you publish in it... about yesterday's seminar?"

Rita Skeeter was about to speak when she heard the second half of Wizet's sentence, and could only smile helplessly, "Yes, it's about the seminar."

"Of course, most readers may have forgotten what Animagus is, and spellcasting ability isn't that important. Their focus is on you."

Wizet murmured, "Me?"

"Will you be following The 《New York Ghost Newspaper》 lately?" Rita Skeeter tossed her pen and paper into the air, which automatically assumed a writing position.

Wizet shook her head. "No."

"That explains it..." Rita Skeeter said. "Perhaps for you, this is just a simple summer vacation."

"But for the wizards in this land... they see reports about you in the newspapers every now and then..."

"Such as the 'Most Promising Newcomer Award' in 'Transfiguration Today,' awarded by the Minister of Magic himself to a promising young talent..."

"You wouldn't be..." Wizet guessed, recalling what Rita Skeeter had just said, "Republishing your article from England here, would you?"

"I've rearranged it!" Rita Skeeter corrected. "I also had to have native wizards proofread it and change the usage of some words. It's not a 're-release'."

"But these contents are selling very well, which is why I chose to stay here for a few more days... Mr. Lovegood, I really want to know... why you are willing to share those views?"

"Don't you have any idea... how much value do you actually have in what you said at the seminar yesterday? Animagus does help with concealment, but that's about it..."

"Transforming into an ordinary animal also presents many inconveniences... and what you're doing now is tantamount to making a wizard pick up a wand and turning Squib into a wizard..."

"I'm not that great," Wizet waved her hand. "The seminar yielded some results, and I felt it should be brought up for discussion to hear different opinions..."

"Isn't this normal? When I'm answering other people's questions, I'm also organizing my own thoughts to better explain my original viewpoints..."

"This is a process of mutual progress... This is how learning should be. If you gain something from it, you should share it so that everyone can improve together..."

"Only in this way can more viewpoints emerge, and when someone collects them, they form new knowledge and then spark new viewpoints. Isn't that great?"

Rita Skeeter gave Wizet a deep look. "But the Uagadou School of Magic ... they have no intention of sharing this knowledge."

"Their participation in the seminars every year is more of a show-off act. After all, they have a significant advantage in this field; there are a great Animagus in Africa."

"So what if they show off?" Wizet retorted. "When peacocks show off their tail feathers, a few feathers sometimes fall off, and those can also be made into quill pens..."

"Isn't that right? The same goes for seminars... Even if they're just showing off, they do share different perspectives. Without their perspectives, how could I be inspired?"

"A peacock and a quill pen... I love this metaphor," Rita Skeeter exclaimed. "It allows me to see another side of those African Wizards ..."

"You're an Obscurial, so why are you willing to show them kindness? What... made you become the way you are now?"

"Because they all had goodwill towards me," Wizet said. "Luna, Headmaster Dumbledore, Mr. Lovegood, Professor Quirrell, Professor Snape, Professor McGonagall ..."

He read out many names, "It is because of their existence that I am willing to be kind to more people... Of course, I will also be wary of malice..."

"For example, Rita Skeeter, without your publicity, I'm probably not known to many wizards that I'm Obscurial, right?"

"Ahem..." Rita Skeeter chuckled a few times. "This matter is over. I was just doing my job for money... This won't happen again."

"Let me show you my sincerity..." she quickly changed the subject, taking out a copy of the 《New York Ghost Newspaper》. "This is today's issue; you can take a look."

Who would have thought that Mr. Vizet Lovegood, the charismatic young talent who recently shone so brightly, would once again demonstrate his abilities at the Animagus International Symposium...?

After just a few words, Wizet couldn't stand it anymore and looked directly at the accompanying picture.

He occupies the central position in the illustration, surrounded by wizards who are all paying attention to him and clapping their hands frantically...

Seeing this picture, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"It seems Miss Lovegood was right..." Rita Skeeter raised an eyebrow. "You don't want Professor Snape ... to know how unreliable you are at brewing Potions."

Wizet couldn't help but smile. "It's a good thing she's here."

Rita Skeeter pursed her lips, wanting to say more, but ultimately gritted her teeth and held back.

Wizet regained her composure. "There's one last thing... What happened in Central Park?"

"Luna told me that she and Professor McGonagall are going to the Magical Congress. Is that related to this?"

"Look at this..." Rita Skeeter pulled open her handbag and took out several Magical Photo.

The photo shows a meteorite streaking across the sky, crashing into the ground and creating a deep crater, kicking up dust and wood chips.

The shockwave caused trees to fall and the meteorite to create a huge crater in the ground, scorching the soil around it with intense heat.