Controllable Wart Potion

Anton immersed himself in the world of magic, unable to pull free. The turmoil outside the school had faded from his view.

In truth, he was not as Dumbledore believed, indifferent to everything beyond magic.

That might once have been possible, but Old Voldy had returned, and the world had grown dangerous. He had people he cared about. Much of the time, he could not simply live without a care in the world.

Having ties to others felt good. It made Anton feel like he was truly living as a person.

In fact, he had many channels for gathering information.

Lupin kept watch for him at the Ministry of Magic and wrote to Anton from time to time.

Sometimes, after lunch, when everyone assumed Anton had gone to the Cottage to study magic, he would leave the school and head to the Ministry to sit with Lupin, Arthur, Old Ronaldo, or Fudge for a while.

Besides, as the head of the Animagus Office, Anton had his own office at the Ministry of Magic!

Professor Snape also told him what was happening over at Azkaban. At the very least, Anton knew that Voldemort's most capable subordinate, Barty Crouch Jr., had never shown himself in Azkaban Castle. No one knew where he had gone.

As for the various changes in the Wizarding World, Rookwood, a former Ministry of Magic Obliviator sponsored by Lucius to run a newspaper in France, had Owl Post deliver a compiled selection of major news to Anton every week.

Rookwood was a former Death Eater whom Anton had released from Azkaban prison. Now that the Dark Lord had returned, he apparently had no desire to go back to Azkaban Castle.

Time passed day by day.

Then, on this day, a different sort of message reached Anton from outside