Tidings of Old Friends

"After that Mr. Potter and Runcorn perished together, there was no more news of his friends either." Hagrid shrugged. "But it's been a hundred years already. Even if they were still alive, they'd be feeble old people by now."

At the end, he added one more sentence.

"Time has never been merciful."

"But they were all outstanding people," Harry asked with a frown. "Surely they wouldn't have remained unknown."

Hagrid shook his head. "That, I don't know. But I've never heard of any friends who fought alongside that Mr. Potter appearing again. So much so that a lot of people think he was fictional."

After chatting a little longer, Hermione noticed the Gringotts break-in reported in the newspaper.

"So Gringotts isn't as safe as they boast." Hermione read from the paper. "Latest Report on the Illegal Entry Incident at Gringotts: The investigation into the illegal entry incident at Gringotts on July twenty-sixth is still ongoing. It is widely believed to have been the work of unidentified witches and wizards of the Dark Forces. The Goblins of Gringotts reiterated today that nothing had been stolen. The underground Vault searched by the intruders had, in fact, been emptied earlier that day. A Goblin spokesperson for Gringotts stated this afternoon: 'What exactly was stored in the Vault is confidential. It would be best not to interfere in this matter.'"

"July twenty-sixth?"

Harry suddenly recalled that it had been the very day Hagrid took him to Gringotts to withdraw money.

So he asked, "Hagrid, the day of the Gringotts break-in was the very day we went there together. It's very possible we were there when it happened!"

Yet this time, Hagrid did not answer. He lowered his head, not daring to meet Harry's eyes, and handed him a cup of tea.

"Have some. I picked this Chamomile in the Forbidden Forest earlier," Hagrid said, trying to change the subject. "Steeping it in water is good for the inflammation in your gums."

Seeing that Hagrid would not say anything and was even trying to change the subject, Harry could not press him further.

After all, it was something Headmaster Dumbledore had entrusted to him. He certainly could not talk about it carelessly.

He took the newspaper from Hermione and read it carefully—the underground Vault searched by the intruders had, in fact, been emptied earlier that day... Combined with Hagrid's reaction, the Vault that mysterious wizard had broken into must have been the one they had visited!

But if the Vault had been emptied, that meant the only thing inside had been that little cloth bundle.

It seemed the mysterious wizard's target had been the item Hagrid took out.

All the way back, his mind was a storm of thoughts.

As he thought, he also missed Ominis, that Slytherin boy who had served as his external brain for several years.

If Omi were here, he'd definitely help me untangle this and find useful clues, Harry thought.

Harry was not only thinking about the Gringotts break-in. He also missed his old friends.

He still could not believe that those outstanding classmates had vanished without a trace.

Something must have happened!

After thinking it over, two people came to mind.

Cassandra Malfoy and Gareth Weasley.

The descendants of those two were studying at the school, and one of them was even one of his good friends now.

But how was he supposed to ask? If he directly asked Ron, "Hey, Buddy, does your family have an Ancestor named Gareth?" Ron would definitely ask how he knew his great-grandfather's name.

As for Malfoy, there was even less need to mention him. How could that punchable brat possibly answer his questions?

Just as he thought of Ron, he heard Ron speaking loudly nearby.

"Muggle flying machines are really cumbersome," Ron said beside him. "Once, when I was riding Charlie's broken broomstick, I nearly crashed into a Glider..."

Hermione looked up and gave him a very serious glance.

That look plainly said: You know what I'm about to say.

Ron's face immediately turned bright red. He had forgotten that Miss Know-it-all in front of him came from a Muggle Family.

Oh no. His bragging had run straight into an expert.

Fortunately, Hermione only glared at him and did not expose his boasting. Ron let out a long breath.

He had been about to force out some excuse to save face. Good, good...

But before he could keep bragging, Draco at the Slytherin Long Table began boasting loudly behind them.

"What a pity, Weasley. You only nearly crashed into a Glider." He bragged loudly, "You must have heard that once, while I was flying, I nearly crashed into a Muggle Helicopter. Luckily, I dodged it with my quick reflexes. That time gave my Father quite a fright, and he even gave me a good scolding."

At the end, he added, "It's a pity first-year new students aren't allowed to join the Quidditch team. Otherwise, I'd definitely show everyone what I can do."

"What a braggart." Hermione loudly complained to Harry and Ron, "A little wizard like him, who can barely even use magic properly, would only end up minced by a Helicopter's blades."

Ron was her friend, so of course she would not expose him on the spot—but Draco was different. He had insulted her ever since they first met and had even drawn his wand on her.

Want her to spare Draco's feelings?

Dream on.

"Hey! Mud... Miss Know-it-all!" Draco forcibly stopped himself from insulting Hermione and began calling her by her nickname. "Do you think you know so much about Flying Broomsticks? I'd wager you don't even dare sit on a broom and fly!"

Hermione sneered and shot back, "Oh, Drama-K, I may not know much about Flying Broomsticks, but I know Helicopters."

Malfoy's face suddenly flushed red. He began muttering all sorts of rambling things—how Muggles were annoying, and something about know-it-alls—while Gryffindor's long table was instantly filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

"Draco, don't pay attention to them." Pansy Parkinson, who looked like a little poodle, coaxed Draco. "They're just jealous of your talent for flying. Don't worry—when it's Flying Lesson, you'll definitely make them see what you can do."

Perhaps Pansy's comfort worked, because Draco once again recovered his haughty expression.

After all, aside from the Helicopter part being a little far-fetched, the rest was not too outrageous a boast.

He was still very confident in his flying skills.

Ever since he was four, Draco had flown all over Malfoy Manor on a child-sized Flying Broomstick. Did they understand the sheer gravitas of a seven-year veteran broom rider?

Harry actually liked flying too. Though Headmaster Phineas Black had ordered Quidditch banned, he had not missed a single Flying Lesson.

But he clearly had more important things to do now, such as... investigating the whereabouts of his old friends.

Then tonight, Harry thought.

I'll go to the Map Chamber at the lowest level of the castle. Perhaps Verathea, who also inherited Ancient Magic, left some clue for me there.