On the beach of Elba Island.
A young couple walked hand in hand along the soft beach, facing 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." Isobel bent down and gave Fat Cat Tom, who was sprawled on the sand and refusing to move, a push.
"That's normal. This is one of Italy's famous beaches, and it's only August. Lots of people like coming here on holiday."
Albert picked Tom up and tried to perk him up again. "All right, walk a little farther. We'll be heading back soon."
"Meow!"
Tom rubbed against Albert's ankle and let out a coquettish cry.
"No. I can't carry a fat pig like you. Walk by yourself." Albert rubbed Tom's head, then took Isobel's hand and continued onward.
Tom reluctantly followed. It knew that if it did not keep up, it might end up going hungry later.
"It was really hard to imagine that the Muggle World could be like this."
Isobel looked back at the gradually fading bustle, her voice touched with emotion. "Many wizards think Muggles without magic must live very hard lives, but now it seems arrogance and prejudice blinded them. They never truly understood what the Muggle world was really like."
"Very few books in bookstores that portray the Muggle World are fair. In the stories they tell, Muggles without magic do not live well."
Isobel turned to look at Albert, blinking as she waited for him to continue.
"The reason is simple. Many wizards cannot stand seeing Muggles live better lives than they do, nor are they willing to admit it. So no one reads books claiming that Muggles live well, and books no one reads are naturally eliminated by the market." Albert