Left Unresolved

"Of course."

Professor Foxx drew his wand and handed it to Kingsley.

Holding the rather old-looking wand, Kingsley said with feeling, "I still remember its materials: willow wood, phoenix tail feather, eleven inches long. When I used the Backfiring Charm on it back then, I was scared out of my wits."

"That was not a glorious chapter of history," Professor Foxx said calmly.

Kingsley nodded. He could tell that Foxx did not want to talk much about the past, so he raised his own wand and connected it to Professor Foxx's before casting the Backfiring Charm.

"Tooth-Growing Hex, Bat-Bogey Hex, Stinging Hex, Clumping Charm, Tongue-Tying Hex, Obscuring Charm... You've used quite a number of different jinxes several times recently?"

The results of the inspection left Kingsley deeply puzzled. Adult wizards should rarely have cause to use these spells.

"Experimental requirements," Professor Foxx answered simply.

Kingsley had heard of his experimental research as well. Though it skirted the line somewhat, it was barely within legal bounds, so there was nothing he could really say.

Professor Foxx shrugged. "Since there's no problem, can you give it back to me?"

Kingsley returned the wand to him. There was no regret or disappointment on his face; instead, he seemed relieved.

Then he turned to Professor McGonagall.

"Professor McGonagall, could you arrange for me to meet the students who arrived at the scene first? I have some questions for them."

Afterward, they left Professor Foxx's office and went to Professor McGonagall's Deputy Headmistress's office.

Lynn and Cedric were summoned there quickly, along with the Slytherin girl who had been the first to see Hubert.

On the way there, Cedric quietly told Lynn what had happened earlier in the Great Hall.

"Someone reported Professor Foxx directly to the two Aurors from the Ministry of Magic. Apparently, Professor McGonagall was furious."

Lynn nodded. "I know. When I was coming over, I saw a group of people surrounding him in the common room, listening to him recount his glorious achievements."

"Then do you think Professor Foxx is the murderer?" Cedric could not help asking.

Lynn had never voiced an opinion on the matter when they practiced spells together.

"I never jump to conclusions," Lynn said softly. "Especially when most people are biased."

Cedric scratched his forehead, as though pondering his words.

Once they reached the Deputy Headmistress's office, Kingsley's main target for questioning was not the two of them, but the Slytherin girl.

"When you saw that boy, did you notice anything unusual around him?"

The girl was clearly nervous. Looking into Kingsley's eyes, she stammered, "Sir, I... I don't really understand what kind of unusual phenomenon you mean?"

Kingsley fell silent for a few seconds before speaking.

"I mean... did you get the feeling that an invisible person was standing beside Hubert and staring at you?"

At his words, the girl immediately shuddered. She became even more nervous.

"I-I don't know, sir. I was... I was too scared at the time. I didn't notice anything."

Kingsley looked somewhat disappointed. The girl was too timid; he could not get anything out of her at all.

"What about you two?" He turned his gaze toward Lynn and Cedric. "Did either of you notice anything suspicious, or anyone suspicious?"

Lynn and Cedric both shook their heads.

Just as Kingsley was feeling deeply disappointed, Cedric suddenly remembered something.

"When Lynn and I were practicing spells by the Black Lake, we saw a young wizard returning to the castle from outside. He looked extremely disheveled."

Kingsley instantly perked up and asked urgently, "What time was it? Which direction did he come from? What was his name?"

"Around six in the morning. He came along the Black Lake, from the direction of that Whomping Willow the professors always tell us to stay away from. His name... I don't know him, so I don't know what he's called."

At Cedric's reminder, Lynn recalled the incident as well.

"His name is Ian Campbell. He's a first-year Ravenclaw."

Kingsley now looked incredibly excited!

He sprang up from his chair, looking as though he was about to personally seek out the young wizard named Ian.

However, Professor McGonagall's expression changed again and again when she heard that name.

"We'll go find him now. I have a feeling that even if this young wizard isn't the murderer, the murderer must be connected to him..."

"Sit down, Kingsley!"

Just as Kingsley was eagerly preparing to act, Professor McGonagall's shout startled everyone present.

Both the Auror and the young wizards stared, dumbfounded, at the unusually agitated Professor McGonagall.

Professor McGonagall struggled to compose herself, then ordered Lynn and the others, "You may leave now, but listen! Do not tell anyone about seeing Campbell that day. Remember, anyone!"

Though Lynn and Cedric did not understand what was happening, they knew this was no longer something they could involve themselves in. They nodded quickly, then hurried out of the Deputy Headmistress's office.

Kingsley also realized that the matter was not so simple. He sat back down, his brows tightly furrowed.

"Is there something wrong with that student, Professor?"

Professor McGonagall said nothing. Her emotions seemed to have gradually calmed, and she said to Savage, who was standing nearby, "Could you excuse us? I need to discuss something rather private with Shackle."

Savage nodded hurriedly and left as well.

Only Kingsley and Professor McGonagall remained in the office.

Professor McGonagall stared intently at Kingsley.

"Shackle, I can guarantee that child has nothing to do with this attack. You cannot continue investigating him!"

Kingsley looked confused. "Can you tell me why?"

Professor McGonagall drew a deep breath and remained silent for a long while before finally speaking.

"You are one of us, Shackle, but without Albus's permission, I cannot explain this too clearly. Do you remember Remus?"

In the end, the Aurors returned empty-handed.

After they left, Professor McGonagall announced in the Great Hall that the Aurors had proven Professor Foxx's innocence and that he was not responsible for the Dark Magic attack.

Although some young wizards remained convinced that Professor Foxx was a Dark wizard, most students trusted Professor McGonagall's words.

The attack seemed as though it would be left unresolved, and Hogwarts gradually relaxed its guard as time passed.

For the next two months, until after Hallowe'en, Hogwarts remained peaceful and calm.

This was not only because the murderer had not struck again. More importantly, before Hallowe'en, Professor Dumbledore returned to Hogwarts.