Doesn't Your Conscience Hurt?

Noon.

The outskirts of London.

Vinson Wright's residence.

A fiery-red phoenix landed beside the window.

The Fire Phoenix held an envelope in its beak and tapped on the window. This was the phoenix Dumbledore had deliberately sent to deliver a reply, and even the envelope was made of specially treated fireproof paper.

The old man could discern Vinson Wright's veiled arrogance from the letter. It was very much the style of an excellent person—and it also meant that someone needed to tell him the world was vast.

A mythical phoenix, the Phoenix.

Dumbledore had chosen this method to teach Vinson Wright his first lesson. The old man had also mentally prepared himself for Vinson to cause trouble at Hogwarts.

"Looks like things are going pretty well..."

When Vinson Wright saw Phoenix Fawkes carrying the letter, he walked to the window in satisfaction, gently opened it, and took the envelope from the phoenix's beak.

The contents of the envelope were very simple.

As expected, it was a reply from Dumbledore.

[Dear Mr. Wright]

[Regarding your question, my advice is that it would be best not to.]

[If Avenia kept Hogwarts in winter all the time, many people would be troubled by it. I have always believed that ice cream in summer tastes better than roast chicken in winter. I am sure Mr. Barty Crouch will take good care of Anivia for you.]

[If you insist on bringing your own companion to school, perhaps I can help you find a suitable place at the school to accommodate Anivia.]

[Finally, Mr. Wright possesses a kind heart, just as we do. Kindness has never been something shameful to us, nor is it something that must be hidden.]

[Happy birthday.]

[I hope we meet soon.]

[Yours sincerely, Albus Dumbledore]

[P.S. If you have any fudge nearby, you may feed a piece to Fawkes, considering that its fallen feather is your birthday present. This is a perfectly proper business deal between you and Fawkes, isn't it?]

After reading the letter, Vinson Wright glanced again at the phoenix standing by the window and refusing to leave. When he shook open the envelope, he discovered that there was also a phoenix feather inside.

Was this Dumbledore's gift?

Vinson Wright put away the envelope, then picked up a small snack from the table and handed it to Phoenix Fawkes by the window. He watched as the phoenix took a few bites before spreading its wings and flying away.

"The plan went perfectly."

Vinson Wright calmly set down the envelope.

The phoenix feather that wizards throughout the world yearned for but could not obtain was casually tossed onto the table by him, because he had gained something more important.

As expected...

That wise old man had noticed.

A perfectly proper transaction had always been Vinson's style in elementary school.

Now that Dumbledore had brought up those words and even openly praised the kindness Vinson Wright had subtly displayed in his letter, Vinson knew that his performance had succeeded.

All these years.

Dumbledore had been secretly sending people to protect Harry Potter. He had even secretly observed Harry Potter's life at Wisteria Elementary School himself.

The highly conspicuous Vinson Wright was an impossible presence to overlook. This arrogant, cold little fellow concealed a tenderness and kindness that ordinary people found difficult to detect.

Dumbledore had caught sight of Vinson's kindness.

In fact, anyone with extensive experience and an observer's perspective could notice the shining qualities within Vinson Wright.

A ray of light projected through the mist would appear extraordinarily dazzling if one looked at it carefully, subconsciously making people overlook one thing...

This ray of light...

Had actually spread outward from within the mist.

As for what problems might arise from the mist itself, none of them could make people overlook the existence of that light. Everyone would believe that the light was the core of the mist.

Clang.

The sound of the door opening interrupted Vinson's thoughts.

Old Barty Crouch was still wearing his suit. He walked in carrying a birthday cake, but his expression was not looking too good. "I think I just saw Phoenix Fawkes. Dumbledore is extremely clever. He may have already discovered the secret of this house..."

Once Dumbledore discovered the secret of this house, the fact that his son, Barty Crouch Jr., was still alive would be exposed. At that point, everything would be meaningless...

This was also why Old Barty Crouch did not want to contact Dumbledore.

As he spoke of the dangers that might arise, Old Barty Crouch's gaze fell on the envelope bearing the Hogwarts crest on the table. His brows furrowed despite himself. "Has Hogwarts started using phoenixes to deliver admission letters now?"

That was a little extravagant.

The envelope on the table was made of fireproof parchment. This kind of paper was only used by the Ministry of Magic when recording top-secret documents.

"A letter from Dumbledore."

Vinson Wright nodded toward Old Barty Crouch, indicating that he should put away the envelope on the table. "The letter contained a phoenix feather from Dumbledore. It's yours."

After saying that, Vinson took out the new student admission list from earlier. "I already received the admission letter this morning."

"Why would Dumbledore send a letter?"

Old Barty Crouch asked as he put away the envelope containing the phoenix feather, because he was indeed the only one who could make full use of the feather's value.

"I had Anivia take a trip to Hogwarts."

Vinson Wright leaned back in his chair and said calmly, "That was essentially telling Dumbledore that I might cause a little trouble at Hogwarts..."

"That Ice Bird?"

Old Barty Crouch clearly remembered Vinson Wright's Ice Bird. He was the only one who had truly witnessed how powerful its magic was. "That isn't a pet an ordinary person could possess. Dumbledore will grow suspicious of you..."

"He won't."

Vinson cut Barty Crouch off with absolute certainty and explained unhurriedly, "I already told Dumbledore that Avenia was a birthday present you gave me..."

"..."

Old Barty Crouch's brow immediately tightened.

No matter when, Old Barty Crouch always did his best to remain calm. Taking the blame for something was nothing particularly troublesome.

"There is another piece of good news."

A smile curled at the corner of Vinson Wright's mouth, his face filled with delight. "I can tell you now about the greatest result I achieved during all my years studying at a Muggle elementary school."

"Dumbledore has been secretly observing Harry Potter."

"So he must have discovered what I did at that Muggle elementary school. That will give him a fixed impression of me."

"Once he has formed a fixed impression of me, he will psychologically accept one fact... that I have always been a student who hid my kindness and deliberately behaved unreasonably."

Of course.

Vinson did not say the most important reason aloud.

Someone who truly caused trouble everywhere at school was actually the easiest person to make others believe in. No one would suspect that he might be plotting some scheme to overturn the Wizarding World.

"..."

Old Barty Crouch stared intently at Vinson Wright.

It had to be said that Vinson's scheming was completely out of keeping with his age.

Even among adult wizards—and even in the era when Voldemort committed countless atrocities—it would have seemed excessively sinister, because this was nothing more than exploiting people's thoughts and human nature...

But...

Scheming against an old man...

Didn't Vinson's conscience hurt?

A little trivia.

Conscience: A wondrous organ within the human body that sometimes disappears and sometimes reappears. Occasionally, it can even serve as food for canines.