Newt Scamander (Part 1)

After finishing the chocolate, Black in the portrait and his teacher—presumably a former headmaster as well—were still grappling and tearing at each other.

A crowd of elderly men and women watched from around them.

The vast headmaster's office had instantly turned into a senior activity center.

"Child, don't listen to Old Black's nonsense. Ever since he learned that the last male of the Black Family had been thrown into Azkaban, he went mad."

A kindly voice came from beside him.

Vaughn turned toward the sound and saw that an elderly red-haired woman had appeared in a portrait that had previously been blank near the desk.

In the wizarding world, seeing that red hair was practically enough to tell him everything.

Vaughn bowed. "Hello, Headmistress Weasley. I'm sorry, but I don't know how I should address you."

She was undoubtedly an ancestor of the Weasley Family. However, Arthur and Molly had eloped back then and were long since disowned by the family. They had not brought any documents concerning the family lineage with them, so the younger generation, including Vaughn, knew nothing about Weasley history.

The elderly woman was plump and looked kind and benevolent.

"Don't worry about that. I've been dead for a long time. Whatever standing I once had in the Weasley Family no longer matters."

Vaughn readily accepted that.

Since the dead woman herself did not care, there was no need for him to press the matter. He changed the subject. "When you said the last male of the Black Family, did you mean Sirius Black?"

"Yes. That was ten years ago. I still remember Old Black's crazed howls when Dumbledore told him the news."

"One of the Sacred Twenty-Eight pure-blood families, with a thousand-year legacy, was about to become dust in history. We could understand his pain, but from then on, he kept trying to lure Slytherin students into helping him rescue Sirius from Azkaban..."

Headmistress Weasley sighed.

"That was going too far. Dumbledore had no choice but to confine him to the office because of it."

She looked at Vaughn with affection and cautioned him, "You're still young, and perhaps you admire power, but you must be vigilant and restrained when studying Dark magic."

"Some ignorant Dark wizards always say that power itself is neither good nor evil, and that it is the wizard who determines good and evil. But Dark magic requires extreme, negative emotions as nourishment. If one remained in such intense emotions all the time, who could guarantee that they would not go mad?"

Vaughn nodded.

That was his view as well.

That was why he was curious about how Dumbledore and Snape had solved this problem.

After chatting with the old ancestor for a while longer and watching the commotion, Vaughn grew bored as the two old men showed no sign of stopping their fight. He began wandering around Dumbledore's office.

In a cabinet near the fireplace, he found the Pensieve.

Vaughn vaguely remembered that Dumbledore had preserved many memories concerning Tom in order to investigate why Tom had not died.

However, he did not see them. Dumbledore had probably hidden them with magic.

Then, in a corner near the door that was blocked by a shelving unit, he found a full-length mirror covered in black satin.

Vaughn did not lift the satin. He knew what it was.

"That is the Mirror of Erised."

Apparition disturbed the still air in the office as Fawkes brought Dumbledore back.

Having gone out and confirmed something, the old man appeared to be in a good mood. Smiling, he said to Vaughn, "Legend says it can reflect a person's desires. Mr. Weasley, aren't you going to take a look?"

Vaughn smiled and shook his head. "I read about it in an alchemy book. It can only reflect desires, not fulfill them. No matter how long you look, it's still false."

"But I think it can help you determine what you truly want."

"I know very clearly what I desire, Headmaster. A person's understanding of themselves should come from within, not from relying on a mirror."

Vaughn answered. He was getting a little impatient and could not help taking a jab at Dumbledore. "And what did you see in the mirror?"

"..."

For a moment, Dumbledore was lost in thought.

He could not help recalling how, for some time now, he had stood foolishly before the mirror every day. It reflected four young children, their faces and voices exactly as they had been more than ninety years ago.

Unlike reality, they had no conflicts and had not brought about tragedy. They were laughing happily, close and content.

But the great wizard swiftly suppressed the surging emotions in his heart and winked at Vaughn. "I saw many wool socks. You must understand, child, how much an old man over a hundred years old wishes for someone to give him a pair of warm wool socks for Christmas."

"Heh heh..."

Vaughn responded only with an inscrutable laugh.

He did not want to keep playing this game of pretending to be mad and acting foolish with Dumbledore. He asked directly, "Did you find anything?"

Dumbledore shook his head regretfully, but still answered, "Yes, Mr. Weasley. Your guess was correct. A powerful Dark wizard is plotting to obtain unicorn blood, attempting to brew an Elixir of Life to sustain his... ugly, wretched life, flickering like a candle in the wind!"

As he said this, a complicated look flashed through his bright blue eyes.

But his tone soon became light again.

"Although I did not find him, fortunately, I found the unicorn herd. No unicorns have died because of this yet. Your discovery was timely, Mr. Weasley. On behalf of the unicorns, I thank you. What a good person—"

Dumbledore touchedly wiped at the corner of his eye.

What a drama queen!

Vaughn's mouth twitched several times. Compared to this, he still preferred hanging out with Ron and Harry. This old monster who had lived too long was just too awful!

What a pity. It looked like Tom had not gone to the Forbidden Forest tonight. If the two of them had run into each other, that would have been interesting.

Vaughn sighed inwardly in regret, then suggested, "Headmaster, I suggest relocating the unicorns somewhere else. The Forbidden Forest is no longer suitable for them to live in, and Hogwarts doesn't have enough people to guard against thieves all day."

"A very good suggestion, Weasley... Oh, may I call you Vaughn? It would feel a little more familiar."

Vaughn chuckled. "Then can I call you Albus?"

To his surprise, old Dumbledore did not mind at all. Smiling warmly, he said, "Of course. Aren't names meant to be called?"

Without waiting for Vaughn to keep chuckling, he continued:

"I also think the unicorns should not stay in the Forbidden Forest, so I've decided to ask an old friend for help. Come, Vaughn, come with me. He's a good man too. I'm sure you'll like him."

Vaughn did not refuse.

He walked over to Dumbledore, grabbed his wrist, and Fawkes gave a cry before landing on the old man's shoulder.

"Have you ever experienced Side-Along Apparition? Relax. It'll only be uncomfortable for a moment."

"Alright, Albus!"

"Don't struggle halfway through. Splinching is terrifying. If your head flies off, I'm afraid I'll have a hard time finding it again, child."

"Alright, Albus!"

"...I don't think you need to keep calling my name."

"Alright, Albus!"

Whoosh—

The two of them twisted out of sight, leaving only the portraits in the office still chattering noisily.