Wade stood by the window and glanced outside.
It had been two days since they had visited Mr. Weasley. His recovery was going well, and Ron had invited Harry and Hermione to go shopping in Diagon Alley.
Wade had also come to Diagon Alley, but instead of going with Harry and the others to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, he had gone upstairs across the street to see Marchioni.
At that moment, the three of them were each holding a tub of ice cream, eating happily.
Not far away, he could also see the Longbottom couple with Neville, having just come out of Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.
He smiled, turned around, and said nothing. He merely looked calmly at Marchioni across from him.
Before those excessively clear eyes, which seemed able to see through people's hearts, Marchioni felt as though the air itself had frozen. Fine beads of sweat gradually formed at his temples.
They had worked together for years, and there was no superior-subordinate relationship between them. Usually, Marchioni was the one who took greater care of Wade.
He had always regarded Wade as though he were his own exceptionally talented younger brother.
But at that moment, the boy seemed to radiate an invisible, quiet pressure that made him feel a long-forgotten nervousness.
Several minutes passed before he could no longer withstand the pressure. His shoulders slumped in defeat, and he forced an unnatural smile as he raised his hands and said:
"All right, all right, I admit it... I did know. Could you not be so serious? It's rather frightening..."
Wade walked over and sat beside the fireplace, clasping his hands together as he asked, "When did you find out?"
"A long time ago, but the professor never actually told me outright."
Marchioni sighed, walked over