Interrogation

At Angulo's words, all three professors grew solemn.

"Mr. Strange, according to what you said, you were with the Grey Lady that afternoon, correct?" Deputy Headmistress Melesi asked seriously.

Xiwen did not react at first. He was not sure why the others called Helena the Grey Lady.

Helena spoke first from beside him. "Stephen was with me in the library all afternoon yesterday."

Xiwen suddenly understood. The Grey Lady was likely a name she had accepted so that others would not know she was Ravenclaw's daughter.

"Then why did you appear in the entrance courtyard again that night?" Professor Melesi asked.

Because I was curious what Professor Lore was doing... Xiwen inwardly curled his lip. But he could not say that. He could hardly claim that he had sensed Professor Lore's location through three floors and deliberately run downstairs to observe him...

Wait, what was Professor Lore looking for? Could he have done it?

"Mr. Strange!" Seeing that Xiwen had not answered for a long time, Headmaster Dippet tapped the table.

"Oh, right, Headmaster." Xiwen also realized that he should be answering the question now, so he gave a somewhat perfunctory reply. "I had to come out for some fresh air, didn't I?"

Clearly, Xiwen's answer did not satisfy the professors. Headmaster Dippet even frowned.

"I would like to know in detail why you came to Hogwarts, Mr. Strange, and why you, as a ghost, possess the ability to cast spells," the Headmaster asked.

Seeing this, Xiwen had no choice but to recite the explanation he had prepared long ago.

"I am a traveler from the East, and my hobby is traveling the world. But the world is so vast, and people are so small. In one lifetime, it is difficult to fully see even one corner of the world. So I cast off the restraints of my body and became a ghost, allowing me to wander through the world's present and future with endless time. That was also the obsession that enabled me to become a ghost."

"As for my ability to cast spells, Eastern magic differs from the magic here in terms of its system, so it is not easy to explain. Simply put, we have spiritual magic that cultivates the soul and mind. After I cast the spell to abandon my body, I retained that ability within my soul. That is why I can cast spells."

Dumbledore listened with great interest and even applauded after hearing him out. "A great ideal, Mr. Strange. People are small, but ideals are limitless. Your story is very interesting."

"Ahem!" Headmaster Dippet coughed stiffly, interrupting Dumbledore, then asked him and Professor Melesi, "Do you think it is possible for a ghost to retain the ability to cast spells?"

Professor Melesi said, "I do not think that is very realistic. It contradicts the definition of a ghost."

Dumbledore smiled and countered, "There is no need to cling so rigidly to the word 'ghost.' Perhaps after Mr. Strange cast his spell and abandoned his body, he became more like a spirit than a ghost? Like Peeves."

Xiwen silently gave Dumbledore a thumbs-up. As expected of Professor Dumbledore. I never even thought of an excuse like that myself.

Headmaster Dippet nodded and continued, "Even so, Mr. Strange's suspicion has not been cleared."

Perhaps noticing that Xiwen did not look pleased, Professor Melesi explained, "Please understand, Mr. Strange. The thing that was damaged in our castle is difficult for ordinary people to discover. In theory, only ghosts capable of passing through walls have even the slightest chance of sensing its presence at close range."

"So, we would like to know whether you are unable to touch physical objects like other ghosts, or whether you can use magic to affect reality?" she asked.

"He can affect reality," Bloody Baron suddenly interjected. "I saw him pick up books in the library with my own eyes."

"You were spying on us, Baron?" Helena questioned coldly.

"I only wanted to ensure your safety," Baron said.

Xiwen did not really understand where Baron's intense hostility came from. He did not look like a warmhearted person at all. Could it be... he had feelings for Helena?

Xiwen felt that he had seen the truth.

He had never liked Baron much to begin with, and now there was a trace of hostility in the way he looked at him.

"Peeping? You certainly have plenty of leisure time, Mr. Baron," he could not help snapping.

"You...!" Baron said sharply, only to be interrupted by the Headmaster.

Headmaster Dippet said, "Gentlemen, I think we should discuss the important matter first."

"Is what Sir Baron said true?" He looked at Xiwen.

Xiwen simply nodded. If he lied now, it would be even harder to explain later when he touched physical objects.

"Furthermore, I have seen him wandering all over the castle, as if he were searching for something." Baron twisted the knife again.

"Then what were you searching for, Mr. Strange?"

Of course I was looking for a cat! Xiwen rolled his eyes inwardly. The crucial thing was that he could not say that either. If people learned that he was the same person as the Rozier family's heir, he would be finished.

So he said aloud, "I read about the rumors of the Hogwarts Chamber of Secrets in a book. As a traveler, of course I wanted to see it for myself."

Headmaster Dippet's brows furrowed even more tightly.

"Mr. Strange, I must say that you are highly suspicious. We cannot simply ignore this," he said.

Xiwen nodded helplessly, showing that he understood.

After all, I used this castle to conceal the identity of my soul. Now that the castle's owners have misunderstood me, I suppose that makes us even, Xiwen thought to himself.

Headmaster Dippet called Deputy Headmistress Melesi and Professor Dumbledore over. The three began discussing matters rather heatedly, and Dumbledore seemed not to agree with the Headmaster's proposal.

Xiwen sat there in boredom, feeling that he really had been unlucky, as if he had walked straight into someone else's trap.

Helena looked at him worriedly and asked, "Aren't you worried that you will be dealt with as the culprit?"

Xiwen looked at Helena in surprise. "With so much unfavorable evidence pointing at me, you still believe me?"

Helena looked at his face and nodded heavily. "I believe you!"

Xiwen felt moved. Anyone would find it difficult not to be touched by such trust from someone they had known for only four days.

But he still said stubbornly, "Baron was not wrong. You really do trust people too easily."

"But I don't regret it..." Helena murmured softly.

"All right." Headmaster Dippet tapped the table. The three professors had apparently finally reached an agreement. "Now, let us discuss how to deal with the ghost Stephen Strange."

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