Mysterious Reward

"Mr. Osa Edward, you didn't ask me here just to have dinner with you, did you?"

Osa put away the empty aluminum container and wiped the table spotless with a cotton cloth. Then he said slowly, "I'd like to know what you took from Flourish Tailor Shop."

"Don't rush to deny it. I know the object is in the Blue Cloth Pouch at your waist. Severus Snape is a remarkably talented wizard. Breaking his magic does take time, but I happen to have studied the Undetectable Extension Charm in particular, so I think..."

He knew when to press and when to ease off. It looked as though he was giving Robin a choice, but he had kept the kite string firmly in his own hand.

Robin raised an eyebrow and took a badge of green, silver, and black from the Blue Cloth Pouch.

"Is that... the Malfoy family crest?"

Despite phrasing it as a question, Osa Edward showed no trace of doubt. The significance behind the badge was clearly just what he had expected.

Osa could act as though he knew everything, but Robin could not. "Yes. Draco Malfoy is my roommate and good friend at Hogwarts. I didn't think he'd want his family crest left in someone else's hands, so I got it from Flersan to return it to its owner!"

Robin looked at him with wide, sincere eyes, making it impossible to tell whether he meant it or was lying.

Osa Edward chuckled. "Friendships between young wizards are precious and rare. Little fellow, let me pass this badge on to Lucius Malfoy. While I'm at it, I'll report the vampire sighting at the base to the Ministry of Magic."

Anyone could see which mattered more: the report or handing over the badge. Yet Osa had made the report