Varga refused to name whoever had sent him or his accomplices. Hogwarts was not a law enforcement agency, nor was it in a position to torture anyone for information, so Rufus took him away.
"Mr. Scrimgeour, do make sure this prisoner doesn't escape as well," Professor McGonagall said coolly as Rufus and the others were leaving.
"I hope you can give my students and me an explanation as soon as possible."
"Again, I apologize for what happened. I'll personally oversee the entire follow-up investigation," Rufus promised with a nod. That was already the strongest assurance he could offer.
Professor McGonagall nodded. She could hardly be called satisfied, but she really could not ask for more.
Only after Rufus had left with Varga did Professor McGonagall beckon Tris over and examine him with magic. Yet after casting two diagnostic spells in succession, she frowned slightly and looked at Dumbledore beside her.
"Dumbledore, I haven't found any unusual magical marks on Mr. Weasley. There's nothing abnormal about him, except, well, his magic seems a little stronger."
"Not a little stronger. Rather excessively stronger." Dumbledore was still smiling. He was always like that, as though nothing could ever trouble him.
Yet the more he acted that way, the more reassured those around him felt.
"I took a look just now as well. There's no extraneous magical energy in Tris that clashes with his own. That means the mark wasn't placed on his body."
"Not on his body?" Professor McGonagall's expression grew even more grave. "Then are you saying it was placed on his soul?"
"I'm afraid so." Dumbledore nodded.
"What? What's wrong with Tris's soul?" Percy asked anxiously.
"Don't worry, Percy," Dumbledore reassured him. "As Mr. Varga said earlier, although we still don't know how this mark works, it does not affect Tris's