Finding Tony

"Yes, I'm a good guy."

Black Egghead's gaze wandered, his expression slightly awkward.

Even he got goosebumps hearing those words come out of his own mouth.

But he didn't dwell on it. Instead, he asked bluntly, "Miss Wizard, how many other wizards like you are there in this world?"

Nick Fury asked the question that concerned him most.

"I'm not really sure either, but Hogwarts alone has about a thousand students. Then there's Durmstrang in Northern Europe, Beauxbatons in France, Ilvermorny in America... oh, there are so many magic schools! How am I supposed to know? That's too hard!"

Hermione pouted, looking as though her inability to answer had bruised her pride.

Nick Fury, Natasha, and Coulson exchanged glances, each seeing profound shock in the others' eyes.

There was more than one magic school!

Hogwarts, Durmstrang, Beauxbatons, Ilvermorny-they all sounded like the names of different schools.

Wait... Nick Fury suddenly noticed something.

What did Miss Wizard just say? Ilvermorny in America?

There was a magic school in America, too!

Forcing his turbulent emotions down, Nick Fury continued, "Then what exactly is the Ministry of Magic, and how is Wizard society organized?"

Natasha frowned slightly. Nick was rushing things this time. He should have spent more time building rapport before gradually steering the conversation toward topics like these.

But she understood how he felt.

Nick Fury had repeatedly analyzed the pair's earlier conversation and already formed some theories.

After all, the amount of information inadvertently revealed last time had been staggering.

He desperately needed to find Hermione and verify his suspicions.

But after Hermione left last time, she had never appeared again. Even after mobilizing all of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s resources, they had found no trace of her.

When she finally appeared on surveillance again today, Nick immediately sent Coulson to pick her up.

Fortunately, Hermione hadn't been particularly resistant.

"The Ministry of Magic... I suppose it's like your Muggle government departments. It maintains order in the wizarding world. Different countries have different names for their ministries, too. Your Ministry of Magic in America is called the Magical Congress."

"As for how it's organized, I don't know. I'm just a student! But I imagine it's probably pretty similar to yours. Go ask Dumbledore about that! How would I know?"

Natasha suddenly asked, "'Your America'? Hermione, aren't you American?"

Hermione was stunned. With my perfectly authentic London accent, what on earth made you think I was a Yank?

"I'm a Hogwarts student. Of course I'm English."

Hermione looked puzzled.

Natasha gave an embarrassed smile. She had spent all this time focused on the mysterious wizarding world and Hermione's wondrous magic, and had genuinely overlooked that obvious detail.

Hermione explained a few more basic facts about the wizarding world.

Nick Fury narrowed his eyes.

It was almost exactly what he had suspected.

"Muggle" was the wizards' term for ordinary people.

To cast spells, wizards needed a magical implement called a "wand." By reciting the correct incantation as well, they could produce magic with a variety of effects.

The wizarding world had existed for thousands of years, but magic had kept it hidden all along, beyond detection by ordinary people or technological means.

That more or less explained why wizards had gone undiscovered for so many years. There were still plenty of things that didn't add up, but whenever he asked, Hermione simply answered, "That's magic," leaving Nick Fury with nothing to say.

When he asked how they could visit Wizard society, Hermione's answer was even simpler.

They couldn't.

Under the effects of magic, even if ordinary people knew the entrance's exact location, they would only end up going around in circles once they arrived.

"If you attend Hogwarts, why do you always appear here?" Black Egghead spotted the key point.

"Because the Ministry of Magic has restricted my movements and forbidden me from leaving Hogwarts. This place is under the Magical Congress's jurisdiction, so it's outside the Ministry's surveillance. Dumbledore secretly gave me a back door. When I leave Hogwarts, I'm transported straight to New York."

"Why?"

Nick Fury already knew that Dumbledore was Hogwarts's headmaster, but he couldn't understand why the Ministry of Magic would restrict a child's movements.

Just as he couldn't imagine under what circumstances S.H.I.E.L.D. would put an ordinary child under round-the-clock surveillance and restrict their freedom.

He also remembered something Hermione had asked when she first encountered Black Widow.

Whether she had been sent by the Ministry of Magic to spy on her.

He had found it strange at the time. Now, it seemed there had to be a secret behind it.

"Because..." Hermione was just about to say something when she suddenly fell silent.

Only after a long while did she say expressionlessly, "I don't want to talk about it."

Nick Fury and the others were all startled.

This was the first time they had seen Hermione refuse so unequivocally.

Feeling the oppressive atmosphere in the room, all three became utterly certain that although the girl before them was only a student, her status in the wizarding world was anything but ordinary. There had to be a major secret behind her.

Nick Fury considered it, then decided not to press further.

Today's gains were already substantial. There was no need to antagonize Hermione. Besides, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s immediate priority wasn't uncovering secrets among wizards, but learning as much as possible about their capabilities and the threat they posed.

The seed had been planted. Hermione chuckled inwardly.

She was the only wizard in the Marvel Universe, so she could spin whatever story she liked. Besides, the wizarding world really did exist. She wasn't worried about holes in her story; she could provide countless pieces of evidence to support her claims in the future.

"By the way, exchanging information was actually only a secondary reason for inviting you here today, Miss Wizard. More importantly, there's something we'd like your help with."

Nick Fury changed the subject.

"Hmm? What is it?"

Hermione hadn't expected that.

Nick Fury waved a hand, and the large screen on the wall lit up, displaying a photograph.

"This man's name is Tony Stark. He's the heir to Stark Industries. A little over a month ago, he suddenly went missing while visiting Afghanistan on business. Everyone escorting him was killed. We currently suspect he's been kidnapped, but we've had no news of him so far."

"So, Miss Wizard," Nick Fury said, "I'd like to ask for your help. Could you see if there's some way to locate him?"

Hermione stared at the familiar photograph on the screen, her mind full of questions.

Seriously, what made you think of asking me to help find Tony Stark?

Do you think I'm some kind of intelligence agency?

Even if I know terrorists kidnapped him, who the hell knows which cave he's holed up in right now?

But a moment later, Hermione realized something.

So that's it.

This guy figured it couldn't hurt to try, and he could test me in the process. It wouldn't matter if I couldn't find him. If I did, he'd not only solve the kidnapping case, but also get me to reveal a new ability.

You scheming bastard, Black Egghead. Nobody does it quite like you.