A week had passed since the explosion in Knockturn Alley, leaving behind only an eerily complete curved crater at the site. Ministry of Magic officials congregated in small groups, wearing expressions of embarrassment.
The perimeter had been secured by Aurors, deterring most onlookers. Nevertheless, a handful of reporters remained, eager to glean first-hand information for the next day's headlines in the Daily Prophet.
At the epicenter of the incident, a whirlpool formed in the air, and two figures materialized within it.
One was clad in a purple robe, possessing dark skin and a stern countenance. This was Kingsley Shacklebolt, an Auror from the Ministry of Magic.
The other figure was tall and slender, with a weathered face. His long silver hair and beard were neatly tucked into his belt, and he wore gray robes. Behind his half-moon-shaped glasses, his bright blue eyes twinkled.
"Dumbledore, I apologize for disturbing you, but my Retrospection Spell failed to fully restore the event," Kingsley explained.
"We know now that an adult accompanied a child to Knockturn Alley, where they were accosted by a group attempting robbery. During the altercation, a killing curse was cast, and the victim inexplicably transformed into a feline-headed being... Have you uncovered anything?" Kingsley recounted, then noticed Dumbledore's focused gaze fixed on a point in mid-air.
"Hush," Dumbledore hushed softly. "Kingsley, patience is paramount. Eagerness may blind us to the truth. Look there, that's the central point of the entire arc."
With those words, Dumbledore produced a wand adorned with numerous spherical nodes and directed it upward.
A white orb materialized in the air, emitting concentric waves that expanded until they matched the curvature of the ground.
A "bubble" spanning over ten meters in diameter appeared in the space.
Kingsley's pupils darted nervously as he involuntarily swallowed. "This area covered by the bubble is devoid of any remnants... Good heavens, what manner of spell is this?!"
Dumbledore shook his head solemnly. "Unfortunately, I cannot say."
He then flicked his wand, placed the tip to his lips, and blew gently.
"Trace Flashes——"
A deluge of golden mist erupted from Dumbledore's wand, enveloping the entire area.
Subsequently, the chaotic mist coalesced into various scenes, gradually reconstructing the entirety of Knockturn Alley.
This was the Retrospection Spell, capable of conjuring scenes from the past using emitted mist.
Regrettably, due to the magical disturbances present, even Kingsley, a leader among Aurors, couldn't fully restore the past events.
Thankfully, he had enlisted Dumbledore's aid.
As the mist shifted, two figures emerged from the alley's entrance—one large, one small. Though their faces were indistinct, Kingsley recognized them as the individuals involved in the incident.
Soon, seven figures appeared in the mist, encircling the larger and smaller ones as if attempting a robbery.
The mist then depicted the initial assault by the assailants. To Kingsley's astonishment, the targeted individual deflected the curse with a mere slap.
A slap deflecting the curse? ! !
Dumbledore arched an eyebrow, equally surprised. Such a method of countering a curse was... highly unconventional.
Subsequently, the man appeared to say something to the child while snapping his fingers to counter multiple spells...
As the Retrospection Spell unfolded, Kingsley grew increasingly bewildered.
From being slapped, to snapping fingers, to being struck by a curse, the child's magic erupted, culminating in a transformation into a figure with a cat's head and a human body...
As the scenes unfolded, Dumbledore and Kingsley watched in rapt attention.
Eventually, the man produced a "massive" wand and gestured it in the air.
Then, all the golden mist comprising the current scene began to dissipate until it collapsed suddenly, emitting radiant golden ripples under the sun.
The curse had ended!
"Dumbledore, what in Merlin's name was that?" Kingsley murmured, his confusion and incredulity palpable.
Dumbledore shook his head gravely. "I cannot say for certain, but it appears to be ancient magic. The wand wielded is not characteristic of modern wizards."
"Those in Knockturn Alley claimed he deflected the Killing Curse. Was it truly the Killing Curse?" Kingsley asked, seeking confirmation from Dumbledore.
The Retrospection Spell could restore scenes but not reproduce sounds and colors, leaving Kingsley uncertain whether it was indeed the Killing Curse.
Uncertain...
Dumbledore regarded Kingsley, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Kingsley, let us not delude ourselves. We both know the trajectory of that man's wand was indicative of the Killing Curse."
Dumbledore's words shattered Kingsley's last bit of resistance. He furrowed his brows, muttering to himself incoherently.
Dumbledore met Kingsley's gaze directly. "More than one person can resist the Killing Curse, can't they? It has happened before. And perhaps that individual is like a cat. Cats are said to have nine lives, after all."
To ease the tension, Dumbledore added a touch of humor with a smile.
Kingsley realized he had lost his composure. He shook his head, and at that moment, an Auror approached from behind.
"Captain Shacklebolt, there's new information from the ministry."
Kingsley took a deep breath to steady himself, then turned to the newcomer. "Speak."
"This man is the same individual who flew over London twelve days ago. At that time, he injured several members of the Department of Magical Accidents and Disasters and confiscated their wands before vanishing."
Kingsley nodded gravely, then turned to Dumbledore and whispered, "How should we proceed with this matter?"
Although Kingsley, as an Auror, served the Ministry of Magic, as a former member of the Order of the Phoenix, he was more inclined to seek advice from Dumbledore in such situations.
"That's for you to decide," Dumbledore replied, his eyes glinting, but he refrained from providing the answer Kingsley sought.
Kingsley sighed. If Dumbledore was reluctant to intervene, he could already predict the direction things would take.
Major issues would be downplayed to minor ones.
After all, the current Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, was the first Minister after You-Know-Who. As long as he maintained the stability of the wizarding world and implemented policies favorable to businesses and the populace, he could secure his place in history.
He certainly wouldn't want too many investigations into this mysterious and powerful suspect, let alone public awareness of the situation.
…
…
Felix hadn't expected to devour an entire mutton chop during the meal. It seemed a bit excessive for a human, but after a week of sleep, it felt justified.
As for Harry, he ate with a hint of anxiety. Uncle Felix kept glancing at him as if something weighed on his mind, which made him uneasy.
Today, Felix didn't fuss over his appearance. He simply brushed his mane, donned a regular shirt, and threw on a wide-collared robe.
Harry had noticed a crescent moon and skull emblem on the back of this robe before, possibly hinting at Mr. Lucifer's pirate past.
But Harry was still puzzled—were pirates still a thing these days?
In any case, the meal concluded with Harry lost in various musings.
Just as Harry was about to collect the plates, Felix waved his hand and the plates floated, landing neatly in the kitchen sink.
"Harry, take a seat," Felix beckoned.
Harry gripped his trouser legs under the table and sat down nervously.
"Due to your outstanding performance at work recently, I have some ideas I'd like to discuss with you. Are you interested?" Felix inquired.
Harry's heart raced, and he met Felix's gaze. "Uncle Felix , tell me—I'm definitely interested."
As long as it meant not going back to the Dursleys', he was all in.
At the Dursleys', they were scolded for working and teased by Dudley when they weren't. Plus, there was often not enough food to go around.
But at Moonlight Castle, every day was filled with work, conversations with Mr. Lucifer, and flying with the shooting stars. It was all so fascinating.
Speaking of which, Harry had named the broomstick "Meteor." Their bond had strengthened during this time, and Harry considered it a close friend.
"That's excellent. However, what I have in mind involves delving into magic research, which can be very perilous," Felix explained, his lips curling into a smile.
"Magic... research?" Harry was momentarily perplexed, then embarrassedly admitted, "But I... I don't know anything about magic."
Felix gently twirled his cat's beard, unperturbed. "Don't be foolish, kid. There will be an orientation program to get you up to speed."
"An orientation program?"
Felix nodded. "Yes, to teach you the basics of magic."
Harry leaped from his seat, his face flushed with excitement. "Yes, I... I'm definitely interested!"
The words tumbled out of Harry's mouth in a rush, but he couldn't contain his enthusiasm.
Yet, Harry's excitement was understandable. The sense of helplessness he'd felt in Knockturn Alley just a week ago had left him sleepless. If not for Mr. Lucifer's suggestion to brew himself an energy potion daily, he might not have coped for so long.