"Shouldn't you have cast a Muggle-Repelling Charm before starting work?"
"That old man nad Foster rushed out and startled … it's easy to overlook things in the mont. Did she see anything just now?"
"Probably not, but even if she did, it wouldn't be a big deal."
While Severus and Arthur muttered quietly to each other, Hermione's gaze remained fixed on the streetlamp, which circuit cover was already opened by Arthur.
"You're governnt workers, right? Last night, I saw this lamppost grow legs and run into the forest! I called my parents to co see, but by the ti they got here, it was back in place!"
"My dad insisted I was seeing things, but I swear I wasn't!"
The girl hadn't stopped talking since she arrived, chattering away with an air of confidence that suggested she was quite used to speaking her mind.
Arthur looked troubled. He kept his voice low.
"Kids like her are the trickiest. The Obliviators won't even take cases like this, and we have to handle it ourselves, make them think it was just their imagination or a dream."
However, Severus looked at Hermione and shook his head.
"If you try to convince her it wasn't real, you'll only make things worse. She doesn't seem like the type to doubt herself."
"You know this kid?" Arthur asked in surprise.
"No, but I can tell just by listening to her."
"What are you two whispering about? " Seeing that no one was paying attention to her and the two adults kept talking in hushed tones, Hermione huffed in annoyance, "This streetlamp is broken, right? I don't know why it ran away… maybe you're using it for so kind of robot experint! But if I'm right, then you should help prove it to my parents! I wasn't lying!"
"It's too late to cast a Muggle-Repelling Charm now… we'll have to find a way to get her out of here." Arthur was about to take out his wand from under his robes and cast a spell on Hermione, but Severus grabbed his arm to stop him.
"Don't rush. So things don't need magic to solve. Dudley!"
Severus called the last na loudly.
Since Harry had refused the na 'Conan', they had to keep using his despised cousin's na.
Harry, who had been keeping his presence low nearby enjoying the spectacle, now trudged forward with a resigned expression.
"Here, Professor."
"Go with Miss Granger to speak to her parents. Help her explain that the streetlamp really was broken, that she didn't imagine things, and that we're fixing it now."
Hermione stared at Harry critically, looking him up and down.
"Is he really convincing enough?"
Severus patted Harry on the shoulder and vouched for him.
"Don't worry, young lady. Dudley here is a professional."
Harry straightened up, doing his best to look the part.
"Alright then! Thank you, sir." Hermione thanked Severus politely before turning to lead the way.
Severus gave Harry a aningful look, silently suggesting he take his ti before returning.
Harry shrugged helplessly, then followed Hermione as she urged him along.
Once the two children were out of earshot, Severus helped Arthur set up the Muggle-Repelling Charm. But instead of staying to assist, he said, "I'm going to ask Mr. Foster about sothing."
"Then you have to be careful, that old man obviously has a bad temper." Arthur reminded.
Severus didn't respond, just waved his hand lightly before walking up to the cranky old wizard's house and knocking on the door.
The old wizard nad Foster yanked the door open almost imdiately and stuck his head out.
When he saw Severus, he imdiately started shouting.
"What do you lot want now? You've already fined ! And now you're going to take apart my sweet, lively Simmy! If you keep harassing , don't bla for what happens next!"
Severus simply stared into his eyes. Although he did not wave his wand and did not utter any spell, an invisible magical power had already enveloped the old wizard's mind.
"Relax, sir. Just relax. I'm not here to cause trouble. You don't want that fine, do you? Let's talk about it. Nice and slow."
Severus ca together with Arthur, seemingly relaxed, but actually, Severus was already turning over possible solutions.
He knew they couldn't afford to delay, as Remus and those werewolves were a pressing matter. Whether it was the three missing children or Remus himself, they were all in danger.
But the Ministry had provided no useful information whatsoever, and Severus would have to start from scratch.
So, for now, he resorted to the most straightforward thod.
There weren't many wizards living in Nottingham to begin with. If the werewolves had co here, they must have had a reason.
If he questioned every magical resident one by one, he'd eventually find a lead.
As for the fact that using Legilincy without consent was illegal...
Well, if no one found out, then it wasn't technically illegal, was it?
As one of the few true masters of Legilincy in the Wizarding World, Severus might not have been on Dumbledore's level, whose skill with the spell bordered on the supernatural, but he had his own unique expertise.
The old wizard Foster was a decent alchemist, but when it ca to Occluncy, he was no match for Severus' sudden intrusion.
In no ti at all, Severus had combed through the past month of the old wizard's mories.
And there, buried within them, were a few fragnts that might actually be useful!
Just a couple of days ago, likely because of the streetlamp incident, Foster's identity as a wizard had been exposed.
A wizard with thick sideburns had co knocking, asking if Foster knew of any St. Mungo's healers living near Nottingham. The irritable old man had promptly kicked him out.
After that, Foster had seen the sa wizard approach his neighbors… the Grangers, the dentist family vacationing here with their daughter.
He didn't know what the man had discussed with them, but Mr. Granger had left with him and only returned late in the afternoon.
Beyond that, about a week ago, on the night of the July full moon, sothing strange had happened in Sherwood Forest.
Howls had echoed through the trees one after another, loud enough that the Muggle authorities had sent a fire brigade the next day to 'deal with the wolf problem'.
As a result, they hadn't found so much as a single paw print, so the matter had been quietly dropped.
From Foster's perspective, he had rely spaced out for a mont before snapping back to reality, glaring at Severus with renewed hostility.
"What the devil do you want?!"
Severus apologized.
"My apologies, sir. My colleague was wondering how you managed to enchant that streetlamp. He..."
"Can't fix it now, can you?" Foster sneered, "Hmph, don't expect to help!"
Bang!
Looking at the door that was shut in his face, Severus shrugged and returned to where Arthur was still tinkering with the lamppost.
"Rejected?" Arthur asked without looking up.
Severus fanned the flas: "He said you'd never figure it out on your own, and he wouldn't help."
"Who does he think he's dealing with?" Arthur scoffed contemptuously, "He's in for a surprise."
Looking up at the apartnt rented by the Grangers next door, Severus said softly,
"I wonder how Dudley is getting along with his new friend?"
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