"Strange..."
Harry couldn't help but mumble softly, "Where's Mr. Victor? And those people who helped in the economy class... they didn't seem like ordinary people. Why aren't they on the bus?"
A thought that made him uncomfortable emerged:
—Could even they have their memories erased?
Sitting next to him, Hermione heard his words, and a peculiar expression flitted across her face.
Her lips moved, as if wanting to say something, but she held back, just anxiously glancing at Lupin sitting in the front row.
Lupin turned his head and explained in a calm voice, "Those people... have rather special identities. They left via other channels before you woke up."
His words were vague, and he clearly didn't intend to reveal more. Harry guessed those people might be some kind of "mercenaries of the Magic World," and nodded, half understanding.
However, when Lupin turned his head, the smile at the corner of his mouth unconsciously flattened, turning into a somewhat serious expression.
He hadn't deceived Harry, but entirely truthful language can also form a lie that differs greatly from the truth.
Victor and the others indeed left before Harry woke up... but their departure was much earlier than that.
Even before the plane landed, that group had vanished silently from Arthur Weasley's line of sight, information Mr. Weasley subtly conveyed to Lupin afterward.
Lupin didn't know whether Victor and the others entered Vid's seemingly ordinary wardrobe space or used some other, even more mysterious method to completely leave the plane.
At least, the house-elf Dobby beside Vid had the ability to silently whisk people off a plane.
With this thought, an unsolved question resurfaced: How did Dobby track them all the way from the United Kingdom to the United States?
Did he use the myriad islands in the ocean as stepping stones, apparating repeatedly?
Or did he utilize the flight capabilities of frigate birds or albatrosses, crossing the entire Atlantic Ocean?
Or perhaps, disguised as an inconspicuous package, he hid in the cargo hold of a plane, completing this silent expedition?
Whatever the method, it must have been very arduous, requiring extraordinary courage and unwavering determination, and a near-obsessive loyalty and faith.
Lupin felt deep admiration for the astonishing power contained within house-elves.
But compared to other house-elves who can only do household chores, Lupin felt that the truly magical one ought to be Vid—
He could actually make this creature, known only to follow orders, find ways through twists and turns, willingly traveling across the oceans just to deliver what Vid needed into his hands.
Just like those poppets...
They aren't cold, rigid things like Muggle machinery; some are even quite smart and full of personality.
Yet in crucial moments, poppets exhibit a fearless sacrificial stance without hesitation, as if dying for their master is a natural destiny.
Lupin thought all poppets were like this until he saw at the Alchemy Competition those inferior poppets that hesitated and trembled in the face of danger, realizing how special Vid's creations were.
This loyalty and dedication, beyond instinct and even beyond the basic need for "survival," occurring in creations with not low intelligence, brought Lupin a shock far stronger than seeing a group of unknowing, unfeeling "puppets" charge into battle.
These thoughts spun in Lupin's mind, carrying a trace of awe and caution toward the unknown alchemy. But after much contemplation, he still suppressed the surging questions.
Even... when Arthur Weasley wanted to discuss it with him, Lupin merely replied vaguely: Dumbledore knows everything.
This sentence acted like a reassurance pill, instantly relieving Mr. Weasley, who cheerfully watched his children frolic on the bus.
Lupin suppressed his inner tremors and once again maintained silence.
Some boundaries need not be crossed; some powers don't need thorough exploration.
As long as confirming that this power currently stands on their side, still righteous and bright, that's already enough.
Otherwise...
What else can be done?
Could he risk doing something foolish in fear of the unexplainable, alienating the children close to him?
Lupin closed his eyes, turning the doubts hidden deep within into an almost inaudible sigh.
...
Kingsley Shacklebolt led the group, carrying the unconscious Martin, walking steadily down the gangway.
Mundungus tied his tie again, though it was wrinkled and rather unkempt.
The impatient commander Straw immediately approached. Recognizing Martin as the hijacker in the investigation file, he breathed a sigh of relief and said:
"You caught him? How's the situation onboard?"
Kingsley said, "The hijacker has been caught, but in order to control the situation, he released a large amount of anesthetic gas on the plane, causing all passengers to fall asleep, even himself wasn't spared."
The surrounding officers relaxed, bursting into laughter: "Hahaha... Turned out to be such a foolish hijacker!"
Straw's lips twitched slightly, then he frowned and said, "That's not good! An overdose of anesthetic gas can be deadly too! Those passengers on the plane..."