Chapter 1231: Gray Clouds and Silver Badges

Chapter 1231 -47: Gray Clouds and Silver Badges

——Dumbledore wouldn’t like it… might even strongly oppose it?

After saying goodbye to Machioni, Vid walked alone down the rather empty street, with the afternoon sunlight stingily seeping through the gray clouds, casting a few weak rays.

This is not the main street of Diagon Alley, but just a row of houses away is Gringotts.

The sounds of pedestrians and shops wafted over, leaving only indistinct noise, not even as clear as the chirping of birds in the trees.

Vid casually leaned against a half-height flowerbed, gazing upward at the swaying branches with slightly unfocused eyes.

Machioni… and Professor Morry…

Though one is obsessed with money, and the other has an inherent Wizard’s arrogance and indifference towards Muggles, they aren’t madmen, nor are they people without principles.

Especially Machioni, who prefers the kind of dignified game and accumulation within order and rules, rather than profiting from war and chaos.

They wouldn’t support a path that completely destroys the existing order and plunges everything into war and chaos.

That doesn’t align with their interests and goes against their principles.

Yet, these two people, both with an almost devout certainty, believe that the path Grindelwald is currently pursuing is worth their wealth, reputation, energy… and possibly even their future freedom and lives to follow.

But the cause they firmly believe in, they also clearly advised him not to get involved too early and reckon Dumbledore wouldn’t approve?

——So, what sort of path is Grindelwald practicing that even Morry and Machioni advocate for yet hold a pessimistic outlook?

“Vid!”

A familiar voice pierced through the quiet air, brimming with its usual vitality.

Vid snapped back to reality and turned to look.

He saw Michael waving his hand from afar, saying something to the Kona couple before briskly crossing the lawn towards him.

“Hey! I saw you dazing alone here from far away, what’s up? Faced with a tricky problem? Or met a pretty girl and hesitated to ask her name?”

He jested with a cheerful grin.

“A problem… There indeed is one.” Vid said slowly, “And maybe only you can help me solve it.”

Michael immediately lit up with interest, eagerly saying, “No problem, just say the word if you need help! Really about a girl? Who did you meet?”

Otherwise, he couldn’t think of anything Vid couldn’t solve on his own that would require his assistance.

Vid didn’t answer directly, instead taking out the small box Machioni gave him and handing it over.

“This.”

Michael curiously took it, opened the lid.

The badges inside shimmered with a silver light, each flowing with an alluring magical glow.

“Wow!”

Michael whistled, picked up one to inspect closely:

“These things are fetching high prices on the black market every day now! Machioni gave this to you? He’s really generous! Giving so many at once!”

“Yes.” Vid said, “You can arrange to give them to those interested.”

Hearing this, Michael’s excitement slightly subsided; he lowered his head, picked two of the best-patterned ones, weighed them in his hand, and unceremoniously stuffed them into his pocket.

“These two are mine! Daphne has long wanted to play the Little People Country game… Oh, and I should give one to Astoria too.”

Michael picked another badge and then closed the box, mischievously stuffing it back into Vid’s hand.

“As for the rest… you should give them away yourself.”

“Eh?”

Vid held the box with some confusion, “Why? Didn’t you agree to help?”

“I can help but not this kind of help.”

Michael shoved his hands into his pockets, his grin slightly sly yet sincere.

“Machioni gave these badges to you, not for everyone to say ‘Michael is so considerate’ or ‘Michael can manage to get tokens from Vid Gray’— that’s not what he intended, right?”

Vid raised an eyebrow, his demeanor settling.

Michael grinningly said, “So, buddy, no matter the hassle, this thing you have to do yourself.”

“Think about it, if you personally reach out, even just a sentence, they’ll think—’Wow, Vid actually remembers I want to play this!’ ‘Vid specifically reserved a ticket for me!'”

“Even the simplest—’Vid actually knows my name’—would be enough to excite them!”

He reached out to pat Vid’s shoulder, his tone returning to its usual ease:

“By tonight, I can help you organize a list; all the past Magic Spell Study Group participants, who haven’t spoken ill behind your back and want to go to Little People Country—don’t consider it a chore, it’s just a couple of messages.”

Vid looked into his earnest eyes, realizing leaving everything to Michael indeed wasted Machioni’s goodwill, he resignedly closed the badge box and sighed.

Michael chuckled, “It’s quite simple! Besides, you nearly distanced yourself from everyone last term, this is a great chance to reconnect, possibly more effective than your invention being a cool gadget!”

…

Vid hadn’t arrived home yet when Michael’s list came through, as if fearing a delay of a day or so would cause him to naturally forget the matter.

Vid: “…”

He sighed lightly, and after returning to his room, reluctantly opened the Friendship Book.

For Hogwarts students, the Friendship Book was as widespread as WeChat from Vid’s past life.

And all the students who ever participated in the Magic Spell Study Group—including Slytherin—had given Vid their name-written parchment.

Of course, he had hardly ever opened it.

At this moment, Vid flipped through the Friendship Book against the list, his Quill nimbly hopping on the desk, began sending messages according to Vid’s intentions.

The parchment warmed slightly, and the script appeared sequentially, some disappearing within seconds, with replies received in no more than two or three minutes at most.

Soon, the Friendship Book in Vid’s hands continuously warmed, displaying quickly flashing lines of excited words:

“Merlin’s beard! Vid! You’re truly my savior!”

“Really? Next week? For me? I… I can hardly believe it!”

“Vid, thank you so much! I asked my mom to help reserve a month ago, but tickets were lined up to March next year!!”

“Wow! Cool! I never thought you’d remember!”

Michael’s intel was spot on; no classmates he reached out to expressed disinterest or unavailable to visit; none had pre-reserved tickets during the holiday period.

This further proved Sirius was an indulgent parent who valued happiness over academics—

He had long secured Harry’s winter break time reservations, even for three rounds of fun!