"...Yes, when the initial news came to the institute, we actually didn't pay much attention to it. Although there were more than one deceased in that case at the beginning, and there were both Muggles and wizards, it obviously had nothing to do with us. What relationship does it have. At most... Well, many of the suspects listed in the case graduated from Ilvermorny... But since they are in the United States, who is not? In short, this is the matter of the Magic Congress anyway, we just need Just read the newspaper together after work, which is like having another unnecessary topic to chat about in your spare time."
"But soon, the superiors seemed to notice something was wrong - it seemed that a student was involved in the case!"
In the empty restaurant, John's voice was echoing faintly. Probably because everyone was free tonight, he didn't speak very fast, every word and every word was like gossip, and he recounted a past event in front of Hermione and others.
"Perhaps you all know something about it. Our research institute has always been regarded as an affiliated department of Ilvermorny. We basically know everything that happens in the school. It just so happened that there were two students in the school that year. He did not return to school at that time, and according to the investigation, both of them went to New York—and in some of the intelligence collected by the Auror, figures suspected of these two students appeared!"
Having said this, John shook his head helplessly, and then added:
"What's even more coincidental is... how should I put it? I know these two little guys. One is the new student who I personally introduced to Ilvermorny, and the other... is simply my brother!"
"Sounds pretty bad."
Ron, who was not far away, scratched his head and answered subconsciously, but first he received a deep glance from Ginny on the other side. It's like saying, "Compared to being careless, you may not be much worse than him."
Then, John on the other side nodded towards Ron and said:
"It's very bad, because after the first few days, with the further investigation by the Aurors of the Magic Congress, it was discovered that the case was more complicated than everyone imagined... and terrifying! Although except for the death that was the condition for filing the case at the beginning The incident did not happen again, but after the Congress accidentally combined several other cases, they realized that this case may also be related to a series of cases related to the abnormal disappearance of Muggle children from the Muggle Issues Mediation Office. Coupled with the fact that the victims who were discovered to have died from the Killing Curse at the beginning of the case were found to be a Muggle family with a child, but the child also disappeared without a trace... the matter became more and more serious. Get up."
John picked up the goblet and took a sip of the remaining wine, and then said:
"Then our director brought the management to a meeting and decided to intervene in the investigation - after all, my brother seemed to be involved! Of course, more importantly, our institute... or to be more precise, we The Stewart family is more familiar with and more concerned about the affairs of Muggle society than the Muggle Issues Regulation Office of MACUSA! Our family has always been working hard to repair the gap between Muggles and wizards."
This last sentence is actually a digression here. John shook his head as he spoke, and then brought the topic back to the case that year.
"There was a need for someone in the family, so I volunteered to take a place. The director and the elders in the family asked one of my uncles to lead the team. Counting me, there were five people in total, and we set off for New York together."
At this point, John suddenly sighed, looked at Hermione and others and said:
"No one expected at that time, what happened next was beyond everyone's imagination! We sent more elite troops twice, and together with our first team, the total number of people exceeded 20, and everyone was a good player. ! But in the end, there were only five people left, including myself, and one of them was Brooks, who was lucky enough to be rescued in the end... Oh, that's my brother."
…
The case that happened in the American wizarding world ten years ago was indeed a big case, because many people died at that time, both wizards and Muggles. To a certain extent, it is no less than the events caused by Lord Voldemort in the UK, because both were equally secretive to the world after the fact.
Of course, for Tia, who was a witness to that case, the feeling was completely different.
"... At the beginning, Alyssa just took me with her. She taught me how to live well in the city as a homeless person on the streets of New York without going hungry every day - she He took me to several places, told me where and when I would get things, told me where it would be warmer and safer to sleep, told me which people I could get along with and which people it was best not to get close to... Later we separated a little bit. A few days - she left because of something, and I lived alone on the street for a few days. With the experiences Alyssa gave me, my life was actually pretty good."
"It wasn't until a few days later that Alyssa came back. She told me that she had found a good place. It was like a big family. There were many homeless people like her and me, and we could be like a family. Living together in the same harmony, happiness and warmth! She told me that she found heaven."
In this old house in the refuge community, Tia's narration continues. Maybe those days ten years ago were actually really beautiful for her...or maybe they were "created" to be beautiful! Even today, when talking about it, you can still see a hint of regretful longing on her face.
Yes, if nothing happened later.
"I went. I trusted Alyssa at that time, and I believed she would not lie to me. At that time, Alyssa was more amiable and amiable than anyone else I had ever seen - maybe a bit like Weasley. lady."
Having said this, she smiled at Severus across from him, and after seeing the other person curl his lips lightly, she continued.
"Of course, it turned out that everything was fake." The smile on Tia's face quickly disappeared. She pursed her lips and said with some bitterness, but more fear, "When I got there at the beginning, I did see I met many very warm and friendly people, as well as many delicious and fun things. Everyone was willing to share the happiness with me... Among them there were also children about my age, and even orphans. When I told about my past, They understood my pain and fear in a way that my classmates at Ilvermorny could not."
"It's just that things soon changed..."