Has my sister lost her charm, or is there something wrong with you?
Vivi turned her head and glanced at Gellert.
This glance was enough; Vivi suddenly felt that this person was very familiar.
She searched her mind, noting she didn't know many elderly women, and the one before her clearly wasn't among those few.
So who could it be?
Or was it an illusion?
But Harry's wandering hand pulled her attention back.
"Can't keep your hands to yourself?" Vivi asked with a gentle smile, "Seems like this afternoon wasn't enough for you, huh?"
"It's a habit," Harry said awkwardly, "I'm used to it... So what are your plans for tonight? Are you heading back to Austria right after the party? Or staying at Hogwarts a bit longer?"
"The original plan was to leave after the party, but seeing how things are now... Cassandra doesn't seem to want to hand over the Christmas gift after the party," Vivi said with a smile, "So, I've decided to stay a few more days. Anyway, I can handle my work for the Ministry of Magic here, and as for those trivial matters... Farley will take care of them for me."
"Farley?" Harry struggled to recall until he remembered who Vivi was talking about, "Do you mean that former Slytherin Class Prefect, Jemma Farrell?"
"Seems you remember her," Vivi said leisurely, "That makes sense, after all, you did duel during your first year. It's normal you remember her... Yes, it's her; she truly deserves to be Slytherin's prefect. I have a lot of faith in her abilities."
"Besides Miss Farley?" Harry asked again, "How many people did you take from Hogwarts?"
"Four, I think," Vivi said with a laugh, "You know the traits of Slytherin, they're ambitious and suited to thrive in the Ministry of Magic, especially in an environment like Old Europe which matches their personality."
Although not fully on board with categorizing by houses, Harry had to admit there was some truth to it.
The Hogwarts sorting ceremony is like this: put on the hat, then get sorted.
After the dance ended, Vivi let go of Harry.
"Go invite Pabi for a dance," Vivi suggested, "She's been waiting for a long time."
When Vivi said this, her tone was somewhat complex, but Harry didn't catch the underlying meaning.
"Alright." Harry escorted Vivi back to the two women and then said to Pabi, "Pabi, Pabi?"
Pabi looked up abruptly, a cute little bubble still on her nose.
"Oh, I fell asleep!" Pabi said proudly, "Sorry, I was a bit sleepy just now..."
"Care for a dance?" Harry extended his hand.
"Sure!" Pabi stood up and placed her hand in Harry's.
Harry noticed that as Vivi returned to her seat, she seemed to be saying something to Cassandra, her eyes also focused on the dance floor.
The gaze was clearly not directed at him, which put Harry at ease. Despite Vivi being the European Vinegar King 1.0 version, she had permitted him to dance with Pabi. Vivi wasn't one to go back on her word and wouldn't get angry because of that.
He noticed that Vivi's gaze was directed towards Dumbledore.
"Have you noticed..." Harry whispered to Pabi, "Vivi's gaze seems a bit unfriendly?"
"Eh?" Pabi's little tuft of hair suddenly stood up, "No way? Is she angry because we're dancing? Oh no, please don't..."
"No," Harry whispered, "It's not because of this; she approved of our dance... I think she's not actually looking at us, but at Dumbledore."
"Eh?" Pabi sighed in relief, "Dumbledore? What's she looking at Dumbledore for? Isn't everything in the past resolved? Or is there something I don't know?"
While speaking, Pabi's face was full of gossip.
Gossip is a natural trait; even someone like Pabi from Hufflepuff couldn't escape it.
"We just discovered that Dumbledore's dance partner looks a bit familiar," Harry whispered to Pabi, "Don't you have that feeling, they look familiar but you can't quite place who they are?"
Pabi stood on tiptoe, peering over Harry's shoulder, her cute little head poking out halfway.
"Eh!" Pabi patted Harry's shoulder excitedly, "Indeed, they do look familiar... but I can't remember who they are... Could it be she's under a Confusion Spell?"
"Not necessarily," Harry shook his head and said, "If that were the case, we might not be able to see her at all."
"Then what is it?" Pabi pondered and then said, "Let's move closer over there. I'll sniff and see who it is..."
Sniff and see? Who?
What, are you a dog?
Seemingly understanding Harry's unspoken question, Pabi said embarrassedly, "Unicorns have a very keen sense of magic, and ever since I regained my human form, I can use unicorn abilities even in human form..."
Oh, I see.
Harry then brought Pabi closer.
As they approached, Harry greeted Dumbledore.
"Merry Christmas, Professor Dumbledore."
"Merry Christmas to you too, Harry," Dumbledore replied with a smile.
Pabi also chimed in politely, "Hello, Professor Dumbledore, Merry Christmas."
After Dumbledore reciprocated, Pabi led Harry aside.
"How about now?" Harry asked, noticing Pabi's expression as if she'd uncovered a big secret. He figured she must've picked up on something.
"Guess who it is?" Pabi said excitedly, "It's Assistant Gael... no, it's Gellert, Gellert Grindelwald! Their magic's scent is identical, I'm very sure it's Gellert Grindelwald..."
Harry: ?
"..."
He was stunned.
Even if his life depended on it, he wouldn't have thought of that.
That old lady was actually Gellert Grindelwald?
"What happened?"
Seeing Harry deep in thought, Pabi tentatively asked.
"Don't disturb me!" Harry rubbed his eyes, "I'm thinking..."
Oh, thinking...
It was indeed something worth pondering, Pabi too felt a bit like her worldview was being shattered.
I mean, such an elderly person actually cross-dressed for a lover to sneak into Hogwarts for the Christmas ball.
Is this a distortion of human nature or a lapse in morality?
"I think we should tell Vivi about this," Pabi said seriously, "At the very least, Vivi needs to know. Don't you think so, Harry?"
"Why does Vivi need to know... oh!"
As Harry spoke halfway, he caught the gleam in Pabi's eyes that screamed 'love a good drama'.
Right, Vivi must know about this!
Her brother, Gellert Grindelwald, actually did such a thing at Hogwarts!
It's simply disgraceful!
The impact is extremely negative!
"Let's go!"
The two of them abandoned the dance, eyes burning with the fire of gossip.
Seeing them leave the dance floor, Cassandra curiously asked, "Why did you stop dancing? The song just began, didn't it?"
"We discovered a big issue!" Harry said seriously, glancing around and asking, "Where's Vivi?"
"Oh, Vivi just stepped out to take a call," Cassandra said, then asked curiously, "What big thing did you discover?"
Pabi quickly snuggled up to Cassandra's right arm, gesturing for Harry to come over.
"Harry, quick, tell her!"
Harry sat on Cassandra's left, cleared his throat, and said, "Take a look at Professor Dumbledore, look at his dance partner."
Cassandra glanced over and nodded, "Mm, I see them."
"Can you guess who it is?" Harry asked mysteriously.
"Who?" Cassandra took a sip of pumpkin juice.
"Gellert," Harry whispered, "Gellert Grindelwald."
"Pfft—"
Cassandra couldn't hold it, spewing pumpkin juice all over Harry's face.