"Merlin, I shouldn't have criticized him in class."
"You aren't a seer either, Minerva," Fudge said somberly.
"Poor boy... and those thirteen Muggles who were caught in the crossfire. Merlin above, fourteen lives lost."
Professor McGonagall lamented in a raspy voice. Afterward, Lynn and the others heard news such as Peter Pettigrew receiving the Order of Merlin and the largest remains found being just a finger.
Facing this news, Lynn quickly began to organize and synthesize the information.
The friends of The Potters that could now be confirmed were Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew.
Based on previous deductions that Sirius and Lupin were likely friends, it could be concluded there was an eighty percent chance that The Potters' friends were these three: Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and Professor Lupin.
Recalling the impact marks on the outside of the Shrieking Shack, a conclusion instantly surfaced in Lynn's mind.
That horned Animagus whose identity couldn't be confirmed before was either Harry's father, James Potter, or Peter Pettigrew.
As for specifically who, the information was incomplete, and Lynn couldn't analyze further.
However, the "truth" just spoken by Fudge and the Professors contradicted some of Lynn's previous deductions.
And this contradiction could very likely lead to two completely different outcomes.
"Don't be impulsive."
Two small whispers broke Lynn's train of thought, pausing her mental operations. Looking down, she saw Harry's shoulders being held down by Ron and Hermione on either side.
He himself was already red with rage, his hand gripping the butterbeer so hard his knuckles were white.
"Don't be impulsive," Lynn also whispered a warning, followed by a sentence that completely calmed Harry down. "There are deductive errors in this matter, points that don't make sense."
"What Sirius Black is actually like cannot be determined yet."
Harry pursed his lips and gradually calmed down, sitting quietly under the table until the Professors, Hagrid, and Fudge left the Three Broomsticks.
"Lynn, you said just now that there were deductive errors... what's that about?"
Lynn looked at Harry expressionlessly, her tone as flat as water. "Do you remember my previous analysis that perhaps Sirius Black doesn't want to hurt you?"
"Because he didn't act when you left your aunt and uncle's house, nor did he act when you were in Diagon Alley."
"I remember," Harry frowned, thinking as he spoke. "But could it be because there were too many people in the Muggle neighborhood, and killing me might have caused bad consequences?"
"And Diagon Alley is full of Wizards coming and going; he'd definitely be caught if he killed me. That's why he didn't act both times."
"No." Lynn categorically rejected Harry's theory.
"Why?"
Harry looked at Lynn in surprise. How did she know that was impossible?
"According to what Fudge and the Professors just said, Sirius Black once recklessly blew up half a Muggle street and turned Peter Pettigrew into dust, then stood there laughing as he let the Ministry of Magic take him away."
"From this, it can be seen that he does not fear death, nor does he fear being caught. He is a man with no scruples whatsoever."
Lynn's brain worked rapidly, and her words became faster and faster. "Therefore, given his personality, he wouldn't care about the population density of a Muggle neighborhood, nor would he care about the gathering of Wizards in Diagon Alley."
"If he truly wanted to harm or even kill you, he would have acted without hesitation."
"B-but..." Harry was so shaken by Lynn's deduction that he stammered, "That has nothing to do with him betraying my parents."
"No," Lynn narrowed her eyes slightly. "Based on the fact that he doesn't want to hurt you, and the dynamics between Black, your father, and Peter Pettigrew that Professor McGonagall just described, the probability of Peter Pettigrew betraying your parents is higher than that of Sirius Black."
Because in such a dynamic, Peter Pettigrew, who was in a following position behind the two, would be more likely to develop negative emotions like jealousy and hatred.
Following this deduction, the possibility of him betraying The Potters is actually greater.
"Hiss... which one is the truth then?"
Ron clicked his tongue. Lynn's analysis and the Ministry of Magic's investigation were simply two different results; it was almost making his head spin.
Not just him—Harry felt he was getting confused too.
The only one who could still maintain calm and think was Hermione.
"The Ministry of Magic's investigation is based on the evidence they have, but their findings clearly contradict the current specific situation to some extent."
"After all, Harry, what you heard before was that the Ministry believes Black wants to kill you, right?"
"Yes." Harry nodded; that was what he had heard Mr. Weasley say.
"But he actually doesn't want to hurt you. That's the most likely fact; otherwise, there's no way to explain how you're still alive."
As Hermione spoke, she gestured toward Harry, who was indeed still alive and well. Harry lowered his eyes and nodded in understanding.
"Additionally, the Ministry's investigation results have a huge discrepancy with the personality profiling Lynn mentioned, and this discrepancy..."
Hermione pursed her lips and didn't finish the sentence.
"And this discrepancy, if true, is enough to swap the positions of Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew."
Lynn's voice took over without a ripple, completing the final conclusion. "Therefore, my suggestion is to remain vigilant, and to expand the targets of that vigilance from just Sirius Black to both him and Peter Pettigrew."
"And immediately begin investigating the case from thirteen years ago. I need more information to conduct a more detailed deduction."
After a short silence, Harry looked up at Lynn with determination. "I understand. I believe you. From now on, I'll be even more careful."
"I'll also work hard on collecting information about the case."
"I'll ask my dad and see if he can get some materials for you."
Ron patted Harry's shoulder. The four people in the booth settled on the same direction at the same time.
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