In the Alchemy Room within the wardrobe space, an oak desk was piled high with various Alchemy Materials and tomes. Several Poppets busily moved back and forth, constantly bringing in new books and then returning obsolete materials.
Two identical-looking people were sitting in the room; one was swiftly browsing through the materials, while the other was focused on stirring a Cauldron, adding something to it every few seconds.
Recently, the Muggle scientist Cornelius, whom Vid had brought, had made some significant findings. One of them was the replication of the hormone that once forced Lupin to transform, though its effects were still unknown.
If this hormone was successful, Cornelius might then develop a corresponding inhibitor, such that even on a full moon night, Werewolves would be unable to transform due to insufficient hormone secretion.
At this stage, live Werewolf experiments became indispensable, and Cornelius even mustered the courage to invite two volunteers to participate in trials, using Vid's connections.
To ensure the safety of this defenseless Muggle old man, Vid decided to construct a sufficiently sturdy cage for his experimental subjects, along with preparing various Magic Potions to subdue them if they lost control.
At this moment, the Travel Cloak draped over a chair suddenly moved by itself, gracefully sliding down and floating around the space. Finally, one corner of the Cloak picked up an invitation written in golden ink and presented it in front of the boy stirring the Cauldron, as if showing off a treasure.
"Look at this! Isn't it pretty! Master, are you going to attend?" the Cloak exclaimed.
Vid glanced at it. The invitation was from a certain official with an elaborate title, inviting him to a banquet.
He smiled and said, "Thanks, but it's not important, I won't be going."
"Great!" the Cloak asked excitedly, "Can I keep it?"
"Sure… how do you plan to keep it?" Vid asked.
"Look, like this!"
The edge of the Cloak suddenly produced a blade tip, which circled around the invitation, cutting off the extra shiny wax seal and attaching it to itself. It then twirled around proudly:
"How about it? Does it look good?"
The boy, busy with his research, took a moment to look up and said, "What? Are you going to change sides? Master, look at this guy! It's thinking of betrayal, it should be dealt with!"
"Wow, Vise, I helped you last time, and this is how you repay me!"
The Cloak, infuriated, tore off the seal, tossed it aside, and rushed at Vise to start a fight.
The two Poppets fought like house-hating huskies, rumbling from the east to the west, then rolling back. The two gorilla-like Poppets carrying books silently stood beside Vid, acting as a defensive wall.
Mikhail cautiously poked his head in through the window. Seeing the two Poppets brawling, a vivid expression of mockery appeared on his face.
Vid sighed helplessly, turned away, so as not to be bothered by it.
At that moment, a tinkling melody sounded from outside—it meant someone had entered.
Very few people could enter Vid's wardrobe space unannounced. Each visitor was assigned a unique BGM for the doorbell. From the lighthearted tone, Vid immediately knew it was his mother, Fiona.
Soon, the door to the Alchemy Room was gently pushed open a crack, and a Little Demonic Puppet, only palm-sized, skillfully maintained its balance.
It carried a thick stack of newspapers and several letters on its head, struggling to keep the door wider, then tiptoed over to Vid with rapid steps, offering the items by raising its hands above its head!
The front of the newspaper lifted slightly by 0.5 centimeters.
Vid took it with a laugh and said, "Thank you, Coco, really appreciate it."
He removed the Cauldron from the fire, wiped his hands, then proceeded to browse the newspaper and letters.
Coco smiled with her lips and hands behind her back, turned around satisfied, and continued with her work.
Fiona stood at the door, smiling as she watched Coco exit, then came in, carrying a platter of fruit.
"These little ones have taken all my tasks," she said with amusement, "If I weren't persistent, it would be Reina delivering this fruit platter."
"Or maybe even Dobby?" Vise the Poppet chimed in: "I think I see him three times a day."
"Exactly!" the Cloak couldn't help but agree loudly: "We're the Poppets, but I always feel like Dobby has a work-hard program in his brain! I'm a Cloak, and I sometimes want to slack off!"
"You sound quite proud of that?" Vise retorted.
Vid's mother stuffed a piece of apple into his mouth, his cheeks puffing out, leaving him no time to speak.
Fiona set down the fruit platter, unable to resist stroking Vise's furry head.
She still found it incredible—that the boy, who looked just like another son, was actually a Poppet!
It was fascinating to see two identical Vids sitting together, and after the initial shock, Fiona treated it as if she had given birth to twins, visiting often to take a look.
As a dutiful stand-in Poppet, Vise never appeared with Vid simultaneously, even in the Grey Family. To witness them together, one had to come to the wardrobe space.
Nonetheless, no matter their curiosity and longing, the Greys restrained themselves, occasionally bringing something inside and taking a quick glance to avoid disturbing Vid's research.
Today, Fiona was the same, rubbing Vise's head and hugging her son, then briskly leaving the wardrobe space.
"Ah, an apple." The Cloak jumped up, teased Firebird Mikhail at the window by waving a small piece: "Want to taste it? Just call me Cloak Bro and I'll let you try it... slurp slurp…"
Mikhail gave it an unfriendly look and suddenly opened his mouth—
"Boom!"
A burst of flame spewed out, not very hot, yet it blackened the apple. The Cloak's hood also started smoking, causing it to wail loudly.
And at that moment, a relaxed smile inadvertently appeared at the corner of Vid's mouth, as if things like Voldemort, Dark Magic, spies, and trials seemed distant.
He lounged back in his chair comfortably, munching on some fruit while opening a few letters.
The first was a letter with slightly messy handwriting, signed by Harry. Recently, he was visiting the Weasley Family, spending every day having fun with the Weasley Brothers. Hermione would join them in a couple of days.
Then there was a letter from Theo, mentioning their vacation in Northern Europe and visiting multiple ancient magical sites.
Skipping the Gringotts financial report, the next letter was from Michael. Vid had just picked it up when another letter slipped out from it.
He hadn't seen the name clearly before being slightly taken aback.
This long, loopy handwriting… without a doubt, the letter was from Dumbledore.