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"Huh? When have I ever gone around biting people?!" Tom asked angrily. "Don't go saying things like that!"
"Well… sometimes, sharp and cutting words can bite too..." Wade replied lightly.
"Please, for the love of Merlin! Stop saying things that make people misunderstand!" Tom snapped.
While they were talking, Anne had already reached them.
From the look on her face, it was clear she had done a fair amount of mental preparation—at least… she wasn't about to literally bite Wade right now.
"Good evening, Anne. You look wonderful tonight," Wade said with a smile.
Tonight, Anne had swapped her school robes for a set of hunting gear, better suited for walking through the forest.
In fact, this was the same outfit she had always worn when exploring the Forbidden Forest; it was just that tonight, she hadn't brought her Invisibility Cloak.
"Thank you for the compliment, Wade..." Anne said, forcing a smile to stay on her face.
Seeing Anne's expression, a trace of amusement flickered in Tom's eyes.
"We should get going. Mr. Ogg Den is already waiting for us," Tom said.
"Alright, let's go then. Don't be nervous. The outer parts of the Forbidden Forest aren't as dangerous as other students make them sound," Wade said, gently reassuring Anne.
He looked for all the world as if he truly didn't know Anne had already been to the Forbidden Forest countless times.
Tom, standing beside them, couldn't help but feel a bit of admiration as he watched Wade's completely natural and convincing performance.
When it came to acting—and being utterly shameless—there was still much to learn from Wade!
…
Mr. Ogg Den looked helplessly at the three young wizards standing before him.
He had a good sense of what was going on.
After so many years as the gamekeeper, this was the first time he had seen students not only unafraid of detention in the Forbidden Forest but actually requesting it from time to time!
"I almost forgot you're Slytherins... Even Gryffindors don't treat wandering around the Forbidden Forest like it's their own backyard," Mr. Ogg couldn't help but mutter.
"Mr. Ogg, you might not know this, but you're actually our idol. Haven't you always patrolled the Forbidden Forest all by yourself? In my eyes, you're easily the bravest person at Hogwarts!"
Tom, imitating Wade's tone and suppressing his own disgust, shamelessly flattered Mr. Ogg.
Mr. Ogg clearly enjoyed the praise and grinned happily.
"Hahaha, when it comes to courage, if I say I'm second, no one would dare claim first! Back when Hogwarts was hiring a gamekeeper…"
Mr. Ogg was easily distracted by Tom's flattery and soon began boasting proudly about his past achievements.
Meanwhile, Wade and Tom expertly played along, hyping him up even more. Only, the results were surprisingly effective.
In the short distance of a few hundred meters, Mr. Ogg Den had already been flattered into a near-drunken bliss.
So when Wade proposed letting the three of them enter the Forbidden Forest, Mr. Ogg didn't refuse.
He even kindly pointed them in the right direction, happy to help his three enthusiastic "fans."
Anne stood to the side, completely dumbfounded.
She had thought it would take a lot of effort to convince Ogg to let three underclassmen into the Forbidden Forest without any older students accompanying them.
She hadn't expected… a few compliments would be enough?!
Tom, however, was eyeing Wade suspiciously, suspecting that Wade might have secretly used some strange magic on poor Mr. Ogg.
Otherwise, wasn't the effect a little too good?
"Terrible imitation, Tom. That's not how I speak at all. Talking like that is way too disgusting!" Wade complained as soon as they entered the Forbidden Forest.
"I personally think it was very lifelike," Tom said expressionlessly. "In fact, that's exactly the feeling I get whenever I watch you talk."
"Tom, looks like you still need to practice your Shield Charm a bit more..."
"Wade... if you want me to stand still and take a beating, just say so."
"You see, you're misunderstanding again! I'm just trying to help you perfect that lousy Shield Charm of yours faster!"
"I don't believe a word you're saying!"
Although Wade and Tom kept bickering nonstop, their pace didn't slow down at all.
The two of them quickly took the lead, charging into the Forbidden Forest trails with Anne trailing behind, a black line practically drawn over her forehead, as if they were afraid Mr. Ogg might suddenly change his mind.
After they had completely gotten out of Mr. Ogg's sight, Wade finally pulled out a map and, while looking at it, began observing the surroundings, seemingly trying to get his bearings in order to find the pre-planned path that would lead straight to the ruins.
Tom also cooperated with Wade's act, pretending like they were plotting a new route for the first time, leaning over the map and pointing here and there.
"I thought... you two were already very familiar with the outer parts of the Forbidden Forest?" Anne couldn't help but ask when she saw this.
In truth, watching Wade and Tom fumbling over the map was starting to make her impatient.
If it weren't for fear of exposing the fact that she had already been to the Forbidden Forest many times, she would have just given them directions herself.
"Mm... It's too dark tonight, it's a little hard to recognize the paths. You know, even with a pre-planned route on the map, finding it on the ground takes a bit of work," Wade said calmly.
"Yes... exactly... It's too dark," Tom chimed in to support him.
Seeing them dawdling around, Anne couldn't hold back anymore and stretched out her hand toward Wade.
"What is it?" Wade asked.
"Your map. Give it to me. I'll find the way."
"But isn't this your first time in the Forbidden Forest?"
"I'm actually pretty good at reading maps. When my family used to go fun-hunting in the forest, I was the one leading the way," Anne said casually.
"Ah... that's wonderful," Wade said as he handed over the map.
Anne took the map, gave it a quick, perfunctory glance, and then immediately picked a direction and confidently left the path.
Wade and Tom followed closely behind her.
Watching how decisively Anne chose the way, Tom couldn't help but open the communication discord chat — using the Whispering Charm that Wade had invented — and said, "Looks like this isn't her first time in the Forbidden Forest. She's really familiar with where we're headed; look, she doesn't even hesitate to pick the direction!"
"Sharp observation, Tom."
"Even a fool could see that! Cut the nonsense, Wade!"
"Can't even compliment you, huh... It actually makes sense though. The Pure-Blood Party has been searching the Forbidden Forest for that magical power for a long time. Anne must have secretly come here many times to search too... Honestly, if that power hadn't already been used up, Grindelwald would have found it long ago."
After hearing Wade's explanation, the last trace of doubt in Tom's heart completely vanished.
'Yeah, if Wade had been lying to me and that magic power still existed, then with the goblin instruments' help, Grindelwald wouldn't have spent so long searching without finding anything.'
After thinking for a moment, Tom asked again, "Are you sure your 'potion mist' can really fool that Rosier?"
"Don't worry, Tom... I know exactly what it feels like to suddenly grow stronger, so I know just how convincing the fake I made will be!"
Tom stared at Wade in shock—he had caught a key detail!
Wade knew what it felt like to suddenly grow stronger?
As expected!
That bastard's strength wasn't purely natural! It had to be the result of his family's heritage!
Damn it!
If I had that kind of family background, only an idiot would run off and become an orphan!
Yes, I'm talking about you, Wade! You big idiot!
At that moment, Tom's heart was filled with pure envy, jealousy, and resentment...
"Tom... next time you want to curse me, remember to turn off 'voice chat'..."
Tom: "..."
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