Chapter 83: Badge, Approved

Wade noted Mikey's warning but decided it wasn't something he needed to worry about immediately.

He used to practice Potions frequently when the classroom was empty, and he'd probably been seen a few times by Slytherin students. What they didn't know was that ever since he discovered the Room of Requirement, Wade rarely went there anymore.

As for who those people were, Wade naturally had a good idea.

He decided to let them stew for a few days, but not too long—if he waited too long, those Slytherins might just give up on their own.

After classes on Thursday, Wade went to the Astronomy Tower as usual to find Professor Murray. On the way, he unexpectedly ran into a few seventh-year students. They were much taller than him, but they all looked so dejected that they inexplicably seemed shorter.

One girl was telling someone next to her, "I'm going to kill Jennifer! She told me Alchemy was interesting and Professor Murray wasn't demanding—this isn't demanding?"

"Professor Murray used to be really easygoing! Remember? When we were in sixth year." Another student sighed, saying, "It's just that this year the professor took on a new student, and suddenly he can't stand us anymore—he used to really like me."

The girl from before complained bitterly, "Self-studying Runes in first year? He's insane! If we weren't all at school, I'd definitely think it was a lie!"

A student wailed, "Ugh... why doesn't he spend more time on Quidditch?"

"Has anyone here studied the Book of Friends?" a boy suddenly asked.

"I tried."

"It's too hard."

"Can't crack it."

"It's easy enough to make it glow or show characters with a Transfiguration Charm, but to simultaneously display complex text or even pictures on fragile parchment, and across any distance, that's a bit..."

The boy's rambling was cut short when someone nudged his arm. His voice stopped abruptly.

At the corner of the corridor, the group and Wade suddenly ran into each other.

They stared at each other. Seeing Wade Grey, who still looked like a child, and then thinking about what they had just said, everyone felt extremely awkward. After a moment of frozen silence, they stiffly nodded and walked past him.

It was only after they had walked a considerable distance that their voices started up again.

"—Was that Wade Grey?"

"Yes."

"—He's... quite good-looking."

"Mhm."

"...He probably didn't hear us, right?"

"—He heard us, I guess."

"Ahhhhh... why would you say that! Couldn't you have just lied to me?"

"Stop shaking... I want to die right now too... seriously."

...

"Oh?" Professor Murray looked at Wade, asking curiously, "You seem... a little different today, don't you?"

Wade smiled and asked, "Professor, what do you think is different about me?"

"It seems there really has been a change... Hmm..." Professor Murray stroked his chin, scrutinizing Wade. After a long moment, he said uncertainly, "You seem... to have gotten better-looking than before? But it's not the effect of a Beauty Potion..."

Wade smiled and took a badge from his chest.

Immediately, that visual effect of fair, flawless skin, as if emanating a faint glow, disappeared. Even though his features remained delicate and his appearance handsome, he no longer shimmered as brilliantly as before, nor did he involuntarily draw all attention to himself.

"Oh?"

Professor Murray took the badge and examined it with great interest—Wade naturally hadn't cast any anti-detection spells on the work he showed to the professor.

"A Lumos Charm... a Reflection Charm... and solidification..." Professor Murray looked at Wade with a smile in his eyes: "You used light?"

"Yes," Wade said. "As you know, I've been taking a lot of photos lately. In the process, I discovered that the core of photography lies in using light—properly utilizing light can hide facial imperfections, make one look thinner, emphasize the three-dimensional contours of the face, and make people look better. So I created this Softlight Badge. It emits just the right amount of light to reflect onto the wearer, making them appear more... dazzling."

In short, it was the Wizarding World's version of a beauty filter.

"You always have amazing and innovative ideas," Professor Murray praised. "Many people have to drink a Beauty Potion for a twenty-minute effect, but you've achieved it with a small badge—how long does this thing last?"

"About ten days," Wade said.

"That's not bad." Professor Murray didn't pay too much attention to such a small item, saying casually, "Some silly young girls will like it—are you planning to have Marchioni's magic workshop produce and sell it?"

"Yes." Wade took out his Hogsmeade Village application from his pocket and said honestly, "Actually, I came today to ask the professor for permission to go to Hogsmeade this Saturday. I need to meet with Mr. Marchioni to discuss the modifications to the Book of Friends and the production of the Softlight Badge in detail."

"Only for that?" Professor Murray was a bit skeptical.

He had gotten to know Wade well during this time—given Wade's personality, he would never specifically apply for special permission for issues that could be resolved through correspondence.

"Uh... actually, I also want to see someone," Wade said, a little embarrassed. "You know it's not very convenient for me to do many things at school. My father isn't suited to dealing with Wizards frequently, and I'm worried he might encounter danger because of it. So I found an agent—this Saturday, I also plan to meet with him."

"An agent?" Professor Murray shook his head disapprovingly. "An unreliable agent is more dangerous than none at all. Who is the person you found? Did you know them before? Or are they related to your parents?"

"No, I don't know him," Wade said "honestly." "I asked my father to place an advertisement in the newspaper, and he wrote a cover letter. After meeting him, my father thought he was a gentle and reliable person, so he chose him as the agent—his name is Remus Lupin."

Wade knew he didn't need to explain to his parents why he trusted a stranger—without any excuses, they would choose to believe him, as they always had. But for Professor Murray, for Dumbledore, and for others in the Wizarding World, he needed a proper reason to explain this matter.

So Wade slightly inverted the cause and effect—it wasn't that he specifically recruited someone, but rather that someone applied for the job after seeing the advertisement and was therefore hired.

"Remus Lupin?" Professor Murray frowned slightly, his expression seemingly a mix of melancholy and reminiscence.

"You know him?" Wade asked curiously.

"Hmm," Professor Murray said, lowering his eyes, his voice low. "He and his three friends were quite the celebrities at Hogwarts back in the day. They caused a lot of commotion while at school; hardly anyone didn't know them. What a shame…"

"—A shame?"

"Some died, some became traitors, that's all. In times of war, things like that are common, nothing to talk about." Professor Murray changed the subject. "You said you arranged to meet him Saturday?"

"Yes."

"I can approve it," Professor Murray said seriously, interlacing his fingers. "But I must be present."

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