Even though Glenn hadn't planned to say more, he still couldn't escape the fate of having his mouth covered by an embarrassed Hermione.
Glenn felt utterly innocent.
After a brief playful scuffle, the group of five each got their share of ice cream. Out of concern that Glenn might not be able to carry so many bags single-handedly while eating his ice cream (though he actually could), the considerate girls decided to finish their treats at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour before heading to a restaurant in Diagon Alley for lunch.
A light lick brought a trace of coolness and sweet-and-sour flavor from the ice cream. As the sugar entered his system, dopamine started to flow, and Glenn's mood subtly improved.
Since becoming a couple with Hermione, Glenn had begun to understand a bit of what people called "happiness."
"Next time, I should find an opportunity to learn how to make desserts. Hermione would probably like that."
This thought crossed his mind.
The ice cream wasn't much, and they finished it quickly. However, the joy brought by the dessert lingered in their hearts for a while.
And so! It was time to find food.
Well, it wasn't actually that hard. With recommendations from Parvati and Lavender, they soon entered a restaurant and began ordering lunch.
The restaurant was fairly crowded. Wizards in various robes sat together in groups or scattered around the place.
The wizarding community wasn't large, and most adult wizards were familiar with each other. Thus, the restaurant was quite lively, with everyone chatting enthusiastically.
Places like restaurants and hotels, especially public areas, were often the best spots for gathering information.
Glenn and Hermione had spent some time traveling in France with their families, visiting scenic spots, tasting French cuisine, and even visiting the former residence of Nicolas Flamel and his wife. The lack of dust in the house indicated the Flamels had returned not long ago. Unfortunately, they missed meeting them this time.
After returning home, Glenn had gone on a few dates alone with Hermione. It had been a rare period of relaxation, so the two didn't bother keeping up with the wizarding world's news.
As a result, the only information Glenn had encountered during the summer came from letters sent by Neville and Draco and his brief half-day "visit" to Malfoy Manor. Most of it wasn't particularly valuable.
Thus, as soon as Glenn stepped into Diagon Alley, he began attentively collecting snippets of conversation from passersby, extracting useful information from them.
Among the chatter, one piece of news stood out due to its unusually high frequency.
"Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban."
"Azkaban… Gilderoy Lockhart was also sent there. They say his sentence spans decades, but he probably already died under my device. I haven't heard or read any news about it recently…"
"Was the device discovered? It shouldn't be possible; even Dumbledore was fooled…"
"Perhaps his death was simply concealed…"
Hearing these intriguing keywords, Glenn's mind quickly organized related terms into sentences, sparking connections. He casually requested a copy of the Daily Prophet from a waiter and spread it open on the table, searching for the content he wanted.
Soon, he found it on the front page.
"…The Ministry of Magic confirmed today: Prisoner Black remains at large…"
"…Sirius Black, considered one of the most infamous prisoners to have ever resided in Azkaban, is still at large…"
"…'We are working tirelessly to recapture Black,' Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge said this morning. 'We ask the wizarding community to remain calm.'"
"…Some members of the International Confederation of Wizards criticized Fudge for notifying the Muggle Prime Minister about Black's escape…"
While absorbing information from the newspaper, Glenn's hearing continued to pick up related conversations around him, supplementing the details in his mind.
"The Ministry of Magic shouldn't have informed the Muggle Prime Minister. What good can unarmed Muggles do?"
"Regardless of who it is, even a wizard would be in danger encountering Black, let alone Muggles. Black is insane; you don't know that? Of course, the Muggle Prime Minister needs to warn Muggles to be cautious."
"…That's true. Sirius Black was driven into a corner back then. He took out his wand and, with a single spell, blew up half a street, killing one wizard and twelve Muggles!"
"Ugh, supporters of You-Know-Who are all madmen. Black is no different. In my opinion, he went completely insane after You-Know-Who's death, planning his escape for years to take revenge on society. After blowing up the street, Black just stood on the rubble laughing maniacally. When the Ministry's reinforcements arrived, he didn't resist at all and walked with them, laughing all the way."
"Sigh… Things are going to be unsettling again. Let's hope the Ministry can recapture him quickly…"
In a corner of the restaurant, a few wizards were discussing the matter. Although they were a bit far from Glenn's group, he still caught every word.
Sirius Black had ties to Voldemort and was suspected of being a follower.
This was the first piece of information Glenn summarized.
Sirius Black was dangerous and powerful.
This was the second piece of information Glenn noted.
A single spell blew up half a street, indicating formidable strength.
Next came Glenn's third conjecture after some thought.
Sirius Black's escape at this moment might not be just about revenge on society; he might have a bigger agenda.
Voldemort, long presumed dead, had been stirring lately, attempting to rise again. Many of his followers, like the Death Eaters, were starting to move.
And Sirius Black, imprisoned in Azkaban for twelve years, chose this moment to escape. Could it be that he had learned more definite information?
Hmm, not certain—just a guess.
But worth noting.
Glenn stared at the slightly moving image on the newspaper. Sirius Black's gaunt face and dirty, tangled long hair made him look utterly haggard.
Glenn committed it to memory before flipping through other sections.
Just something to keep an eye on; not necessarily something he'd encounter.
But if he did, disabling Black's mobility immediately and interrogating him wouldn't be a bad option.
Voldemort had escaped, and his next schemes were unclear. Even Lucius Malfoy, a seasoned Death Eater, had no concrete information. If Sirius Black knew something…
"Glenn, stop reading the paper. Lunch is served."
Hermione's gentle voice interrupted his thoughts as she pushed a steaming plate of food in front of him.
"Alright, I know."
Glenn folded the newspaper and began eating.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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