"Natasha, what happened?"
A slightly tense voice crackled through the earpiece.
"It's okay, I've got this," Natasha replied, lowering her voice.
Turning her attention back to Hermione, Natasha said seriously, "I'm from the Homeland Strategic Defense Attack and Logistics Agency. You can call me Natasha. I'm here to ask you a few questions."
Even though English was now her native tongue, Hermione's mind momentarily froze at the lengthy title.
She recalled that S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't yet have its abbreviated name.
"Uh... what's the agency called again?"
Natasha wasn't surprised. She'd already suggested to Fury that a simpler name was needed, but no changes had been made.
"Homeland Strategic Defense Attack and Logistics Support Agency," Natasha repeated patiently.
"What Security Bureau?"
"...Homeland Strategic Defense Attack and Logistics Support Agency."
"What support?"
Natasha: "....."
Facing Hermione's clear eyes, Natasha was momentarily speechless.
"Would you like to write it down?"
Seeing Natasha's helplessness, Hermione offered a solution.
"Okay, I'll ask my colleague to bring me some paper and a pen..."
Before Natasha could finish, Hermione interrupted, "No need for that."
With a wave of her wand, Hermione gestured at the coffee cup beside her.
"Transfiguration!"
In Natasha's stunned gaze, the coffee cup twisted and transformed into a blank sheet of paper and a pen.
"What is this!"
Natasha looked up at Hermione, shocked.
Her first thought was that she'd been drugged and was hallucinating.
Grabbing the pen and paper, she rubbed them between her fingers, confirming they were real.
It was true!
"How did you do that?"
Natasha stared at Hermione.
Hermione shrugged, "Just a simple Transfiguration spell."
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
The coffee cup in front of Natasha levitated, floated off the table, then fell and shattered.
"Reparo!"
The broken pieces reassembled flawlessly.
"See?" Hermione said proudly, hands on her hips.
Witnessing these magical feats firsthand, Natasha was utterly astonished.
She'd encountered superpowers before—fire manipulation, water control, enhanced strength—things science could explain, albeit narrowly.
But Hermione displayed at least three different abilities: material transformation, levitation, and restoration.
This was beyond scientific explanation.
Magic!
Real magic!
Despite her status as a top agent, Natasha struggled to process this revelation.
Reorganizing her thoughts, Natasha said, "We discovered a series of unusual deaths nearby a few nights ago. We wanted to ask what you know about them."
She expected Hermione to deny involvement.
Unexpectedly, Hermione nodded and said, "Of course I know. I killed them all."
Natasha's eyes widened.
Before she could respond, Hermione continued,
"What's your agency called again? Never mind, let's just call you S.H.I.E.L.D. You're a Muggle law enforcement agency, right? I took out the bad guys, shouldn't I get a reward?"
She exuded confidence.
What's going on with this kid? Natasha wondered, her expression grave.
Tentatively, she asked, "Hermione, you're still so young. Don't you feel anything about taking lives?"
"Huh?" Hermione tilted her head innocently:
"But I only kill bad people. Don't books say to punish evil and reward good? That's how it is on TV. The hero takes down the villains, and no one says it's wrong!"
Because that's how it's done on TV? Natasha couldn't help but smirk.
Such a simplistic view of morality...
"But..."
As Natasha began to speak, a voice interrupted through her earpiece:
"Don't debate right and wrong with her. Ask about the wizardry!"
Taking a deep breath, Natasha smiled, "Can you tell us about yourself? How did a lovely child like you gain these abilities? My sister is really curious."
She feigned curiosity and eagerness.
Through their interactions, Natasha had begun to understand the child before her.
"How did I get them?" Hermione looked puzzled, "Well, the professors at school teach us. How else would I get them?"
She seemed genuinely confused by the question.
"Uh?"
Natasha and the person on the other end of the earpiece both made confused sounds.
Can schoolteachers teach this?
Are you joking?
What kind of school is that?
But then, realization struck them both.
No!
Hermione wasn't referring to a regular school but a dedicated magic school!
A school that teaches wizards!
Realizing this, they understood something even more alarming.
If there's a school for wizards, there must be many student wizards, and teachers who can instruct them must also be wizards.
Considering the term "Ministry of Magic" Hermione mentioned earlier, it was easy to deduce that there's a whole community of wizards with their own societal structure!
A hidden group of supernaturally powered individuals, unnoticed by S.H.I.E.L.D., could spell trouble...
Natasha's hands trembled at the thought.
The person on the other end of the line fared no better, their face darkening with unease.
As Natasha fell silent, Hermione looked disgruntled.
"Hey, I've answered plenty of your questions. It's my turn now."
"Professors aren't as inquisitive as you."
Natasha regained her composure, maintaining her smile, "Go ahead."
Hermione rested her chin on her hands, blinking, "I was under a Disillusionment Charm while dealing with the bad guys. You shouldn't have seen me. How can you be sure it was me?"
"We didn't say it was you..."
Hermione interrupted, "I may be young, but I'm not a fool."
Seeing she couldn't deceive her, Natasha confessed.
"There were witnesses."
"Uncle Edwin?" Hermione shook her head, "Impossible. He's a Muggle; he couldn't see through my Disillusionment Charm."
Natasha nodded, "We know, but there were surveillance cameras at the scene."