Vid's invention, the Locator Friendship Book, sold merely average. Only some parents would buy it to put on their children, using it like a Protective Talisman.
Of course, Vid himself also had various models of the Friendship Book.
After obtaining the Marauder's Map, he improved the Locator Friendship Book based on the Magic Pattern Circuits he learned from the map, making it smaller, displaying positions more accurately, and making the Magic Fluctuation more concealed.
After capturing Peter Pettigrew, Vid used the Sticky Spell to stick a Locator Friendship Book on the back of the man's head.
He used the Shrinking Spell to reduce the size of the Friendship Book so small that even if Peter Pettigrew turned into a rat, it would probably be mistaken for a speck of dust accidentally stuck on.
With this, Vid could monitor Peter Pettigrew's location in real-time.
In the eyes of Percy, Ron, and others, handing Peter over to the Ministry of Magic was the end of the matter, but Vid did not think so.
He even initially chose to venture out with the Weasley Brothers to capture Peter rather than seek help from Dumbledore or Professor McGonagall for the same reason.
As for the Ministry of Magic, Vid neither trusted their abilities nor their integrity, and certainly not their responsibility.
And Dumbledore, despite being one of the most powerful wizards in the world, has a kind of "self-imprisonment" mindset.
Even if he could crush Fudge and Umbridge with one hand, in the storyline, he repeatedly tolerated their ridiculous decrees limiting his power and persecuting the school's teachers and students.
Moreover, from the second year, the Ministry of Magic repeatedly invaded Hogwarts under grandiose pretexts, arresting people Dumbledore deemed innocent, forcing him to leave the school more than once, and later slandering him as an old lunatic.
And Dumbledore?
He keeps retreating.
Dumbledore would subtly nudge the needle within the rules, guiding events in the direction he hoped for but would not straightforwardly flip the table.
Under the influence of Dumbledore, most professors at the school—like Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, etc.—adopt a similar approach.
So even if Peter Pettigrew were caught, Dumbledore would privately interrogate him, but eventually, he would hand him to the Ministry of Magic for investigation and trial.
He has his expectations of the result but would not arbitrarily use power to interfere with the investigation outcome by the Ministry of Magic, forcing Fudge and others to rule according to his wishes.
Even if the end results are contrary to his expectations, he first tries to strive within the legal boundaries instead of saying directly: "Fudge, this must be handled this way, otherwise I'll make you step down!"
For ordinary people, having the most powerful person consistently abide by laws and self-restrain is indeed a great fortune.
However, when facing someone who flagrantly breaks rules under the guise of legality, thirsts for power, yet dares not bear responsibility, Dumbledore's "law-abiding" becomes quite frustrating.
Vid could not pin hope on Dumbledore.
He could not, as the original trio did, naively comb through legal articles trying to change the unfavorable verdict from the Ministry, or regret missing the optimal timing as the situation worsened.
Because he knew, regret is pointless, mistakes come with costs.
...
At the Umbrella House gathering the next day, Harry told everyone the course of events in detail, with Fred and George supplementing from the side.
Since starting the deathmatch game, these twin brothers also joined the SSC, their Magic Spell skills advancing rapidly, joining Vid in Alchemy research during their free time.
"Such a big event, you should have called us to participate together," Michael complained to Vid.
"You cannot enter the Gryffindor Common Room," Vid said. "Also, for something to succeed, you must keep it secret first. What if, during discussions, Wormtail accidentally overheard?"
"So... the former hero is actually the traitor, and the imprisoned person was wrongly accused?" Leian concluded at last.
"Yes..." Harry said wistfully, "Lupin told me that Sirius Black is actually my godfather. I don't know what kind of person he is."
Theo said sympathetically, "Merlin, he spent eleven years in Azkaban... I can't even imagine."
"What kind of place is Azkaban?" Harry asked.
"It is the scariest place in the world, a prison for wizards," Theo unconsciously lowered his voice and said, "There, Dementors serve as guards."
"Dementors?" Harry still did not understand.
"Monsters that feed on happiness, making people recall the most horrifying events."
Theo shuddered unconsciously. "I had an uncle who spent three months in Azkaban. When he got out, he almost went mad. He said he would rather die than go back there."
Harry's face was cloaked in a layer of worry.
Three months almost sent someone mad, so what about eleven years?
Would his godfather... have already become a lunatic?
Even so...
Harry thought.
Even so... I will take good care of him...
For Sirius Black going mad was protecting their family at the root.
This is his responsibility, something his parents would want him to do.
...
For several consecutive days, every time Ron mentioned Scabbers, he felt nauseous until Harry commissioned Lupin to buy an owl for Ron as compensation for losing his pet.