07

Eli personally felt that it would be unwise for a first-year student to assert that he had chosen a certain path, let alone a certain faction. No big person of any group would take children like them seriously. They are not old enough to be taken seriously, and adults will always avoid them even when discussing business affairs.

Eli's family is in good condition. Mr. Smith is used to communicating with him on an equal footing. He has cultivated his ability to think independently since he was a child, and has enough respect for him. But Mrs Smith's attitude was different. She didn't tell him what was happening in the wizarding world at all, even though she admitted that her son was a smart and precocious man.

Eli was a little slandered at her behavior, but not to the point of dissatisfaction. Anyway, he has eyes and is good at thinking. He will look around himself, which is often more intuitive than the words in the newspaper.

Speaking of newspapers, there doesn't seem to be any important news on it - Eli has ordered the Daily Prophet since last week, and after reading the official press release of the Ministry of Magic's hard work for several days, I feel that except for the photo above Aside from moving, the rest is much more boring than The Times.

However, apart from the front-page headlines about the Ministry of Magic's work trends, reports on other pages always have something that makes him uncomfortable. Today's entertainment edition used a sarcastic tone to report a story that a magic item was mistakenly entered into Muggle society, causing 11 Muggles to be injured, and said in a mocking tone: "Muggles can't always see the magic around them. They believe that they have misremembered, hallucinated, and even rejected other Muggles who were closer to the truth... stupidity, why do wizards still need to hide themselves from these blind people? It's puzzling."

Eli felt that the tone of the report was even more puzzling. Is this the attitude that an official newspaper should have? He read from it that he was obviously superior, and he was a little hesitant about whether he was being overly sensitive.

He looked around on the Gryffindor table in the early morning, hoping for some support and understanding.

"Look at this report," he said to Remus Lupin, who was sitting next to him, "a bit taken for granted, isn't it?"

Lupin was surprised by his sudden conversation, the two of them were neither familiar nor strange, and they were friendly in class occasionally, but not much contact in private. Lupin was always with his roommates, James. Porter, Siris. Blake and Peter. Pediru, the four of them gradually began to become inseparable.

　　But he quickly returned Eli with a friendly smile, took the newspaper and read it. He read quickly, and it didn't take long for him to return the newspaper, his expression very calm.

　　"Most wizards are like this." Lupin said softly, "I sincerely feel that non-wizarding races are inferior, not only Muggles, but also goblins, elves, giants, vampires, and... and other intelligent beings. This view has always existed, and has recently become more popular, even to the point that it can be openly reported in newspapers. "

　　Eli's brow furrowed slightly.

　　"I've been reading The Times since I was a kid." He mused, "I don't think an official newspaper like this will be published just because a certain point of view is popular." It should be a mouthpiece for the official sector to some extent, representing the dominant winds and issuing views conducive to equality, solidarity, and more harmonious development – and even if there is a tradition of such discriminatory ideas, it should be overtly curbed. "

　　That is, the so-called political correctness. Although Eli does not share all of these points, there is no doubt that it has a very clear impact on the elimination of visible racial discrimination, the correction of the wind and the maintenance of peace.

　　Lupin looked at him with a wry smile on his lips.

　　"How do you know that these are not official attitudes?" He said softly.

　　Eli was stunned for a moment, and both of them fell silent for a while.

　　"As far as my body is concerned, I don't think it's that serious." After a few moments, Eli said, "Hogwarts treats Muggle students equally, and although individual classmates are strongly prejudiced, the overall environment is friendly and free, so it is normal." "

　　"That's because Headmaster Dumbledore is an extremely great man." Lupin said seriously, looking up at the long table where the faculty were dining with a look of genuine respect in his eyes.

　　"You can't imagine how kind and benevolent Headmaster Dumbledore is." He sighed and whispered, "No matter what kind of student, he is willing to give a chance—both righteousness and the strength to protect that justice." Eli, you didn't live in the wizarding world since you were a child, and you may not realize that Hogwarts is the Garden of Eden in the wizarding world, and this is the brightest part of the wizarding world. "

　　"What about outside of Hogwarts?" Eli couldn't help but ask.

　　"It's the real magical world." Lupin said seriously, with a wry smile.

　　"People now discriminate against wizards from Muggle families, against magical carriers with the bloodlines of other intelligent creatures. The next step may be to discriminate against half-blood wizards, and this day is not particularly far away... After leaving Hogwarts, this is the world we face. "

　　After Lupin said this, he seemed to be taken aback by his own complaint, and his face turned pale. He hurriedly folded the newspaper and returned it to Eli, stopped talking about the topic, and continued to eat.

　　He chewed on a slice of bread covered in peanut butter and suddenly noticed that Eli hadn't touched a knife and fork since. He turned his head with some concern and looked at his smart and mature classmate: "Eli? Are you okay?"

　　Eli said honestly: "Not very good. "

　　His heart seemed to be blocked by something, heavy, making his breathing a little difficult. Lupin looked at him worriedly, and Eli was silent for a moment, shaking his head calmly.

　　"I have a Muggle friend who doesn't know magic, but he has a special yearning for the wizarding world, has a beautiful fantasy about everything here, and is particularly envious of wizards, who has been rejected by magic and has not dispelled his enthusiasm." He said slowly, lowering his eyes slightly, "And my dad, who is also a Muggle, is always very curious about the life of wizards, and will be happy to read the history of wizards, compare it with Muggle history, and do some historical research, although this kind of research is not published at all." "

　　Eli took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, only to feel that the heaviness in his chest did not ease by half a minute.

　　"The magic world they yearn for so much is actually not some paradise they imagined, and the more they can touch a star and a half, the more they can feel the strong gap."

　　He paused for a moment and said, "I kind of don't know, I don't know anything and really understand some of them, which situation is more cruel to them." "

　　Lupin was silent for a moment at his words.

　　"Maybe everyone has their own answer." He concluded, "But if I had to answer, even if I knew what kind of treatment I would get, I would stay firmly in my way—this is magic, Merlin's best gift to my ordinary life." "

　　When she received Eli's letter and the powerful mints that came with it, Penny was sitting in the dormitory in a huff, complaining angrily, and the choir sister was also angry with herself.

　　Three days later, it was the school celebration performance, and her throat was getting worse and worse! It was as if a piece of cotton was blocked in his throat, and even his voice became muffled. The senior sister of the choir actually found her at this time, and said in a domineering manner that her throat situation has not improved, and they will find a substitute to take her place today!

　　Damn it! She obviously worked hard for it for most of the month! She had already gotten her custom-made dress for this chorus, and they even asked her to lend it to a substitute! Penny was so angry that she wanted to cry when she heard the news, but she was always so good at holding back her tears - she bluntly said that she would do whatever they wanted, and left with her head held high, so that she could slowly digest her emotions when she was locked up alone in the dormitory.

Why is there a problem with the throat at this time? After the majestic anger, the endless grievances filled my heart. She doesn't want to touch anyone or anything now, she just wants to sit quietly by herself-until she glanced out the window inexplicably, as if conscious, and saw an owl flying towards her in astonishment.

Is it Lily's letter? No, it's not Lily's owl... Penny's heart suddenly jumped, she stood up abruptly, pushed open the window, and leaned out of the window.

The owl flew straight towards her, landed on her desk, and stretched out a leg towards her. Penny's hand trembled for some reason and took the package from its lap, and took out a bag of sugar and a letter from it.

-Penny:

-The weather has changed drastically recently. I sincerely hope that you can avoid this strong cold snap. I was concerned about the last letter you said you had a sore throat, and attached the strong mints - Lily said you wouldn't mind seeing owls at school and feeding them something to eat, I'll just go straight I chose the owl post, it will be faster, I hope it will help your situation. This is my owl, Wendys, you have one of his feathers, just feed him some biscuits, if you have one.

-I asked Mrs. Pomfrey at the school medical office, even if you have a cold, this sugar will still have a good effect on soothing your throat. I wanted to ask her for a cold medicine, but she didn't agree. First, it's not easy to carry with an owl. Second, she said that the effect of this medicine is too obvious. You can't explain to others why your ears Steam all afternoon.

-As you can see, although magic is convenient, it is still people who use magic. There are inevitably many places that are not so ideal, and the magic world is the same. I know you envy Lily for being a wizard and coming to Hogwarts, but in fact neither the school nor the wizarding world is completely friendly and harmless. Coming here will face new challenges. problems, adding some stress that should not have been experienced, these are far heavier and more uncomfortable than attending a normal school class.

-I don't know how to briefly describe what I saw with you, it's a vague feeling, a black veil covering the face, blocking the view and making it hard to breathe, maybe it can be described Cheng is powerless, even though at my age, wanting to do anything is purely wishful thinking. I'd love to see you if I could, a face-to-face chat is always more convenient than a letter, isn't it? I'll be home for Christmas, and Lily said she too. Are you and your parents going to pick her up at platform nine and three-quarters? Maybe we can meet at that time? That's a long way to go. Anyway, I wish you all the best in your chorus. I know that song, and the melody is beautiful. , if only I could hear it, I haven't heard you sing yet.

-Sincerely, from Eli Smith

Penny's heart was beating violently, she opened the paper bag on the side without hesitation, took out a mint and stuffed it into her mouth.

The refreshing feeling is like taking a shower under the waterfall, and like being in a moist and fresh virgin forest. She felt that her nasal cavity was suddenly cleared, and her throat became not stagnant.

Without delaying even a second, Penny jumped up and rushed straight to the choir's training room, before even putting down the letter.

Eli's mood seemed a little down in the letter. As she ran, she gasped. She felt that she could feel Eli's emotions, and she would try her best to comfort him in her reply and make him full of energy again. She had to think of a way, the way she could do it...

She thought she could tell him that even if he was troubled by what he was unable to do, he could still make her troubles disappear by raising his hand. That's magic - it's unquestionably lucky to be blessed by magic.

He may not be able to do much now, but she has no doubt that if he wants to, he can do more and change more - after all, she never thought of this before knowing him. Luck can also be related to her. But when she received the owl from him today, it all changed because of him. It was as if she had finally received the letter from Hogwarts, and she had that belated luck.