Chapter 212: Can Your Headmaster Read Minds?

Fiona finally understood her husband's concerns and felt a chill of fear.

"Luckily, you thought it through... I almost couldn't resist saying something..."

Fred reassured her, "It might not necessarily be dangerous; I'm just taking precautions against the possibility of danger. Also, Wade..."

Wade, who had remained quiet, nodded. "I understand. I'll contact the professors at school and ask about the situation."

"Thank you."

Fred earnestly thanked his son and couldn't help but remind him:

"Caryll's disappearance isn't just a matter for our family; it's an issue for Hogwarts and the British Ministry of Magic. Your role is just to communicate and make contact. Leave the rest to the adults—don't go playing hero yourself."

Wade couldn't help but chuckle, "Got it... I'm not a Gryffindor."

...

Ten minutes later, Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall arrived at the Greys' doorstep after receiving the news.

Dumbledore was wearing a wizard-style pointed hat adorned with symbols of wind and water. Although it gave off a mysterious vibe, it didn't change the fact that his outfit looked like pajamas.

Fiona couldn't help but glance at the sky... She didn't quite understand but still chose to respect it.

Perhaps this is just how powerful wizards are?

Fiona thought with admiration.

Although it was the first time the Grey couple had met Dumbledore, as soon as they saw him, they immediately linked him to the headmaster Dumbledore that Wade had mentioned.

It could be said that no one could better fit the traditional image of a wizard than the person before them.

As for Professor McGonagall, she looked much more ordinary. Her dark green robes didn't seem out of place even in the Muggle world, and her fingers bore ink stains, suggesting she had been writing something before coming.

Professor McGonagall held a roll of parchment in her hand, and its yellowed pages were slightly curled.

Seeing the two through the window, Wade opened the door before they could knock.

"Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall."

"Good afternoon, Mr. Grey, Mrs. Grey, and Wade," Dumbledore said leisurely. "I hope we're not interrupting your lunch."

The headmaster's calm demeanor reassured the Grey couple, easing their anxiety.

"I checked the admission list," Professor McGonagall said solemnly.

"In September 1991, there indeed should have been a student named Caryll Johnson enrolled. However, since he wrote to say he planned to attend Ilvermorny, the school didn't pursue him further. This is all recorded in detail."

"Did you not contact Ilvermorny?" Fiona asked. When Professor McGonagall turned to look at her, she quickly added, "Sorry, I don't mean to criticize..."

"This was indeed an oversight on our part..."

Professor McGonagall pressed her lips together and said,

"However, Hogwarts has never forced students to enroll. Many young witches and wizards choose to study magic at home, with a mentor, or at other magical schools. Hogwarts does not prevent this."

"Unfortunately, Landon didn't know that," Fred said quietly.

"He thought Hogwarts would forcibly take his son, so he fled Britain in a hurry, only to fall into the lion's den..."

"Where is Mr. Johnson?"

Professor McGonagall asked seriously, "We need to understand the situation in greater detail."

"He had a minor traffic accident," Fred replied. "I think he's shared everything he could remember..."

"Magic can help us uncover details he might have forgotten," Dumbledore said politely.

Fred's face changed.

He immediately thought of Legilimency, though he didn't say it aloud.

Dumbledore seemed to sense his thoughts and gently assured him, "Of course, rest assured... there will be no harm done to him."

Fred looked at Wade, wanting to ask—Can your headmaster read minds?

Wade blinked and turned to ask Professor McGonagall instead,

"Professor, besides Caryll, are there other students who didn't attend school for similar reasons?"

Professor McGonagall's expression darkened. "There are cases like this every year," she admitted.

As the Greys turned pale, Dumbledore said,

"Of course, not every child who declines to attend school disappears like Mr. Johnson. Apprentice-based learning remains a fairly common method of instruction in the wizarding world."

But this did little to comfort Fred and Fiona. It was obvious that whoever had taken Caryll had done so easily, proving this wasn't their first time.

Perhaps the children who disappeared in the past went unnoticed because their parents believed the lies fabricated by fraudsters, lacked access to the wizarding world, or, more likely, because they were either dead or had forgotten their children entirely.

Afterward, Fred drove the two professors to meet Landon Johnson, who was still being detained by traffic police.

With Landon's consent, Professor Dumbledore extracted some of his memories, confirming that Landon hadn't lied. The memories also provided a clear image of the mysterious Major Baird.

However, this wasn't particularly useful.

Baird's name could be fake, his identity could be fabricated, and even his appearance could have been altered.

His gender and age might not even align with how he presented himself.

But if Baird were like many arrogant wizards who looked down on Muggles, he might not have bothered to conceal his true appearance.

Next, Dumbledore contacted the Ministry of Magic and planned to visit Mrs. Johnson at the sanatorium.

"Recovering lost memories is difficult, and we cannot resort to cruel methods to force her into recalling fragments of her past," Dumbledore said. 

"However, magic speaks for itself. Especially for those who haven't undergone formal magical education—each wizard's magic is unique."

The adults didn't involve Wade in what followed.

He only learned bits and pieces from his father. What Dumbledore and the Ministry of Magic would do next, or whether they would find any leads, Wade didn't know.

As a student, his most pressing task remained his education.

The brief Christmas holiday ended quickly. Students returned to school, and catching up on homework—or copying it—became the latest trend.

Wade thought it would be a long time before he heard any updates on the matter. Unexpectedly, on the third day of the new term, he got a lead from the Weasley twins.

"...Apparently, someone sold a magical necklace to a Muggle, and it strangled that woman at the sanatorium to death," Fred said. "My dad rushed off to handle it and hasn't been home since."

"...Dead?"

Wade was stunned for a long moment before a thought suddenly struck him—

Annie Johnson had lost her memory and is then killed. Why, then, is Landon still alive and running around seeking help?

--------------------------------

🙏🙏Please consider supporting this translation project by becoming a P@treon member!!! 

Your support is greatly appreciated!

Available on my P@treon page for just $4!!

Early access to the following translations:-

⭐Harry Potter: Becoming a Study God (HP:BSG)- +194 Chapters & 2 Chapters/Day

⭐MCU: Druid's Adventures (MCUDA)(⭐COMPLETE⭐) - Total Chapter 460

⭐Famous Police Detective in Detective World (FPDDW)- +165 advance chapters

⭐Marvel: Little Genius (MLG) (⭐COMPLETE⭐) - Total Chapter 450

p@treon.com/Lightreaper457

--------------------------------