Chapter 215: The Happiest Moment 【2in1】

That afternoon at the Umbrella room, Wade briefly told everyone about Caryll.

After listening, the others were relatively calm, but Harry and Hermione were quite shaken.

"Thank goodness it was Hagrid who came to fetch me back then," Harry said. "I mean... if I'd met that Baird first, I definitely would've been fooled."

"You wouldn't have been," Hermione said, still a bit unnerved. "The entire wizarding world is watching you!"

"But for someone like me, completely from a Muggle-born family, there's no way to tell who's trustworthy."

"I didn't know any more than you did, Hermione," Harry told her. "As long as I could leave the Dursleys, I'd have gone with anyone who came to get me."

Since childhood, he'd often dreamed of a relative suddenly appearing to take him away, but that dream had never come true. By the time he realized dreams were just dreams, the wizarding world had opened its doors to him out of nowhere.

Then, Remus and Wade had taken him away from the Dursleys, and he even had a godfather...

Sometimes Harry wondered if his life had been so miserable before because God or Merlin had saved the best for after he turned eleven.

"Oh, Harry," Hermione said, biting her lip with deep remorse. "I'm so sorry…"

She'd only been thinking about Harry's enormous fame and had forgotten everything he'd lost because of it.

Harry shook his head and said nothing.

The group discussed the incident involving Caryll for a while, but as teenagers, none of them could come up with any truly useful suggestions. At best, they just organized the scarce information they had once more.

"The professors at school must know which Muggle-born children didn't show up for their studies," Padma said finally. "If we could get that list, we might find something."

Neville shook his head. "But that kind of list would definitely be with Professor Dumbledore... or Professor McGonagall, and they'd never tell us."

Aside from Neville, the other Gryffindors' eyes gleamed with eagerness.

"That's not necessarily true..." Fred said with a wink. "If we want to get some information, we don't necessarily need the professors' permission…"

"All we need is someone to distract Professor McGonagall. For example—"

George mimicked holding a book: "—Professor, I have a question I don't quite understand…"

Everyone looked at Hermione.

"Uh... I do have some questions I need to ask..."

Hermione started to speak but abruptly stopped, and then coughed lightly.

"...What I mean is, stealing from a professor is against school rules! Besides, who even knows the new password to Professor McGonagall's office?"

Everyone turned to Wade.

Wade shook his head.

"Sorry, I can't agree to this plan, nor will I help with your actions... Do you really think the professors wouldn't have thought of what we have? Whatever needs investigating, they've surely already looked into it."

"Exactly," Michael chimed in. "The professors are far more experienced and skilled in magic than us. 

They can Apparate too—it's possible they could investigate every Muggle-born student in just a day. Even if we got the list, what could we do with it?"

Harry suddenly lit up with realization. "So what we need to steal is the investigation results!"

"Right!"

The Gryffindors all agreed enthusiastically and praised the Ravenclaw for his cleverness.

Michael was speechless. "…Why do your ideas always revolve around stealing something? What we're saying is that stealing is pointless. Independent investigation would be inefficient and a waste of time. 

The best strategy right now is to wait for the professors and the Ministry to finish their investigation."

"We know that!" Harry said. "But since we've heard about this, can you just sit back and not get involved?"

"I can!" Michael said decisively.

"He can," Fred chimed in simultaneously. "He's a Ravenclaw, after all!"

The comment was made in jest, without any malice, causing everyone to laugh—even Michael couldn't help but chuckle.

"Fine, do whatever you want..."

Michael shrugged. "If the professors catch you, I'll try to help lessen your punishment."

"Wade..."

The Gryffindors turned back to the one person who held the password.

Wade still shook his head.

"I can't pass along a password a professor entrusted to me without permission..."

As the small group of Gryffindors looked down in disappointment, Wade averted his gaze to a potted plant in the corner and said softly:

"But... if I happen to go to Professor McGonagall and someone insists on coming along... I can't exactly stop them, can I?"

The group immediately brightened, their faces lit up with joy, and Michael gave Wade a knowing wink.

Wade smiled sheepishly.

It seemed to be an unspoken agreement between Ravenclaws and Slytherins: leave the risks and trouble to Gryffindors.

But even if the Gryffindors noticed this, they probably wouldn't mind and would still eagerly charge ahead.

Because they didn't fear such things—courage and adventure were what they sought.

That said, Wade didn't actually think Harry and the others would uncover anything significant.

Especially for those from wizarding families—they might not even know whether Oxford was west or south of London, let alone understand the kinds of activities Muggle-born children typically engaged in. 

How could they possibly figure out the reasons behind the missing students just by rummaging through the library?

Whatever they could investigate, the adults had surely already looked into. And the things they couldn't think of? The adults probably had them figured out as well.

Still, Wade hadn't forgotten that in the original storyline, Dumbledore had tacitly allowed Harry to confront and slay the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets on his own.

That was a deadly creature even experienced wizards would avoid.

Now, with Wade's interference, the basilisk hadn't even had the chance to emerge. Perhaps Professor Dumbledore, wanting to temper Harry, might subtly guide certain clues into his hands?

This thought struck Wade suddenly when Harry suggested stealing the investigation results.

…

After finishing their homework, everyone went to practice spells. Theo caught Wade's eye and gestured subtly. The two sat in the lounge area, where a small plate of cupcakes was on the table.

"Wade..." Theo leaned closer and lowered his voice. "My focus may be a little strange..."

"Any detail could be a clue," Wade replied. "Did you notice something odd?"

"In that matter we discussed earlier, the Johnsons went to the US, and Caryll Johnson was taken away by Major Baird and an old witch, right?"

Theo continued, "All the attention is on Baird—why isn't there any information about the old witch?"

"Because even in Mr. Johnson's memory, that witch only showed half her face, which was full of wrinkles. You could barely tell she was female, and she was small and thin. Beyond that, there was nothing else."

Wade explained, "No distinctive jewelry or facial features. There are countless elderly witches in both Britain and the US—it's impossible to trace."

Theo was silent for a moment before saying, "Maybe I'm overthinking it, but... do you remember the time during summer when you saved me and my brother?"

"There was also an elderly witch involved in that incident."

Theo said, "After you left, my father and his men used... certain methods to interrogate that werewolf, Chad Brick."

"From him, they learned that the witch called herself Ursula. She operated out of Knockturn Alley, selling human eyes, fingernails, and other dark magic materials. She even sold children's spines and sphenoid bones."

"You know, even among dark wizards, such practices are extremely heinous. My father and his team were furious and tracked her down. While Apparating, that witch suffered a Splinching, and they quickly found her upper body."

"But when they found her, she was already dead."

"—In a rarely visited alley in Knockturn Alley, she had been strangled by a magically enchanted scarf."

"A scarf strangled her?" Wade finally understood what Theo was getting at.

"Yes," Theo said. "It might just be a coincidence, but... don't these two deaths seem eerily similar?"

Wade nodded silently.

Both victims were female, both were strangled, and even the circumstances before their deaths bore some similarities.

However, concluding that their deaths must be connected based on this would be overly hasty.

Wade asked, "This incident... it didn't make it to the papers, did it?"

The wizarding world was currently so peaceful that even the smallest events were sensationalized in the news. A bizarre case involving someone being Splinched and then strangled would surely have made a prominent headline—unless no one knew about it.

As expected, Theo hesitated before saying, "My father and his people… dealt with the body. And the werewolf as well…"

Because of this, Theo couldn't share the information he knew during the earlier group discussion.

"I see," Wade said, unsurprised.

When everyone carries a wand, essentially equivalent to a firearm, vigilante justice isn't uncommon in the wizarding world.

Especially when the safety of children is at stake—angry parents can act like ferocious beasts, capable of doing anything.

"Did they manage to get anything valuable out of the werewolf?" Wade asked.

Theo thought for a moment and replied, "I'll write a letter to my father. I'll say it's Mr. Werner—the one who saved us—asking for the information. He'll definitely be willing to share everything with you."

"In that case, I'd better write the letter myself," Wade suggested. "If Mr. Mancini finds out that 'Werner' contacted you directly, he might get concerned."

Theo paused and then nodded in realization. "You're right."

He had almost forgotten—his parents didn't see Werner as a trustworthy classmate but as an unfamiliar wizard with unclear motives.

For Werner to reach out to his family through Theo for information could easily be interpreted by the Mancinis as either a request or a threat—it was hard to say which.

…

Wade quickly wrote the brief letter and sent it via the Hogsmeade owl post over the weekend.

Then it was back to study time.

Wrapped in a thick cloak, Wade returned to Lupin's house to find that the others who had gathered there had already gone shopping or off to play. Only Harry remained in the living room.

"I think the two of you can study this spell together," Lupin said. 

"Although it's an extremely advanced piece of magic that many seasoned wizards struggle to master, I believe the two of you have reached the required level and stand a good chance of learning it."

Harry gripped his wand with some excitement. "What kind of magic is this, Remus?"

"It's called the Patronus Charm," Lupin explained. "This spell summons a Patronus, a guardian that can repel most dark magical creatures, including Dementors, and shield your mind from their influence."

"What does a Patronus look like?" Harry asked curiously.

"Wade, why don't you explain?" Lupin said with a smile. "I'm sure you've studied this thoroughly."

"Sure," Wade replied, looking at Harry. 

"A Patronus is a positive force, a representation of your inner self, and it usually takes the form of an animal. It's a bit like a tangible ghost. The key to summoning it is focusing your mind on something joyful, as it embodies happiness and hope."

"Exactly right," Lupin said with a smile. "By the way, James's Patronus was a stag, and Lily's was a doe—because they loved each other."

"And what's your Patronus?" Harry asked.

"…It's a wolf," Lupin said after a moment's hesitation, then smiled again.

After years of resentment and self-doubt, Lupin was finally beginning to confront his identity as a werewolf and speak of it without avoidance.

Clearing his throat, he raised his wand and gestured for the two young wizards to pay close attention. "Expecto Patronum!"

A silvery wolf burst from the tip of his wand, bounding through the air. It sprinted around the room with incredible speed, its silver-white fur shimmering as though unaffected by gravity.

"—That's incredible!" Harry exclaimed, his admiration was genuine.

Wade nodded in agreement. He thought so too.

The silver wolf ran two laps around the room before dissolving into a silvery mist and vanishing. Lupin smiled and said, "Are you ready? Let's begin practicing."

He repeated the incantation and the wand movement tips, then gave them a few minutes to focus on a happy memory.

Wade's expression was calm, but inside, emotions churned before settling into a peaceful state.

With the help of the Pensieve, many memories he thought he'd forgotten had resurfaced.

He realized that his happiest moments weren't about mastering advanced spells or scoring high marks on exams; 

They weren't even about destroying Voldemort's Horcruxes or saving people destined to die.

It wasn't receiving his acceptance letter and confirming his identity as a wizard;

Nor was it the time in his previous life when his parents took him to an amusement park for the first time.

Instead, it was a memory from long ago, on an unknown evening. His father had pulled a dripping-wet watermelon from a well, sliced it cleanly in half, and handed one half to his much younger self.

He cradled the watermelon, plunged a spoon into it, and the air was filled with a sweet, refreshing aroma.

His father cut the other half into wedges, handing a slice to his mother. The two of them ate the watermelon while chatting about the pine trees in the yard back home, the sparrows on the telephone poles, the rain that had poured half the night, and the bothersome mosquitoes that buzzed around in the evening.

As he ate the watermelon and listened to his parents' soft voices, his young heart felt no worries—only a simple, indescribable sense of contentment and ease.

"Expecto Patronum! Expecto Patronum! Expecto Patronum!"

After several attempts, Harry suddenly saw a wisp of silvery mist shoot out of the tip of his wand. Excitedly, he shouted, "Remus, did you see that? There's—"

A brilliant flash of silver streaked past his eyes like a beam of light!

Harry froze, stunned. He stood there in a daze for a moment before spinning around suddenly!

A majestic eagle with powerful wings unfurled, trailing silver mist as it soared gracefully through the narrow room.

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