Chapter 106: Going Home
Chapter 106: Heading Home
The last week without classes flew by, and the final Quidditch match of the semester was held over the weekend.
Gryffindor, without a Seeker, was utterly crushed by Ravenclaw. Ravenclaw's Seeker, in particular, leisurely flew around for a long time until they were sure Ravenclaw had a complete advantage before catching the Golden Snitch.
And so, this year, Ravenclaw finally lifted the Quidditch Cup. Gryffindor was indignant but could do nothing about it.
However, Slytherin still had the most house points—no wonder, Professor Snape had made outstanding contributions in that regard.
Yet, at the end-of-term feast, Dumbledore finally awarded points to everyone who had ventured into the Chamber of Secrets, due to the previous events: each person earned twenty points for their house. Harry Potter received an additional fifty points, immediately propelling Gryffindor into first place, while Slytherin slid into second.
The excitement first belonged to Slytherin, then to Gryffindor. The Ravenclaw students applauded along—they were third before the points were added, and still third after. But even if they were last, Ravenclaw wouldn't really care.
Whether the streamers hanging overhead were red or green didn't matter; the dramatic emotional shifts of the Gryffindor and Slytherin students were far more amusing.
At the teachers' table, the subtle changes in Professor McGonagall's and Professor Snape's expressions seemed to speak volumes.
"I still can't believe it," Michael whispered to Wade. "Professor Snape wasn't Quirrell's accomplice! He looks exactly like a Death Eater... Don't you think so?"
"He certainly does. But if he were, why would Dumbledore let him stay at Hogwarts for so many years?" Wade said.
...
The day after the end-of-term feast, the exam results were finally posted.
Wade's overall score was the highest in their year, but Hermione topped both A History of Magic and Astronomy. The other SSC members also scored very high, with most of the top ranks in each subject belonging to them.
Of course, to those unaware of the SSC, it simply looked like the first-year students this year were all quite capable, and distributed relatively evenly across the houses (Malfoy and Zabini from Slytherin also scored very high). Unlike previous years, where most of the top ten were Ravenclaw.
The students once again signed the notice prohibiting the use of magic during the holidays, packed their luggage, and boarded the Hogwarts Express. Wade, Michael, Theo, and Ryan occupied one compartment, Hermione was with the Patil sisters, and Harry and Neville were in a compartment with their dorm mates.
"How about coming to our place for the summer?" Michael enthusiastically suggested. "My house is by the sea, we can take a boat to the nearby islands."
"Sounds great!" Theo eagerly responded. "Let's set a date and all hang out together. Otherwise, staying home for two whole months would be so boring."
"What about you, Wade? Do you have time?" Ryan asked.
"I'm going to be studying Alchemy with Professor Morrie, but if I can make time, I'll definitely come!" Wade chuckled. "Even I don't want to do nothing but study all summer."
"Then wait for my word—and don't forget to check the Book of Friends!" Michael reminded him.
The train stopped at King's Cross Station, and students disembarked one by one. As soon as Wade stepped off the platform, he saw Ferdinand and Fiona standing side by side, happily waiting for him.
His mother, as usual, gave him a hug, while his father helped him with his trunk.
"Let's get in the car first, I've already booked a table at the restaurant."
Ferdinand opened the trunk and put the luggage inside. Seeing him struggle, Wade momentarily wanted to use the Levitation Charm, then remembered he had already left school and suppressed the urge.
"Wade, I heard some absolutely outrageous rumors at The Leaky Cauldron—"
After they had eaten their fill, Fiona couldn't wait to speak. "That's not true, is it? I mean... about one of your professors being a puppet of the Dark Lord... and that your school is hiding a stone that can make people immortal or something..."
Wade looked up to see Ferdinand silently watching him too.
"The Philosopher's Stone is real," Wade said. "Mr. Nicolas Flamel and his wife have lived for six centuries thanks to the Elixir of Life!"
"Oh my goodness!" Fiona exclaimed, lost in thought. "I've only read about him in fantasy novels! I can't believe he's actually alive... I wonder what it feels like to be immortal..."
She looked quite wistful.
"Actually, you can only live long, not 'stay young.' So..." Wade spread his hands, letting his mother imagine the rest.
The image of an immortal, mysterious, and handsome Wizard immediately crumbled. Fiona's mind conjured up a picture of someone with white hair and wrinkled skin, having lost all their teeth and hair.
But the oldest person she had ever seen was only a bit over a hundred... Fiona had no idea what a six-hundred-and-sixty-year-old person should look like... Her imagination began to veer towards Cthulhu-like imagery.
Ferdinand noticed what Wade had omitted, and his heart sank.
Back home that evening, Fiona went to wash up. Ferdinand gestured, and father and son went out to the balcony.
"So... that's true too?" Ferdinand fiddled with a lighter but didn't light a cigarette. Instead, he asked, "About... the rumors of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?"
Wade hesitated, wondering whether to tell his father the truth.
Ferdinand saw his hesitation, and his mood became a bit heavy. He forced a smile. "Don't tell me... the truth is even stranger than the rumors?"
Wade finally made up his mind.
"It's like this—it wasn't a puppet of Voldem—He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named who infiltrated Hogwarts, but him himself... He didn't truly die, but attached himself to Quirrell's body as a soul..."
Considering most people's fear of Voldemort's name, Wade consciously avoided saying it in front of others.
Ferdinand's hand trembled, almost dropping the lighter.
"He... didn't die?" he asked, pale-faced.
"No. But that person's hiding skills weren't up to par. Dumbledore figured it out from the beginning, so the situation was always under his control..."
Wade said in a light tone, "You probably heard that Quirrell was finally defeated by first-year Harry Potter. Actually, it wasn't Quirrell who failed again, but He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
Ferdinand remained silent for a long time. Not until he heard the sound of the bathroom door sliding shut did he prepare to go back to the living room. As he pushed the door open, he suddenly turned back and said, "Wade—"
"Hm?"
"You've learned magic now... you can't become an Obscurus again... Have you... have you ever thought about..."
Ferdinand seemed to speak with great difficulty.
Wade waited quietly.
"—Do you want to go to America? Or Australia?" Ferdinand said, "I hear there's a very good magic school in America too. Maybe they'd be willing to accept transfer students…"
Wade was silent for a moment before saying, "…Sorry, Dad."
"Alright…" Ferdinand sighed. "I'm really not surprised at all."
"But we can prepare in advance," Wade added. "If one day the situation becomes very dangerous, I hope you and Mom can move there first."
"Silly child." Ferdinand smiled helplessly. "How could we possibly leave you… and hide in a safe place by ourselves?"
"If I were in danger, I'd go too," Wade said with a smile. "You know, Wizards can Apparate. I plan to learn that magic by second year, so it'll be easier to escape…"
I feel like most readers chose option 2, so I'll discuss it with the editor again. If all goes well, I'll change the name to that.
I'll delay updating the cover by two days, so veteran readers don't get lost.
Thank you all for your enthusiastic suggestions; many of the names were great.
-----------
Machine Translation by: https:// randomtranslator.com/
Read ***+ original & fanfic translations in English, Español, Português, Deutsch, Français, or Русский
Or Translate for free at : https:// randomtranslator.com/translate
Join our Discord: https:// discord.com/invite/XXUR9nkjwa
-----------