The Hogwarts Emerald

Chapter 698 Scarborough Fair
This small town has a market, a beach, a bay, a church, and a castle on the top of the mountain...

There are many places to visit in Scarborough, but Ada only chose a small cafe.

Fred and George did sense something in their hearts, but since Ada didn't say anything, they didn't take the initiative to point it out.

Since Ada decided to bring them along, the answer would be revealed to them sooner or later, so why rush it?

Fred and George didn't say anything more, it was too cold outside. The two brothers pushed open the door politely and let Ada, who was not cold-tolerant, walk into the warm cafe first.

Like its narrow facade, the interior of this cafe on the street corner does not give people a sense of openness and seems a little crowded.

A bar, a few tables and chairs, a piano and guitar in the corner, a few guests, and warm and soft lighting make up the entirety of the cafe.

Ada glanced around casually and chose a seat by the window to sit down.

Without paying attention to the customers in the store or looking at the owner of the cafe, Ada looked out the window quietly, as if she was just tired and came in to have a cup of coffee.

According to the tacit understanding in the past, since Ada had gone to reserve a seat, Fred and George naturally had to go to the bar to order.

"Hello, what can I do for you gentlemen?"

The voice of the cafe owner sounded softly, and her voice, like this small restaurant, gave people a warm feeling.

"Three cups--" Fred, who was about to order, was stunned and only said half of the words.

"What's wrong? Is there any problem?" the cafe owner asked, with a look of confusion and bewilderment on her beautiful face. She looked to be about 40 years old, with the unique charm of a mature woman.

If Ms. Rosmerta of the Three Broomsticks is a middle-aged lady with charm, and is the dream lover of many Hogwarts boys, then if the woman in front of him appeared in Hogsmeade, she would be better than Rosmerta.

However, what surprised the twins was not her beauty, but the fact that her appearance gave the two brothers an illusion. The two brothers felt as if they had seen a middle-aged version of Ada.

"No, nothing," George said quickly, "Um... three cups of café au lait... uh, thank you."

The cafe owner smiled and said, "Okay, please wait a moment."

"No...it doesn't matter..."

Under the puzzled gaze of the cafe owner, Fred and George ran away, ran to the window seat, and sat down opposite Ada, panting.

He finally withdrew his gaze from the window.

Ada asked, "Did you see it?" Her voice was nasal, as if she had a bad cold.

"I see." The twins nodded in unison, and the amplitude of their nodding was so large that people were worried that their heads would fall off.

Ada asked casually, "Are they similar?"

"Like," Fred and George said again in unison.

The twins couldn't in good conscience say they didn't look alike; their eyebrows, eyes, and the corners of their mouths that turned up when they smiled looked as if they were carved from the same mold.

If the two people stood together, everyone would say that they were a beautiful mother and daughter gifted by God. No one would think that the two had no relationship and regard them as strangers.

"Is she really...?" George asked cautiously.

If it was really as he guessed and saw, why did Ada look so unhappy?
Ada rested her elbows on the table, clasped her hands together, and placed her index finger knuckles against her tender lips. She said in a muffled voice, "Yes, she is Jessica Taylor, my biological mother who has been missing for many years."

The twins turned their heads and looked at Jessica who was busy at the bar. The mother and daughter who had been reunited after a long separation looked more and more alike.

Looking at Jessica's current appearance, you can roughly know what Ada will look like in twenty years; looking at Ada's current appearance, it seems as if you can see the beauty of Jessica twenty years ago.

"But...why..." Fred was puzzled, his mind was full of doubts.

In 1977, Ada, who was still a baby, was placed at the doorstep of an orphanage and taken in by Lady Mary.

And now it is 1997. Since Ada's biological mother Jessica is still alive, why has she never returned to London to look for her?
Fred lowered his head. He wanted to slap himself hard. He felt that he shouldn't have asked this question. This was a very hurtful question, especially for the seemingly strong Ada.

"She," Ada also looked at the bar and saw Jessica greeting new customers. Then she said, "She doesn't remember. She can't remember anything."

She doesn't remember her husband Louis, nor her daughter Esmeralda.

"Forgetfulness!" George said in a low voice.

Not long ago, the twins learned from Ron that in order to protect their parents, Hermione used the Oblivion Charm to erase their memories. Obviously, the same was true for Jessica. The person who cast the curse on her was of course Louis Rosier. In order to protect his wife, Louis made Jessica forget everything, forget everything that would bring danger and pain.

"Yes, everything is forgotten." Ada murmured. She completely understood what Louis did and she would do the same if she were in his shoes.

Louis's wizard identity is exposed, and he will face the joint pursuit of Evan Rosier and Alan Rosier, and Death Eaters may also be involved.

The situation was critical and Louis was outnumbered. Facing the vicious thugs, he chose to go all out.

He erased his wife's memory and stayed away from her; he also placed his daughter in an orphanage so that she wouldn't have to wander with him.

Perhaps, Louis wanted to reunite with his family after defeating the enemies who were chasing him; or perhaps, Louis wanted to return to France to persuade his mother Vida, and then bring back his wife and daughter who were far away in England.

What exactly Louis Rozier's plan was is unknown.

He died, killed by those who were hunting him, perhaps just before he was about to leave for France. His death caused his daughter to grow up alone in an orphanage, and his wife to move to Scarborough.

"How did you find this place?" Fred asked.

"I didn't find it." Ida shook her head. "My grandmother found this place a year ago. She didn't tell me about it until recently."

In the summer of 1996, Ada asked Laura where Vida had gone. Laura just told her: Madam had made an appointment with old friends to reunite, and she had to do something very important, something more important than Ada's control of the Ministry of Magic.

It turns out that this very important thing is to find Jessica on behalf of Ada.

After thinking about it carefully, George said, "Maybe I don't want to distract you! You have been fighting Voldemort before, and suddenly knowing the whereabouts of your biological mother will definitely have an impact on you."

As the three were talking, Jessica came over with a tray.

After putting the coffee on the tray away one by one, Jessica did not leave. Her eyes stayed on Ada, as if she was attracted by the delicate face of the woman in front of her.

However, the Ada in Jessica's eyes is different from the Ada in the twins' eyes.

In the eyes of the twins, Ada is naturally one of the most beautiful women in the magic world, and has a face very similar to Jessica.

In Jessica's eyes, Ada was just an ordinary girl with fiery red hair and freckles on her face. At most, she was a little taller than ordinary women.

But this girl in front of her, who couldn't be more ordinary, made Jessica feel familiar: I seemed to have seen her somewhere, and I seemed to have hugged her... She seemed very important to me.

"Ma'am? Ma'am?" George called softly, "Are you okay?"

George's voice woke Jessica up, and she said quickly, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I just... this lady is so beautiful, I couldn't help but look at her for a little longer. I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay, ma'am," said Fred. "She must be so happy to be praised by a beautiful lady like you!"

However, Jessica continued her apology, saying: "I apologize again for my rude behavior!"

"You really don't have to do this," Ida said, her cold seeming to get worse. "Thank you very much for the compliment. I think my mother would be very proud to know that I was praised."

Seeing the three of them say this, Jessica felt relieved and planned to leave, returning the private space to the three guests.

But before leaving, Jessica couldn't help herself, she asked tentatively: "Miss, have we met before?"

"No, this is my first time in Scarborough," Ada said, "and probably the last time."

Hearing this, Jessica felt an inexplicable pain in her heart. It was like hearing her own child say that she would never come home again.

"It doesn't matter!" George suddenly interrupted, "Even if you haven't seen it before, you've seen it today!"

"That's right, that's right!" Fred agreed, "Although it's our first meeting, it can also be regarded as a reunion after a long separation!"

A smile spread across Jessica's face, and she cast a grateful look at Fred and George. Jessica said, "Excuse me for being rude again, may I ask your name?"

"My name is Drizzt, by the way," Jessica continued. "Jessica Drizzt."

Ada raised her head and stared into Jessica's eyes as if fascinated.

After a long while, Ada said sadly, "Rosier, Esmeralda Rosier."

(End of this chapter)