The Return to Hogwarts

2024-05-06

Government interference in mainstream news media is a common occurrence, whether in the Muggle world or the wizarding world, in any country. However, when Remus received the latest issue of the *New York Ghost* the next morning and found it completely devoid of any mention of the previous night's events, he was still somewhat taken aback.

"I thought they would at least mention it."

Remus handed the newspaper he was holding to Amosta, who was seriously eating a bacon sandwich across the table.

New York City is no longer blessed with good weather. In the southeast of the city, a large cumulonimbus cloud that blocked out the sun was swept towards the city by strong winds from high above, and a heavy rain seemed inevitable.

After flipping through a few pages of the newspaper, skimming the reports, Amosta tossed the newspaper aside, swallowed the food in his mouth, and then took a sip of hot tea to clear his throat.

“Under normal circumstances, the Magic Congress might not be so tight in blocking information, but with the election in full swing, anything can be used as material to attack opponents, let alone such a serious matter. Both sides are bound to think that this is a trap set by their rivals, so it is not hard to understand why they have chosen to suppress the news without making a tacit agreement.”

Remus nodded. These weren't their Muggles, so they didn't need to worry about the aftermath. Their current focus should be on dealing with the joint review meeting next week.

Yesterday, they heard some very valuable information from Narrak, learning dirt that could ruin Grevis.

But things are still not going well.

Threatening Grevis with this is unwise. Tearing up the facade and overturning the table are good ways to make an opponent submit, but if Amosta uses it as a regular tactic, he will eventually find himself unable to move an inch in the magical world.

"Should we try to meet with Grevis, Amosta?"

The promotion of learning machines in the Americas has been delayed for far too long. Although Remus did not show it, he was actually very anxious.

After the riots were quelled last night, they provided the Aurors of the Department of Security with some information about the incident. Remus had thought they would have a chance to meet Trak Grevis, so that Amosta could have a close look at what was wrong with Grevis's body.

Unexpectedly, despite Amosta's request for a meeting, Grevis still sent a message through the Aurors that he would not meet with them before the review meeting began.

"Grevis's response to us last night was very straightforward, but also very clever."

Amusta glanced out the window at the rising wind and said calmly,

"He's a very clever wizard. He knew we would try to get close to him and persuade him to let us pass the review before the review meeting. So, he directly pointed this out, thwarting our plans. If Grevis really has a serious health problem as Narrak said, I even suspect that he's using that as an excuse to avoid us."

Given his cautious nature, he might suspect that if he appeared before me, I would see through his true nature.

Remus frowned and pondered for a moment, then nodded reluctantly.

Amostella pulled out a tissue to wipe his mouth, then got up from the table, took his coat from the rack and put it on. Turning to look at Remus, who was still sitting there with a troubled expression, he smiled slightly.

"Don't worry too much, Remus, we'll find a way to deal with it."

Upon hearing this, Remus snapped out of his thoughts, nodded, and then noticed that Amosta looked like she was about to leave.

"Are you still going to the Blind Pig Bar, or are you going to see Mr. Newt Scamander?"

“Nalak is no longer of any value. Newt is currently trying to secure the custody of that venomous leopard through various means, and he probably won’t have the energy to communicate with me for the time being.”

Amosta pursed her lips and smiled as she spoke.

"Shouldn't we go see Amelia now? She was the first friend we made in New York."

"friend?"

Remus, who had just stood up, curled his lip.

"If you say 'friends,' then we're friends, Amosta."

St. Mungo's Hospital for the Injuries and Wounds was the first large-scale, comprehensive hospital for the injuries and wounds in the magical world. Its establishment provided valuable experience for the formation of injury and wound healing institutions in magical civilizations around the world. In other words, many hospitals for the injuries and wounds basically copied St. Mungo's Hospital for the establishment of their treatment departments.

St. Josiah's Hospital for Magical Injuries and Illnesses—this was not founded by Josiah Jackson, the founder of the Magical Congress of the United States. Rather, it was named after him and given the word 'Saint' to commemorate the great wizard who led the American wizarding world from chaos to civilization.

Learning from the problems that arose when St. Mungo was founded, St. Josiah was carefully considered when choosing its location.

It wasn't built in a crowded city, but rather nestled at the foot of the Catskill Mountains, a two-hour drive from downtown New York City.

This decision was undoubtedly wise, allowing patients who needed rest to fully enjoy the fresh air and beautiful natural scenery, instead of living in square 'cages' like in St. Mungo, where all the patients could only see the sun through small windows high in the walls.

Amosta and Remus had never been to St. Josiah's Hospital for Magical Injuries, so they had to continue using Muggle transportation.

By the time they arrived at this scenic hospital nestled against the mountains and beside the water, the sky was completely overcast, and the world was swaying in a torrential downpour.

"I warned you, today is not a good time to visit this place—"

The Muggle driver, with his pale golden, bushy beard, turned to the two of them and said...

"Do you need me to take you back? If you'd like to continue riding in my car, I'll only charge you half the fare for the return trip."

"Oh, no, thank you—"

Amosta smiled and handed over a few US dollar bills.

"Isn't it a unique experience to tour in a storm?"

Watching Amosta and Remus struggle to hold up their umbrellas, their figures quickly disappearing into a country path beside the main road, the bearded driver's eye twitched.

"It has a unique flavor. Oh, I think you guys are crazy."

Although the exact location was unclear, once he was close enough to the St. Josiah Magical Injury Hospital, Amosta easily found the hospital, which catered exclusively to wizards, by using his magical senses.

The heavy rain prevented them from strolling over at a leisurely pace. After passing through the barrier, Amosta flew directly over the dark green garden intended for patients to enjoy the view, which was bathed in the downpour, and appeared in front of a large complex of buildings.

"Wow, this place looks much bigger than St. Mungo's --"

Remus was quite astonished by the scale of the St. Josiah Magical Injury Hospital when he first saw it.

The Magical Congress referenced the structure of Muggle hospitals when building this hospital, and the outpatient and inpatient departments are in two separate buildings.

As the only hospital in the United States that serves wizards, it is never deserted, day or night.

After disguising themselves, Amosta and Remus squeezed through the crowded reception hall and waited in the long queue at the information desk for half an hour before figuring out which building Amelia Dett was in.

They walked through the connecting corridor between the outpatient and inpatient buildings and went up the spiral staircase to the top floor.

The inpatient ward was much quieter than the outpatient ward, so Amosta and Remus could hear the voices coming from Amelia's room when they were still twenty feet away.

“Oh, Amosta--”

A slightly hoarse but still gentle female voice came from Amelia's hospital room.

"Our daughter needs rest. Could you please come back another time to lecture her?"

Chapter 903 The Dets

2024-05-07

"Our daughter needs rest. Could you please come back another time to lecture her?"

A woman's voice, sounding quite old, rang out in Amelia's hospital room. Upon hearing it, Amosta and Remus, who were outside the room, immediately stopped in their tracks. Remus opened his mouth in surprise, wondering if he had misheard. Perhaps the woman who had spoken just now called out the name 'Amos' or 'Amost'.

Remus turned his gaze to the 'real' Amosta beside him.

Amosta's disguised face didn't show much surprise; it remained calm and expressionless as always. Only his usually clear and penetrating eyes had become deep and unfathomable, revealing no emotion.

“I’m not lecturing Amelia, darling.”

Judging from the voice, a man of similar age responded.

“I’m not entirely clear on what Auror represents, but what I do know is that your abilities must be suited to your job, Amelia. If you get injured as soon as you start doing this, it means that your abilities are not yet sufficient to handle this job. Perhaps you need to take some time to mature. This applies to us as well as magical wizards.”

"Are they Amelia's parents?"

Remus seemed to understand something; he raised an eyebrow.

Should we reschedule?

Amosta remained silent, his gaze fixed on the ground with a slightly indifferent expression. After a moment's thought, he shook his head.

“I think we should go see Amelia’s parents, Remus. After all, she got injured because of us, didn’t she?”

That's a biased view, because Amelia was monitoring them at the request of the Security Department, not because the two of them voluntarily brought a witch who had just graduated to get involved in a dangerous incident.

However, Remus nodded nonetheless.

Remus couldn't say he particularly admired Amelia, after all, she was an official of the Magic Congress, but at least he didn't dislike this girl who, although still naive and kind, was principled and somewhat serious.

Perhaps out of respect, Amosta revealed his true form, and seeing him do so, Remus also removed his disguise magic.

Boom, boom, boom——

The sudden knocking silenced the conversation inside the ajar hospital room. Unfamiliar with the magical world, the elderly couple hesitated to invite the knocker in; they looked at their daughter.

"Perhaps a therapist on rounds—"

Amelia said uncertainly, because the therapist had already made rounds that morning.

"Or perhaps it's a colleague from the security department who wants to ask me about something?"

"Then please let them in, Amelia."

Mr. Dert stood up from his daughter's bedside. He smoothed the wrinkles on his gray wool coat, adjusted the collar, cleared his throat, and solemnly spoke. Mrs. Dert, with her slightly plump face, looked somewhat reserved. After all, she and her husband were in a magical world they only vaguely understood, and the people and things there made them uneasy.

Although the world outside the window was dark and stormy, the ward, which was spacious enough to have a separate kitchen, was just as clean and bright as the corridor outside.

There were no lights in the room, but the white walls seemed to possess some kind of magical power, capable of emitting a milky white fluorescence that illuminated the room without being glaring.

An elderly couple stood beside Amelia's hospital bed.

They both looked to be at least in their sixties, but the old gentleman still stood tall, and with his well-tailored, appropriate attire and neatly styled, mostly gray chestnut-brown short hair, he still exuded the air of an English gentleman.

Amelia's mother wasn't very tall; she only reached her father's shoulder. But she was well-maintained, with few wrinkles on her fair and smooth face, and the curve of her eyes revealed her to be a kind lady.

Their gaze fell on Amosta and Remus as they entered the ward, their expressions cautious and restrained as they waited for their daughter to introduce the two visitors.

"Oh, Amosta, Remus, is that you?"