The Old Ones of Hogwarts

Chapter 159, Section 158: A New Story! The Beginning!

A light rain was falling from the sky. The London dusk was like an old painter carelessly spilling his palette, painting the sky a hazy tapestry of gray-blue and dark purple. The fine rain, like a woven tapestry, silently created a thin veil covering the entire city. Though the rain was light, it was enough to make the air moist and heavy, mingling with London's characteristic smog to form an indescribable, almost tangible mist.

"This terrible weather."

Ms. Elena opened an umbrella and then handed one to the little one. Raindrops slid down the old black umbrella surface, making a soft, crisp sound.

"Even in summer, there's this much smog?" Ian was also somewhat surprised. The fog not only blurred the outlines of distant buildings, but also made the pedestrians nearby appear as shadowy figures, as if everyone was a blurry silhouette in the city, hurrying through the fog where history and reality intertwined.

There's a reason why many films emphasize the weight and history of London. Being there, you can truly feel the fusion of two distinct eras in this once-glorious city.

"It's all those damned capitalists." Ms. Elena didn't notice the little boy's guilty lowering of his head; she continued to complain angrily, just like most people in Britain today.

"The economic environment is getting worse and worse. You can often see homeless people on the streets, but the capitalists' factories are still running 24 hours a day."

"They tell people there are no jobs, no profits, and while they are drastically cutting people's income, they are trying to do the work that would normally take two or three people with fewer people."

"It's ridiculous. What do you mean by no profit? Even if there's no profit, they don't let their factories shut down for even a quarter of an hour. Every day, they release huge amounts of pollution into the air."

Ms. Elena angrily denounced the British capitalists.

"Didn't I hear that our country has labor unions that can protect workers' interests and provide them with an eight-hour workday?" Ian was indeed not very familiar with the employment situation in the UK.

Before he traveled through time, his only source of information about Europe was a certain Zhihu forum.

"Ha, unions only protect their own interests, son. You should know that the workers who can join unions are not in the same class as the workers who actually do the work."

"Only if the parents are union workers can their children join the union... As for the real working class and dockworkers, the Prime Minister doesn't include them when he's doing his statistics on workers' living standards." Ms. Elena spoke with a sorrowful expression about the current state of the British Empire, which has been able to rely on whitewashing to maintain a facade in recent years.

"This year is especially difficult. Those gentlemen have lost their channels to plunder other people's wealth, so they come to exploit ordinary people. Can you imagine that Sir Charles's family can only eat roast meat from the freezer?" Sir Charles, whom Elena mentioned, was a down-on-his-luck nobleman living a few blocks away.

Even in its most impoverished state, the British Empire still lived a comfortable life. The fact that even a knight had to be frugal with his food shows that the British Empire's economic situation was indeed far worse than before.

"Is it related to the return of the region in the East?" Ian gleaned some meaning from Ms. Elena's words. Before a certain region returned to the embrace of the Eastern dragon, the British Empire would plunder hundreds of billions of dollars of wealth from that region every year. The people there had always been exploited and oppressed by the British.

"It's all because of the greed of those gentlemen! These guys are insatiable beasts! Just watch! One day they'll all be hanged from lampposts!"

"A civilization that develops through plunder is ultimately unsustainable, and the sins of those men will also lead to our being devoured!" Ms. Elena may indeed have a unique perspective.

She could almost see the moment when the sun of the British Empire would finally set.

"Your topic is a bit too heavy." Ian agreed with Ms. Elena's opinion, but he felt that he was not yet at an age suitable for discussing the rise and fall of the British Empire.

"Sigh, I've seen too many upsetting things lately... You're right, we shouldn't be talking about these things while you're home." Ms. Elena patted Ian's head.

"Of course, life at our orphanage isn't actually that difficult. We still have many kind people donating to us, especially the gentleman who has been donating large sums of pounds to us over the years."

"He donated even more this year... Perhaps it's because you went to study at that school. He only told me, after I pressed him, that he was an alumnus of your school."

Ms. Elena's voice was full of gratitude, "Although he was a very difficult man to get along with, I believe he must be a very good person."

"Just like the professor who took you to that school, both of them gave me the same feeling." Ian's eyes flickered slightly at Ms. Elena's words.

"That gentleman is quite arrogant."

Ian's tone carried a hint of barely suppressed amusement.

"You're right."

Ms. Elena immediately nodded in agreement.

"So, life in the orphanage is actually manageable, and you don't need to ask your professor to bring back your scholarship for us. It should have been used to help you complete your studies."

After going around in circles for ages.

It turns out that Ms. Elena wanted to persuade Ian.

"Don't worry, I have money to spend. All the students at school are good people. They really like buying my handicrafts, and I've made a fortune because of it."

As Ian spoke, he pulled out a stack of pounds he had prepared in advance. To make his performance more realistic, the pounds were all small denominations and not exactly brand new.

however.

This still aroused Ms. Elena's suspicion.

"How come I didn't know you could make any handicrafts?" She looked at the little guy in front of her with suspicion, and did not take the pounds Ian offered.

"Of course I learned it in school. I'm quite talented." Ian forced a sincere look into his eyes, his tone revealing not a trace of guilt.

"That's true. Elena's schools always teach students all sorts of strange skills." Ms. Elena seemed to believe her, but she still didn't take the pounds from Ian.

"Keep it for yourself; you'll need the money for many things in the future."

Ms. Elena patted Ian on the back of the head with satisfaction.

She led Ian forward.

On the streets, sunlight reflected off the puddles, creating a faint glow, like mirrors embedded in the stone pavement, reflecting the still dusty city after being washed by the rain.

What should we eat tonight?

Ian changed the subject.

"Of course, it's your favorite radish and cabbage stew with meat."

Ms. Elena responded with a smile.

The setting sun poured down on the winding path like molten gold.

Dean Elena and Ian's silhouettes were stretched long by the setting sun. The little boy walked down the familiar street, feeling an unprecedented sense of peace and tranquility.

It was as if the anxiety of being unable to enter the dreamlike state for several months had been relieved.

Home always has this magical power.

It can soothe the many negative emotions in the hearts of every traveler returning home.

"The kids have been talking about you all this time." Ms. Elena insisted on helping Ian with his luggage, and even chose the biggest one, which, while showing her desire to take good care of the children, also had a touch of her unwillingness to grow old.

Compared to the headmistress Ian saw when he was a child, Ms. Elena's appearance has become much more wrinkled, and her originally beautiful long golden hair has turned into a more sleek gray-white short hair.

Years of hard work and burdens have made this woman, who is only in her early fifties, look much older than her actual age, especially her hands, which are covered with wrinkles like those of a withered tree.

"I often dream about them too." Ian dragged the small leather suitcase that looked the lightest but was actually the heaviest and quite dangerous, following behind Ms. Elena.

Compared to before she went to Hogwarts, the headmistress of the orphanage seemed to be thinner and older. As a devout nun raised in a church family, she had dedicated her life to one orphan after another, but she could not make her God slow down the passage of time on her.

"After you went to school, I lost your help. Those naughty kids made me so angry several times. Without your restraint, those troublemakers are always causing trouble everywhere."

"Fortunately, I managed to find them all. Mischievous little ones are always more favored by adoptive families, and I think that must have something to do with the book you left them." Ms. Elena was recounting the trivial things that happened every day, and an unintentional glance made the little one lower his head guiltily.

Before leaving the orphanage to study at Hogwarts, he did leave the little ones a "Guide to Choosing Parents," which detailed how to identify loving families and how to win the affection of adults. His purpose, of course, was to help his younger siblings find a good home.

It's hard to see a future in an orphanage. Being adopted by a good family is the best outcome for most orphans. Couples who are eligible for adoption are usually middle class.

"It's mainly because they were lucky, it has little to do with me..." Ian tried to argue, but Ms. Elena clearly didn't believe him.

"In any case, the books you left behind really helped the children a lot. At least they learned how to get along with adults. I think you are the smartest little guy in our neighborhood."

Ms. Elena patted Ian's head and led him toward the orphanage. She didn't have her own car; the old car she had used to pick Ian up earlier belonged to a kind old neighbor.

Ian had always felt that the old man next door had a crush on his Dean Elena, but he had never found any evidence or opportunity to bring about this potential twilight romance.

Although nuns dedicate their lives to God, after witnessing so much suffering in the world, Ms. Elena's faith in God had long since faded.

If it weren't for the need to continue receiving church relief funds, Ian would have thought that Ms. Elena would have already "returned to secular life," as Ms. Elena's thinking has always leaned towards pragmatism.

"The smartest child... I've heard you say similar things to Catherine and Mia, oh yes, and Daniel too. You praised him like that when he was collecting maggots from the latrine to try and tempt everyone, but behind his back you told me to tell all those maggots to get into the muddy backyard."

Ian recounted how many children Ms. Elena had praised as the smartest, rattling off names that covered almost every little one in the orphanage.

Hahaha~

Ms. Elena, who was exposed, was not embarrassed at all. Instead, she burst into laughter. The two of them chatted and laughed as they finally walked back to the old house, which looked a bit dilapidated.

Wu Family Orphanage.

The exterior of the orphanage remains mottled, with the gray walls covered with traces of rainwater erosion. Time has left an indelible mark on this historic orphanage.

"Welcome home, child."

Ms. Elena stepped forward and pushed open the gate. The iron gate was rusted, and the hinges creaked loudly due to years of disrepair. The lintel, which had originally been carved with some kind of auspicious pattern, was now blurred and indistinct, leaving only scratches of varying depths, recording the curious touches of the children who had come before.

The dim yellow glow of the gas lamps spread through the rain, as if signaling the early arrival of night.

Pushing open the somewhat heavy door, the desolate courtyard appeared quite tranquil. A scent mingled with the aroma of food and disinfectant wafted out—a smell all too familiar to Ian. It was like an invisible bond connecting him to every corner of this little world.

"It really is stewed cabbage, radish, and pork!"

Ian dashed off towards the kitchen. There were quite a few other little ones waiting in the kitchen for dinner, just like him, and they burst into cheers when they saw Ian come in.

"It's him! It's him! The man who brought the stewed cabbage and pork! Our king!"

"Ian, I've missed you so much! Nobody kicks my butt when you're not around!"

"Oh my god! Ian, you've grown so tall! When you threaten to crawl between my legs tomorrow if I don't behave, I think I won't feel like your crotch is too narrow anymore!"

"I want a hug! Ian! I want a hug! Mia, get away from me!"

……

The children started chattering excitedly.

They all gathered around, chattering and asking questions. Some inquired about the interesting things that happened on his trip, while others couldn't wait to find out what treasures Ian had hidden in his suitcase.

"These are all dangerous goods!"

Ian quickly stopped the curious little ones.

"Welcome home, little Ian."

The woman in charge of cooking in the kitchen was also pleasantly surprised. She missed the days when Ian helped with cooking, and the little guy could always find some meat from various places.

"Aunt Marilyn, let me see if your cooking skills have gotten rusty!" Ian said, intending to use his metal spoon to scoop food from the pot. As expected, he was tapped on the hand by Marilyn, the woman in charge of cooking in the kitchen. The familiar pain made Ian grimace while his eyes crinkled with a smile.

"You need to be disciplined, little one. Quickly take your younger siblings out to wash their hands before eating. Remember to wash them three times," Ms. Marilyn instructed Ian.

"OK."

Ian nodded obediently.

but.

Before leaving the kitchen with his friends, he went to Ms. Marilyn and stuffed a large wad of banknotes that Ms. Elena had previously refused into Ms. Marilyn's apron pocket.

"This is the money Dean Elena asked me to give you so you can buy more milk for the children." After leaving behind this boastful remark, Ian took off running out.

"Wait for me! Ian! You haven't hugged me yet!"

"Ony said you might not be coming back, so take us to slap her!"

"Ian! Ian! I'll give you all my meat for dinner! Can you tell us some stories about the outside world?" A group of children immediately chased after Ian and ran out.

Ian brought them to Dean Elena, and the little ones calmed down a bit. Dean Elena could only suppress a smile at the sight.

"After you finish eating, distribute the gifts you brought back. Don't let them eat a bunch of snacks and then not eat anything at night." Ms. Elena handed the suitcase back to Ian.

She had a pretty good idea of ​​what Ian wanted to do.

"If we don't give them any now, they won't be able to eat anything at night." Ian knew children's psychology all too well. He opened his large suitcase and took out a large backpack.

All the children stared at him with shining eyes.

All I saw was...

Amidst the adoring and ecstatic gazes of the children, Ian, like an omnipotent magician in their eyes, effortlessly dumped a massive pile of snacks onto the stone slab under the eaves. The various snacks cascaded out like a rainbow, their vibrant colors instantly captivating all the children's attention.

Chocolate bars, potato chips, jelly, and brightly packaged fruit candies... These may be commonplace in the eyes of city children, but they are rare treasures here.

"Come and get yours, there's one for everyone!" Ian called out with a smile. The children were stunned for a moment, then burst into excited cheers.

In front of an old house.

The young figures huddled together.

However. .

Surprisingly, they did not engage in looting.

Although the children's eyes sparkled with longing for the food, they did not swarm forward as Ian had expected. Instead, they all looked at Ian.

"I want that chocolate bar!"

A little girl pointed shyly, and after Ian nodded, she carefully picked up one, a satisfied and happy smile spreading across her face.

"Can I have these potato chips?"

A little boy followed suit with a question, his eyes sparkling with curiosity and excitement. After receiving an affirmative answer, he gently picked up a bag of potato chips as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.

"Take whatever you want!"

Ian reluctantly spoke to his friends.

then.

After a brief hesitation, the little ones all reached out their small hands, each taking only their favorite snack, and each child taking only one item. Their little hands gently touched the packaging, their eyes sparkling with appreciation and gratitude for this gift from Ian.

After all the children had found their own "treasures," Ian noticed that there were still quite a few snacks left on the table, lying there quietly without anyone reaching for them.

"Take more!"

Ian picked up the snacks with a somewhat helpless expression and stuffed them into the hands of the children next to him.

"You need to eat too! What will you eat on your holiday if we've all eaten?" Catherine, who was munching on a gummy candy, looked at the older brother who was returning home with a childlike expression.

"Yes, yes, this is enough for us."

The other children all agreed with Catherine's point of view. They all learned to cherish, share, and be grateful. The adults who silently dedicated themselves to the orphanage had taught these children to be very kind.

"Tch, I've had enough already. Don't you even know what a prestigious school is?" Ian immediately resorted to his little trick, disdainfully distributing all the snacks to his friends.

"Long live Ian!"

"So many! So many! I can barely hold them all!"

"Ian! You are the real God!"

"When I grow up, I want to go to school like you! And I'll bring back delicious food for everyone!"

……

The little ones' thoughts are so simple.

The unexpectedly good harvest filled everyone with immense joy. Their clear, melodious laughter pierced the evening's tranquility, adding a touch of life to the somewhat somber space.

Ian's gaze swept over the young faces one by one. He could already call some of the children by name, while others were still strangers to him as if they were meeting for the first time.

This is the orphanage. People come and go, but Ian feels that once they step through this door, they are all his family.

"Of course, Tom is an exception."

Ian muttered something under his breath.

"Huh? What's wrong with me?"

Are you talking about me?

"Ian, are you calling my name?"

……

Children have such sensitive ears.

Ian muttered under his breath.

This immediately attracted the attention of several children named Tom, who looked over with puzzled expressions.

"..."

Ian couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.

"I was talking about a classmate of mine at school, well, a classmate I'm not very close to." Ian led his younger siblings into the house, and he went back to his dorm room first.

Everything remained the same, simple yet tidy.

His bed had been carefully made, as if silently welcoming his return.

"I clean for you every day, and I cleaned it three times this morning," Catherine said proudly to Ian as she emerged from the crowd.

She was one of the children who most wanted Ian to return to the orphanage.

"Okay, okay, you're the best. I'll tell you a story tomorrow." Ian winked at Catherine, the only child in the orphanage who knew he was there to learn magic.

"I want to hear a story too!"

"Yes! Catherine can listen to stories! We want to hear stories too!"

"Ian! Don't you remember you promised me that you would tell me the story of Orphan when I grew up? Look at my head now, it's already so big."

……

The chatter was quite noisy, and Ian, with a headache, could only agree to everything, "If you all eat well tonight, I'll tell you all a story tomorrow."

The words fell.

A group of children immediately swarmed towards the handwashing area. Only Catherine remained standing in place; Ian figured she probably wanted to ask some questions about Hogwarts.

"Sneaking into my room at night?"

After Ian said that, he felt like an evil bad guy, but he really just thought that things about Hogwarts should only be told to this special little girl behind the backs of other children.

"Okay, okay."

Catherine jumped for joy, but soon she turned her attention back to the snacks she was holding, her young face looking rather conflicted.

"What's wrong with you?"

Ian walked up to him with concern.

"I'm thinking about which snacks to give to Miss Elena and the others, and also to that weird uncle that Miss Elena picked up," Catherine said without hesitation, expressing her worries.

"Don't worry, I've prepared gifts for them too, you don't need to share these things... Eating too much junk food isn't good for them, especially for older people."

Ian first reassured Catherine, then, taking the opportunity, asked out of curiosity, "What's the story behind the strange uncle that Ms. Elena picked up?"

He became somewhat wary.

This is Britain.

There were many men and women who attempted to infiltrate orphanages to commit evil deeds. A detailed study of history reveals that pedophilia originated on this continent.

"You know, we were all picked up by Miss Elena. She often picks up children from outside, but a few weeks ago she picked up a quiet uncle."

"That uncle is a very nice person. He often teaches us to write and draw, but he only comes out before six o'clock. After six o'clock, no matter what happens, he won't come out."

Catherine's description piqued Ian's interest.

"Could you take me to find him?"

Ian put away his luggage, stuffed the small suitcase into the closet and locked it, and then followed Catherine to a corner room that he remembered should have been unused.

"Knock knock knock~"

Catherine knocked on the door for Ian.

Is Hogwarts fun?

She finally couldn't help but lower her voice and ask.

"Of course, when you're old enough to go to school, I'll take you to Hogwarts, where you can walk all over the place." Ian patted Catherine's head with a doting expression.

"Are magicians all so powerful they can do whatever they want?"

Catherine's ideas are rather novel.

"Um... it's a metaphor. It means you don't have to worry about being bullied at school. If anyone bothers you, just tell me and I'll teach that guy a lesson."

Ian suppressed a laugh and explained to Catherine.

The little girl seemed to be deep in thought.

"I understand!"

She suddenly slapped her forehead.

"You're the school bully!"

Catherine's eyes lit up as if she had discovered something extraordinary.

"I'm not some kind of school bully, I only bully the school bully." Ian quickly defended his reputation, but his serious expression did not intimidate Catherine.

"Now I understand! You're the school bully of the school bullies! The ultimate bully!"

This is clearly a smart little girl.

"..."

Ian wiped his eyes helplessly.

"Should we knock on the door? Is he not in the room?"

He changed the subject.

"No, this uncle never leaves the room every night." As she spoke, Catherine raised her little hand again, made a fist, and gently knocked on the door.

The force was very small.

Perhaps the people inside couldn't hear clearly.

"I'll do it."

As Ian spoke, he raised his fist and slammed it hard against the door.

"Knock knock knock!"

The loud noise made the door frame shake a few times.

"Is this the aura of a school bully?"

Catherine's eyes lit up, as if she had made up her mind.

"Who is it?"

Before Ian could correct her, a tired voice came from inside the door; perhaps the person was fast asleep when Catherine knocked gently earlier.

"Uncle, my brother is back. He said he wants to see you." Catherine called out to the door, then lowered her voice and whispered to Ian what she had said.

"I don't think he'll see us. Even if it starts raining gold coins outside after six o'clock, I don't think this uncle will step out of his room."

She had just finished stating her somewhat confident argument.

"Kaz~"

The old wooden door was opened.

"Who did I hear talking about gold coins? Where can I find gold coins?" A disheveled head peeked out from the doorway, with a unkempt beard and a slightly weathered face.

She looks to be only in her thirties, but she already has wrinkles and gray hair at a young age, with many extremely white strands mixed in with her light brown hair.

One can only say that this appearance alone fits Ian's stereotype of homeless people.

"what?"

The little girl was stunned when she saw the door open and the "strange uncle" come out.

"Uncle Lupin must be in a good mood today. This is my brother, the uncle Miss Elena rescued." Catherine, her face slightly flushed, was very embarrassed. Feeling humiliated, she couldn't stay still. She quickly introduced the two of them and then darted towards the restaurant.

Braised pork with cabbage and radish.

Who doesn't love?

If you go too late, you won't be able to get one.

This is how the little girl psychologically justified her behavior.

"Lupin?"

Ian looked at the tall, thin man who came out with a bewildered expression. He was wearing a tattered cotton-padded coat with signs of repairs all over it.

"Remus Lupin?"

Ian asked again, somewhat suspiciously, to confirm.

"It's Remus John Lupin... You know me?" The rather weathered-looking man corrected Ian, which was tantamount to confirming his identity, which perhaps not many people still remembered.

of course.

Ian didn't know much about this person, but he knew some general information, not only because of his memories from his past life, but also because he had asked the professors at school about this poor guy.

The main purpose is to research wolfsbane medicine. There are many werewolves in the world, and if a cheap and effective wolfsbane medicine can be made, it will definitely gain the favor and enthusiasm of the werewolves.

Say something.

Ian did indeed discover some things; werewolves were indeed an infectious disease, not the shortcut version of the Animagus form he had originally guessed. Just like the infamous "Dragonpox," werewolves were a magical disease, or more precisely, a contagious disease called "Wolf Rage."

It spreads among people through contact with saliva and blood. The idea of ​​helping werewolves overcome their werewolf side effects to discover a new Animagus is essentially a dead end.

"Know a little bit?"

Ian blinked in response.

Anyone familiar with the Harry Potter universe knows that Remus Lupin is a very dangerous werewolf. When he was four years old, his father offended the werewolf Fenrir Greyback.

Out of revenge, the werewolf broke into the bedroom through the window and bit Lupin, turning Lupin into a werewolf. His parents tried everything to save him, but to no avail.

He and his parents thought he couldn't go to Hogwarts because other parents wouldn't want their children near a werewolf. But after Albus Dumbledore became headmaster, he devised a way to get Remus into Hogwarts. From then on, Lupin became a staunch supporter of Albus Dumbledore.

It was precisely so that Remus Lupin could complete his studies at Hogwarts that Dumbledore ordered a Whomping Willow to be planted on the school grounds.

The Whomping Willow conceals the passageway leading to the Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade, through which Remus Lupin would transform every full moon.

The purpose, of course, was to ensure the safety of the other students and Remus himself. This is a little-known part of the past; many people may only know the story of Lupin and Potter.

"Alright, since you know who I am, I don't need this self-introduction." Lupin looked a little surprised, but he still breathed a sigh of relief and put the cheat sheet hidden in his sleeve back into his pocket.

The sharp-eyed Ian noticed the densely packed small print on the note, which contained a fabricated identity and background, such as being destitute due to failed investments and ending up on the streets.

to be frank.

Ian felt that Lupin's dejected aura was palpable just by standing there. His background was fine, but he doubted that Lupin could recount his experiences when he was wealthy.

Were you a wealthy businessman before your investment failed?

Ian recounted what he had seen.

That's indeed how it's set in the background.

Lupin answered the young wizard's question calmly.

"Can you tell me how many eggs that rich businessman eats in the morning?" Ian was the kind of person who wanted to verify anything he had a doubt about, so he immediately began interrogating Lupin.

"Forehead?"

Lupin instinctively reached out as if to ask for a note.

"No cheat sheets allowed."

Ian's words left the down-on-his-luck werewolf feeling rather helpless.

"I think... I'll eat at least five, along with some grilled sausages and vegetables." He could only give his answer based on his imagination after thinking about it for a while.

"..."

Ian seemed to see a Western version of a rich person eating one bowl of braised chicken rice and then throwing away another. He found it hard to believe that someone so full of flaws could win over Ms. Elena's trust.

"You didn't cast a confusion spell on our dean, did you?"

Ian gave the somewhat reserved-looking young werewolf a strange look.

"Of course not. Ms. Elena is a very kind person, and she wouldn't ask me such a strange question." Lupin sighed helplessly.

"To infiltrate a place, you need to do the necessary preparations first. Catherine said you've been at the orphanage for weeks, and you still can't even memorize the fabricated identity information!"

Ian seemed to have seen something incredibly incredible.

"What can I do? I'm not a Ravenclaw... You may not know, but I'm from Gryffindor, so memorizing has never been my strong suit." Lupin may indeed be considered an excellent wizard, but he seems to have the same problem as most outstanding Gryffindors.

"Even if you're a Gryffindor, the most basic thing about doing things for money is still earning money with a clear conscience, right?" Ian said, then seemed to remember something.

"Oh, by the way, there's something you might be interested in: this year's Grand Slam points are low, but Ravenclaw points are high." His somewhat nonsensical remark left Lupin stunned for quite a while.

"I didn't take any money..."

He took a long time to answer in a low, melancholy voice.

Ok.

Now we know who the truly heartless capitalists are.

"It's alright, I'll give you some." Ian pulled out a heavy money bag and handed it to Lupin, which was filled with copper knits that he was starting to find somewhat distasteful.

One Galleon is equal to four hundred and ninety-three Bronze Knuckles, so Ian actually didn't have enough Galleons in this full bag, and he felt a little embarrassed to put it in Gringotts.

of course.

Lupin, who was used to being poor, certainly wouldn't look down on it.

"Are you trying to bribe me?"

Even though his eyes were already glued to the money pouch, he still didn't abandon his principles to take it; the pride of an adult wizard wouldn't allow him to accept the charity of a young wizard.

"This is the reward you deserve."

Ian stuffed the money pouch into Lupin's clothes. Whether Lupin felt too cold in the summer or for some other reason, the way he instinctively hugged his clothes looked rather comical.

A flawless version after careful inspection!

"Dumbledore said you're very rich and told me not to be polite with you." Lupin seemed to be trying to save face, glanced around, and then stepped aside from the door he had been blocking.

"Would you like to come in and have a chat?"

He seemed certain that the young wizard might have many doubts in his heart.

"Dumbledore sent you to protect me?" Ian walked into the somewhat shabby room, feeling that he had already guessed why Lupin would be at the Woods Orphanage.

"Dumbledore sent me to keep an eye on you, to prevent you from causing any trouble in the Muggle world. He said you brought back some very, very dangerous...things?"

Lupin didn't seem to know much about Ian's situation; he might have indeed been a wanderer before being conscripted by Albus Dumbledore.

"Oh, how little do we trust our headmaster? I wouldn't be so reckless as to blow up my own house." Ian's indignant response did not reassure Lupin.

"What?! You brought back explosives?!"

Lupin stared wide-eyed in surprise and disbelief. In his memory, Dumbledore had mentioned special magical creatures, and he had assumed he was going to take care of yet another Newt Scamander.

Who would have thought... how did a demolition genius suddenly appear!

"I am a metaphor!"

Ian quickly defended his image once again.

"Okay, at least you didn't bring back any explosives."

Lupin visibly breathed a sigh of relief. However, the young wizard's silence made his previously relaxed expression stiffen again.

"So, there are still explosives, right?"

Lupin's eye began to twitch uncontrollably.

He gradually realized that the task Albus Dumbledore had given him was not simple.

This is just a first-year wizard!

"How can potions be called explosives..." Ian's response lacked confidence, so he simply changed the subject and continued.

"Perfect! With you here, I'll have something to do this holiday. You can help me with some interesting experiments." Ian rubbed his hands together, looking eager to try.

Lupin, on the other hand, seemed somewhat insecure.

"Dumbledore told me you were proficient in Potions and Alchemy. Although I did well in both subjects when I was in school, I've forgotten a lot of it now."

"I'm afraid I can't offer you much help or guidance." It was unclear whether Lupin was being modest, but that was completely unimportant to the young wizard.

"It's alright, I don't need you to teach me anything." Ian waved his hand with a smile, his nonchalant attitude making Lupin feel a little puzzled.

"So, what do you need me to do for you?"

He asked patiently in a calm tone.

The little wizard's eyes shone brightly.

"Of course, you'll cooperate with me in the experiment!"

Ian could almost see himself making his first fortune in the wizarding world with his wolfsbane potion.

"So, I'll be your assistant?"

Lupin looked as if he had suddenly realized what was going on.

"Of course, no problem!"

He gave a helpful smile.

however.

The next moment, the future werewolf professor's smile froze on his face.

"No, no, no, what I mean is, I'm doing experiments, and you're the one I'm doing the experiments on!" Ian grabbed Lupin's arm, which had an unusually dense hairline.

"Look! What a worthy subject of study!"

Ian carefully plucked a few hairs from Lupin's arm.

"..."

Lupin watched the young wizard's actions, his expression constantly changing, quite a sight. After a long pause, he finally asked in a hoarse, bitter voice.

"You know I'm a werewolf?"

He clearly hadn't expected this situation. He thought that Ian's statement about knowing a little bit about him was just an expression of knowing that he had studied at Hogwarts.

"What werewolf stuff? That sounds so distant. All I know is that once you step through the gates of our orphanage, you're family. Of course, I'll help my family solve their problems!"

Ian attempted to persuade Lupin with a righteous and righteous excuse.

"What kind of experimental subjects would you use your family members for?"

Lupin, however, did not fall for the trick.

"That depends on what kind of family it is... Oh, it seems Dumbledore hasn't told you yet about the story of how I used the magic of love to reform another rebellious and evil family member."

As Ian spoke, he pulled out another syringe.

The little wizard in front of me took out this thing.

Lupin, who had been holding his arm up and letting Ian manipulate it, immediately snapped back and looked at Ian with a serious expression, who seemed unaware of the werewolf's nature.

"Perhaps your potion-making skills are really good, after all, you are a Prince, but that doesn't mean you can perform such a dangerous operation as extracting the blood of a werewolf."

"I don't mind losing some blood, but you could very well suffer an irreversible infection as a result. I think you'll learn about this kind of thing in your Defense Against the Dark Arts course in a few years." Lupin was indeed a kind-hearted man, and he solemnly warned and reminded Ian.

He stared at the little wizard in front of him.

Lupin felt he now understood why Albus Dumbledore had assigned him to keep an eye on this first-year student. He found it utterly unbelievable that someone with such audacious intentions as to draw blood from a werewolf could be a Ravenclaw known for his meticulousness and shrewdness?

"But you received payment from me..."

Ian glanced wistfully at Lupin's bulging clothes.

"??????"

It was only then that Lupin suddenly realized that he had been tricked by a first-year wizard, and that the copper coins that only he paid attention to while the dogs ignored them were actually his reward.

Who would offer only a few coins for recruiting guinea pigs?

Speechless, Lupin took out his money pouch without saying a word, intending to return it to the little wizard. He reminded himself once again that there really is no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

Ian did not go to answer it.

"Of course I know how dangerous werewolf blood is." Ian put on his dragonskin gloves. He had done his research on werewolf blood and its contagiousness—in the magical world, werewolf blood was like a kind of sexually transmitted virus, spreading through wounds, and the infected could pass it on to their offspring.

"It's precisely because we know how dangerous this disease is that we need to cure it, isn't it? For everyone's sake." Ian started lecturing again.

"You actually call this a disease?"

Lupin chuckled.

"It's a curse! A terrible curse!"

He finally revealed his true colors as a poor student.

"Let's make a bet. If I can cure this disease, you'll work for me for a hundred years." Ian was full of confidence; he already had a direction for his research on improving the wolfsbane medicine.

All that's missing is a live werewolf experiment subject and a virus sample.

"What kind of work?"

Lupin frowned.

"That's something we'll talk about later."

Ian displayed the cautious side of a Ravenclaw student; he was ambitious, aiming to do something as lucrative as General Gold's printing of US dollars in the wizarding world. This was a big deal, so Ian wouldn't casually tell anyone about his plan to build a printing press in the future.

"I don't think I'll live to be a hundred."

Lupin chuckled, thinking the little wizard was joking. Seeing that the little wizard still wanted to draw his blood, he immediately pulled down his sleeve.

"It's alright, you can have your son finish the work you haven't done yet." Ian looked at Lupin's arm with some regret. He felt that the nanny Dumbledore had found lacked trust in him.

"You actually think I'll have offspring?"

Lupin gave a bitter laugh as if he had heard some hellish joke. "That's impossible. You know, no father wants his child to be born a werewolf like himself."

talking.

Lupin let out a heavy sigh.

The tone was sad.

He, too, had girls he liked.

"So, treating the illness is the most important thing." To demonstrate his skill level, Ian pulled out a large number of high-difficulty potions that he had brewed.

however.

This not only failed to convince Lupin, but also made Lupin stare wide-eyed in astonishment.

"You've emptied Snape's coffers?!"

He stared incredulously at the potions that Ian had filled the entire room with.

"This kind uncle even has a secret stash of money!?"

Ian's eyes lit up again.

"Uh... I didn't think so. If you give up your attempt to investigate me, I think I'd be willing to tell you where Snape's secret stash is."

Lupin sounded somewhat regretful; he still wanted to persuade the young wizard not to attempt any dangerous actions, and he was worried that Ian would go to Diagon Alley to find other werewolves for so-called research.

"Then forget it. I'll earn more if I can solve the werewolf problem." Ian's perseverance was on full display at this moment, leaving Lupin at a loss for words.

"I'm going to find Dumbledore."

He could only think of "suing the principal".

"Dumbledore will support me, don't you know? Everyone at school calls me Ian Dumbledore!" Ian had already figured out how well Lupin knew him.

He immediately started to act like a bully, taking advantage of others' power.

"Um?"

Lupin was indeed stunned for a moment, his expression gradually becoming one of surprise and uncertainty.

"Anti-inflammatory!"

Ian whistled.

"Look, this is my phoenix!"

He grabbed the black phoenix that emerged from the void, and to make his argument more convincing, he even tried to hold down the struggling phoenix and dye its feathers on the spot.

"Hehehehehe~"

The Black Phoenix's terrified screams echoed through Lupin's room. The young werewolf felt his brain was struggling to process what was happening, unable to discern whether Ian was telling the truth or lying.

"Although it looks a bit strange and its cries are much more abstract... that apparition feeling just now..." Lupin had to convince himself that the "black chicken" Ian was holding was probably really a phoenix. He suddenly realized that the serious and concerned expression on Albus Dumbledore's face when he called him over might not just be about worrying about a Hogwarts student.

"Really, I'm really good at making wolfsbane potion." Ian couldn't catch the black phoenix that was struggling and using Apparition. All he had was a mouthful of phoenix feathers and his hands covered in saliva from the phoenix's "revenge".

"This isn't a question of whether you can concoct a wolfsbane potion..."

Lupin still wanted to persuade the young wizard.

however.

"Knock knock knock~"

There was a knock on the door.

"Ian, Ian, it's time to eat. Ask Uncle Lupin if he's eating?" It was Catherine's childish voice, tinged with urgency that the stewed cabbage and meat had been snatched up by the other children.

"Let's eat first, we'll talk about this later."

Ian put everything back into his purse.

"You all eat. I won't go out tonight. Although it's not a full moon, I need to let everyone get used to my habits." Lupin breathed a sigh of relief and waved to the little wizard.

"Mr. Lupin, think it over carefully. Is it better to spend your whole life hiding in a dark corner, or to embrace the hope of being in the sunlight... Even if it's just the slightest bit of hope, I think you should seize it." Ian turned around and spoke earnestly to Lupin. Under Lupin's somewhat evasive gaze, he opened the door and went outside.

The little wizard didn't close the door.

He took Catherine to the restaurant.

inside the room.

Lupin was left sitting on the ground without any regard for his image. He looked at the brightly lit corridor outside the door and the light radiating from it into the dim room.

"There's no hope... Wolfsbane isn't hope."

The young werewolf raised his hand and flicked it lightly, magic surged forth, and he closed the door to the room in mid-air, plunging him and the entire room back into darkness.

……

the next day.

The rain has stopped and the sky is clear.

The orphanage in London welcomed a bright morning.

Sparrows chirped and chattered on the branches.

Sunlight filtered through the clouds, gently bathing the ancient and slightly weathered building in a warm, soft golden glow. In the orphanage's courtyard, the damp earth emitted a faint fragrance, mingling with the aroma of flowers and grass, making Ian, who was up early for his morning reading, feel refreshed.

The children emerged from their rooms, dressed in neat but slightly worn clothes, their faces beaming with anticipation and curiosity for the new day. Some chased and played in the yard, their laughter echoing throughout; others sat quietly on benches, enjoying this rare moment of peace and tranquility.

of course.

There were also little guys running over and pestering Ian.

"Ian! You're such a lucky star! You've only been back for two days, and another kind-hearted person has already come to donate!" Catherine tried to adopt the obsequious attitude of an adult on TV.

however.

His young face looked like that of a husky.

It's quite funny.

"Kind person? Where is it? Take me to see it!" Ian suspected that his good uncle had disguised himself and come to the orphanage again, so he immediately asked Catherine to lead the way for him.

It's not the weekend.

Who are these fundraisers who come to the orphanage early in the morning to solicit donations?

"Over here! Over here! The uncle who donated even shared his candy with us! It wasn't as good as the one you gave us! But it was still very delicious!"

Catherine's manner of guiding the "Imperial Army" remained unchanged. From childhood, she had always enjoyed tattling to Ian and then taking him to places where the visitors were to listen to Ian's boastful comments.

"They're in Miss Elena's office!" Catherine led Ian to the door of the dean's office, but the door opened at that moment, and she frantically grabbed Ian and hid behind the wall.

"That's the kind man! His daughter is so nice! She gave me two candies!" Catherine was still rambling on when Ian looked at the donor who came out.

A middle-aged man with a daughter who is a little over ten years old.

"I think this donation will be very meaningful. I can feel it from the smiles on the faces of these children. It will definitely be used where it is needed."

The middle-aged man was still talking with Dean Elena.

He was about forty years old, tall and slender, with elegant manners. He wore a well-tailored dark suit, paired with a neat white shirt and a fine tie, showcasing the typical demeanor of an English gentleman.

"Of course, we keep detailed records of every expense. Donors and other people have the right to monitor our spending." Dean Elena smiled broadly. It was clear that the donation was substantial, and she appeared quite serious in front of the middle-aged man who had made the donation.

Although she doesn't usually criticize the amount of other people's donations, she always has a worry that she might offend generous donors for some reason.

Rich people all have strange personalities.

You might offend the other party if you're not careful.

"Although my partner and I do charity work together from time to time, I have never donated such a large sum as £20,000 to any charity."

"It's not a small amount for me either. Don't laugh at me, but I'm here today for a selfish reason: I hope God can forgive me for some of my mistakes."

"At least... don't punish my daughter." The middle-aged man looked at the silent girl beside him. The little girl with a head of fluffy brown hair seemed absent-minded.

"She's been experiencing some strange things lately." The middle-aged man sighed heavily, his tone worried, but he didn't tell Ms. Elena the details.

In fact, Ms. Elena has encountered many similar situations.

For people in the UK...

People often encounter situations where they crave divine blessings at the last minute, especially among the wealthy. Therefore, Ms. Elena knew exactly how to respond.

"I will continue to pray for this child, and I also believe that a merciful God would never allow such a lovely child to suffer any more sorrow and hardship."

Ms. Elena temporarily reverted to being a devout believer.

Her remarks made the middle-aged man very happy.

But the little girl looked up at Ms. Elena.

"If there really is a God in this world, and God answers people's prayers, then there would be no famine in Africa and many poor countries."

"Madam, forgive my rudeness, but perhaps you should watch the science and education channel every Saturday..." Despite her worries, the little girl still weakly retorted.

of course.

She was mainly talking to her father, who had secretly brought her here to donate money without her mother's knowledge. The little girl wasn't against donating to help others, but she was somewhat dismissive of so-called supernatural beliefs.

"Several strange things have happened to you... Why can't you accept reality?" The middle-aged man rubbed his daughter's head vigorously, his words shrouded in mystery.

"There must be a reason, maybe we need..." The little girl wanted to say something more, but suddenly, she looked up and saw Catherine and Ian hiding behind the corner of the wall.

"It's him! It's him! It's definitely him! Dad! Mom and I met him! And then, after we got back, some strange things started happening to me!"

"That guy called out my name right away! He must have put a spell on me!" The little girl excitedly raised her hand and made a sharp popping sound.

It's hard to imagine that a girl in her teens could raise her voice to almost the level of a soprano.

"Um?"

The middle-aged man and Ms. Elena immediately looked over and saw Catherine standing up with her hands raised, her face flushed and filled with panic.

"No... This is the first time I've met this lady."

She thought they were talking about her.

Ian chuckled, shook his head, and followed him out.

"She's talking about me, Catherine."

The young wizard first gestured for Catherine to leave quickly.

He then looked at the somewhat familiar little girl not far away, and couldn't help but feel a little emotional, since he had thought he would only meet the members of the trio when school started.

"Miss Hermione Granger, you're such a believer in science, how come you keep talking about witchcraft?" Ian sighed softly, somewhat helplessly.

That's right.

The little girl, who was taken to the orphanage by her father to donate money in an attempt to get rid of the strange occurrences with the help of some "mysterious power," was Hermione, whom Ian had met before going to Hogwarts.

One can only say that fate can be unpredictable at times.

"I...I..."

Hermione was speechless for a moment because of Ian's words.

She stammered for a long time, her ears turning bright red, but she still couldn't get a straight answer.

"You can tell me that witchcraft might be a science that hasn't been explained by science yet," Ian offered a well-intentioned reminder, which only made Hermione blush even more.

"Dad! Mom and I met him!"

The little girl could only hide behind Mr. Granger for help. Headmistress Elena was initially confused, but after hearing Hermione's complaint, she immediately understood what was going on.

"Little Ian is one of the older children in our orphanage. Sometimes he goes out to try to earn some money to help me alleviate the pressure of living expenses."

"If he has inadvertently offended you and your family in the past, I apologize on his behalf..." As she spoke, Dean Elena somewhat flusteredly beckoned Ian over.

"It's not what you think. I don't think the child has done anything wrong. My wife praises him highly. It's just that my daughter is sometimes a bit willful."

Mr. Granger paid no attention to Hermione's complaint. He looked at his daughter, whose face was becoming increasingly anxious, and then at Ian, who was exceptionally handsome and had an outstanding presence.

"Young sir, are you a fortune teller?"

Mr. Granger's eyes flickered slightly.

He didn't use a questioning tone.

However, Dean Elena quickly explained on Ian's behalf.

"He's a good kid, and he was even admitted to a very good school with a tuition waiver. I think you've misunderstood him; he doesn't have any talent for being a fortune teller."

Ms. Elena's face was full of tension.

"What school?"

Mr. Granger maintained his smile, but then suddenly asked a question out of the blue.

"Forehead……"

After a moment's hesitation, Ms. Elena answered Mr. Granger's question, "If I remember correctly, it should be Hogwarts School for Gifted Youngsters."

"That's the name, right? Little Ian."

After she finished speaking, she looked at Ian with some uncertainty.

"That's right, that's the name."

Ian looked up at Mr. Granger, who was smiling brightly. If Ian remembered correctly, Mr. Granger was a well-paid dentist in England. Medicine is a high-paying profession in the West, so the Granger family must be at least middle class, and outstanding dentists can earn hundreds of thousands of pounds a year.

"Hogwarts School for Gifted Youngsters..." Mr. Granger pondered. He frequented gatherings of wealthy people and was quite certain that there was no such school in England.

"It was after I met you that strange things started happening to me. You have to tell me why!" Hermione's courage had clearly increased as she hid behind her father.

"I told you we'd meet again, and here we are again. Who knows, we might even become classmates again." Ian shrugged, leaving Hermione completely bewildered.

Ms. Elena also looked somewhat confused.

"So, is there really such a school?" Only Mr. Granger seemed to realize something, looking at the little boy in front of him with some doubt.

"Of course, it's been there for thousands of years."

Ian responded as well.

"A prestigious school with a thousand-year history..."

Mr. Granger's pupils were shimmering violently, clearly indicating that he was in a very turbulent state of mind, but thanks to his excellent self-control, he did not show it too much.

"Hogwarts, it only accepts special needs children... I mean gifted children." Ian glanced at Ms. Elena and promptly corrected himself on his choice of words.

"I understand."

Mr. Granger didn't seem to understand anything either.

He looked intently at the little boy in front of him, then glanced at his daughter with a hint of affection. "You stay here. Miss Elena and I have some things to discuss."

These words not only surprised Hermione slightly.

Even Ms. Elena was stunned.

"Are you asking to take back your donation?"

She asked somewhat cautiously.

"Of course not."

Mr. Granger had already headed towards his office, and Ms. Elena hurriedly followed him, her heart pounding with anxiety, leaving Ian and Hermione standing in the hallway.

"I just didn't expect God's response to be so quick, so I think I need to put in more effort..." It's unclear what Mr. Granger actually understood.

He clearly intends to increase donations to orphanages.

"Your dad isn't planning to donate a school recommendation fee to the orphanage, is he?" Ian asked Hermione, who seemed a little flustered and couldn't find a place to hide.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Hermione jumped onto a chair, successfully surpassing Ian in "height".

"Is it because I debated with you that you cast a spell on me? I've read a lot of books on this subject!" she mustered her courage to question Ian.

Why would anyone think I'm such a petty person?

Ian looked at Hermione, who seemed somewhat frightened and uneasy. He could roughly sense her feelings and emotions, confirming that Hermione had probably gone through the period of uncontrolled magical outburst that young wizards often experience.

"Wasn't it you?"

Hermione's eyes became somewhat blank.

"I thought you didn't believe in witchcraft and magic."

Ian spoke again with great interest.

"Haven't you heard the saying: After eliminating all the impossible possibilities, the remaining possibilities, no matter how absurd, must be the truth?"

It seems Hermione is also reading the Sherlock Holmes stories.

"Isn't that what I told you when we first met?" Ian knew very well that Miss Beaver's fear of him stemmed from her lack of understanding of magic.

"Huh!? You said that!?"

Hermione was clearly confused and couldn't recall any relevant memories for the time being. Of course she couldn't remember, because Ian was just teasing her.

"I was just kidding. I never said that. I just told you to believe in magic. I think you've realized that you and I are the same kind of people."

Ian was well aware of Hermione's somewhat ostrich-like contradictory feelings.

After all, he really does have the ability to read minds.

"I knew you hadn't said that!"

Hermione immediately started yelling again, glaring at the little wizard with an indignant expression. She was practically on top of the ceiling, but at least she still maintained her imposing presence.

"Yes, I not only remember what I didn't say, but I also remember what you promised." Ian looked at the little witch who had unknowingly climbed up the wall like a spider.

"what?"

Hermione had a bad feeling.

She climbed even higher.

"Splat~"

Due to the instability of magic.

She fell off the wall.

Ian saved him in time with a levitation spell.

"this……"

Hovering in mid-air, Hermione finally realized what had happened and looked at Ian's raised hand in disbelief, or rather, her gaze was fixed on the wand in Ian's hand.

"There really is magic!?"

She gasped in shock.

The little wizard responded.

"So, Miss Granger, when are we going to eat? I've had that big, thorny table ready for you for a whole year." He just chuckled as he said the last thing Hermione wanted to hear.

(End of this chapter)