Days at Hogwarts

Chapter 7 has a clear structure; it's the best start I've ever had.

Bates was somewhat silent during dinner that evening.

He knew all along that the world was not as simple as ordinary people saw it, but when the magical curtain was lifted a little to him, he was still strongly shocked.

Is the wizard related to the werewolf? Can the wizard cure his troublesome little ailment?

All these problems were like a cat that had turned out of wood during the day, circling around his heart and scratching at his mind.

Bates almost opened up to Professor McGonagall, but calmed down when he heard that magic was a talent and only the chosen could become wizards.

He dared not reveal that he was a werewolf, perhaps because, in the eyes of the wizard, it was an unforgivable sin. Besides the unknown dangers, there was also the possibility of harming young Loren.

The old man felt he had lived enough and that it wouldn't matter if he died, but young Loren had an extraordinary future.

He believed that young Loren would achieve great things, and he didn't want to be a burden or bring him any negative influence.

After returning from the battlefield, Bates lived for others. Responsibility and duty sustained him, allowing him to stop thinking about what kind of monster he was or when he should atone to God.

It also manipulated him; for decades he was a machine called Bates, not a real person.

Loren's arrival made him feel truly alive.

Taking care of a child is no easy task, but Loren was more sensible than any other child he had ever seen. As he grew older, Loren was able to cook delicious meals on his own.

Each time he swallowed those hot foods, he could feel that he was truly alive.

Bates didn't say much; he didn't want Loren to go to any trouble for him. If werewolves weren't a problem for wizards, Loren would handle it himself; if werewolves were also a nuisance for wizards, he didn't want to put any pressure on Loren.

On the other side, Loren was completely oblivious to Bates's somber mood; he was sorting out his own thoughts.

This world has owls delivering acceptance letters and Professor McGonagall teaching Transfiguration; it's undeniable that this is the magical world from the Harry Potter film series. This world is like a veil of mystery being lifted, revealing its true face clearly before him.

Loren has watched all eight movies and knows the plot. Based on the years, he should be in the same year as Harry Potter.

In the years that follow, the villain Voldemort will enter Hogwarts and cause trouble.

Headmaster Dumbledore would guide the Harry Potter group as they grew, while also taking time to eliminate the boss's seven Horcruxes one by one. Finally, feeling tired, he would finish off Voldemort and then lie down.

Overall, as a children's fantasy film, as long as he focuses on his studies at school, surviving until the end at Hogwarts shouldn't be too difficult.

Returning to my own story, Grandpa Bates' werewolf is the same type as Lupin from the wizarding world. This werewolf is more like an illness; on the night of a full moon, he uncontrollably transforms, severely impacting his normal life.

The wizarding world has a corresponding potion called Wolfsbane, which Professor Snape, a Potions Master, can make. You can buy it from him and even learn how to make it.

If he dreams big, maybe he can study hard and find a way to completely eliminate werewolves.

And there's that eccentric bookseller and those two strange books.

"The Complete Explanation of Hieroglyphs" should contain some alchemical content. Nicolas Flamel appeared as a plot device in the original storyline. According to his autobiography, "The Book of Abraham" is the book that records the alchemy of the Philosopher's Stone.

Loren paid much more attention to the two books.

As for whether the person he met that day was Nicolas Flamel himself, Loren wasn't sure, but that didn't matter; he felt incredibly at ease now.

Knowing the plot's development and having a clear future plan, and without needing to make a living in the magical world, he plans to return to the ordinary world after graduation, start a small business, and earn money to enjoy life.

Now all I have to do is grow up step by step, Loren thought, never before had it been such a wonderful start.

"Kekekekeke"

Bates watched as Loren covered his mouth and shrugged strangely; he wasn't quite sure what extraordinary achievements this man could possibly have.

……

Early in the morning, Loren and Bates, who had finished breakfast and gotten ready, sat on the stools, dressed neatly.

The wait seemed long, and Bates looked somewhat flustered; he hadn't entertained guests in decades.

Fortunately, it didn't take long. Loren, who was sitting on the stool, suddenly turned his head and looked at an open space. Bates was a little puzzled and followed Loren's gaze.

Professor McGonagall suddenly appeared with a "snap".

Bates was even more shocked by this amazing scene than when he saw the wood turn into a cat yesterday.

Professor McGonagall, who had suddenly appeared, met Loren's eyes directly, and she saw shadows flickering in his blue eyes.

"You knew in advance that I would show up from here?" McGonagall asked, sounding somewhat surprised.

"I just noticed that something seemed to have changed in that area."

Loren was a little confused. Couldn't other wizards see the landing point of teleportation? The movie didn't mention that.

"This is an extraordinary talent..." Professor McGonagall wanted to explain, but then suddenly remembered something and didn't continue.

"Come on, we still have a lot to do."

Professor McGonagall reached out and took Loren's hand, bidding farewell to Mr. Bates.

"【Phantom Appearance】"

Snapped!

Loren felt as if Professor McGonagall's hand was trying to slip from his grasp, so he quickly tightened his grip.

He was surrounded by darkness, feeling intense pressure from all directions, unable to breathe, as if his chest was being tightly constricted by several iron hoops.

Snapped!

Loren couldn't stop coughing, and tears and snot were almost streaming down his face.

He felt as if he had just squeezed out of a very narrow rubber tube. Navigating the magical world wasn't as easy as he'd imagined.

"Generally, we find it easier to travel quickly, but we need to save time today."

Professor McGonagall gently patted Loren's back and comforted him tenderly. Loren recovered in no time and realized that Professor McGonagall wasn't as stern as he had imagined.

Before him was a suburban house, much better than the little cabin where Loren lived, and cleaner than the orphanage he vaguely remembered. It was probably the house he had ever seen that best captured the image of a British city in the 80s.

"There's another student with you." Professor McGonagall stepped forward and rang the doorbell.

Soon, a young couple came out of the door with a girl who was about the same age as Loren.

In Loren's eyes, the young couple had typical white features and nothing particularly distinctive.

The little girl had thick, brown, but somewhat messy hair. It was clear that she had taken great care of it, but it didn't really help.

His brown eyes were wide and bright. When he saw Professor McGonagall, he grinned happily, revealing his slightly large front teeth, which was very cute.

Seeing the familiar face, Loren was somewhat surprised. Had he run into Hermione on the very first day?!

While Loren was lost in thought, Professor McGonagall had already finished negotiating with the Grangers and led the little girl out.

(End of this chapter)