The wheelchair-bound warrior is speedrunning Hogwarts.

The fallen leaves rustled softly beneath me, and the night breeze rustled through the treetops, carrying the warm light shining from the windows of the distant castle.

Sera didn't let go, and neither did Vera. The two sat side by side in silence until... Sera could no longer feel the warmth of the person beside her.

Author's note: My recent chapters have been blocked one after another... Sigh.

Chapter Seventeen: All Thanks to Mom from Hogwarts

That night, Sera sat alone on the grass at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, the moonlight casting a long shadow of her.

She looked down at her empty palms; the fingers that had been clasped just moments before now only held a handful of cool night.

The withered leaves rustled beneath me, like the lingering sound of someone's clothes brushing against me as they left.

She sat there until the moonlight shifted, until the castle lights went out one by one, until the warmth of her fingertips was completely carried away by the night wind.

Then she stood up, dusted off non-existent dust from her robes, and turned to walk toward the castle.

When exactly did his feelings for Vera gradually transform from simple admiration into a secret affection?

Perhaps it's because the obsession that has arisen from waiting for so long has been projected onto that one person, or perhaps it's simply because the unattainable desire is stirring within them.

Countless thoughts swirled in my mind, yet I could not find a clear answer.

Did she truly love Vera? Or... did she merely use him as a source of emotional support, sustaining her journey through the magical world?

Looking up at the castle not far away, Sera slowed her pace until she finally stopped.

Then, facing the castle, just as she had faced the Christmas tree when she was six, she slowly closed her eyes and after a long while spoke: "I still want to keep her."

The thought took root in my heart, clearer than ever before.

It wasn't because of Christmas Eve when I was six, it wasn't because of those shimmering butterflies, it wasn't because of those stories about Hogwarts.

It is because of today, at this moment, just now.

The warmth of his fingertips as he brushed the fallen leaves from her shoulder, the solemnity in his eyes when he said, "I'll accompany you next time," the fifteen minutes he sat with her under the moonlight, saying nothing, yet making the whole world quiet.

Sera kept her eyes closed, the moonlight falling on her face, illuminating her young features.

She suddenly smiled, very softly, as softly as the night breeze blowing through the forbidden forest.

The answer was actually quite simple.

It was her obsession, her hope, but at the same time, it was also her affection.

I like someone so much that I want to keep them by my side. I like someone so much that I'm willing to do anything to get a "next time". I like someone so much that just sitting side by side, listening to each other's breathing, makes those fifteen minutes feel longer than the past ten years of waiting.

She desperately wanted to see the girl she liked again.

Ten years ago, young Sera experienced her own miracle, and ten years later, now a wizard, Sera made another wish, hoping that a miracle would happen.

Then, she heard a gust of wind, followed by a soft exclamation of doubt.

Sera opened her eyes abruptly, and when she saw the person so close to her, even her heart trembled.

Under the moonlight, in the clearing at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, Vera, who had just disappeared beside her, now stood perfectly intact in front of her, her eyes still holding a lingering look of astonishment and confusion.

It's as if time has tied a knot here, taking her away and then spitting her back.

"What happened?" she asked, surprised and bewildered. "Didn't I just go back?"

"Mmm." Sera nodded gently, then quickly stepped forward and embraced her.

Vera was a little stunned by the sudden hug, her hands hanging in mid-air, not knowing where to put them.

"What's wrong?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with helplessness.

Sera didn't speak, but buried her face in the crook of her shoulder, her arms wrapped tightly around her, as if she wanted to carve the embrace into her bones.

Vera could feel her breathing was a little unsteady, and she could feel her eyelashes trembling slightly against her neck, like a bird that had finally found its nest, hiding all its unease in this embrace.

Her hand, which had been suspended in mid-air, finally came down and gently wrapped around Sera's back, her palm pressed against Sera's slightly trembling shoulder blade.

“Now it seems…” Vera hesitated for a moment, then couldn’t help but smile softly, “that we didn’t manage to leave.”

Sera responded with a muffled sound, her voice coming from the hollow of her shoulder, slightly nasal: "Mmm."

Vera didn't say anything more, but just held her quietly, feeling the other person's breathing gradually become steady, and feeling her tense shoulders slowly relax.

It took a long time before Sera finally lifted her head from under her shoulder.

Her crimson eyes still held a hint of moisture, shining brilliantly in the moonlight, while the corners of her lips curved into a soft arc.

"It seems luck is still on my side," she said softly, her voice still a little hoarse but filled with laughter. "My wish has come true once again."

Vera stared at her blankly, then smiled gently.

“Yes,” she reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind Sera’s ear, her fingertips lingering on Sera’s earlobe for a moment, “If possible, I hope you can continue to be this lucky.”

Don't go through what happened later. Just live each day as you do today, and then... things will turn around.

Sera blinked, the glint of tears disappearing from her eyes, leaving only pure joy.

“So this time,” she grasped Vera’s hand, her fingertips threading through Vera’s fingers, their bodies intertwined, “how long can you stay?”

Vera looked down at their clasped hands, then calmed herself and communicated with the castle for a while.

After receiving the castle's reply, she couldn't help but show a look that was almost a mix of laughter and tears.

"It seems... my name is recorded in the Book of Admission, and the castle has determined that I can continue to stay in this era."

Moreover, by looking at the unusually long string of numbers on her retina, Vera had already roughly guessed what the castle wanted her to do.

In this era, Hogwarts is at risk of being infiltrated by invaders, and as the chosen one of the castle, she naturally has to wait until these guys are dealt with before she can return to her original era.

So essentially, she was forced to stay in the castle to help resolve the trouble, not because of Sera's wishes.

However, seeing Sera's undisguised happiness despite her efforts to hide it, Vera's heart softened, and she shook her head: "At least... this time we can stay here for a long time."

Sera's eyelashes trembled slightly, and the light in her eyes was like a lit candle flame, burning from the bottom of her eyes all the way to the tips of her ears.

She didn't speak, but tightened her grip on Vera's hand, then turned around and pulled her towards the castle.

"Then it's settled. You'll have to stay with me for a while longer." Her voice came from ahead, carrying a hint of feigned calmness, but her steps were much lighter than when she came.

Vera was led by her through the moonlit path at the edge of the forbidden forest. Looking at the straight back in front of her and the hand that was tightly holding hers, she couldn't help but smile.

……

Hogwarts at the end of the 19th century was somewhat different from what it would be a hundred years later, but most of the time, daily life seemed to be no different.

The students in the castle still attended classes in classrooms, walked through corridors, and ate meals in the auditorium, just as they always had.

Vera did indeed stay at Hogwarts at the end of the 19th century as a transfer student.

"You're the new transfer student?"

At breakfast time, a red-haired boy sat down opposite them with a tray. His gaze swept over Vera's face, then he looked at Sera and gave her a knowing smile. "No wonder Kronos hasn't been so distracted in class lately."

Sera didn't even lift her eyelids, forked a piece of fried egg and put it in her mouth: "Hopkins, have you finished your Potions class paper? Professor Sharp said yesterday that anyone who fails this time will have to write an extra one."

The boy named Hopkins immediately frowned, muttering, "Why do you have to bring up such a sore subject?" and slunk back to his seat with his tray.

Vera couldn't help but smile, then turned her head and asked in a low voice, "Do you usually scare people away like this?"

“I’m just stating the facts,” Sera said without changing her expression, pushing a glass of pumpkin juice toward her. “He should be worried about his thesis, not me.”

"Your person?" Vera seized on the loophole in her words, teasing her with a smile, "When did I become yours?"

Sera's fork tapped against the edge of the plate, making a crisp sound.

She lowered her eyes, poking a fried egg until it was almost unrecognizable, but her voice remained calm: "You were my roommate all along."

"That was arranged by the principal."

"Principal, please listen to me."

Vera was amused by her matter-of-fact attitude and couldn't help but reach out to pat her head, but Sera turned her head away.

The hand hovered in mid-air, then missed its target. Vera was stunned for a moment, and before she could retract it, Sera grabbed her wrist.

The girl's fingers were slightly cool, but her grip was firm, as if afraid she would pull her hand back.

"Stop fooling around." Sera's voice was low, but the tips of her ears were secretly turning red. "This is the auditorium."

Vera blinked, trying to withdraw her hand as if to be compliant, but she held on tightly and refused to let go.

“…Don’t be silly either.” Vera sighed helplessly and whispered a reminder, using the dining table as cover.

Sera remained silent for a moment before slowly releasing her hand, but her fingertips still lingered on the back of her hand.

Hopkins returned with an empty plate, his gaze lingering for a moment on their overlapping sleeves. Before he could speak, Sera glared at him, shutting him up.

"I'm going to class!" he said, and ran off faster than a rabbit.

Vera finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Sera casually straightened her cuffs: "We should go see Professor Figo too."

Before this, she had already made an appointment with Professor Figo to meet in the map chamber today to continue the trials of the four guardians in the chamber.

"Should I go too?" Vera hesitated. "The guardians in the map's secret chamber probably won't allow me to go..."

"Which part of Hogwarts is off-limits to you?" Sera interrupted her calmly.

That made such a good point that Vera couldn't refute it for a moment.

She was indeed more qualified than anyone else in this era to enter that secret chamber. In fact, she didn't even need to go through the so-called guardian test to enter the underground vault directly.

“…Alright.” Vera replied helplessly, stood up, and followed her out of the hall.

People were coming and going in the corridor. Sera walked half a step ahead, her back straight, just like usual.

Only Vera noticed that she wasn't walking very fast; in fact, she could easily reach out and grasp the hand that had been clasped together just moments before.

But she didn't reach out; she simply followed Sera's figure quietly forward.

Sometimes, Vera doesn't even know if having too much close contact with Sierra in this era is a good thing.

As Sera's lover from a later era, upon seeing this youthful version of Sera, she naturally wanted to get closer and even tease her.

But Sera is too young now, her mind is not yet fully developed, and she will be anxious and insecure because of her frequent departures.

In this relationship, Vera was in a position of absolute dominance.

This is why Vera had to force herself to examine herself, to see if she had crossed any boundaries or given Sera the wrong message that would cause her more pain later.

But in any case, it now seems that the pain she caused Sera was no less than what she caused.

“We’re here.” Sera’s voice came from ahead, pulling Vera back from her thoughts.

Vera looked up and found that they were standing at the entrance to the map chamber. Sera was looking at her sideways, her crimson eyes filled with a hint of inquiry.

She instinctively avoided the other person's gaze and looked up at the wall in front of her. "Is this the entrance?"

"Mmm." Sera responded, then turned around, took her hand, and led her through the stone wall in front of them.

Everything before my eyes was no different from what it would be a hundred years later: the same spacious hall, the water-like floor, and the four towering mirrors.

However, where Sera stood in the future, the wizard standing there now is Professor Figo.

When Professor Figo saw that Sera had brought another transfer student to such a secluded place, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Before he could speak, Sera interrupted, "Professor Figo, Vera is also a user of ancient magic, which is why I brought her here."

The old professor's gaze fell on Vera's face, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, which were slightly cloudy with age.

He was silent for a moment, his gaze lingering on their clasped hands for a second, before he slowly spoke: "Miss Chronos, you should know that the existence of this secret room is a Hogwarts secret, and a place of vital importance to the life and death of the wizarding world."

“I know.” Sera didn’t let go; instead, she gripped it even tighter. “But she’s different.”

Wow, what a classic love-struck statement.

Could it be that Professor Figo is about to think that his beloved student has been bewitched by this wicked woman?

Vera, listening nearby, couldn't help but twitch her eyebrows. She quickly restrained Sera, who was about to continue explaining, and stepped forward, giving Professor Figo a slight bow.

“Let me explain. Professor, I am indeed able to use ancient magic, just like Sera. And… I am not unfamiliar with this secret room.”

Professor Figo's suspicious gaze lingered on her face for a long time before he finally asked, "Miss Black, what do you mean by that?"

No sooner had she finished speaking than a deep, resonant voice suddenly rang out: "Miss Kronos, you have violated the rules by bringing outsiders into this place without authorization."

The group was startled, especially Vera. She looked in the direction of the sound and discovered that the four huge mirrors in front of her reflected the figures of four elderly wizards.

These people had appeared in her previous dreams as well. Like Isidora, the protagonist of her dreams, they were all ancient magic users and called themselves guardians. Later, they fought with Isidora and killed her.

However, it now appears that these wizards, who were contemporaries of Isidora, have all passed away. They can only remain in the map chamber in this portrait-like form to test Sera.