Hogwarts: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me From Studying

Chapter 612: Chapter 4: Farewell (Part 2)

Many reporters wanted to interview the ”Miracle Girl” Mabel, but Vid contacted FMC [Machioni’s media company] and Dumbledore to block the wave, guiding media focus to Scamander and Dumbledore, who created the miracle.

Those two have plenty of experience handling the media. As long as they don’t want to be found, reporters won’t be able to catch even their shadows, so there’s no worry about harassment from those people.

However, when Vid caught a familiar-looking beetle on the oak tree outside the door, everyone realized the media hadn’t truly let go of Mabel, the big headline. Persistence like that of Rita Skeeter would certainly not.

Especially since Mabel now has no magic abilities, staying in the Wizard Village of Hogsmeade, at Lupin’s house with the exposed address, is completely harmful to her without any benefit.

Lupin originally planned to send Mabel to Privet Drive, where Sirius had also bought a house, and that area was under strict protection from the Ministry of Magic, so there was basically no worry for Mabel’s safety.

But before that, a letter arrived at Lupin’s house.

This letter came from Hayley’s adoptive parents, who sent it through Professor Sprout. On the paper, they wrote about their expectations and request for adopting Mabel.

That kind couple heard about their story from Hayley’s mouth. Although they hadn’t met yet, they already had great affection and sympathy for Mabel.

From the Prophet Daily, they learned that Mabel might have become a Dud, so they cautiously sent out this letter, detailing the family’s financial and housing conditions, nearby schools and hospitals, to prove that Mabel wouldn’t suffer any grievances at their home.

Of course, for Mabel, the most important point is—Hayley is there.

...

The Thestral sneezed, flicked its tail, stretched its bat-like wings, and trotted lightly.

Mabel could naturally see the Thestral’s appearance, and she curiously asked, ”Are all horses in the Magic World like this?”

”This is a Thestral, considered one of the uglier-looking among the Pegasus, but they are very smart, extremely loyal, and have a good sense of direction.”

Vid said, ”In Beauxbatons—that’s another Magic School—there are many Divine Talisman Horses raised, their coats are white or light golden, very beautiful.”

”Are there many magic schools in the world?” Mabel asked curiously.

”There are eleven schools like Hogwarts, along with some smaller training institutions.”

Vid said, ”This year after school starts, many students from other schools might come to Hogwarts for an event. It will be very lively. Would you like to come? We can bring you over to join in the fun.”

Mabel showed a fascinated expression but after thinking for a moment, she still smiled and shook her head.

”It sounds very interesting... but I’d better not. I’ve already decided to leave, if I keep coming back often, I’m afraid I’ll regret it.”

Mabel turned to Vid and said, ”And ordinary society has many exciting places! I’ve actually been anticipating it for a long time, I want to know what attending school feels like... If I stay in the Magic World, I can never go to school.”

Vid couldn’t help but nod in agreement, feeling that this girl was truly very clear-headed.

”Then you might need to catch up on some lessons.” Vid suggested, ”You’ve never been to school, it’ll definitely be uncomfortable at first... if you pre-study the textbooks, you can at least understand what the teacher is talking about.”

”You’re right.” Mabel instantly forgot the regret of leaving the Magic World and said nervously, ”At my age going to school, I can’t start from the first grade, right? Will the things to learn be very difficult?”

Vid: ”...”

Mabel’s age should be going to middle school, but such a level of difficulty wasn’t even a warm-up for Vid, yet Mabel had only memories from being experimented on at an organization’s research institute...

The two looked at each other for a while, and with ten minutes left until the carriage arrived, Vid began teaching Mabel a bit of math.

Other subjects can wait, math needed a good foundation first. And Vid had seen how his classmates were troubled by math when he was in elementary school here.

So during the next few minutes, Mabel was reciting the addition table, then the multiplication table, muttering as if casting spells.

A few minutes later, Vid wondered if he had been overzealous. Mabel seemed to have fallen into a ”Ma what Mei” loop, occasionally randomly mixing addition and multiplication tables together.

The UK’s multiplication table indeed covers multiples up to twelve, and with the language difference, it’s tough to form a catchy rhyme-like recitation habit as in Chinese, compounding the difficulty.

By the time they were about to get off, the girl’s eyes seemed about to spin in circles. They took a cab, and when they arrived at the nearby Muggle Train Station, she was still muttering, ”Five six thirty-five? No, five six sixty-one? Wait... seems like twenty-seven?”

”Mabel.” Vid patted the girl on the shoulder, nodding forward for her to look.

Mabel immediately broke free from the hell of math, seeing in the distance Hayley hopping and waving to her.

Next to the little girl stood a chubby middle-aged man in a gray suit with a simple, gentle smile, looking at Mabel.

Mabel halted her steps, turning to look at Vid.

”Go ahead.” Vid looked at her encouragingly, saying, ”Keep in touch.”

Mabel nodded, mustered her courage, and pulled her suitcase towards the two people.

Vid watched Mabel walk over, watched her embrace Hayley, and shyly greet her future adoptive father.

The man stooped to help lift her suitcase, watching with a smile as the sisters joked and boarded the train.

Just before boarding, Mabel turned around, waving hard at Vid. Vid also smiled and waved, watching their figures disappear from the carriage door.

Then he sighed, looking to the side helplessly, asking, ”If you miss her, why not show yourself? Mabel surely wanted to see you just now too.”

”It’s not good for her... she has a new family.” Lupin’s voice rumbled into the air, ”If she keeps longing for her past family, she won’t be able to integrate into the new one.”

”So you chose to hide and secretly cry nearby, Lupin Mom?” Vid mocked, ”This isn’t a life-and-death parting; you can see her whenever you miss her.”

”This is different.” Lupin said softly, the sound indicating his sadness.

Vid found this very interesting.

The original Lupin seemed to be a more repressed, subtle person emotionally.

Bearing the Werewolf identity and Snape’s suspicion, when teaching at Hogwarts, he never revealed he was Harry’s father’s best friend, barely visiting Harry until his death, nor showing his vulnerability in front of those kids.

He was a reliable but low-key senior, a mystery in his whereabouts, appearing only occasionally when Harry needed him.

But the Lupin Vid knows isn’t troubled by poverty, only a few people are aware of his Werewolf identity, and everyone thinks it’s not too big an issue.

This Lupin can show his concern for everyone around him more naturally and candidly, thinking too much at times even appearing overprotective.

The train had left, and the people seeing it off gradually dispersed, with Vid also turning towards the exit.

”Let’s go.”

”Alright.” Lupin said, ”I’ll take you home first.”

”No, let’s go visit Harry.” Vid joked, ”Check if he’s eating grass every day, if he’s turned into a rabbit.”

...

On a desolate hillside, a black dog slowly straightened up, its hidden figure almost merging with the darkness, except for a pair of sharp eyes shining brightly.

After watching those two for so long, for the first time, he saw that grayish-yellow rat appear beside them.