Hogwarts: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me From Studying

On Sunday, Hogsmeade was bathed in warm sunlight, and the golden light spilled through the windows, casting mottled shadows in the attic.

Vid crawled out of the Disappearing Cabinet, turned and closed the door, waiting for another ten minutes until he heard the ”knock knock knock” from inside.

He opened the cabinet and saw Harry, panting heavily, appear inside.

”Sorry, I’m late.” Harry adjusted his crooked glasses and said, ”Professor McGonagall called me over temporarily, said there were a few small issues with my homework from last week.”

Vid understood: ”You were lazy and didn’t check the material when writing your essay?”

Harry grimaced: ”Just that once... It was too late. I hurried to finish the homework and relied on memory to complete the essay. Who knew I got two points wrong about the Prohibition of Experimental Transfiguration Bill.”

”Then you should remember to at least let Hermione check it next time after you finish.” Vid said, pushing open the attic door.

The old door hinge made a ”creak—” sound, and soon footsteps came from the stairs, followed closely by Sirius.

”Ha, my two champions!” He spread out his arms with a big smile: ”Come on over! Remus baked a cake, we’ve been waiting for you for a long time!”

Harry habitually walked over and gave Sirius a warm hug, while Vid smiled and nodded: ”Good afternoon, Sirius.”

Lupin also poked his head from the stairwell, watching from above, and said warmly: ”I thought you two would come over in the morning! Was something delaying you?”

”Needless to say?” Sirius winked at his friend, joking: ”The champions that the entire Magic World is talking about, who knows how many pretty girls want to say hello to them!”

”We were helping Hagrid transform his image, he seems to have fallen in love at first sight with the head of Beauxbatons.”

Harry explained seriously, recounting what they did that morning.

”Hagrid?” Sirius laughed: ”Has that guy finally realized he wants a girlfriend?”

”I saw a photo of Madam Maxime in the newspaper.” Lupin said: ”Her height should be about the same as Hagrid’s, right?”

”Yes.” Vid nodded: ”And she carries herself with elegance, Hagrid was captivated at first sight.”

”That’s really great news. It’s not easy to find someone to partner with... for both of them to find each other.”

Lupin genuinely felt happy for Hagrid, always remembering the help Hagrid provided when he was forced to become a werewolf.

In the downstairs living room, Lupin took out a golden-yellow cake from the oven, the aroma of cream and chestnuts immediately spread, while Sirius served several cups of steaming hot tea.

Harry sat on the sofa and talked about the selection scene and the champions from each school:

”...Victor, Stella, Babua, they all seem formidable, and most are already adults.”

”One is younger than us, she’s a student from the Magic Institute, and apparently started learning Magic six years ago, she’s quite powerful.”

”Honestly, I still feel like I’ve been hit in the head by a Bludger, completely disoriented.”

”Don’t underestimate yourself, Harry, you obviously have talent!”

Sirius patted Harry hard on the back and laughed: ”From today, I’ll be your opponent, training your dueling skills. I can also teach you a few spells I invented in my youth, guaranteed to catch opponents off guard!”

”Sirius, this is a formal match, broadcasted across the entire Magic World.” Lupin helplessly said: ”If Harry embarrasses his opponent in public, it’s not a good thing.”

”Remus, do you really think all I’ll teach are prank spells?” Sirius indignantly asked.

”Alright, my bad.” Lupin raised his hand: ”I should’ve remembered you wouldn’t mess around with Harry’s affairs.”

”...Of course.” Sirius said, a trace of guilt flashing in his eyes.

”Harry, Vid, be cautious of the head of Durmstrang, that Igor Karkaroff.”

Lupin said while dividing the cake: ”Remember? I’ve told you about this person before, he used to be a Death Eater and later betrayed his comrades at trial to earn his freedom.”

”Everyone knows he’s a Death Eater,” Harry muttered: ”So why is he still the headmaster of Durmstrang?”

”That’s Durmstrang, they have a different stance on Dark Magic than we do.”

Sirius raised his eyebrows and said: ”Also, don’t underestimate the other staff and students from that school. Grindelwald is active there; his influence has probably infiltrated for a long time, possibly even among the champions in the tournament, there could be some Witch Pure Party members!”

Vid rubbed his nose and said: ”That’s probably why Dumbledore invited Professor Moody to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, isn’t it?”

”Certainly.” Sirius said: ”The Old Auror’s instincts are more reliable than a Peeping Mirror. But you need to be alert to any unusual situations, don’t casually approach Durmstrang’s students, understand?”

”Got it.”

Harry nodded, and forked a piece of cake into his mouth.

After having some dessert, Harry donned the Invisibility Cloak, Vid used the Disillusionment Charm, and the four of them went to a forest clearing surrounded by ancient oak trees outside the village.

”Vid completed his first Animagus transformation here.” Remus patted a large tree beside him, reminiscing: ”We almost thought we’d lost him.”

Harry, curious about the story he had heard, asked Sirius: ”Were you the same way? Did you forget who you were after transforming into an animal?”

”Not everyone faced such difficulty; Vid rushed too fast, which led to various problems.”

Sirius explained: ”We spent years learning before transforming, so James and I hardly lost our self-awareness, only Wormtail...”

He paused, his face darkening for a moment, then said in a still relatively calm tone: ”That guy wanted to burrow into holes after transforming, and eventually, we helped him recover.”

Harry stayed silent, having lived with Sirius and Lupin, he finally had a home; the imprint of his parents on his heart seemed to fade slightly.

He used to envy the Dursleys’ unconditional love for Dudley and longed for his parents, whom he remembered nothing of. But now, as a child who is loved, he can more calmly accept the reality of his parents’ passing.

He knew, however, that Sirius might never truly forget. Having once loved immensely, the loss is therefore profoundly painful, hard to forget.

When Harry fell silent, Sirius quickly collected himself.

He clapped his hands, his long black hair flying in the wind, and loudly exclaimed: ”Alright, kids! Are you ready to accept Blake-Style Special Training?”