Chapter 111: Friends, Message
Last night, Wade had checked the Book of Friends. Michael, Neville, Hermione, and Theo all confirmed they’d come. Padma asked if she could bring her sister along. Liam was traveling to Italy with his family and wouldn’t return for a few days. Harry hadn’t sent a single message.
The Green Flame flared upward, and one by one, the group arrived.
At school, they were used to seeing each other in black uniforms. Now, dressed in casual wear, they presented a fresh and striking visual contrast.
Especially the Patil sisters—dressed in dazzling long gowns, lightly made up, adorned with gleaming gold jewelry around their wrists and necks—radiated a stunning beauty, their postures graceful and poised.
“Good morning! We hope we’re not late,” they chimed in unison.
The Patil twins were already beautiful, but as identical twins, their charm was multiplied many times over.
Michael, who had been leaning by the window observing the animals outside, snapped upright at the sound of their voices—so fast it seemed like teleportation—then smoothly stepped toward the fireplace and gave a polished bow.
“No, we just arrived ourselves,” he said cheerfully. “Welcome to Gralin Farm, Miss Patil and Miss Patil.”
Steven Mor spoke, then turned to Wade, raising one eyebrow slightly.
Wade understood the unspoken question instantly—With girls this gorgeous, why aren’t you making a move?
He shook his head.
Steven Mor, clearly conditioned by relentless parental pressure to marry, had picked up a bit of matchmaker energy.
Neville emerged from the fireplace and let out a long, relieved breath.
“My grandmother didn’t want me to come,” he admitted, still visibly nervous. “But when she heard that the top two students in our year were here, she changed her mind.”
Theo hadn’t even had time to speak when the Patil sisters let out a sharp scream.
“What’s wrong?” The others rushed over, fearing an attack.
“My necklace and earrings—they’re gone!” Padma touched her empty earlobes.
“And my bracelet and hairpin,” her sister added, panicking. “It all vanished—just like that!”
Steven Mor immediately understood.
“It’s the Nosedog,” he said with a sigh. “These little ones love shiny trinkets. Don’t worry—I’ll get them back.”
He whistled sharply, and a fox-dog with a forked tail dashed over, crouching steadily like a soldier.
Steven patted its ears and whispered something. The dog bolted off in a blur.
Moments later, it returned, mouth full of a small, blue-black creature that vaguely resembled a platypus.
The fox-dog wagged its tail furiously, eyes full of eager anticipation—clearly begging for praise.
Steven took the creature, stroked its head, and said, “Good child.”
“This is a Nosedog?” Padma’s sister asked, peering curiously. “But I don’t see any jewelry on it. Did it hide them in a burrow?”
“This is a Kornos Nosedog,” Steven explained. “Unlike Irish Nosedogs, it has a magical internal pouch—watch.”
He flipped the creature upside down and gave it a firm shake. Instantly, the Patil sisters’ golden jewelry tumbled out, clattering onto the floor, along with a bird-serpent’s eggshell, some golden cutlery, and several other glittering trinkets.
When the little creature was placed back on the ground, it looked utterly furious. Tears streamed down its face as it scattered all the stolen items wildly across the floor, then turned and ran off in a huff.
“You might want to keep your jewelry away,” Michael advised. “Otherwise, the Nosedog might steal them again at any moment.”
Suddenly, Theo exclaimed, “Look! That’s a Sprite!”
Everyone turned.
At first glance, the fluttering shapes among the flower patch looked like dragonflies. But upon closer inspection, they were unmistakably humanoid—tiny, refined beings dressed in clothing woven from petals or grass leaves, bustling about busily.
They hovered between leaves, occasionally landing to rest.
The group held their breath. No one dared to move or breathe, afraid of startling them.
One Sprite, drawn by a scent, drifted toward Padma. It circled her twice, then landed gently on Theo’s fingertip.
“Merlin…” Padma’s sister sighed, almost dreamily.
Theo stared in wonder at the green-haired Sprite, which held a tiny wand. As it flew, sparks of gold and red occasionally flared from the tip.
Another translucent-winged Sprite approached. The two communicated with a soft, buzzing hum. After a moment, they took off together.
Theo touched his fingertip, a hint of bittersweet longing in his eyes.
“Some wizards treat Sprites as beautiful decorations,” Steven Mor said gently. “After casting a spell, they fix them onto lantern stands or Christmas trees.”
“But I think… their freedom to fly is far more beautiful.”
“Fixed on a lantern?” Padma asked. “Can they still be alive?”
“Some release used-up Sprites,” Steven replied. “But not everyone is willing to do that.”
“What about pain?” Theo asked quietly. “Do they feel it?”
“Sprites are often considered low in intelligence—mindless, like insects,” Steven said. “But every living being feels pain. It’s just that arrogant wizards refuse to empathize with their suffering.”
The words hung in the air. The young wizards fell silent, each lost in thought, moved by the weight of the truth.
Hermione arrived later in the afternoon, her face lined with worry.
“Have any of you been in contact with Harry?” she asked.
They looked at one another. All shook their heads.
“Harry hasn’t opened the Book of Friends,” Hermione said, her voice tight with concern. “I even rented an owl to send him a letter, but he never replied. Ron hasn’t heard from him either…”
“Could something have happened to him?” Theo frowned.
“Maybe he’s being imprisoned by his Muggle relatives,” Michael suddenly blurted—surprisingly close to the truth. “I knew he wasn’t treated well!”
“Imprisoned? Muggles wouldn’t dare do that!” Padma’s sister gasped, then added, “Maybe we should go check on him?”
“Perfect!” Michael grinned. “Let’s make it a group outing!”
“No!” Wade quickly objected. “Too many of us showing up in a Muggle neighborhood would be suspicious. I’ll go and check the situation myself.”
“You’re just a kid,” Steven Mor said. “I’ll go with you.”
“I’m going too,” Hermione insisted. “I can’t rest until I know he’s safe.”
“No need,” Wade said, cutting off Theo before he could speak. “And I’m not alone—I’ll bring Remus with me.”
“Remus?” Steven Mor frowned, then snapped his fingers. “Ah… Remus Lupin. I remember—he was close friends with James Potter.”
James Potter had already graduated when Steven was nearing the end of his time at Hogwarts. They weren’t in the same house, so they’d never met.
But the four of them—James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter—were legendary figures on campus. Steven had heard their names and stories, even if he hadn’t known them personally.
If Harry Potter truly was in danger—or being mistreated—then Remus Lupin, as James’s old friend and an elder wizard, was the most suitable person to intervene.
(End of Chapter)
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