Chapter 111: Friends, Messages
Chapter 111: Friends, Messages
The night before, Fred had sent a message via the friend's account, and Michael, Neville, Hermione, and Theo all replied that they would be there. Padma asked if she could bring her sister, and Ryan, who was vacationing in Italy with his family, wouldn't be back for a few days. Harry hadn't replied to the message.
Green flames rose, and one by one, they arrived.
Used to seeing each other in their black school uniforms, the sight of their casual attire brought a novel visual experience.
Especially the Patil sisters, who wore dazzling gowns, subtle makeup, and sparkling jewelry on their wrists and necks. They were stunningly beautiful, with graceful postures.
"Good morning! We hope we're not late," the girls said in unison.
The Patil sisters were already very beautiful, and being twins only amplified their charm severalfold.
Michael, who had been observing the animals outside the window, practically flashed to the fireplace at the sound of their voices, elegantly raising his hand in greeting.
"No, we just got here too," he said happily.
"Miss Patil and Miss Patil, welcome to Gryffindor Farm."
As Steven spoke, he turned to look at Fred, his eyebrows raised slightly.
Fred accurately interpreted his unspoken words—
"Why aren't you being more proactive with such beautiful girls?" Fred shook his head.
Steven must have been influenced by his father's constant nagging about marriage, as he seemed to have taken on a bit of a matchmaker's attribute.
Neville emerged from the fireplace, letting out a long sigh.
"Gran wasn't going to let me come," he said with lingering fear. "But when she heard that the top two students in the year were going to be here, she changed her mind."
Before Theo could say anything after arriving, the Patil sisters suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
"What's wrong?"
Thinking that they were under attack, everyone rushed over to check.
"My necklace and earrings are gone!" Padma said, touching her empty earlobes.
"My bracelet and hairpin too!" Parvati added anxiously. "They seem to have disappeared in an instant!"
Steven immediately understood what had happened.
"It's the Snorlax," he said helplessly. "These little guys love shiny things. Don't worry, I'll get them back for you."
He whistled, and a forked-tail Eevee came running over and sat down as straight as a soldier.
Steven stroked its ears and whispered something, and the Eevee took off running again.
Soon, it returned with a blue-black Snorlax in its mouth, resembling a platypus.
The Eevee wagged its tail happily, its face pleading for praise.
Steven took the Snorlax, patted the Eevee's head, and praised it. "Good boy."
"Is that a Snorlax?" Parvati asked curiously, looking at the small animal. "I don't see any jewelry. Did it hide them in its den?"
"This is a Corsola Snorlax," Steven explained, "different from the regular Snorlax. It has a magical pouch—look!"
He held the Snorlax upside down by its legs and gave it a shake, causing the Patil sisters' jewelry to tumble out along with some golden cutlery and shiny pebbles.
The little Snorlax looked furious when it was put back on the ground. It pouted and pushed the random items back into its pouch before turning and running away.
"I think it's best if you put your jewelry away," Michael advised. "Otherwise, the Snorlax might steal them again when you least expect it."
Theo suddenly exclaimed, "Look, it's a fairy!"
Everyone turned to look.
At first glance, they seemed like a group of dragonflies dancing among the flowers.
Upon closer inspection, they resembled humans in every way, except for their colorful wings.
The delicate little creatures wore clothes made from petals or leaves as they fluttered about busily. Occasionally, they would perch on a leaf, as if taking a moment's rest.
The group watched, holding their breath so as not to startle the magical creatures away.
One fairy, attracted by the scent, flew over to Padma. After circling her twice, it landed on Theo's finger.
"Merlin..." Parvati sighed dreamily.
Theo gazed at the fairy with delight. It had green hair and carried a tiny wand, from which golden and red sparkles emanated as it flew.
Another fairy with transparent wings flew over, and the two communicated with a low buzzing sound. Soon after, they flew away together.
Theo stared at his finger, a little lost.
"Some wizards like to keep fairies as exquisite decorations," Steven said with a hint of pity in his voice. "They cast spells to fix them onto lampstands or Christmas trees."
"But I think they're much more beautiful when they're free to fly as they please."
"Fixed onto lampstands?" Padma asked. "Can they even survive like that?"
"Some people release the fairies when they're done with them... but not everyone is willing to do that," Steven replied.
"Do they feel pain?" Theo asked softly.
"Fairies are believed to have low intelligence, comparable to that of insects," Steven explained. "But as living creatures, how could they not perceive pain? It's just that arrogant wizards can't empathize with their suffering."
His words left the young witches and wizards silent for a long while, each lost in their thoughts.
Hermione arrived later in the afternoon, looking worried.
"Have any of you been in touch with Harry lately?" she asked the group.
Everyone shook their heads.
"It seems like Harry hasn't been checking his friend's account," Hermione said anxiously. "I even sent him an owl, but he hasn't replied. Ron hasn't heard from him either..."
"Do you think something happened to Harry?" Theo frowned.
"Maybe he's being held captive by his Muggle relatives!" Michael blurted out, guessing the truth. "I knew they weren't treating him well!"
"Held captive? By Muggles?" Parvati exclaimed. "We should go check on him!"
"Yes, let's make it a group activity!" Michael suggested enthusiastically.
"No!" Fred interjected. "Having so many of us show up in the Muggle community would be too noticeable. I'll go check on the situation myself."
"What can a kid like you do?" Steven asked. "I'll come with you."
"I want to go too!" Hermione insisted. "I'm really worried about him."
"No one needs to come!" Fred quickly cut off Theo before he could speak. "And I won't be alone... I'll ask Remus to come with me."
"Him?" Steven furrowed his brows, then his eyes widened as he realized something. "Oh... Remus Lupin, I remember he was a good friend of James Potter."
Steven had been close to graduating when James Potter started at Hogwarts, and they weren't in the same house, so they hadn't known each other.
However, he had heard of the famous group of four through the school's grapevine and knew of their exploits.
If Harry Potter was indeed in danger or being mistreated by Muggles, then Remus Lupin, as a friend of his father, would be the most suitable person to intervene as an older wizard.
(End of Chapter)
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