https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-210-The-Forgetting-Charm-Is-Real/13685053/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-212-Does-Your-Headmaster-Have-Mind-Reading-Powers-/13685055/
Chapter 211: Help Me, Ferdinand
Ferdinand sat there, utterly still, unable to speak for a long moment—his body numb, his tongue as if frozen solid.
The things Landon had said, the fate Kariel had suffered—weren’t they exactly the very thing Ferdinand had feared most all along?
The fortunate part was that they had only a shallow understanding of the magical world, and hadn’t yet encountered someone like a Cloaked Figure, a predator who preyed on the unsuspecting…
Otherwise, what would have become of Wade? What would have happened to the Gray family?
He couldn’t bear to imagine it.
Fiona had been shielded all her life. This was the first time she’d heard such a story. Landon’s despair and remorse seemed to seep into her, chilling her to the bone. She instinctively wrapped her arms around herself.
“D-Did you just… believe him? Just because he said it?” Fiona asked, her voice tight. “Didn’t you even try to verify it?”
Landon stared blankly at her, hollow-eyed.
“How could we verify it?” he asked, his voice breaking. “We’ve only just learned about magic! We didn’t even know it existed until yesterday!”
Fiona fell silent.
Diagon Alley no longer felt foreign to her. She’d forgotten how vast the divide was between the magical world and the ordinary one—the invisible, unbreachable barrier that separated them.
Wade noticed Ferdinand’s troubled expression and walked over, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Dad,” he said softly.
Ferdinand jolted. He turned to see his son standing right beside him, whole and safe. His limbs, stiff with dread, began to thaw.
Right. He shouldn’t dwell on what might have been. Wade was fine. He’d learned magic. He had power. More than most. He was stronger than anyone could have expected.
Ferdinand took a deep breath, then carefully asked, “What about Annie now…?”
“I sent her to the Sanatorium,” Landon said, head bowed, guilt heavy in his voice. “She’s lost so much—can’t function properly. And I have to keep searching for Kariel. I simply couldn’t care for her.”
“It’s not your fault,” Ferdinand said gently. “If Annie ever regains her memories, she’ll understand your choice.”
After a long silence, Ferdinand asked, “So… what’s your next move?”
Fiona hesitated, her lips parting several times as if to speak, but each time she stopped herself. She looked at her husband with surprise, then closed her mouth and stepped back, quietly cradling her teacup.
Landon suddenly leaned forward, gripping Ferdinand’s hands tightly.
“Ferdinand,” he said, voice raw with urgency, “we’re friends, right? We’ve been like brothers. Even when our business disagreements grew sharp, I never let you suffer, did I?”
“That’s true,” Ferdinand replied, meeting his gaze with calm assurance. “You’ve always been my friend. I’ve never denied it.”
“Then be honest with me—” Landon’s voice cracked. “Do you know people in the magical world? Are you… one of them?”
He stared into Ferdinand’s eyes, his grip ironclad. The veins in his hands stood out, his eyes bloodshot, wild with desperation.
Ferdinand felt both pity and unease. He answered softly, “I don’t know who you mean by ‘them,’ but my parents were wizards. So yes—I know people in the magical world.”
Landon’s grip loosened slightly, his eyes searching Ferdinand’s. “Your parents… were wizards… so you must be?”
“No,” Ferdinand said, shaking his head. “I’m Muggle-born. Born into a wizard family, but without magical ability. By tradition, I was sent to live with a Muggle family from childhood—cut off from the magical world entirely. So I’m no different from any ordinary person.”
“But… your parents—didn’t they still visit you?” Landon pressed.
Ferdinand swallowed hard. “There was a war… a cruel one… between wizards. They’re both gone.”
The silence that followed was heavy with sorrow.
“I… I’m sorry,” Landon whispered, releasing his grip. He looked up, pleading. “Then… can you help me find out? Maybe someone in the wizarding world knows who took Kariel. Maybe someone knows if my son is still alive…”
Ferdinand gently patted his hand. “Of course I’ll help. But you’ll have to tell me more. What’s the name of the one who took him? What did he look like? You can’t just let someone take your son without even knowing their name, can you?”
“No, no,” Landon said, recalling. “The Cloaked Figure called himself Majer Byerd. French. Thin, with curly hair, skin pale like he was ill. Deep blue eyes. Not particularly striking, but… there was a distinct tattoo on his face.”
Ferdinand nodded solemnly. He promised again and again to help track down Kariel or Majer Byerd. Only then did he finally see Landon out the door.
Just as he was stepping onto the street, Landon suddenly turned back.
“Ferdinand… since you know the magical world… do you know Hogwarts?”
His voice trembled.
“…Yes,” Ferdinand said.
“Then…” Landon’s face twitched. He swallowed hard. “Is it… really like he said? The school… is it really… real?”
Ferdinand almost didn’t answer. But after a long hesitation, he finally said:
“From everything I’ve heard… it’s a good school.”
“O-Oh… so it is real…” Landon whispered, as if the words were a lifeline. He repeated it several times, trembling, then turned and staggered out the door.
The car’s engine roared to life. The Gray family stood at the entrance, watching as the vehicle shot forward, slamming into a tree. After a pause, it jerked backward, crashing into the curb.
“Wait! I’ll drive you back to the hotel!” Ferdinand called, rushing out.
But the car didn’t slow. It turned sharply and vanished down the road.
“Do you think he’s okay?” Fiona murmured.
“I hope he doesn’t get hurt,” Ferdinand said, already pulling out his phone and calling a police friend, urging them to intercept Landon’s vehicle.
Moments later, his friend called back. Landon’s car had crashed into the wall of a bakery. It was now in police custody—thankfully, the speed was low, and no one inside had been injured.
Closing the door behind him, Ferdinand returned to the living room. The three of them exhaled in unison, a wave of relief washing over them.
“Are you really going to help him?” Fiona asked, concern in her eyes. “This sounds… complicated.”
“Of course,” Ferdinand said, loosening his house tie and pouring himself a glass of rum. He drained it in one go. “Landon’s my friend.”
He paused, then added, “And Kariel is still missing. I can’t just ignore that.”
Fiona frowned. “Then why didn’t you say… Wade’s at Hogwarts?”
Ferdinand looked at her—his wife, so innocent, so trusting—and let out a bitter laugh.
“Because I’m afraid, Fiona.”
“I’m afraid the same person who took Kariel… might come for Wade too.”
(End of Chapter)
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