Chapter 288: Reputation
“Newcomer?” Harry said, repeating the word with a strange tone.
“Yes,” Will smiled, gratitude shining in his voice. “I’m… well, I’ve got the same little issue as Remus—”
He grinned, revealing sharp, pointed teeth.
The others suddenly understood—he was a werewolf too.
“…Because of that, I struggled to find work. I nearly starved… Then Remus reached out to us. He earned money and willingly funded our Wolfsbane Potion, helping us return to normal life.”
Will spoke with deep gratitude, then turned to Wade and added, “Because Mr. Gray gave Remus a job, we benefited indirectly too. So I said—you’re the one who gave me a second chance at life.”
Wade shook his head. “That help didn’t come from me—it came from Remus. I don’t interfere with how he chooses to spend his wages…”
Seeing Will didn’t change his expression, Wade paused, then asked, “You mentioned ‘you all’ earlier?”
“Yes,” Remus Lupin said. “Besides Will, there are a few other law-abiding werewolves struggling to survive. But only Will was accepted into Aslan Magical Workshop.”
“I’ve learned a few magic tricks from Remus, not much—but I’ve mastered the Replication Charm quite well,” Will said cheerfully. “That’s how I got this job opportunity.”
“Congratulations,” Wade nodded. “But we’re heading to the workshop’s retail section now.”
“Of course, of course… this way, please…”
Will set down his work, leading the group through the work area and pushing open a tall door. Instantly, a wave of loud voices surged toward them.
Harry stepped in and was immediately confronted by a giant, familiar face—twisted into a grotesque snarl.
It took him a moment to realize—it was his own face.
He startled, instinctively taking a step back. But Sirius Black stepped forward swiftly, staring at the screen.
“What is this?”
A nearby employee hurried over, grinning with enthusiasm. “This is Aslan’s newest product—Master Alchemist Wade Gray’s latest invention: Streaming Mirror! You can think of it as magic’s version of television…”
“I know,” Sirius Black said, glancing back at the group. “But… when did this happen?”
The crowded store erupted in a collective gasp. Someone inside instinctively shut their eyes, screaming, “Watch out!”
On the floating giant screen, the Serpent Monster loomed, jaws wide open, lunging toward Harry.
“Just a bit ago… we all faced it together in the Chamber of Secrets,” Harry said, confused. “I told you about it.”
Sirius stared at the screen, voice quiet. “But I didn’t know it was this dangerous… I thought it was like the time we dealt with the Ball Python…”
On screen, bloodied Harry scrambled to pick up a Venom Fang, searching for an opening. An injured student was thrown across the chamber, crashing into a wall.
Sirius gently placed his hand on Harry’s head, voice thick with emotion. “When you were hurt… it must’ve hurt badly, didn’t it?”
Harry felt a strange pang in his chest. He didn’t know why, but suddenly his nose felt oddly tight.
To hide his emotion, he rubbed his nose and forced a loud, exaggerated laugh. “Haha… honestly, I was so tense I didn’t even feel it at the time. Wade, how did you even record this?”
“Such a thrilling moment—perfect for promoting my new product,” Wade said. “I was actually worried Dumbledore wouldn’t approve. After all, the Serpent Monster was one of Hogwarts’ secrets, hidden for a thousand years.”
“Wait—you stayed behind that day just to tell the Headmaster about this?” Harry realized, anger rising. “If I’d known, I would’ve stopped you!”
“Why?” Wade asked, genuinely puzzled. “What’s wrong with letting people see you defeat the Serpent Monster? Isn’t that a good thing?”
“Of course it is!” Harry gritted his teeth. “I’m already tired of all this fame!”
Perhaps their voices had been too loud. A spectator turned around, stared for a second, then burst out, “Harry Potter! You’re Harry Potter!”
Dozens of eyes snapped toward Harry. He tried to slip away, but it was too late.
Just moments before, the crowd had been watching the screen—seeing the young Savior bloodied and battered, their worry and admiration at their peak, desperate to rush into the image and fight alongside him. Now, the real Horn stood right behind them?
The crowd surged forward.
Sirius and Remus quickly spread their arms, shielding the children from being crushed or trampled. Even the workshop staff rushed in to restore order.
But the people were far kinder than expected. They didn’t push—just gathered around, eager to express their feelings.
“Mr. Potter, how are you feeling now?”
“Mr. Potter, may I shake your hand?”
“Your courage inspires me—I’ve wanted to meet you for so long…”
Amidst the buzzing noise, Wade slipped silently out of the crowd. Others immediately filled the space he’d left.
As he pushed through, someone tugged at his sleeve. He looked up—Machionni.
“I heard you were here, so I came straight over. Didn’t expect to see this.”
Machionni led him toward the upstairs rest area, grinning. “Regretting it?”
“Regretting what?” Wade asked, adjusting the creased fabric of his sleeve.
“Giving up the chance to be famous. People are going to adore Harry Potter more than they did Lockhart last year. Look at how popular he is—can you really say you’re not jealous?”
Machionni chuckled, then added with a rare seriousness, “Don’t argue—I know you could’ve beaten that Serpent Monster too. It was terrifying, strange… but you’re capable.”
“I don’t need to,” Wade said flatly. “Or rather—I hate being famous. This… this is exactly how I want it.”
“Hmm…” Machionni studied the scene—Harry, surrounded and glowing with adoration, his eyes dimmed, stripped of that sharp light they once held.
“Your classmate… doesn’t seem to like fame much.”
“He’s different,” Wade said. “He was The Savior even in the cradle. Defeating the Serpent Monster? That’s nothing. His greatest triumph was defeating the Dark Lord.”
“But before, that title was forced upon him—people questioned him, scrutinized him. But this time… he earned it. This was his own power, his own choice.”
Machionni smiled. “Looks like your bond is really strong.”
“Yeah…” Wade murmured, his gaze drifting past the glass railing. He watched Will arranging goods behind the counter.
In the corner, a thin girl stood with her back to the crowd, tugging at Will’s sleeve, whispering urgently.
(End of Chapter)
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