Chapter 480: Obscurus Separation Surgery
Chapter 480: Obscurus Separation Surgery
In the early morning, Wade habitually woke up just as the first light broke through the darkness. He opened the window first before heading to the bathroom.
When Wade returned to his room, he found two or three letters already on his desk. Ava, the owl, stood on a nearby shelf, her head lowered as she drank water.
"Mr. Wade Gray." Dobby, holding a round tray, stood in the center of the room and said cheerfully, "Dobby heard Mr. Wade Gray wake up, so Dobby brought you some honey water."
"Thank you, Dobby." Wade took the honey water and complimented, "The scarf looks great."
Dobby tugged at the scarf around his neck, which featured a cute little yellow bear. He grinned widely and said, "Mrs. Gray let Dobby pick it out himself, and Dobby thinks it's fantastic!"
Unlike other house-elves, who are not allowed to have clothes, Dobby, living with the Grays, was treated like a clothes rack by Wade's mother, Fiona. The various children's clothes that young Wade had once rejected were now bought back by Fiona, allowing Dobby to change into a new outfit every day.
Dobby's taste in fashion mirrored Fiona's, favoring bright and flamboyant clothes—except for his mismatched socks.
After drinking the honey water, Wade went to the wardrobe space for a quick run to stretch his muscles. He then returned to his desk to start sorting through the letters.
By this time, a few more packages had appeared on the table. A large eagle owl had temporarily taken over Ava's perch, greedily eating from her food tray.
Ava was furious but too timid to confront the intruder, so she huddled in a corner. Seeing her owner, she immediately spread her wings and let out a threatening screech, trying to drive the eagle owl from her throne.
The eagle owl ignored her, glancing at Wade only briefly before finishing the remaining food quickly.
"Be generous, my dear."
Wade stroked Ava's head, giving her a couple of handfuls of owl food and the same to the eagle owl. He then filled a large plate and placed it by the window for any other owls that might arrive.
The package from Marquioni, as usual, contained various alchemical materials, potion ingredients, and financial reports.
Sometimes, when Marquioni traveled to other countries for business, he would bring Wade interesting trinkets he found.
Without Marquioni's extensive network, Wade would have to go to great lengths to obtain these materials. For example, the African tree snake skin needed for the Polyjuice Potion is a highly regulated and expensive ingredient in the magical world.
Thanks to Marquioni, Wade could keep the Polyjuice Potion in stock and provide it to Mabel without restriction.
Wade wrote a reply, then moved on to Draene's letter.
The Magi Puritan Party, despite having the Communication Pea for quick contact, preferred to write letters—perhaps because writing allowed them to organize their thoughts more clearly.
Draene never discussed personal matters. His letters detailed recent Magi Puritan Party activities (though Wade would soon see the news on the Mirror of Truth, Draene's accounts were more comprehensive and included confidential information), discussed magical and video editing techniques, and often delved into ideological topics.
For instance, the nature and meaning of war, why the idea of wizards' supremacy faced opposition from many wizards, including pure-bloods, and the pros and cons of the current changes in the Magi Puritan Party.
Wade found himself becoming increasingly excited and slightly trembling as he wrote back, as if each word he penned would one day ignite the sparks that would set the decaying, closed, and stagnant magical world alight.
To avoid these letters becoming future bullets aimed at himself, Wade signed all his letters with a pseudonym [Braun] and altered his handwriting to avoid being recognized by acquaintances.
Next, he had letters from Gringotts, Michael, and Theo, a response from Professor More regarding a question he had asked, and a letter from St. Mungo's.
Fortunately, under the influence of magic, the quill could write automatically; otherwise, Wade suspected he would eventually develop a callus the size of a pea from handling letters every day.
Wade opened the letter from St. Mungo's.
"Dear Mr. Wade Gray,
Greetings!
We are delighted to inform you that after a period of careful treatment and care, your uncle, Mr. Cornelius Daven, has shown significant improvement and is in a steady recovery phase. His condition is now close to meeting the discharge criteria.
Mr. Daven is expected to be discharged from the hospital in three days. After discharge, he will only need to take his medication regularly and perform simple daily care to gradually return to a normal life.
If you have any questions about Mr. Daven's condition or need more information, please feel free to contact us. I am more than happy to provide you with the necessary support and assistance.
Wishing you and your family good health and a happy life!
Therapist: Mary Nunes
As Wade finished reading the letter, the diligent quill immediately sprang to life, scribbling away—
[Dear Mary,
Thank you for your meticulous care of Uncle Daven. Your efforts bring great comfort to our entire family…]
Wade, of course, did not have an uncle named Cornelius Daven. This person was a scientist that his father, Ferdinand, had found for him. Suffering from a severe illness and abandoned by his family, Wade had entrusted Lupin to bring him to St. Mungo's for treatment.
Normally, St. Mungo's does not admit Muggle patients unless they have suffered severe magical injuries. However, in this world, institutions driven by profit ultimately yield to money.
To ensure the Muggle elder received treatment, Lupin cast a mild curse on him, allowing him to meet the hospital's admission criteria.
Now that he is about to be discharged, Lupin needs to handle the discharge procedures, and Wade plans to meet this highly regarded scientist in person.
Of course, Wade is not worried that the man will refuse his invitation—any ordinary person who has witnessed magic cannot resist the allure of this mysterious world.
Moreover, the man has just endured a severe illness. The despair of helplessly watching his body deteriorate and inching closer to death is something no one would want to experience again.
For wizards, although immortality is difficult to achieve, there are indeed methods to extend one's lifespan. Even if death is inevitable, various potions make the process more dignified and comfortable than for a Muggle elder.
Wade wrote another letter to Lupin, then glanced at the remaining letters.
Invitations to unknown events, invitations to wizards' banquets, inquiries about alchemy, challenges to his alchemy, requests for donations to certain groups or magical items, bold love letters, and journalists seeking exclusive interviews…
Wade quickly scanned the names on the envelopes and tossed the letters aside, then summoned the magic cube to help with the replies while he went downstairs for breakfast.
Today's breakfast was a French meal: Earl Grey tea with a hint of bergamot, hot milk, whole wheat bread with nut butter, thin crepes, boiled eggs, and a fruit platter.
Mother was spreading nut butter on the bread. Seeing Wade sit down at the table, she handed him a piece and asked, "Aren't you planning to watch the Quidditch World Cup? It's all over the news lately."
Of course, Fiona was referring to the wizarding news on the Mirror of Truth.
"I don't have time recently", Wade said. "And the early matches aren't that interesting. It gets more exciting during the selection matches."
Ferdinand took a sip of coffee and said, "I remember you mentioned going out yesterday."
"Right, just visiting a friend", Wade said. "It's Mabel. She's been troubled by an Obscurus for a long time. Professor Dumbledore has brought in an expert to see if they can cure her."
"An Obscurus can be cured?" Ferdinand asked, surprised.
"It's still in the experimental stage, but we hope so", Wade said.
The Grangers exchanged a glance but did not press further.
"Hope so"… It sounded like there was little hope, but no one voiced their concerns, as if saying it aloud might make it come true.
"It will be fine. Good people are always blessed by God", Fiona said. "By the way, when is your escort arriving?"
"No one is picking me up, Mom. I'm going by myself this time", Wade said, noticing his parents' worried expressions and smiling. "I'm fourteen, and I've learned Apparition. It's just to Hogsmeade; I'll be fine."
Besides, he would carry the Wardrobe Space with him, where Mikhail resides. Unless he encounters a wizard of Grindelwald's caliber, it would be difficult for anyone to detain him.
Ferdinand was silent for a moment but did not object. "Just let us know when you get there, and don't worry your mother and me."
"I will, Dad", Wade said.
The Wade family had not set up anti-Apparition wards, as wizards can only Apparate to places they have been to. As long as they did not entertain dangerous and unfamiliar wizards at home, it was safer inside than outside.
Moreover, there’s Dobby at home now.
After Wade hired Dobby, he specifically wrote to the Ministry of Magic to inform them. Therefore, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement couldn’t tell whether the spells cast at his home were by Wade, Dobby, or the occasional visitor, Moody. This allowed Wade to use magic more freely at home.
After breakfast, Wade gathered the things he needed and, with a spin, vanished from the room.
In an instant, he appeared in a quiet alley in Hogsmeade, next to the Three Broomsticks pub. Wade could hear the pleasant music coming from inside.
He pressed the communication pea to let his parents know he was safe, then waited a bit. Soon, two people Apparated onto the street in front of the Three Broomsticks, each carrying a suitcase.
They stood there, looking around.
Wade walked out of the alley and smiled. "Good morning, Mr. Scamander, Steven."
Scamander smiled and nodded. "Good morning, Wade."
"Oh, Wade!" Steven broke into a cheerful smile. "Did you wait long?"
"Not at all, I just arrived", Wade replied. "Follow me, Remus’s house is this way."
"Oh, can I meet Sirius Black too?" Steven asked hopefully. "I read about the four of them in the newspaper two years ago and have been eager to meet them!"
"Unfortunately, Sirius is out on business and hasn’t been back for days", Wade said.
Steven’s disappointment was evident, his eyebrows and eyes drooping.
Scamander looked at his assistant’s childish expression and smiled indulgently.
They soon arrived at Lupin’s house, where Lupin and Dumbledore were waiting, along with Madam Pomfrey.
Mabel had been waiting for this day and was clutching the hem of her dress, looking at the elderly man who seemed to hold her fate in his hands. She was so nervous that dark energy was almost seeping out of her.
"Relax, child", Scamander bent down and said gently. "We’ll examine your condition first, then choose the safest method to treat you. I won’t hurt you, trust me, okay?"
Mabel pursed her lips, glancing at Dumbledore, Lupin, and Wade before nodding. The dark energy around her receded.
"Good girl."
Scamander smiled and, along with Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore, took Mabel to the inner room to check her Obscurus.
"Please sit down, Steven. Would you like something to drink? Wade, how about some hot chocolate?"
Lupin invited them to sit and waved his wand to make the pastries and drinks fly to the table.
"If the Obscurus can be cured, it would be a first in the magical world", Steven said anxiously. "But I’m worried about whether it will go smoothly."
After all, the last girl who underwent the Obscurus Separation Surgery ended up dying.
"If the three of them can’t do it, no one else in the world can", Lupin said calmly. "So all we can do is trust them and wait."
As he spoke, Wade noticed that Lupin, while pouring milk into his coffee, accidentally poured it into his carrot juice, revealing that he wasn’t as calm as he appeared.
Wade held his drink but didn’t drink it. After a moment, he asked, "Could Felix Felicis increase the chances of success?"
"No, that won’t work", Steven sighed. "I asked Mr. Scamander the same thing. If he needed it, I could get a bottle of Felix Felicis. Of course, Mr. Scamander has his own sources."
"But Mr. Scamander said that Felix Felicis doesn’t just bring good luck; it can also make a person overconfident and reckless."
"Separating an Obscurus requires precision, rigor, and meticulous attention to detail. Any emotional fluctuation can have a significant impact."
"So he prefers to ensure his mind remains clear rather than rely on borrowed luck."
"Also, Wade", Lupin added, "Felix Felicis can help make the right decision, but it’s not necessarily the decision the drinker wants—"
"When dealing with an Obscurus, the right decision might be for the creature to die along with the host. The magic would push things in that direction."
"So don’t rely on such potions, Wade. Use them only when absolutely necessary."
(End of Chapter)
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