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Chapter 483: Farewell
The books left unfinished on the table, beside the bookend crafted from a Hippogriff feather, sat next to the plush Pufu Puff doll and teddy bear piled on the bed. On the wall, the wind-swaying landscape poster occasionally twitched—coiled by magic.
Mabel had thought she hadn’t lived here long, so her belongings shouldn’t amount to much. But as she packed, she realized how many traces of her life had accumulated in this room.
Fortunately, the box she carried had been enchanted by Wade with an Invisible Expansion Charm, its space tripled—enough to fit everything without feeling heavy.
At last, she picked up the framed photo from the table.
It was a summer afternoon during a Hogsmeade weekend. Wade, Harry, Michael, and the others had all gathered at Remus Lupin’s home. Wade had brought his camera, snapping countless photos. This was one of the larger group shots.
Mabel had originally planned to be the one taking the pictures—helping the group—but Michael had pulled her onto the sofa instead.
In the photo, the girl in the center wore a look of quiet surprise and shy delight, surrounded by several vibrant young wizards.
Remus Lupin stood at the back, arms spread wide against the sofa’s backrest, as if shielding everyone inside his embrace.
Mabel stared at the photo, smiling softly, then carefully tucked it into a hidden compartment in the box.
She glanced around her bedroom one final time. Every corner seemed to hold a memory.
Tears welled in her eyes, but they quickly melted into quiet acceptance and warmth. She donned her hat, lifted her suitcase, and stepped lightly down the stairs.
The living room sofa matched the one in the photo. Wade and Remus Lupin sat side by side, deep in conversation.
"Tomorrow to Privet Drive?" Wade asked.
"Yeah," Remus sighed. "Sirius Black’s tied up right now, but Harry still has to stay with the Dursleys for two more weeks."
"They’re on some 'diet plan'—but I doubt they actually want him to starve. If I don’t go, he’d barely get a handful of grass to eat each day."
It sounded grim, yet Wade couldn’t help but smirk.
"Harry’s got money, doesn’t he? Why suffer through that?"
"Harry buying food himself? That’d send the Dursley couple into a fit! They’re the most unreasonable Muggles I’ve ever met. Their household rules are stricter than any church’s."
Remus shook his head, exasperated.
Just then, footsteps echoed from the stairs. He turned to see Mabel descending in a ruffled blouse and a light green pleated skirt—fresh, delicate, and utterly lovely.
Remus fell silent. Watching the girl he’d come to think of like a daughter finally prepare to leave, his eyes filled with sorrow.
"Mabel, all packed?" Wade asked.
"Of course." She smiled at Remus. "Remus, thank you… for everything."
"Nothing," Remus said softly. "Take care of yourself out there. You know I’ll always welcome you back. This place will always be your home."
"Mm-hmm." Mabel nodded firmly, then sniffed, wiped her eyes, and stepped forward, wrapping her arms around him.
"Goodbye, Remus," she whispered, voice thick.
Remus gently stroked her hair. "Stay in contact. If anyone tries to bully you—tell me immediately."
…
The carriage rocked gently as it pulled away from Hogsmeade. Mabel turned, watching the pointed-roof cottage shrink into the distance. Finally, a few tears slipped down her cheeks.
Wade handed her a handkerchief, voice soft. "You know, you didn’t have to leave so fast."
"I’m afraid the longer I stay, the harder it’ll be to go." She wiped her eyes, forcing a smile. "Besides, I’ve got to learn to live among ordinary people now!"
Wade sighed silently in his heart, thoughts drifting back to two weeks prior.
After the separation from the Silent Shadow, Mabel’s body had been too weak to recover quickly. Madam Pomfrey had her take two potions daily. Dumbledore had even summoned Fawks.
The golden-red Phoenix had landed with regal grace, shedding two precious tears that helped restore her strength.
Wade hadn’t seen the severed fragment of the Silent Shadow since—on the same day, Scamander had tucked it into his briefcase. Rumor had it Dumbledore and Scamander had been studying it nonstop.
On the third day, pressured by Haley’s foster parents, the two sisters had to say goodbye. Remus Lupin had escorted Mabel back home.
On the seventh day, Scamander tested her again—confirming the Dark Force had fully left Mabel’s body.
But at the same time, Mabel seemed to have lost her magic.
She’d once known several basic spells. Now, even with her wand in hand, she couldn’t cast magic—only occasional sparks flickered from the tip, like a Muggle-born’s first attempt.
Dumbledore contacted the Ministry of Magic. Officials came and went, nearly wearing down the stone path in front of Remus Lupin’s home. Two days later, the warrant against Mabel was finally lifted.
Then came the storm in The Daily Prophet. Headlines screamed: “Unprecedented Breakthrough,” “First Healed Silent One Ever.”
Numerous journalists wanted to interview the “miracle girl,” but Wade had intercepted them—through FMC, the media company run by Machionni, and Dumbledore. Under FMC’s guidance, the spotlight stayed firmly on Scamander and Dumbledore.
Both were media veterans. As long as they didn’t want attention, reporters couldn’t even catch a glimpse of them. No need to worry about harassment.
Yet when Wade plucked a familiar beetle from the oak tree outside the door, everyone in the house knew: the press hadn’t truly let go.
Especially not someone like Rita Skeeter—obsessive, relentless.
And now, Mabel had no magic. Staying in Hogsmeade, in Remus Lupin’s exposed home, would only put her in danger.
Remus Lupin had originally planned to send her to Privet Drive. Sirius Black had bought a house there, and the area was under Ministry protection—safe enough.
But before that, a letter arrived at the home.
It came from Haley’s foster parents, sent through Professor Sprout.
On the paper, they expressed their desire to adopt Mabel—and their heartfelt request.
They’d heard Mabel’s story from Haley, even before meeting her. Though they hadn’t seen her in person, they already felt deep affection and compassion.
Learning from the papers that Mabel might now be Muggle-born, they’d written carefully—listing their financial stability, housing conditions, nearby schools, and hospitals—to prove Mabel would never be mistreated in their home.
But for Mabel, the most important thing was clear: Haley would be there.
…
The Night Kneazle sneezed, flicked its tail, stretched its bat-like wings, and darted across the floor.
Mabel noticed it clearly. "Are all the horses in the magical world like this?"
"These are Night Kneazles," Wade said. "Among Pegasus breeds, they’re considered rather plain-looking—but very intelligent, fiercely loyal, and have excellent sense of direction."
"At Beauxbatons—another magical school—there are many Sigil Horses. Their coats are white or pale gold, stunningly beautiful."
"Are there many magical schools?" Mabel asked, curious.
"Eleven like Hogwarts. A few smaller training institutes, too. This year, some students from other schools will be coming to Hogwarts for an event. It’ll be lively. Want to come? We can pick you up."
Mabel’s expression turned dazed, but after a pause, she smiled and shook her head.
"It sounds amazing… but I think I’ll pass. I’ve already made up my mind to leave. If I keep coming back, I might regret it."
She turned to him. "Besides, ordinary life has its own wonders. I’ve been waiting to find out what it’s like to go to school… In the magical world, I’ll never get that chance."
Wade nodded, impressed. The girl was remarkably clear-eyed.
"You might want to brush up on basics first," he suggested. "You’ve never been to school. You’ll feel lost at first. If you study the textbooks ahead of time, at least you’ll understand what the teachers are saying."
"You’re right," Mabel said, suddenly nervous. "I’m not starting from first year, am I? The work will be too hard, won’t it?"
Wade hesitated.
She should be in middle school—easy for him, almost a warm-up. But Mabel had grown up entirely within the Organization’s research institute, experimented on since memory.
They stared at each other for a moment. With ten minutes left until their stop, Wade began teaching her math.
Other subjects could wait. Math needed a strong foundation. And he’d seen enough of his own classmates struggle with it back in primary school.
For the next few minutes, Mabel recited addition tables, then multiplication tables—muttering under her breath like a spell.
After a while, Wade began to wonder if he was pushing too hard. Mabel was already slipping into a loop: “Five times six is thirty-five? No… five times six is eleven? Wait… was it twenty-seven?”
Britain’s multiplication tables only went up to twelve. And unlike Chinese, the language didn’t lend itself to rhythmic rhymes—making memorization far harder.
By the time they reached the stop, her eyes were spinning.
They hailed a taxi and rushed to the nearest Muggle station, where she was still muttering: “Five times six… thirty-five? No… fifty-six? Wait… was it twenty-seven?”
“Mabel,” Wade said, gently tapping her shoulder and tilting his chin toward the front.
She snapped out of it. Ahead, Haley was bouncing up and down, waving frantically.
Beside her stood a stout, middle-aged man in a gray suit, his face warm and kind, watching her with a gentle smile.
Mabel froze. She turned to Wade.
"Go," he encouraged, smiling. "Stay in contact."
She nodded, took a deep breath, and pulled her suitcase toward them.
Wade watched as she hugged Haley, then shyly greeted her future father.
The man bent down, lifted her suitcase, and grinned as the two girls chattered and laughed their way onto the train.
Just before boarding, Mabel turned back and waved fiercely.
Wade waved back, smiling, watching their silhouettes disappear through the interior entrance.
Then he sighed, turned to the air beside him, and asked, "If you’re so sad, why don’t you show yourself? She’d have wanted to see you."
Remus Lupin’s voice came from nowhere, low and distant. "It wouldn’t be good for her. She has a new family now. If she keeps clinging to the past, she can’t truly belong in the new one."
"So you’re hiding here, silently crying?" Wade teased. "This isn’t a deathbed farewell. You can visit her anytime."
"It’s different," Remus whispered. The pain in his voice was unmistakable.
Wade found it amusing.
In the original timeline, Remus Lupin had been reserved, emotionally restrained—hiding his grief beneath layers of silence. He’d never shown his friendship with Harry’s father, never visited Harry often, and never exposed his vulnerabilities, even to the students.
He was a dependable, quiet elder—mysterious, appearing only when needed.
But this Remus—this one had never been burdened by poverty. His werewolf identity was known only to a few close friends, and even then, it wasn’t seen as a curse.
This Remus could speak his feelings openly, sometimes to the point of being overly protective.
The train had departed. The platform emptied. Wade turned toward the exit.
"Let’s go."
"Alright." Remus said. "I’ll take you home first."
"No," Wade said with a smirk. "Let’s go visit Harry. See if he’s turned into a rabbit after eating only grass every day."
…
On a desolate hillside, a black dog slowly rose from the bushes, its form nearly invisible in the darkness. Only its sharp eyes glowed—cold, watchful.
It had followed them for a long time.
And for the first time, it saw the gray-yellow rat appear beside them.
(End of Chapter)
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