Chapter 671: The Letter
Chapter 671: The Letter
Over the next two weeks, Hermione's mood visibly improved, and she was beaming with joy throughout the day. Harry noticed more than once that she would suddenly use her wand as a conductor's baton, pretending to lead an orchestra while reviewing her lessons.
"Hermione's gone mad. We're doomed for this year's exams", Ron whispered to Harry.
"Maybe it's some kind of magic practice technique?" Harry speculated. As he spoke, a string of Ancient Runes, like colorful musical notes, circled Hermione, chasing the tip of her wand, which emitted a soft white light.
When Hermione started adding new notes to her Herbology textbook, Comprehensive Guide to Carnivorous Plants, Ron asked curiously, "You seem so happy. Is there some good news? Like—um, winning the Daily Prophet's annual prize?"
"Oh, that won't be announced until July!" Hermione said cheerfully.
"Or maybe you aced a quiz in Wizarding Weekly", Ron said confidently.
"I do hope to win this year's 'Most Charming Smile' award", Hermione said. "Rita Skeeter seems to be busy with other things; she's even reduced her contributions to other magazines, making them more enjoyable."
Harry knew that Wizarding Weekly was a popular magazine among witches, and the library had some back issues that he sometimes flipped through. However, he wasn't particularly interested in its content, which mostly featured celebrity news, fashion trends, quizzes, advice columns, quick divinations, and recipes. Ron's mom was one of its readers.
It's worth noting that this magazine annually awarded the 'Most Charming Smile' prize. During Harry's second year, their Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, was a favorite of the magazine, winning the award for five consecutive years.
When Lockhart's reputation was destroyed and he was sentenced to prison, Ron had predicted, "At least half of Britain's witches must have shed a tear, and the magazine's sales would plummet."
But Harry wasn't worried. In his view, whether it was Professor Hep, or the young Albus Dumbledore and Grindelwald, or the many distinguished wizards he had seen in the Pensieve, any one of them was far more interesting and worthy of discussion than a boastful, memory-stealing thief.
Dumbledore's lessons had brought about the most significant change in Harry's understanding of the entire wizarding world, particularly in Britain. Sometimes, when Harry closed his eyes, he could clearly feel a connection to hundreds of wizards, understanding their pasts and presents. These wizards were like a vast, luminous web spread across the land, allowing Harry to know his place even in the darkest times.
This feeling grew stronger as the memories approached the present.
The Saturday before last, in the Headmaster's office, Harry finally mustered the courage to confirm Professor Bashaat's identity.
That evening, he and Dumbledore traveled through memories, spanning two decades. Harry not only witnessed the full extent of Grindelwald's speech in the underground theater at Père Lachaise Cemetery (a memory from someone else) but also met another member of the Dumbledore family.
"Credence. Grindelwald manipulated him and renamed him Aurius Dumbledore."
Harry was taken aback.
"That name is similar to Ariana's—"
"Isn't it?" Dumbledore asked softly, and Harry nodded, especially the first two syllables. "But he is my nephew. He is Abeforth's child, just as unfortunate as my sister." Dumbledore explained to Harry, "The boy's mother was a Muggle. They fell in love, but later separated. Abeforth and I didn't know about the child's existence at the time."
"Later, he was adopted by a Muggle institution that hated magic and had to suppress his own abilities. In the end, like Ariana, he became an Obscurial."
Harry fell silent. He couldn't imagine how Dumbledore felt, calmly recounting all of this, and he felt a heavy weight on his own heart. He also thought of something else.
The day they saw Abeforth at the school gates.
Based on his private discussions with Ron and Hermione, Abeforth had compromised due to his sister and chosen to give up his memories. But now, he wasn't sure if he had misunderstood. Perhaps, in addition to Ariana, another person with a similar name had also played a significant role.
Another weekend, and after finishing his morning routine, Felix returned to his office. He saw Phoenix Fawkes and Niffler Valen sharing a can of fresh fish on a small table by the sofa. Fawkes's sharp beak had punctured a hole in the can.
Valen, who had been about to help, flinched and patted his chest, still shaken. Fawkes tilted its head, looking quite innocent.
It was still a bit chilly in the morning of May. As Felix slipped on a coat, he pondered how to convince Fawkes to bring the Sorting Hat out for a walk next time. The hat must feel quite lonely, with few friends. Perhaps a gentle Confundus Charm could help it recall those happy times from the past.
Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. The four founders of the school lived in harmony, and theoretically, that was also the Sorting Hat's golden childhood.
Suddenly, Fawkes, who had been watching Valen unscrew the can lid, made a "clicking" sound, signaling Felix to come over. Felix walked over, sat on the sofa, and looked into the bright eyes of the fiery red bird. The claw that had been tightly gripping something on its belly loosened.
A black Resurrection Stone Ring fell onto the table, making a soft clinking sound. Inside the ring, a small piece of paper was rolled up.
A long, crane-like leg gently swept the ring toward Felix, and Fawkes let out a low call.
"Oh, so that's why", Felix realized. "Headmaster Dumbledore sent you, didn't he?" He picked up the ring, removed the paper, and unfolded it to reveal a short line of small text: 'As we agreed.'
So, Dumbledore doesn't need the Resurrection Stone for now? Felix thought.
The outline of a swift prowl appeared in the air. "You know who to find, right? Luna Lovegood, and remember to remind her to bring the letter." The swift nodded its small head, then spread its wings and flew out the window with a graceful swoop.
Felix turned his attention back to the Phoenix, who was now eating fresh little fish.
"Tell Dumbledore that I'll return the Resurrection Stone as soon as Miss Lovegood is done using it", he said, then added curiously, "Fawkes, how old are you?"
The Phoenix tilted its head, blinking in confusion.
"Can't remember? Is it because you've lived too long or because of the Rebirth?" Felix muttered to himself.
The room fell quiet. After finishing the fish, Fawkes shook hands with Valen using one of its claws, then spread its broad wings to leave. Felix quickly asked, "You must have met Grindelwald, right? During the war?"
Fawkes's beautiful eyes flickered, and it looked at Felix reproachfully, letting out a call and then transforming into fire, disappearing in a shower of sparks.
Felix ground the sparks into ashes, marveling at the sight. He had seen another person's reflection in the Phoenix's eyes, a young wizard with black hair.
So, Fawkes wasn't always with Dumbledore.
Felix recalled a piece of unverified information he had read in a book about ancient wizarding families. It was said that members of the Dumbledore family would summon a Phoenix when in need.
On the other side, it being a weekend, Harry woke up a bit later than usual. When he dressed and appeared in the common room, he saw Ron sitting there with a troubled expression.
"Another one is gone. This time it's Vera", Ron complained.
"Who?" Harry asked.
"Don't you remember? She was in the Animagus class. I also saw her at the Creevey club", Ron said.
Harry blinked, recalling a girl who loved to ask questions. In his memory, Vera had a good talent, but she always bombarded him with all sorts of chaotic questions, which he found hard to handle.
"What happened to her?" Harry asked casually, only to see Ron glare at him. "Are you even listening?" Harry raised his hands. "Sorry, just woke up..."
"She didn't show up this morning. I asked Susan, and she said Vera had failed", Ron continued, "As if it wasn't enough, first Macmillan missed his Apparition exam because he got too excited and forgot to cast the spell early, then Virgil, Shabini... I heard that only four students signed up for the last full moon."
Harry didn’t know how to comfort Ron, who had been stuck on the second step of the Animagus transformation for over a month with no progress.
Hermione lifted her head from her book and said irritably, “Leave him be, Harry. He brought this on himself.”
Harry was surprised by her attitude. He thought Ron would argue back, but he didn’t. Instead, Ron’s mood seemed to worsen. “What’s going on?” Harry asked as they went downstairs for breakfast.
“Ron is resistant to his Animagus form,” Hermione said preemptively.
Ron’s face paled as he whispered, “I think my Patronus isn’t impressive enough.”
Harry instantly understood his concern. Based on previous successful cases, the Animagus form generally matched the Patronus form. Since a Patronus often reflects a wizard's inner self (with a few exceptions), Harry, Hermione, Neville, and Hannah had found the Animagus practice relatively easy.
“But I think a hound is great. Don’t you love Fang?” Harry asked, puzzled. “You didn’t have these thoughts when you practiced your Patronus… Oh, you’re not letting Malfoy get to you, are you? Don’t listen to him. Think of Sirius… the star.”
Ron seemed somewhat convinced.
“Alright, maybe I’m overthinking it. Are you still going to Dumbledore’s today? The exams are coming up.”
Harry nodded.
“Last time I saw Rita Skeeter in the Pensieve. Maybe I’ll see my parents soon, and Professor Hep too.”
“That’s odd. You haven’t learned anything else?”
“No, I—”
He got so engrossed in his explanation that he collided with a figure running towards them. Harry fell to the ground, rubbing his forehead in pain, tears streaming down his face. As he blinked away the stars and struggled to his feet, he said in surprise, “Luna?”
“Oh, Harry? Hello,” Luna said, also in pain, one hand on her forehead and the other holding a cardboard box.
“Are you okay?” Harry asked, his voice muffled. He suddenly noticed something odd about the sensation in his hand. He looked down and saw a sticky envelope. No, there were six or seven envelopes scattered around, and he quickly scanned the area; they seemed to be drowning in envelopes.
Ron helped Harry up, and Hermione squatted down to help Luna gather the scattered letters.
Harry curiously picked up one of the envelopes. It was adorned with peculiar patterns, very much in Luna’s style, perhaps a plant from her imagination. In the middle of the patterns, it read, ‘To my dear wife Pandora.’
“Thank you, Harry,” Luna said, glancing at the envelope in Harry’s hand. He handed it to her. After placing the last envelope in the box, Luna said, “I have to go. See you later.” She waved at Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
“She’s sending all those letters at once? I doubt even all the owls in the owlery would be enough,” Ron said, amazed.
“It might be a backlog,” Hermione said, noticing the handwriting. “But who is Pandora?”
Hermione didn’t expect an answer, but Harry provided one.
“She’s Luna’s mom.”
“Oh, oh—” Hermione seemed to understand suddenly, her eyes welling up with tears.
Ron’s eyes widened. “But she’s been… dead for a long time, right? Because of an accident?”
“Remember how Luna searched for the Resurrection Stone at the beginning of the year?” Hermione said softly. “Now we know what those letters are for.”
A few minutes later, in the Ancient Runes office.
Felix stood at the door and said, “Luna, as agreed, you have the morning. I must warn you, the Resurrection Stone is not perfect in any version of the story. Be careful not to be deceived by it.”
“Thank you,” Luna said calmly. “I feel sad for my mom, but I still have my dad. I never felt she left us; we just can’t see her. We need some tools. My dad and I both cherish this opportunity.”
Felix paused for a few seconds before closing the office door. From inside, Luna’s voice could be faintly heard reading the letters.
The weather outside grew stiflingly hot. Felix and Niffler Valen, perched on his shoulder, walked to the courtyard, where the bushes were lush and the air was filled with a strong floral scent. Finally, June had arrived.
(End of Chapter)
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