Chapter 675: Family
Wade pushed open the door to the small meeting room, and his eyes instantly locked onto the two familiar figures standing by the window.
Ferdinand was chatting casually with Sirius Black and Remus Lupin, as if he’d always belonged there.
Hearing the door creak, he turned at once, his gaze soft and warm as he met Wade’s. The fine lines around his eyes crinkled with a smile.
Fiona, meanwhile, darted forward with a burst of excitement, her newly curled hair bouncing against her shoulders.
"Wade~ my darling!" she cried, wrapping him in a tight hug. "Surprise! We came to see you compete in the Tournament!"
She kissed his cheek.
Wade’s face instantly burned. He dared not look at anyone else’s expression, fumbling awkwardly to pull free, his hands flailing through his hair as he took a deep breath.
"Wow… really surprising, Mom."
"Ha-ha!" Fiona pointed at him, then turned to her husband, laughing. "Our Champion’s shy!"
Ferdinand stepped forward, placing a hand on Wade’s shoulder. "Stop teasing him, Fiona… Show us your school, Wade."
"Y-yeah… follow me," Wade stammered, waving at Sirius Black and Remus Lupin before leading his parents toward the entrance.
Natalia was also talking to her parents when Wade passed by. She shot him a sideways glance, deliberately mouthing, “Wade~ baby~”
Wade: …
He silently rolled his eyes and turned his gaze away.
As he stepped outside, he saw Harry already clutching a sheep’s horn bread, bolting into the meeting room.
…
The entire morning was spent touring the castle with his parents—walking by the lake, strolling through the greenhouses, and exploring every nook and cranny.
Fiona, like a first-year student clutching her wand for the first time, bounced on her toes, reaching out to touch a portrait on the wall.
"Oh, Merlin! Don’t touch me!" a wizard in a grey pointed hat yelped, clutching his flushed face in panic. "They scrubbed me three times last night! Three times! It’s terrifying! My skin’s nearly peeled off!"
Fiona giggled uncontrollably.
"Look, Ferdinand!" she tugged his sleeve, beaming. "Exactly like Mom described it!"
"Indeed…" Ferdinand ran a broad hand over the rough stone wall, his voice distant, almost dazed. "This… is Hogwarts."
Fiona leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Our son goes to school here… and will represent Hogwarts in the Tournament… Good heavens, I still can’t believe it’s real. It feels like a dream."
Wade walked beside them, silent and unobtrusive, not playing the proud son by giving a lecture.
In truth, the Gray couple didn’t need his explanations. They were simply comparing every sight before them to the memories they’d built—images from the photos Wade had sent home, the stories he’d told in letters.
They admired the moving stairs, the enchanted doors that opened only when you scratched the right spot or whispered the password, and even had a surprisingly delightful encounter with a ghost in the corridor.
The library’s endless shelves of books left even them awestruck.
Some portraits were half-asleep, drunk on honeywine, snoring softly against the rocks.
And Griffiths—Wade’s favorite portrait—had even run through two floors to greet them, chatting with the couple about their own parents.
Wade felt a pang of regret. He couldn’t bring them to the Ravenclaw common room, but he did show them the Room of Requirement—the most magical place in Hogwarts.
As they passed by the Black Lake, the giant squid surfaced slowly, lying half-out of the water, one calm eye fixed on them, as if silently greeting them. Its tentacles floated lazily on the surface, shimmering in the sunlight.
"Amazing," Fiona murmured. "Can we shake its hand?"
Wade shook his head. "We usually don’t get that close…"
"Oh…" Fiona looked disappointed, but not shocked.
After all, everyone knew the squid was friendly.
But the Black Lake also harbored many dangerous creatures, and students were never reckless enough to jump in.
Still, when Durmstrang’s ship docked, several people had seen Viktor Krum dive into the lake to swim.
Some students even waited by the shore, hoping to catch a glimpse of him leaping into the water.
Just as Wade and his parents prepared to leave, a tentacle suddenly rose from the lake, slowly lifting into the air, glistening with droplets.
Wade instantly stepped in front of his parents, eyes wide.
To his astonishment, the tentacle rose to nearly human height, gently curving—then paused, waiting.
"Oh!" Fiona gasped, her face lighting up with childlike wonder. She reached out, trembling slightly, and touched it.
"You’re such a gentle giant, aren’t you?" she whispered tenderly.
After the “handshake,” the squid gazed at them for a moment before slowly sinking beneath the surface, leaving only ripples spreading across the lake.
Wade exchanged a stunned look with his father, then turned to his mother.
"Tell me honestly, Mom… does our family have some hidden bloodline from one of the four founders? Or are we descendants of the original Hogwarts headmaster?"
Fiona froze, then burst into laughter—clear, bright, and nearly bent double.
"Hahaha… sweetie, you’re such a joker!" She wiped tears from her eyes. "You’re silly… Honestly, I think it’s because it likes you—that’s why it’s being so kind to us!"
"...Me?"
"Yes!" she winked. "I’m convinced it’s been watching you the whole time, Wade."
Wade fell silent, staring at the shadow rippling beneath the water.
Last time he’d been at the lake during the Tournament, the squid hadn’t shown him any special attention…
Ah, right—back then, the creature had been asleep.
The Gray couple had no further thoughts on the matter.
They already knew their own owl, Dobby, was astonishingly intelligent—so much so that, aside from his appearance, he was nearly human.
Books said most centaurs were smarter than ordinary humans.
So the idea of a thousand-year-old squid showing affection wasn’t entirely unbelievable.
Even if it suddenly started speaking, they wouldn’t be shocked.
But if the Hogwarts staff saw this… they’d be utterly stunned.
Yet as Wade looked toward the Forbidden Forest in the distance, Ferdinand’s smile slowly faded.
Fiona instinctively tightened her grip on her son’s sleeve.
"Will the Tournament take place in there today?" she asked. "I heard there are werewolves in the forest."
"Yeah," Wade said, smiling. "There are… but the one there is actually a friend of mine. Since the Tournament’s being held in the forest, his whole family moved to another area. They even came to say goodbye before they left."
Fiona blinked. "A werewolf… a friend?"
Ferdinand couldn’t help but smile—part worry, part pride.
"Looks like your life at school is even more colorful than we imagined."
He looked into his son’s eyes, seeing the quiet strength and confidence there, and swallowed the lump in his throat.
"Child… don’t let fame or pride bind you. If the Tournament’s danger exceeds what you can handle… surrendering isn’t shameful. Always be honest with yourself."
"I will," Wade said, smiling. "If winning the trophy means making you suffer the pain of losing me… I’d rather abandon the Tournament."
"Exactly right!" Fiona cupped his face in her hands, her voice soft and warm. "No matter the outcome, you’ll always be our pride. We’re waiting for you—safe and sound."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
