Chapter 83: Badge, Approved
Wade noted Makki’s warning, but decided not to act on it just yet. He’d occasionally practiced Potions in the empty classroom before—Slytherin students might have seen him a few times. But they didn’t know he’d stopped going there altogether since discovering the Room of Requirement.
As for who those people were? Wade had a pretty good idea.
He resolved to let them stew for a few days—just long enough to keep them on edge, but not so long that they’d give up on their own.
After class on Thursday, Wade headed as usual to the Astronomy Tower to meet Professor Mor. On the way, he unexpectedly ran into a group of Seventh Years. Tall and lanky, they seemed strangely diminished, their shoulders slumped with quiet despair.
One girl muttered to her companion, “I’m going to kill Jennifer. She told me Alchemy Course was fun and Professor Mor barely had any requirements—this is not low bar!”
Another sighed. “Professor Mor used to be so easygoing. Remember back in our sixth year?”
“Yeah, but this year he took on a new student, and suddenly he’s got it in for us,” the first girl said bitterly. “He used to like me—really liked me.”
The second girl shot back, “First-year self-studying Runes? That’s insane! If I weren’t here at school, I’d swear it was a lie!”
A boy groaned. “Honestly… why doesn’t he focus more on Quidditch?”
“Has anyone tried the Book of Friends?” someone suddenly asked.
“I did,” said another. “It’s tough.”
“Can’t decipher it.”
“Transformation Charm can heat it up or reveal the text—simple enough. But getting complex writing, even illustrations, to appear clearly on fragile parchment, without regard for spatial distance? That’s… well, it’s a bit much.”
His words trailed off mid-sentence when someone sharply poked his arm. His voice cut off abruptly.
At the corner of the corridor, the group collided—unexpectedly—face-to-face with Wade.
Their eyes met.
They stared at the boy who still looked like a child—Wade Gray—and then remembered what they’d just been saying. Instantly, an awkward silence fell.
After a stiff pause, they nodded curtly at each other and passed without another word.
Only after walking a few paces did their voices return.
“—That’s Wade Gray?”
“Yeah.”
“—He’s… kind of good-looking, isn’t he?”
“Mm.”
“…You don’t think he heard us, do you?”
“—He did. I’m pretty sure.”
“Ah, ahhh! Why’d you say that?! Couldn’t you just lie to me?!”
“Don’t shake like that… I feel like dying too.”
…
“Hmm?” Professor Mor looked up at Wade, frowning slightly. “You… seem different today.”
Wade smiled. “Professor, what makes you say that?”
“Huh. Must be real… hmm…” Professor Mor rubbed his chin, studying Wade closely. “You’ve… changed. Like you’re… prettier than before? But not from any beauty potion.”
Wade chuckled and pulled a badge from his chest.
Instantly, the flawless pale skin—glowing faintly, as if lit from within—faded. Even though his features remained refined and his appearance undeniably handsome, the radiant aura that had drawn every eye before was gone. He no longer seemed like a living portrait.
“Oh?” Professor Mor took the badge in hand, examining it curiously. The work on it—Wade’s own creation—was clearly unshielded by any Anti-Detection Charm.
“Luminous Charm… Reflection Charm… Solidification…” Professor Mor’s eyes sparkled with interest. “You used light?”
“Yes,” Wade said. “You know, I’ve been taking a lot of photographs lately. In the process, I realized photography is all about light—how you use it. Proper lighting can conceal facial flaws, create a slimming effect, enhance depth in facial contours—make someone look better. So I made this Soft-Light Badge. It casts just the right amount of light onto the wearer, making them appear… stunningly radiant.”
In short, it was a wizarding version of a beauty filter.
“You never cease to amaze me with your innovative ideas,” Professor Mor said, smiling. “Most people have to drink a Beauty Elixir to get a twenty-minute effect. You’ve done it with a single badge. How long does it last?”
“About ten days,” Wade replied.
“Not bad.” Professor Mor set the badge down casually. “Some silly girls might like it. So you’re still planning to have Machionni’s Magical Workshop produce and sell it?”
“Yes.” Wade pulled out a form from his pocket. “Actually, I came today to ask for your approval to visit Hogsmeade on Saturday. I need to discuss the modifications to the Book of Friends and the production of the Soft-Light Badge in person with Mr. Machionni.”
“Just that?” Professor Mor raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.
He knew Wade well by now. The boy wasn’t the type to personally request permission for something that could be handled by letter.
“Uh… well,” Wade hesitated, blushing slightly. “I also wanted to meet someone.”
“Someone?” Professor Mor’s expression tightened.
“Yeah. You know, at school, it’s hard to do things discreetly. My father can’t afford frequent contact with wizards—too dangerous. So I hired an agent. I’m meeting him this Saturday.”
“An agent?” Professor Mor shook his head, disapprovingly. “An unreliable agent is worse than no agent at all. Who is this person? Did you know them before? Are they connected to your parents?”
“No,” Wade said honestly. “I had my father place an advertisement in the newspaper. He sent a job application. After meeting him, my father felt he was kind and dependable—so I chose him as my agent. His name is Remus Lupin.”
Wade knew he didn’t need to justify trusting a stranger to his parents. They’d never question him. They’d always believe him, without a word.
But to Professor Mor, to Dumbledore, to the rest of the wizarding world—he needed a plausible reason.
So he slightly rewrote the cause and effect: it wasn’t that he’d hired someone. It was that someone had applied for the job after seeing the ad, and only then had he accepted.
“Remus Lupin?” Professor Mor’s brow furrowed. His expression softened—almost wistful, tinged with memory.
“You know him?” Wade asked, curious.
“Mm.” Professor Mor looked down, voice quiet. “He and his three friends—back in their day, they were real legends at Hogwarts. Made quite a stir. Everyone knew them. Tragic… well, you know how it goes.”
“—Tragic?”
“One died. One became a traitor. That’s all. War times were full of that. Nothing to say.”
He changed the subject. “You’re meeting him Saturday?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll approve.”
Professor Mor interlaced his fingers, his tone suddenly serious. “But I’ll be there too.”
(End of Chapter)
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