A day at Hogwarts.

Chapter 695: Just Encountered
A crisp, cool breeze, so different from that of France, filled my lungs; a new stop had arrived.

Charles stood in the farm's fields, clover growing in the soft, damp soil beneath his feet, surrounded by the primal scent of humus and animal manure.

Before starting school, Erica paid a professional company to grow green manure to improve the soil on her farm.

The only light source on the farm at night came from the dim, yellowish light shining through the windows of the main house, flickering as if someone was moving around.

Charles heard that Marlene still lived here after Erica went to Durmstrang, and that it had become her refuge from the pressure of her family to get married.

He straightened his clothes, which were slightly disheveled from the long Apparition journey, and walked along the path toward the house.

Before he could even knock on the door, the faint sounds of a heated argument coming from inside made him stop in his tracks.

Charles listened intently for a moment. It was Marlene's clear but angry voice, and two deeper voices that were filled with unquestionable tone.

Who is Marlene arguing with so late at night?

Charles thought for a moment, then pulled the doorbell cord hard, and a bell rang from behind the door.

The arguing inside the house stopped abruptly.

A moment later, there were hurried footsteps, and the door was suddenly pulled open, revealing Marlene's delicate but now pale and irritable face in the doorway.

Upon seeing Charles, a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes, which was quickly replaced by an overwhelming sense of relief and joy.

“Charles! Darling, what brings you here!” Her voice suddenly rose, filled with an exaggerated, theatrical enthusiasm, a stark contrast to her earlier anger.

Without a word, she grabbed Charles's arm with surprising force and dragged him into the house.

The fireplace in the living room crackled with flames, and a well-dressed, pale-faced vampire couple sat on the sofa, their faces as white as marble statues.

Their faces remained youthful, but their eyes were as deep as ancient wells, and at this moment they were focusing on Charles, who had suddenly barged in, with a cold and critical gaze as if examining an antique.

An eerie atmosphere permeated the air.

Marlene clung tightly to Charles's arm as if he were a life preserver, a sweet but slightly stiff smile plastered on her face, as she announced to the couple, "Father, Mother, this is Charles, whom I've never told you about before, my boyfriend!"

Charles felt the force of Marlene's nails digging into his flesh as they pressed against his arm, and instantly understood his role.

He had a premonition about the current situation; he had overheard Marlene and Erica whispering about contingency plans, but he never expected to encounter it suddenly today.

Charles maintained a perfect balance of politeness and a hint of nervousness, a friendly smile playing on his lips, and said, "Good evening, sir and madam."

Marlene's mother, a noblewoman wearing a black lace bowler hat, raised her slender eyebrows and said nothing, only scanning Charles up and down with her cold eyes.

"Boyfriend?" Marlene's father's voice was deep and magnetic, yet carried a metallic coldness. "I've never heard you mention him formally, Marlene."

“Because of his age, I didn’t tell you,” Marlene said immediately. “He’s still studying in the mountains.”

Marlene was careful not to say that Charles was a student at a magic school, but instead implied to his parents that he received traditional apprenticeship education.

Fortunately, Charles had changed out of his Hogwarts uniform while traveling to France, so he didn't give himself away in this respect.

Marlene pulled Charles to sit on the sofa and said softly, "It must be cold outside. Let me heat up a glass of milk for you."

After she finished speaking, she went to the kitchen, trusting that Charles could handle the situation.

Marlene's father stared intently at Charles for a long time, his eyes sharp as knives, before asking, "Where are you studying now?"

Charles replied, "I am learning from my teacher now."

This was as good as saying nothing, but Marlene's father couldn't retaliate. There were plenty of old wizards who didn't want to reveal their identities, and he, an ordinary potion master, probably couldn't afford to offend them.

He asked, "May I know your teacher's name?" Charles replied solemnly, "My teacher's name is Medivh."

The two people opposite each other looked at each other, not recognizing each other.

At that moment, Marlene brought over a glass of hot milk and placed it on the coffee table in front of Charles.

The milk mug was steaming, and the bloody letters "Charles" were printed on its surface.

Clearly, this cup is for one person only.

When Marlene's father saw her, he asked, "You live here?"

Marlene's plan backfired this time. She wanted her parents to know that this wasn't Charles's first time here, but for a moment she forgot that this was Erica's home.

So there's a possibility that Charles is actually Erica's boyfriend, and Marlene is just having him pretend.

The couple's gazes suddenly sharpened.

Charles picked up his glass and said calmly, "We came here this summer to bother Erica for a few days."

That's true. He did stay here briefly during the summer vacation, but I won't go into why he came.

The vampire couple exchanged another glance.

“In that case,” Marlene’s mother suddenly stood up slowly, “it’s getting late, so we won’t bother you any longer.”

Her tone was unreadable, and after she finished speaking, she looked at her husband.

Marlene's father was somewhat puzzled as to why his wife had suddenly left without understanding the situation, but he also got up, his gaze lingering on Charles and Marlene for a moment before finally nodding.

The two said nothing more and walked silently toward the door, just as they had come, before disappearing into the night.

The moment the door closed, Marlene felt as if all her strength had been drained away. She let out a long sigh and slumped onto the sofa.

"They're finally gone!" she patted her chest, her face still showing signs of fear. "I never imagined they would find this place and come here so suddenly."

"Thank goodness you came..."

She didn't continue, because Charles took a sip of hot milk, then suddenly put down his mug and gave her a look that something was wrong.

Charles waved his hand, and all the curtains in the room fell down.

He said, "I needed to talk to you tonight, so I came over."

As he spoke, he traced the words "They're back" in the air with his finger.

Marlene pouted, rummaged through the tool shed next to the living room, took out a gas mask, put it on, and then took out two bottles of garlic sauce.

Erika's fearlessness of garlic doesn't mean Marlene's whole family is immune.

A minute later, Marlene's parents scrambled away from the farm.

“I still have my doubts,” Marlene’s father said. “This Charles might actually be Erica’s boyfriend.”

Marlene's mother said, "It's okay, we'll be at ease if he becomes Marlene's boyfriend."

"Do you remember that magic spell that required certain conditions to leave the room?"

(End of this chapter)