Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 182: The Third Trip to Diagon Alley

Sheen was back to being penniless. By the time he returned to McGonagall's villa, it was already dark.

Meanwhile, on the garbage-strewn streets of Croydon, the Holliss orphanage had its first sumptuous dinner.

The newly arrived, mysterious operator, Roland Taylor, stood in the foyer, watching the children carefully step on the freshly waxed wooden floor.

They wore clothes that weren't brand new but were clean and crisp, and the girls' hair was tied with unusual ribbons. No one pushed or shoved, no one cried or made a fuss, and even the youngest child just clutched the hem of his clothes tightly, his eyes wide and blank.

A child looked up at his plate, which was full of stew and pudding, and suddenly asked:
"Is this really for me?"

"Of course, darling."

Roland Taylor said.

"all?"

"All."

"Don't you need to share it with others?"

"unnecessary."

The child named Leah picked up the fork, put it down, and then picked it up again. This process was repeated three times, as if to confirm that this overly beautiful reality wouldn't suddenly disappear.

“We want to know why this is happening... If it continues like this, we are willing to do whatever is required of us... We will do a lot of work.”

A big kid cautiously approached, and his words made the other big kids who followed him nod vigorously.

As they talked confidently about the jobs they could do, Roland Taylor's voice became hoarse.

"No need, children..."

Looking at each little face glowing with firelight, and seeing their expectant eyes, she knew that once, someone else's eyes also burned with such longing.

He didn't get to see it then, but they did.

"Because... someone has already been here."

……

That night, tombstones were erected at Holliss orphanage. As they quietly left, everyone thought that no one cared and no one would remember.

But some people remember.

Roland Taylor was digging the pit herself, and as the snowflakes melted on her burning body, many thin children ran out of the orphanage.

“We can help dig the hole,”

The older children said.

"We can help transport the soil."

The younger children said.

So Roland Taylor's tears scalded the entire good night, and when the tombstone was erected, she was already kneeling on the ground.

She wasn't kneeling before anyone, but before all human suffering and kindness.

……

The McGonagall family's small villa was on its last night of celebration.

Sarah didn't know why her grandfather had become so quiet after going on a long trip.

Like his grandmother Minerva, he and his companion gazed into the distance for a long time as dust rose and a carriage drew ever closer.

"It's Brother Green!"

Sarah finally felt safe enough to sneakily eat the last cookie. She knew that once the seemingly aloof but very approachable wizard returned, she wouldn't be chased by her older siblings anymore.

"Sarah! You've stolen some again! This is our last piece!"

"Bard exclaimed."

The little girl's last words before she turned into a cat were:
"The cat stole the food; it has nothing to do with Sarah." And so the dinner began.

The dinner was just as lavish, but when Marcus McGonagall announced that Professor Minerva McGonagall and Sheehan were leaving, the Little McGons' cries nearly lifted the roof off.

after dinner.

Three pitiful figures had already piled up in front of the spacious little room upstairs.

They rolled in through the doorway just like they had at the beginning, and were caught by a large, soft cushion made of books.

Sheehan sighed. He had planned to go to Diagon Alley to get some Animal Party cookies, but Emily Gert wouldn't give him any.

She pointed to the words engraved on each cookie and said:
“My dear Mr. Green, each of these cookies has a date written on it, and there are only enough for five days at most.”

If you're an alchemist with a bit of business sense, you should give poor Shopkeeper Gert some more. Otherwise, those angry wizards might turn me into cookies.

Oh, do I look like a cookie to you?

Emily Gert nearly kicked Sheehan out of the store, but thankfully her professionalism prevailed over her personal emotions.

Sheen had no choice but to get some materials, and the nights in the small villa became exceptionally busy and cozy.

[You have practiced making Mrs. Lorris cookies to a proficient standard, skill level +10]

[You have practiced making Mrs. Lorris cookies to a proficient standard, skill level +10]

……

The three wheat husks watched, sometimes exclaiming "Wow!" and sometimes "Oh!" in the firelight of the fireplace.

Sheen thought three frogs had come to the room.

Outside the door, at the bottom of the stairs, there are always two people talking about something:
"I need to know, is Hogwarts... really safe?"

It's Marcus McGonagall's voice.

"That's the safest place in the world."

Professor Minerva McGonagall said calmly.

“I will give him this key; you know where it leads, Minerva.”

“Marcus, this will increase your danger…”

“We are family, so I have nothing to worry about. My only uncertainty is whether a child like this will stay away from danger…”

Then the hallway fell into a long silence.

The next morning, Professor McGonagall did not take her suitcase, while Sheehan was still staring at the door key glove in his hand.

A door key is an enchanted item that can teleport anyone who comes into contact with it to a designated location.

In most cases, a door key is an inconspicuous everyday item, to avoid attracting the attention of Muggles. Traveling with a door key feels like having a hook behind your belly button that pulls you to your destination.

Hogwarts does use Portkeys. Before the Hogwarts Express was introduced, Portkeys were a way to send students to Hogwarts without attracting the attention of Muggles.

However, Portkeys are strictly regulated by the Ministry of Magic. Before making a Portkey, an application must be submitted to the Ministry of Magic for registration. The consequences of using an unapproved Portkey are very serious, to the point that, in Lupin's words, "it's not enough to lose your life."

But just as Dumbledore still boldly used it to go to Hogwarts in front of the Ministry of Magic officials.

Someone will eventually realize that some things transcend the rules.

As Sheen observed, a note also fell out of the key glove:
[Hidden in an easily accessible place, it can keep you away from danger.]

Under the beech tree, Marcus McGonagall shouted goodbye, while the other McGonsens wept bitterly.

It was a morning when no one said goodbye, and Sheehan and the professor returned to the cobblestone streets of Diagon Alley.

This time, Sheen didn't need to count a single nut, because even his wallet had disappeared.

His robe pockets were empty, but when he stood in the sunlight, he always carried a heavy weight.

(End of this chapter)