Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 185: A Great Conjecture
Sheehan had a feeling that he had found the missing piece in Fantastic Beasts Cookies, and the professor's words echoed in his mind:

“You have put in a lot of effort in the deep realm, just like those alchemists of the past. Now you know they have no future, so I ask you to look at it from a different perspective.”

So, another perspective...

Sheen had some guesses.

After the heavy snow in December, there were continuous rainy days.

The young wizards returned to Hogwarts Castle with great excitement.

Justin was the first to return, and he immediately gave each of the wizards in the classroom a hug.

"Oh, you'll never guess what I saw in Diagon Alley."

Justin said.

"what?"

Harry and Ron were both very curious.

Sheen had already guessed it.

"of course--"

He pulled out a photograph of a crowded shop. At the entrance stood a friendly witch, enthusiastically selling cookies shaped like various animals.

The photo appears to have been taken from a distance, showing wizards dressed as waiters going from place to place with posters at short intervals. The large posters proclaim—Animal Party Series Transforming Cookies, Limited Time Offer, While Stocks Last!
"Cool—Fred and George have always dreamed of opening a store like this!"

Ron stared intently at the poster; the advertising slogans made him almost want to buy it, even though he only had a pitiful few coins.

Justin gave him a strange look. How could he have missed so much important information...?

"You have no idea what I saw in Diagon Alley!"

At that moment, Hermione, carrying a bag of gift boxes, also entered Hope Cottage.

Then the crowd gathered around just watched her.

"...You definitely don't know!"

After she entered the cabin, she grabbed Sheen, who was trying to sneak away to the alchemy office.

Then he looked at Sheen with a subtle, scrutinizing gaze.

"Who wants to speak first?"

Ron asked tentatively.

"Okay, I'll do it—"

Hermione raised an eyebrow at Sheehan and spoke in a storytelling tone:

“I went to Diagon Alley because my parents don’t go there often, so we went to check it out. When we went to buy that candy that cleans teeth, we saw this shop instead…”

Her tone immediately rose:

"Sheen! You've kept this from us again!"

"Hiding...what?"

Harry didn't understand.

“Oh, Harry, you and Ron weren’t there for those important times. I’ll explain later. Justin, you saw it too?”

Hermione glanced at the photo and asked.

“Well, I wanted to go and buy some bags, but they were sold out. However, when I asked the witch shopkeeper for her name, she pulled me in and sold me an extra set. She also told me to bring a message to urge Sheen.”

Justin said slowly.

"A series?!"

Hermione puffed out her cheeks.

……

It's normal for a new shop to open in Diagon Alley, but it seems different if the shop is called "Weasley & Grimm's Magic Tricks Shop".

"So, Sheehan, you opened a store with Fred and George? And it's already a huge hit in Diagon Alley?"

Ron said in disbelief.

"It's the whole of Britain, because Weasley & Grimm's Wizard Witchcraft and Wizardry uses owls for 'online shopping' services."

Justin said with a laugh, “Merlin! I need to ask Fred and George for some! I’ve been eyeing that ‘Knight of Gandho’ for ages!”

Ron took off running.

As if remembering something, Sheen slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

Outside Hope Hut, Ron had just run to the Great Hall when he was blocked by a Gryffindor.

"Ron! You have no idea how badly you've ruined me!"

Dean pounced on him without saying a word.

“What do you want to say? Wait a minute, I need to go find Fred to get something, Dean.”

Ron was tackled to the ground, but he quickly got up, his mind filled with the image of that super rare knight, and he didn't care about anything else.

"Oh? Oh, is that so? Can I come with you?"

Seeing Ron's confident and determined demeanor, he followed him with suspicion.

Afternoon. In the auditorium.

The joy of reunion was palpable everywhere.

The young wizards were greeted by golden platters and goblets laden with food and drink. Their appetites immediately whetted, and they grabbed everything within reach and began to feast. Laughter and the clinking of cutlery echoed across the four long tables.

"Fred!"

Ron shouted.

"George!"

Ron's voice carried a hint of pleading.

Before long, the twins left satisfied, leaving behind a deathly pale Ron and Dean.

"I'm so stupid, really, Ron! How are you going to solve the problem of me paying double for everything from now on—"

Dean pounced on him again and hugged Ron tightly.

This scene attracted a crowd of onlookers, and the twins even encouraged everyone to place bets: whether Ron would push Dean's leg away first, or whether Dean would twist Ron's leg first.

Professor McGonagall later appeared at the head table, which resolved the vicious fight.

Sheen ate quietly in the auditorium, and while Ron was running around shouting, he left some cookies he had made during this time in the wooden cabinet by the entrance.

Afterwards, we went to the auditorium for a meal.

He was even earlier than Ron, so when Ron pleaded with Fred,

He was cooking rice;

While Fred was "playing" with Ron,

He was cooking rice;

While Ron and Dean were fighting, the twins took the opportunity to get the wizards to place bets.
He was eating with great interest.

Several third-grade Hufflepuffs deeply appreciated his behavior and even shared some of the food they had made in the kitchen with him, somewhat embarrassed.

Sheen's assessment is:

Hufflepuffs are truly gifted at food magic; it's almost as if it were an innate talent.

The luncheon ended quickly.

When Sheen arrived at the library to find information to verify his conjecture, there were not many wizards there yet.

Mrs. Pince, unusually, dozed off at the table, and Sheehan cast a whisper spell around her, conjuring a thick, plush blanket from the books to drape over her.

He sat beside his wife, turning the pages of one thick, ancient book after another.

The sky was overcast and rainy, with wisps of snowflakes falling, enough to make anyone shiver from the cold.

The winter air shattered with the crackling of the fireplace, and the soft, magical candlelight illuminated line after line of crooked words.

Sheehan has been sitting in this spot near the fireplace for almost half a year now. There are even many of his used-up quills and Mrs. Pince's thick list of book information here.

As the flames flickered, Sheen wrote down a conjecture that would shake the entire alchemical world.

　There are two more chapters with the same plot; Lu will post them later.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)