Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 226: Courage and Despair
As dawn approached, Sheehan returned to Hogwarts Castle with some unremarkable honors.

His green eyes remained unmoved, revealing only a faint sadness.

Before his return, he encountered a minor incident: a woman who had secretly transformed from a "beetle" kept trying to interview him.

Although the International Alchemy Conference was highly secretive and she knew nothing about it, it cannot be ruled out that she had developed a strong interest in wizards of such a young age.

A special spell preventing apparition was cast inside the castle, and when Sheen stepped out, she appeared out of nowhere:
"Such a young participant, come on, kid, look here, let me help you create some wonderful memories..."

She looked around but didn't see any other wizards—if there were other alchemists around, she would have to go far away.

She may seem crazy, but those old geezers are truly insane.

Looking at the little wizard in front of her, she guessed that he had sneaked out for some fresh air on his own, but what could be the reason?

"Did the young genius suffer a blow and never recover?"

"The reason for the decline of the alchemical world—is actually the alchemists' rejection of new talent?!"

Her mind wandered, and then, holding a magic camera, she wanted to take a few pictures of Sheen's face.

As for the fond memories she mentioned, if "the cunning Miss Granger toyed with Harry and Krum's feelings and might have been making a love potion," "Hagrid, the half-human, half-demon, was the gamekeeper," and "Dumbledore was a rigid old madman" can be counted...

"A beetle turned wizard, are you a registered Animagus?"

Sheen glanced at her elaborate, stiff, and oddly curly hair and said.

"Ah-ah-"

Her hand holding the camera trembled, and she panicked, trying to cover Sean's mouth.

At that moment, the tall, serious-looking Professor McGonagall pointed her wand at Rita. She went to see Headmaster Dumbledore for a while; where did this wizard come from?

Sheen returned to Hogwarts Castle.

Thunder rumbled overhead, and a fierce wind lashed against the castle walls. Sheen heard the sound of branches snapping in the distant Forbidden Forest.

This isn't good weather...

Professor McGonagall went to deal with her numerous outstanding matters, and Sheehan also said goodbye to the professor in the Great Hall. He harbored a well-concealed worry, but it did not escape Minerva McGonagall's notice.

The child always kept it from her. He never knew there was anyone he could rely on... But you can't blame him, because when he needed help the most, no one helped him.

Minerva McGonagall took out a letter; she had been corresponding with a woman named Roland for a long time. Roland was a truly noble person who had dedicated her life to orphans.

The letter in her hand was slightly damp.

Dear Ms. McGonagall:

Love is a vague and hazy fantasy, but do you know? Perhaps only when you truly love someone's weaknesses and flaws is it true love.

Dear lady, be careful, a lover is easily hurt because he is completely open to the other person.

[Talkative Roland]

It's okay, we have plenty of time, that's the best news.

Minerva McGonagall put away the damp letters and watched the little wizard's figure recede into the distance.

The corridor was still noisy. After missing two Transfiguration classes, the young wizards had a brief respite from their busy final exams, and were enjoying this hard-won relaxation. Sheen walked straight ahead until he reached the door of the headmaster's office.

He was unaware of everything that had happened in the castle, nor did he know what choice Professor Quirrell had made. If there was anyone else in Hogwarts Castle who was secretly present, able to appear in various parts of the castle and observe everything that was happening, the answer was actually quite simple.

“Little Green, I don’t think this is dangerous. You need to have a positive attitude, remember…”

Sir Cadogan, riding his pony, stood guard at the entrance to the headmaster's office, exuding an imposing aura.
"Nothing special has happened here lately, except for a squirrel that lingered for a while, holding a strange button and saying 'a pile of cockroaches'—but the stone beast didn't jump away, because everyone except those who are not in their right mind knows that Headmaster Dumbledore has left."

"You are very brave."

Sheen's eyes remained devoid of emotion; he simply lowered his head slightly.

"Feel sorry……"

He was apologizing to someone, and the only sounds in the corridor were the wind and rain.

"Oh, don't worry, I did as you said and hid a squirrel cookie in the corner—it's gone?! Did the squirrel take it?"

Sir Cadogan ran into the corner of the painting, pushing aside the panicked women in their kilts.

Sheen has already left quietly.

He couldn't imagine how much courage had existed here, or how much despair it had endured.

"still have a chance……"

He reached out, and a broom fell through the window like a shooting star into the second floor.

When he landed at the door of Hope's Cottage, Mr. Owl didn't ask any questions, but instead gave a steady bow:
"I've seen those eyes far too many times when Madam Ravenclaw was out there advocating for young wizards who had nowhere to learn magic and were dying out of control."

Clever little wizard, you know which choice is the wise one, but you're unwilling to choose it, aren't you? May you know that this is the greatest wisdom…

Sheen nodded slightly and stepped into the room that had been granted hope.

Killing a unicorn is an extremely cruel thing.

The perpetrator slaughtered a pure, weak, and helpless life. From the moment its blood touched its lips, the perpetrator possessed a half-dead life, a cursed life.

But what if the unicorn hadn't died yet?
still have a chance……

The people inside the Hope Hut were so engrossed in a heated discussion that they didn't even hear the door open.

“Justin and Ferrenze rushed out to save me. Bane said Ferrenze shouldn’t have done that… He was furious… He said it would disrupt the celestial signs… The stars must have indicated that Voldemort was going to make a comeback… Bane thought Ferrenze should have let Voldemort kill me in the Forbidden Forest… I guess that was also indicated by the stars.”

Harry said loudly.

"Don't say that name!"

Ron whispered in fear, as if worried that Voldemort would hear him.

"Frenzer said Voldemort is in the Forbidden Forest! He drinks unicorn blood so he can survive until Professor Quirrell steals the Philosopher's Stone for him...Frenzer also said..."

Harry ignored Ron, but his voice did grow softer and softer as he mimicked the centaur's tone:
"Some people say he's dead. I think that's pure nonsense. He probably doesn't have much humanity left, so it's impossible for him to die."

Everyone here knows who "he" is.

(End of this chapter)