Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 254: A Stormy Era Begins

"The reports are exaggerated."

Sheen answered.

"He admitted it..."

Ron's pupils dilated suddenly, and he seemed to be frozen in place, remaining motionless in the same position as a moment before.

"You've only just entered the magical world, and you've already become Nicolas Flamel, Merlin's joke..."

He took the newspaper and looked at it against Sheen's description again and again, and then he calmly accepted it.

It wouldn't be surprising if Sheen did something.

"What is it? Sheen, oh, can I know what it is?"

Ron asked cautiously, feeling that he might not live in the same magical world as Sheen.

"Just some deformed cookies."

Sheen replied, and with a casual wave of his wand, a cookie was in Ron's hand.

Ron stared wide-eyed, looking left and right, but couldn't see anything, so he opened his mouth to eat.

"That will transform you into a harpy-headed, horse-bodied, winged beast."

Sheen said.

"what--!"

Ron quickly put down the cookies. The baked cookies did indeed have the shape of a harpy-headed, horse-bodied, winged beast, but no one could have predicted that they would actually have such powerful effects.

In the garden, Ron was observing the cookies from all angles, while the people at the table were having a lively discussion.

"The Wizarding Weekly calls him the most talented alchemist of the century, and a handsome young man too!"

Mrs. Weasley examined the newspapers, which were quite sophisticated in their use of color and layout, tucked among the Daily Prophet.

This is the newspaper loved by witches of all ages—The Wizarding Weekly.

It primarily publishes news about celebrities, including Quidditch stars. It also features psychological tests, counseling sections, and recipes.

Incidentally, the Most Charming Smile Award was also given out by The Witcher Weekly.

At this moment, Mrs. Weasley is pointing to a photo of a young wizard with his back to the photographer. It is not hard to see the young wizard's tall and straight figure and his otherworldly aura in the photo.

Of course, this could also be due to the photographer's exceptional skill, but in any case, a single picture of a back view was enough to spark the wizards' imaginations.

"Today's Metamorphosis magazine says they have been waiting for the alchemist's arrival, and I have never seen them so humble..."

Percyby's focus differed from Mrs. Weasley's; his eyes were filled with a thirst for fame.

Mr. Weasley, unusually, remained silent today, occasionally glancing towards the garden.

When the latest issues of newspapers such as The Daily Prophet, Wizarding Weekly, and Transfiguration Today were published, the entire wizarding world was in an uproar.

"Cookies that can transform into magical creatures?! Merlin—is that even possible?"

"The shop uses an invitation system, and the lowest price is 700 Galleons per serving? That seems reasonable. Good heavens, how could I say something like that..."

"Where is this Mr. Hermes?! Is he really a student at Hogwarts, as Rita said? That's terrifying."

Wizards were everywhere, discussing things, especially in Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, which were both places where wizards shopped and places to chat after meals.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Magic's tests were underway. When Mr. Weasley arrived at the Ministry, he found the entire second floor in disarray, with several holes in the walls and radiating intense heat. "Arthur, you're here!"

Mr. Weasley's friend greeted him.

"You really should come and see for yourself. Those guys in the Execution Department have turned themselves into fire dragons! Tsk, look at these walls, they're all made of the power of 'Little Fire Dragon Cookies,' and they say real fire dragon cookies will appear later."

I suspect that the entire second floor of the Ministry of Magic will be lost by then.

But I must say, the biscuit was indeed effective. I'm really curious about the true identity of that Mr. Hermes..."

……

Far away at Hogwarts, Dumbledore was chatting with Professor McGonagall.

Summer had quietly arrived in the area surrounding the castle; the sky and the lake had both turned a pale blue with a purplish hue, and the honey-colored spire could be seen from the headmaster's office.

"Minerva, I hope I can get used to the days without you."

Dumbledore smiled kindly, took a newspaper from the owl's claws that flew in through the window, and said as if with a sigh,
“An interesting metaphor… Minerva, a very good child, isn’t she? We all know that fame is a tempting thing; for some wizards, it symbolizes power. Few can resist it, and to have things turn out this way, I often think it’s your skill…”

Minerva McGonagall took the report from Dumbledore, and even from behind, she could quickly recognize which young wizard it was.

Her lips were pressed tightly together, as if she was trying her best to suppress the surging emotions, and all the words she couldn't say came out of her gazing eyes.

"Albus, I should go."

She hurried away, glancing at the old wizard in the headmaster's office, who seemed to have imprisoned himself there forever, and whispered...
"I thought change would never happen, but it turns out that memories are a road with no return."

Hogwarts Castle has withstood the test of time for thousands of years, and the secrets buried in the wind and snow are found on every stone wall.

Two people who had lost their loved ones once shared a secret, and today, one of them has left the castle.

Albus Dumbledore stared blankly at the newspaper, while only faint sighs could be heard from the headmaster's office.

Outside the humble dwelling.

Patches of fields and clusters of trees formed a dark pattern. A few high-top leather boots lay discarded beside the gate, along with a rusty crucible. Several plump, brown chickens pecked at the ground in the yard.

Ron was excited and uneasy, as if he were hiding a huge secret. He stood next to Sheen and kept talking about whether Sheen would become the student council president and prefect.

But he quickly slapped his forehead, realizing how short-sighted he had been.

Sheen will at least have to be an alchemy professor in the future!
Soon Professor McGonagall appeared not far from the Burrow; she arrived a full hour earlier than the agreed-upon eight o'clock.

This caught Mrs. Weasley, who was still busy in the kitchen, off guard. She dropped the pots and pans, leaving them to wash themselves. Then she came out and took out a scarf she had knitted and placed it in Sheehan's hands.

"It will come in handy, little Green."

Sheen looked at the scarf, which had an exquisite eagle pattern and the letters "Green" embroidered on it.

"Thank you."

He turned around and saw that the Burrow was already full of wizards. Ron was curious as to why Professor McGonagall had come to pick him up, but he didn’t dare to ask.

Percy kept saying that if anyone needed anything at Hogwarts, they could ask him for help, while the twins were shouting and yelling:

"Percy only says this to people he thinks are useful; he never does it to us."

This made Percy's face turn red with anger.

At the very back, a group of goblins were gathered in the garden by the entrance, shrugging their shoulders and sobbing.

(End of this chapter)