Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 469, Section 467: Leta Lestrange
Do you believe that death can separate people, dear Bastet?

Newt walked through the thin mist, past the trees, across the fields, and along the lakeside.

Some cool, transparent, sparkling dots floated in the white expanse.

It started snowing at the border.

The black cat paused abruptly in front of it.

It turned and jumped onto Newt's shoulder. The path ahead was clear. They only needed to follow the winding path forward, and the cabin surrounded by Gabriel's flowers would be their destination.

Will those we love truly leave us? Or will we remember them with exceptional clarity when faced with choices?

Newt likes to talk to the black cat more, not just because of his current tension and embarrassment.

"Perhaps quite the opposite, death can bring wizards closer... especially those who were separated in life."

The black cat said its whiskers were swaying.

Newt smiled shyly.

Bastet looked like a student reciting answers, but he was uncontrollably satisfied.

With Bastet, who controls dreams and traverses life and death, willing to understand the emotions of wizards, nothing could be more exciting.

“We’re almost there, Mr. Scamander.”

The black cat's emerald-like pupils had the ability to pierce through the fog, and amidst the dizzying haze of colors, it spoke quietly.

"what……"

Upon hearing this, Newt hurriedly looked ahead and, in a vast expanse of white, a small house with smoke billowing from its chimney suddenly appeared.

It stands on a soft, vast coastline, where Gabriel flowers bloom profusely along the entire embankment.

The cottage is located in the center of this Gabriel field, surrounded by layers of creamy yellow flower stamens.

A faint, refreshing scent of grass and trees wafted into the black cat's nose, leaving Newt somewhat dazed.

Rita seems to be returning from a long journey; the black cat can sense that she has just returned to the house.

At the door, Newt carefully brushed past the soft flowers, his hand reaching out to knock and then withdrawing.

The black cat perched on his shoulder, watching him repeat the process over and over again, in minute detail.

"The cowardly Mr. Scamander is even hurt by the mere thought of happiness..."

"The black cat whispered."

"I'm sorry, dear Bastet, please stop urging a mortal heart on."

Newt said shyly.

Feeling embarrassed, the black cat jumped off Newt's shoulder, which made the timid Mr. Scamander seem even more nervous.

Newt remained motionless until the black cat began to examine the small door on the wooden door, until the black cat realized that it was a door left for it.

"When is there anything more blissful than being close to happiness?"

The black cat understood this, but they didn't have much time.

Guiding a soul into the boundary is difficult, let alone the tangible Pensieve and the Resurrection Stone.

“I have to urge you, Mr. Scamander.”

"The black cat said."

It lay on a rising cloud of mist and inadvertently discovered a small hole in the wooden door, through which a pair of bright, mischievous eyes were peering.

"I understand."

Newt, as if with great determination, gently knocked on the door three times.

The door creaked open.

He was met with a smiling face, and Newt froze for a moment.

"The legend of the border is true—a lucky black cat is knocking on the door."

Leta naturally took the black cat from the cloud of mist in front of Newt, just as they had done before.
"I never imagined that even in death you would still be welcomed by magical creatures."

"Please put me down."

The black cat struggled to speak.

"Feel sorry."

Letta was startled and let the black cat hide on Newt's shoulder.

“Rita…”

The aged Newt simply repeated the name; his friend before him looked exactly like the photograph in his suitcase.

"No, you're not dead—" Rita's eyes suddenly widened.
"It's you?"

Rita turned to the black cat.

The black cat was sitting gracefully on Newt's shoulder and nodded in a human-like manner.

"Yes, dear Bastet brought me here."

Newt smiled shyly.

"How is this possible..."

Rita was speechless for a moment.

Crossing the boundary between life and death, allowing a living wizard to converse with the souls of the borderlands—a story unlike any other in centuries.

As she remained silent, the snowflakes began to fall softly.

They fell onto the Gabriel petals scattered on the ground, onto the warm smoke rising from the chimney of the cottage, and onto the hair of those who were reunited.

Rita was horrified to realize the inappropriateness of her actions; they might be facing a magical creature with unbelievably powerful magic.

Bastet, who controls both war and family, are all the ancient legends of wizards true?

"you……"

Leta first pulled Newt behind her, her eyes fixed intently on the black cat that jumped off Newt's shoulder.

She doesn't believe in good luck, and her willingness to leave the small door open was only at the request of her friend.

A witch like her, who had never been treated kindly by fate, felt that everything in the world required a price to be paid.

She was a monster, a freak in everyone's eyes. Only monsters can rely on each other, just like her and Newt.

No, Newt is more deserving of love than she is... only her sins are unforgivable.

What did you give in return?

Leta asked Newt cryptically.

"I am ashamed to say that I have no children."

Newt knew Leta too well; he knew what she was worried about.

"A cat that asks for nothing in return?"

Rita was completely astonished.

“That is exactly what my dear Bastet said.”

Newt responded shyly.

Leta believed Newt and the black cat, and she inevitably realized that they had been reunited.

They met under the magic of a black cat.

Only then did she feel that vague yet moving emotion. She looked at Newt's aged face and then lowered her head.

"Please come inside."

She said to the black cat.

Thank you for your invitation.

The black cat peeked into the house.

Rita thought it was a polite cat.

The carpet inside reflected the firelight from the fireplace, a faint red glow appeared on the distant horizon, and outside the window stretched the boundless ocean. Inside, a crackling fire blazed, butterbeer bubbled, and Newt smiled slightly, avoiding eye contact with anyone.

It was snowing throughout the entire border area.

Snow fell on every inch of the gloomy central plains, on the treeless hills, and gently on the lakeside marshes.

They listened to the snow gently falling between heaven and earth.
Like their current destiny, they drifted gently down onto the living and the dead at the border.

"I never fantasized about good luck."

Rita said.

"But it will always come."

Newt smiled.

There are three basic directions at the boundary.

Soul, mist, and eternity—here, the distance between hearts is closest.

(End of this chapter)