Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 86: Harvest

Twelve hundred gold galleons? !
How come he remembers it's not this number?
"Oh, please accept it, child—"

Seemingly anticipating Sheen's confusion, a note floated out of the bag.

Sheen looked up and saw Dumbledore winking at him.

Hogwarts is really rich and powerful...

Sheen silently put away the bag. It was also a valuable item, and its price had always remained high due to the use of bird-snake skin and complex alchemy techniques.

Sheen's little black bag is now overflowing with wealth:
A seamless expansion pouch containing 1,200 Galleons, some notes of knowledge from the greatest apothecary, a yellowed but durable letter...

Sheen had never felt her steps so light. Golden light streamed through the huge windows and poured onto the ancient stone walls, the warmth almost palpable.

The animated portraits on the walls were also busy: a wizard wearing a wig dozed off in a frame, a buzzing bee perched on his hat; in the frame next door, a noblewoman and her pet cat hummed an off-key song along with a frene playing a flute in a landscape painting.

Until a reckless knight grabbed his pony and charged out a path:
"Little Green!"

Sheen stopped in her tracks when she heard the familiar voice.

"Thank you for your help, Sir."

"Not worth mentioning—"

The jazz musician seemed to have heard something he wanted to hear, and left humming a little tune.

The plump lady nearby chuckled softly:
"Jazz—it's impossible not to show off—"

Lady Violet, still slightly blushing, said nothing, only looking at the knight with bright eyes. He couldn't climb onto the pony again, but everyone knew that when you need a noble heart and a strong body, a knight will surely appear.

Just as the canvas of the Fat Lady's portrait was slashed to pieces by the manic fugitive Sirius Black with a knife, only Sir Cadogan bravely volunteered to become the new guard of Gryffindor Tower.

During the final battle at Hogwarts, he also accompanied Harry as he ran alongside him amidst the portraits on the walls, loudly encouraging him to fight to the very end.

A noble spirit, a strong physique, and fearless courage...

As Sheehan watched the jazz leave, a complex and intense emotion welled up within him.

He started walking again, faster and faster, until finally the wind whistled past his ears.

In Sheen's destination, inside the Transfiguration classroom, Minerva McGonagall watched for a long time as the young wizard drew ever closer.

A hint of relief flashed in her eyes, but her brows remained furrowed for a moment, and finally, her stern face was filled with only profound contemplation.

As dusk fell, a few ravens flew by, drowning out Professor McGonagall's whispers.

As October arrives, the weather grows colder, the rain increases, and the nights become even darker, but the mud, gales, and downpours cannot extinguish the warm flames in the fireplace.

When Sheen jogged over, her deep features softened:
"There's no Transfiguration practice today, so get some rest, Mr. Green,"

After she finished speaking, she keenly noticed the unconscious upward curve of Sheen's lips; her voice was gentle yet firm.
Life is a long journey.
You will experience many hardships along the way.

Mr. Green.

Therefore,
No matter what you do
You must keep that hopeful smile on your face.

……

In the Transfiguration classroom.

Minerva McGonagall hadn't written in a long time, and this time, she wanted to visit the orphanage called Holliss. Her eyes were slightly downcast, and her hands were constantly moving.

"Minerva, it's been so long since I've heard you write..."

Dumbledore appeared in the classroom at some point. Unusually, he didn't tease, and his tone was full of kindness and a barely perceptible... probing?
Professor McGonagall paused, and the floating quill pen stopped for a moment:
"Forgive me, Albus."
Unless you, like me, see that barren soil with your own eyes,

That child gritted his teeth and walked a long way…

A lonely child,

A child without a family,

A child who emerged from a cold winter and barren soil,

A child with a thousand reasons to complain and twist his mind.

She saw nothing in that frail body except a tenacious and kind soul.

……

Outside the window, a torrential downpour began, and the sky had darkened as if coated with a sticky black potion, but inside the room, it was bright and cheerful.

The firelight illuminated countless soft armchairs where people sat reading, chatting, and doing their homework.

The twin brothers Fred and George Weasley are researching what would happen if they fed a salamander some firecrackers.

Fred "rescued" the bright orange lizard from the Magical Creatures class, and now it lay sullenly burning on a table, surrounded by a group of curious people.

Amidst curious glances, Sheen was taking a strange note out of his bag. His usually neat handwriting had inexplicably become crooked and messy. Only when Sheen looked at it from a different angle did the dog-scratched writing become normal.

Dear Mr. Green:

I was both pleased to learn of your request from Minerva and touched by your passion for knowledge.

Honeydukes' Lemon Sorbet may be incredibly sweet, but a persistent thirst for knowledge is what truly illuminates the magical world.

I have carefully considered your request to stay on campus for the summer. I am pleased to inform you, Mr. Green, that permission to stay on campus is subject to the following conditions:
—You need to maintain your excellent magical level; this will be the most important criterion for judgment.
—You will need handwritten recommendation letters from at least three instructors (including the dean of the college) to prove that you are not only exceptionally talented, but also have a strong sense of responsibility and teamwork.

—You need at least one special contribution: whether it's assisting Mrs. Pince in organizing books or caring for and protecting the magical plants, I want to see how you translate your talents into actions that benefit others. Greatness in the magical world has always gone hand in hand with a sense of responsibility.

In addition, if you decide to stay on campus, you can come to my office for tea every Saturday morning.

Finally, please remember that the fireplace at Hogwarts will always burn with a warm flame for you.

Sheehan clutched the envelope, surprised that Professor McGonagall had once again secured his place simply because he had casually mentioned it.

Hogwarts, which never allows students to stay on campus during summer vacation, opened its doors to him.

In contrast, Mr. Tom Riddle, who was once highly regarded and received much attention throughout the school, did not receive this treatment.

So the fire in the fireplace seemed to burn even brighter.

The sunset was tinged with a thin wisp of cloud, and Dumbledore lovingly stroked Fawkes's wings. Through the stained-glass window, he seemed to see the ambitious young wizard.

Ah... a new beginning, a... right beginning.

(End of this chapter)