Hogwarts Study Panel.

Chapter 388, Section 386: Hagrid's Innocence

Farm life is pleasant.

I open my eyes when the sky is pale blue, and watch the sunset when the sky is pink; time passes as the snow melts.

Various cats and raccoons often dart across the white ground—the fat ones, the agile ones, and the ones that don't watch where they're going and bump into stones…

At these times, Sheen would look down from his little house on the second floor.

Compared to Hogwarts, McGonagall has a certain extra charm.

It has a light, pleasant scent, like pine resin. Like a bed sheet thoroughly dried in the sun.

"Still a little short, but not much more..."

Sheen sat at the small work table that Marcus had prepared for him, reciting the final spell for the fairytale cookie.

Just like brewing a potion, at certain stages of alchemy, the wizard needs to infuse it with magic—this can be done by waving a wand or by chanting a spell.

Now, Sheen has completed this task.

As for the parts that are still lacking, or the parts where the ritual is not perfect, they are mostly engravings of magical runes.

In such delicate and nuanced matters, inspiration alone is not enough; rigorous and meticulous experimentation is one of the most crucial factors for an alchemist's success.

"My dearest, most outstanding..."

Marcus's voice rang out from downstairs.

"I am coming."

Sheen interrupted Marcus, otherwise the old wizard would have added a dozen or so modifiers without stopping.

When Sheen came downstairs, all the members of the McGonagall family had already gathered around the long table.

Minerva McGonagall, with her deep yet tender eyes; Marcus McGonagall, who is currently very excited and still vigorous despite her age; Nay McGonagall, who works for the newspaper and hugs Sheehan so tightly that he can hardly breathe when they first meet...

Of course, there were also three other guys, Xiaomaigge, who were jostling each other.

"No matter what you say, we're leaving, Marcus."

At that moment, Minerva McGonagall glanced at Marcus and said bluntly.

"I should think of a way to tie you all up... alright. Just don't forget, McGonagall will always be your home, my dear Sheen."

Minerva, I want you to know that this is also for you.

Marcus put down the newspaper, his voice a little hoarse.

"I have some unique little inventions from the American magical world, Sheen. I have delivered them to your room, child. I hope you will like them."

The planning map you sent me was excellent; it saved me a lot of time.

Nai smiled kindly.

Sheen was unaware that Grandma Nai had given him some alchemical artifacts, because he had been studying the cat and leopard cookies all day and hadn't even noticed that there were some extra things in the cabin.

He frowned subconsciously. Was he... being too relaxed?

In the magical world, letting your guard down and acting without thinking means trouble is on the horizon.

"If you feel comfortable here, then please feel joyful, because that's exactly what we want to achieve."

Grandma Nai said.

As she spoke, the black tea beside her was still steaming.

And so, with deep reluctance in Marcus's eyes, the carriage arrived.

Through the gaps in the carriage, Sheen could see the hills and picturesque fields beside McGonagall Villa in the distance, and he unconsciously raised the corners of his mouth.

……

The last dawn of the Christmas holiday has arrived; the weather is cold, and everything is covered in white snow.

A lot of news suddenly spread through Hogwarts Castle.

These messages came from newspapers throughout the wizarding world, and not just from Britain.

Inside the auditorium.

Justin and Hermione took a rare break from their recent studies and started reading the newspaper.

The headlines in these newspapers were varied, but they all ultimately pointed to one person and one topic—the past murders at Hogwarts and the truths that had been buried in those events were all revealed.

This undoubtedly captured the attention of all the students. What could be more relaxing than hearing a story about Hogwarts at the end of the Christmas holidays?

Especially when eating breakfast?

"Now everyone will know about our heroic deeds—"

Ron was really itching to get back to work.

After learning the whole story, Justin instructed them not to make any public announcements until Hagrid was fully exonerated.

Now things are much better; Ron no longer needs to broadcast like a loudspeaker, as almost every newspaper has reported on it.

"If you suddenly black out and pass out in a locked room, that counts too."

Hermione didn't hold back in exposing his lies.

Everyone in the cabin wanted to know that Ron was a strange little wizard.

He didn't even dare to say Voldemort's name, and always had a mournful face, yet he dared to face Voldemort with them.

"Go find Hagrid?"

Harry said eagerly.

"I'm fine with that. Sheen, do you have time?"

Justin looked at Sheehan.

Since returning to Hogwarts, the young wizard has spent most of his time in the cellars, where, according to the knight portrait hanging on the cellar wall, the most interesting events at Hogwarts happen every day.

Let's go together.

Sheen thought for a moment. He had just brewed an expert-level ordinary antidote, and Professor Snape's expression had improved considerably. He even gave him a short break.

After deciding to go find Hagrid together that afternoon, the young wizards in Hope's Cottage all got busy with their own tasks.

Justin and Hermione continued their relentless pace, which led Ron to become much more disciplined, naturally appearing at Hope Lodge with them every day.

This doesn't fit his image as someone who likes to sleep in late in winter.

So Harry became the most "lazy" person in the cabin.

He trains at the Quidditch pitch every single day, rain or shine.

After his previous defeat, Wood developed a new obsession: to train Harry to surpass a certain Mr. Green in the Seeker.

Harry felt his wish was unlikely to come true—if he knew Sheen never trained. In other words, if Sheen had even the slightest interest in Quidditch, they wouldn't be able to beat the Ravenclaw Quidditch team.

Harry initially thought he would be very disappointed, but now he was surprised to find that it no longer seemed like something unacceptable.

Think about it, they went through so much, they fought Voldemort so many times...

Whenever he played Quidditch, he would think of a young wizard, carrying a bloodstained Gryffindor sword and wearing tattered robes, walking quietly down an empty, windswept corridor on a night when no one knew him.

Harry suddenly felt that Quidditch was no longer so important to him, and he suddenly understood more and deeper things.

Imagine if Sheen asked him:

Harry, I'm going to fight Voldemort and protect everything in Hogwarts Castle. Would you like to come with me?

He would immediately cancel all Quidditch training.

Lost in all sorts of random thoughts, the afternoon arrived.

They slowly walked towards the outside of the castle.

The winter sun shone on them, making them feel warm and cozy.

(End of this chapter)