Hogwarts: This holy light is righteously evil

Chapter 175 Traveling with Qiu

The next day, they crossed the strait from the manor's fireplace.

Qiu Gang had just emerged from the green fire when he leaned against the wall.

Flying across the border felt much worse than usual. She stood with her eyes closed for a while before she could suppress the nausea rising in her stomach.

Puni led her to a bench in the reception area and sat her down.

The French Ministry of Magic's welcoming wizard brought a piece of chocolate, saying it was specially prepared for travelers on long-haul flights.

Qiu took a bite, and her complexion improved.

"I wasn't even this upset by Apparition."

"That's because you're strange."

Puni said.

Qiu glared at him.

"Most people think Floo is stable, but Apparition is difficult, but you're the opposite."

"Then I'll sit by the fireplace a few more times."

Qiu finished the rest of the chocolate. "I can't let you help me every time."

Puni didn't try to persuade her.

He knew what Qiu had decided, and there was no point in trying to dissuade her.

A dozen or so small black animals were crouching in the courtyard outside the reception hall.

They are hairless, have large ears, and purple eyes that shine in the snow.

As soon as Qiu went out, they surrounded her.

She crouched down, and a small animal first sniffed at her shoes before tucking its head under her palm.

"Madago".

Puni said, "The French love to keep them as pets. Legend has it that if you feed them well, they will bring you a gold coin every day."

Qiu stroked the little beast's head, looked up, and asked, "Really?"

"Fake."

"Then why are they in the Ministry of Magic?"

"They steal things and they look for things. They know before the guards who take something from the yard that they shouldn't have."

Looking at the group of small animals circling around her feet, Qiu felt that the answer was completely unworthy of their appearance.

Once outside the Ministry of Magic, the streets suddenly became much more crowded.

Many wizards, holding signs, walked from the street corner all the way to the square.

Some people were shouting for work, some were cursing the Ministry of Magic, and some were holding up signs that read "No more pay cuts."

Puni first led Qiu to the roadside.

"Does France also have strikes?" Qiu asked.

"Looks like you're very good at it."

Just as they finished speaking, the wizard who had greeted them earlier walked out of the crowd.

He was wearing a neat work robe this morning, but now the sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, and he's holding up a wooden sign and shouting with great enthusiasm.

He saw Puni and Qiu, and even managed to wave at them.

Autumn waved goodbye.

Once the man had squeezed back into the line, Puni said, "At least his work and strike don't interfere with each other."

Qiu laughed out loud.

The two ate lunch on the street.

Several witches at the next table were chatting loudly. Puni overheard a few words and learned that many Eastern European witches had flocked to France to find work, and the shops on the street were taking the opportunity to lower their wages, which caused the local witches to cause trouble.

Qiu listened for a while, then lowered her head and stirred the hot chocolate in her cup.

"Then that person might also lose their job?"

"Who knows?"

"But at least he's fighting for himself," Puni said.

After the meal, they went to the French branch of the Golden Dragon Magic Shop.

The shop was almost empty, with only the shop manager sitting behind the counter looking at the accounts.

An owl flew out of the back door and nearly hit Puni.

He raised his hand and let it rest on the back of his hand, then pushed the window open.

"The boss is from England?" The shop manager stood up. "I thought you were going to crawl out of the fireplace."

"I brought some people out to have fun."

Puni glanced around the shop. "Where is everyone else?"

"Take inventory in the back."

The store manager said, "We're not going on strike."

Two young faces, a man and a woman, immediately peeked out from the back door.

"We're not leaving!" said the witch. "The pay here is much better than outside."

The wizard nodded in agreement.

"The shop doesn't deduct money from our pay, nor does it make us work for free. So many people on the street want to get in."

The store manager snorted, but there was a hint of smugness on his face.

Puni didn't say much about it.

After reviewing the accounts, he instructed the shop manager not to follow the street vendors' arbitrarily lowering prices, and then picked out a few small trinkets for Qiu.

Qiu chose a purple fluffy cat that could burp. Just as she was holding it in her arms, it let out a loud burp right in front of Puni.

Puni glanced at it.

"It's learning from you."

It looks more like you.

Qiu hugged Pu Rongrong tightly, not letting him touch her.

The shop manager took a stack of ledgers from under the counter and placed them in front of Puni.

"Since winter started, our sales have dropped by 30%. It's not that we can't sell our products, it's that people are unwilling to come out to the street."

Puni turned a few pages.

The numbers on the books do look bad, but the salary expenses haven't changed, and the inventory purchases haven't decreased either.

"Do the shop assistants know?"

"Know."

The store manager said, "That's why they're not leaving."

The witch brought out a box of newly arrived toys from behind and immediately responded upon hearing this.

"The candy store up ahead laid off half of its staff last week, and those who stayed had their salaries deducted. A few of us went to ask them, and they said that if the store couldn't hold on, they should at least tell us in advance. The store manager just said to get through Christmas first."

The store manager turned away.

"I never said anything so sentimental."

The wizard came out carrying another box of goods.

"You mean, 'Anyone who wants to leave should leave now, don't wait until I'm broke before you start crying.'"

The witch laughed out loud.

Qiu hugged Pu Rongrong and glanced at the account book on the counter.

She didn't interrupt, but waited until the shopkeeper went to refill the owl's water before quietly asking Puni.

"What will happen to this store if it keeps losing money?"

"We won't cut salaries for now."

Puni closed the ledger. "We'll see if we can make up for the losses when the people on the street come back."

Aren't you afraid?

"We probably can't hold them responsible."

Qiu lowered her head and touched the fluffy cattail.

The little one burped and snuggled closer to her.

Puni stayed in the shop until the afternoon.

After the store manager finished explaining the recent situation, he opened a locked cabinet.

Inside were several new toys made by the French branch, including a chocolate beetle that walks along the tabletop, a hat that swears in French when the string is pulled, and a set of magical animal puzzles specifically for younger students.

After looking around for a while, Qiu finally picked up a wooden Madago.

It's only the size of a palm; press its tail and it will snatch the fake gold coin and run into the box.

"Who is this for?" Puni asked.

"For Marietta."

"Why her?"

"She would like gold coins."

That's true.

When I left the shop, the parade on the street had already ended.

There were many wet signs on the ground. A little wizard was following his father picking up wooden signs. He picked up a sign that read "Give us work" and used it as a sled to pull it around.

Qiu looked back for a long time.

"This place is quite different from London."

"What's different?"

"People seem to shout out what makes them unhappy."

Puni followed her gaze.

Shouting it out doesn't necessarily help.

"If we don't shout it out, no one will know."

Puni did not refute.

That evening, they checked into the old Lesterrange family home in Paris.

The house was small, with withered vines climbing the outer walls, and a pear tree bent under the weight of snow in the yard.

The elves had already lit the fireplace, and hot soup and freshly baked bread were laid out on the table.

As soon as Qiu entered the door, she was startled by a row of portraits in the living room.

The people in the portraits are all wearing old-fashioned robes.

Some people are reading letters, some are dozing off, and a woman with a full head of white hair is staring at Puni through the picture frame.

"Are you one of the children who stayed behind in England?" she asked.

Puni looked up.

"Yes."

The old man pulled his glasses down a little.

"Better looking than your father."

Qiu couldn't help but laugh.

Puni looked at the portrait.

"Can you please stop starting like this every time?"

"cannot."

The old man said, "I always spoke like this when I was alive, and no one will care after I die."

During dinner, Qiu asked about the person in the portrait.

Puni then took out the family genealogy and spread it out on the table.

"The Lestrange family and the Lestrange family have always had ties with France. Some of them are relatives, and some are just people who have known each other for a long time, so the portraits have been preserved."

Qiu followed the names down.

"Do you really care about these things?"

"I didn't pay much attention to it before."

Puni said, "Later I found out that other people would use it to judge you, so you have to know what they're talking about."

"Would you like to bring back the French branch?"

"There's nothing to look for. The person is gone, but their name is still on the paper."

Qiu closed the family genealogy book.

"Then you are yourself now."

Puni looked up at her.

Qiu put the soup spoon into the bowl, as if she didn't think there was anything special about the sentence.

"No matter what your ancestors did, you are not them."

The fire in the fireplace crackled.

Puni didn't look at the genealogy again, but simply put it back in the box.

At night, Qiu packed her luggage in the guest room.

She placed the things she bought from the toy store on the windowsill and put the purple cattail fluffy pillow next to her pillow.

Puni stood at the door and saw her neatly folding the clothes she would wear tomorrow, which were still the same few pieces she had brought from Hogwarts.

"The fairy gave you new clothes."

"I saw it."

"Why not give it a try?"

Qiu shook her head.

"We'll talk about it tomorrow."

Puni did not stay any longer.

After closing the door, Qiu didn't go to sleep immediately.

She looked at the dress hanging in the closet, and after a long while, she finally put it away at the very back.

The day after settling in Paris, Puni went to knock on Qiu's door early in the morning.

As soon as the door opened, the pillow flew out first.

Puni turned his head to avoid it, and the pillow hit the door frame.

Qiu stood by the bed, her face still a little red.

"Who gave you permission to kiss me?"

"I've come to call you for breakfast."

"Then just call out."

Puni leaned against the door and watched as she reached for the second pillow, then immediately retreated.

At breakfast, Qiu didn't wear the dress he had asked the little elf to prepare; instead, he changed back into the casual clothes he had brought with him.

Puni pulled out a chair for her.

"dislike?"

"like."

Qiu sat down. "But I don't want to dress like I'm going to a ball every day."

"Then I won't wear it."

Qiu glanced at him.

Why don't you ask me why?

"You said you like it, but you don't want to wear it; that's enough of a reason."

She held the spoon and remained quiet for a while.

"I'm afraid I'll get used to it."

Puni looked up.

"Living in a nice house, wearing beautiful clothes, having everything prepared for me is great once in a while, but I don't want to leave these things in the future, otherwise I feel like I can't go on living like this."

Puni did not speak immediately.

Qiu said, "I used to think I had nothing to do with these things, but now that I've moved in, I still like it. There's nothing shameful about liking it. I just want to remember what I used to be like."

"What did you look like before?"

Qiu thought about it.

"I'd rather eat one less piece of cake than buy another book."

Puni smiled.

"Then you can have both now."

Qiu smiled, but then forked away the last fried egg from her plate.

"This is mine too."

That's my breakfast.

"That's not the case now."

"6

Puni stared at the empty plate.

The little elf Morty came out of the kitchen and placed a new plate of fried eggs, ten in total, in front of him.

Qiu was stunned.

Puni picked up the fork.

"If you take one, I'll give you ten more."

"You did it on purpose."

"no."

Puni said, "It's because Muti thinks you haven't eaten enough."

Merti stood not far away and nodded solemnly.

Qiu put the fried egg back on his plate.

"I'm stuffed."

Puni didn't take it away; he just cut the fried egg in half and gave her one half.

Halfway through the meal, Qiu suddenly asked, "Did you used to celebrate Christmas like this?"

"What?"

"Living in a big house, you can have whatever you want to eat made, and go wherever you want."

Puni thought for a moment.

"almost."

Qiu nodded, without showing any envy.

She put down the fork and looked out the window at the snow-covered yard.

"I used to think that when I grew up and had money, I wouldn't lack anything."

"You don't think that way now?"

"I feel it's good to be rich now."

Qiu was very honest. "But that can't be all there is to it. If someone tells me what to wear, what to eat, and where to go every day, even the most beautiful place will become boring."

Puni leaned back in his chair and watched her.

"Are you afraid I'll lock you up here?"

"You won't."

"Are you so sure?"

"Because if you really wanted to control me, you would have done it at school."

Qiu said, "You only shove your homework back at me when I don't want to go to class."

Puni chuckled.

Qiu laughed, but quickly stopped.

"I know you're good to me, but I don't want to lose myself just because you're good to me."

She didn't speak with sadness; it was as if she were telling him something she had already figured out.

Puni reached out and moved the jam jar in front of her a little further away.

"Then don't lose it."

"Aren't you angry?"

Why am I angry?

"Many people feel that it's ungrateful to be taken care of and then have to make conditions."

"That's a problem for many people."

Puni said, "It's not yours."

Qiu looked at him, and after a while, took the remaining half of bread from his plate.

"This belongs to me too."

"Didn't you just say you didn't want to be spoiled?"

"I'll only take half."

"Very principled."

As Murthy approached carrying a new bread basket, Qiu immediately withdrew her hand.

Puni took a piece and put it on her plate first.

"This is something I gave voluntarily."

"no the same."

Autumn said.

"What's different?"

"What I took was based on my own abilities."

Puni was amused by her.

After breakfast, he asked Morty to buy two movie tickets.

When Qiu heard that she was going to see a Muggle movie, she stopped even holding Pu Rongrong.

"Cinema?"

"A place where Muggles watch movies."

"What are we going to see?"

"Beauty and the Beast".

Autumn frowned.

"Never heard of it."

Puni then remembered that the animated film had only been released recently.

Although Cho grew up in a Muggle family, she rarely participated in Muggle entertainment after entering Hogwarts.

"Then let's go see."

He said.

Qiu looked at him, and her eyes lit up.

The movie is scheduled for the afternoon.

Murthy had found a secluded spot for them in advance and prepared small props to keep the wizards from being noticed by Muggles.

Puni thought he was just taking Qiu out for some entertainment, but when they entered the screening room, they found a French wizard sitting in the front row.

The youngest girl was holding a bucket of popcorn and couldn't even sit still.

The blonde girl next to her didn't look at the screen, but turned around to look at Qiu several times.

It wasn't noticed when autumn began.

She watched intently, and as Bell left the village, she whispered to Puni, "Is she really going to find that beast?"

"Um."

"She's really brave."

"You're not young either."

Qiu ignored him and continued watching the movie.

Fleur de la Cour turned back once more.

She originally didn't want to come to see cartoons with her father and sister.

Gabrielle insisted on coming, but her father was worried that her bloodline would affect ordinary people, so he cast a banishing spell in the screening room before she entered.

Furong found it troublesome and boring.

Until Qiu sat down near her.

She tried to activate the magic within her body, but nothing happened.

That uncontrollable power that had influenced others since adolescence seemed to be suppressed by something.

The closer we get to autumn, the quieter it becomes.

Furong stared at Qiu for a long time.

Qiu finally noticed, turned around, and smiled at her.

Furong was stunned.

She didn't expect the other person to laugh, and she certainly didn't expect that because of that laugh, she would forget to continue looking for the answer.

When the movie ended, Gabrielle was still discussing the moving tea set with her father.

Qiu stood up, clearly enjoying the view as well.

Puni wrapped the scarf around her neck and prepared to take her away.

Furong walked up to them first.

"Are you wizards too?"

Qiu nodded.

"I am Qiu."

"Hibiscus de la Cour".

Gabrielle popped out from behind, holding a bucket of popcorn, and looked at Qiu.

Do you like Bell too?

"like."

"I like it too."

Gabrielle immediately perked up, "My sister says I'm too noisy."

"I didn't say that."

Furong glanced at her younger sister, then looked at Qiu, "We're about to have lunch, would you like to come along?"

Qiu did not immediately agree.

She looked at Puni.

Puni raised his chin.

"Go if you want to."

Furong's father stood not far away, originally intending to advise his daughter not to invite strangers casually.

But when he saw Qiu Shi, he stopped again.

Gabrielle had already taken Qiu's arm, and Hibiscus rarely took the initiative to talk to people her own age.

He swallowed his words.

"Let's do it together then."

Mr. Delacour said, "There's a restaurant nearby that Gabrielle kept mentioning."

Gabrielle lifted the popcorn bucket.

"Their desserts taste better than the dust in the movie."

Qiu couldn't help but laugh.

Puni followed beside her, glancing back at Furong, who was still standing at the cinema entrance.

The girl was also looking at Qiu, and the doubt on her face had not disappeared at all.

The snow on the streets of Paris has not yet melted.

The crowd walked past them, and no one knew that this luncheon would bring two girls who would otherwise never have crossed paths to the same table.

The restaurant is located on a quiet little street.

A brass sign hangs at the entrance, and white mist condenses on the windowpanes.

Mr. Delacour first took off his two daughters' scarves, then turned to ask Puni and Qiu if they wanted to sit in the back.

Gabrielle rushed to sit next to Qiu.

"May I sit here?"

Qiu nodded.

The little girl immediately recounted the scene in the movie where Bear Grylls saves the beast, even gesturing with a fork when she got excited.

Furong sat opposite her, occasionally correcting her, but her gaze would always unconsciously fall on Qiu.