The scene shifted to Glenn and Hermione, who had already stepped outside to the large table set up in the courtyard. Hermione gently placed Crookshanks on the ground, letting him wander off on his own. The two noticed that their mothers were nowhere to be seen. Instead, two men were seated at the table, chatting and laughing with an elderly man over tea.
The elderly man was someone neither Glenn nor Hermione had ever seen before.
He exuded an aura of authority and fearlessness, a presence so profound that anyone who saw him would instinctively feel the depth of his character. His thick, gray-white hair cascaded down his back, and his face was marked with strong, defined features. Despite his age, his skin bore few wrinkles, and his bright black eyes were filled with wisdom and depth. He was clearly a man with many stories to tell.
Yet at this moment, he radiated warmth and kindness. Sipping his tea with a gentle smile, he conversed with Alan and Chris (Hermione's father).
Glenn surmised that this must be his great-grandfather—his grandmother's father and his father's grandfather.
Glenn was a bit surprised. Although he had lived in the courtyard for some time, he had never met the current head of the Lin family. It seemed a pity. But to his surprise, he now had the chance to meet him at his and Hermione's birthday celebration.
Hermione came to the same conclusion. However, out of politeness, she refrained from greeting the elderly man directly. If her guess was wrong and he wasn't the relative she thought he was, it would be quite awkward.
Thus, the two remained silent as Hermione pulled Glenn along to stand obediently in front of the adults.
"Well, you're here! Come on over!" Alan greeted them warmly, beckoning them closer. He then introduced the elderly man, "This is my grandfather—your great-grandfather. Come say hello."
"Hello, Great-Grandfather!" Glenn and Hermione said in unison, bowing slightly in respect. The old man chuckled and waved a hand, motioning for them to sit. "No need to be so formal. Sit down, children."
Without any visible movement, two teacups appeared on the table in front of the pair, already filled with tea. Clearly, their great-grandfather was also a sorcerer.
Glenn and Hermione took their seats, looking at the kindly old man who gazed back at them with warmth. Neither knew what to say. Glenn remained silent, while Hermione pondered over how to break the ice. Just as she was about to speak, a joyful voice rang out from behind them, speaking fluent Chinese: "Brother Molin, long time no see!"
The sudden appearance of Albus Dumbledore took Lin Molin by surprise. But his astonishment quickly turned into joy. It was truly unexpected to see his old friend here, accompanying his great-grandson all the way from England. Lin Molin knew how busy Dumbledore was with affairs in England, especially given the complex situation there. Meeting him here was no small miracle.
"Albus! Hahaha, welcome, welcome," Lin Molin laughed heartily, his voice belying his advanced age. He stood up and walked over to Dumbledore.
The two old friends embraced warmly before Lin Molin invited Dumbledore to sit and poured him a cup of tea.
Professor McGonagall arrived shortly after, accompanied by Lin Yingqing. Dumbledore gestured toward the older woman and introduced her, "This is Minerva McGonagall, the finest Transfiguration professor at Hogwarts and Glenn and Hermione's teacher."
Lin Molin smiled kindly at McGonagall and, with a wave of his hand, moved a chair out for her. McGonagall, slightly taken aback by the gesture, hesitated before taking her seat.
Professor McGonagall was a learned woman. She had long been aware of Lin Molin, the former leader of the Dragon Nation, and was familiar with his extraordinary achievements. Beyond being impressed by his contributions to his nation, she deeply admired him as a great sorcerer.
If Dumbledore was the most influential wizard in England today, then Lin Molin had held a similar status in the Dragon Nation decades ago. Though retired, his influence still loomed large over the vast country.
To think these two legendary wizards were old friends! McGonagall had never heard Dumbledore mention this before.
To her surprise, Glenn's seemingly stern and imposing great-grandfather turned out to be quite the chatterbox. He launched into a lively conversation with Dumbledore, who, caught up in the reunion, found himself speaking more animatedly than usual. Even his typically measured tone was swept up in Lin Molin's enthusiasm.
"Your great-grandfather is like that," Alan whispered to Glenn and Hermione, shielding his mouth with his hand. "Don't be fooled by his serious appearance—he's actually very easygoing and down-to-earth."
Lin Molin clearly overheard Alan's whispered remarks. With a flick of his right hand, he sent a light tap toward Alan's forehead. "Ow!" Alan yelped, clutching his head.
"You little rascal, gossiping about me behind my back?" Lin Molin said with mock annoyance. "Does it make you happy to tease me?"
"Grandfather! You didn't treat me like this when I was younger!" Alan protested, rubbing his forehead. Back when he and Gwen didn't yet have Glenn, Lin Molin had doted on him endlessly.
Lin Molin rolled his eyes. "You're a grown man now. Stop being so childish. Talking behind your elder's back deserves a punishment." He curled his fingers, pretending to flick him again.
Alan's eyes narrowed slightly before he darted behind Chris for cover.
Mr. Granger's face darkened instantly. He grabbed Alan by the arm, trying to pull him out from behind him. The two grown men began wrestling like children.
"Hey, hey! You two! Our professors are right here!" Hermione exclaimed, her face turning red—whether from embarrassment or frustration, it was hard to tell. She pressed her palm to her forehead in exasperation, trying to stop the childish antics of the two men. Professor McGonagall, seated nearby, looked equally uncomfortable, unsure of how to intervene.
On one side, Albus was deep in conversation with his old friend. Directly in front of them, the parents of two students were locked in a ridiculous scuffle. Hermione hesitated, wondering if she should draw her wand to separate them. Glenn… Wait, where was Glenn?
Never mind, Hermione thought. She needed to keep herself busy to avoid losing her mind.
Professor McGonagall, noticing Hermione's dilemma, suddenly pulled the young girl aside. Before Hermione could react, McGonagall began discussing Transfiguration with her.
The moment Hermione heard her favorite professor bring up an academic topic, she completely forgot about the two overgrown children wrestling nearby.
Hmm? Wasn't I forgetting something?
Oh well, it doesn't matter.
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