On the day of Professor Moray's party, Wade changed into the formal suit and dragon-hide boots Fiona had carefully chosen for him after breakfast. He stood in front of the mirror as Fiona circled him, occasionally adjusting small details.
"So handsome, darling!" Fiona exclaimed with exaggerated praises. "You'll definitely be the most dazzling little gentleman at the party. Seriously, why don't you wear the necklace I picked for you? The bow-and-arrow pendant is super cool, it'll make all the other kids so jealous."
"No! Mom, I'm not three years old." Wade firmly refused without hesitation.
Fiona sighed, "You didn't want to wear it when you were three either—"
"So I'm even less likely to wear it now that I'm eleven."
Ferdinand constantly checked his watch, occasionally glancing towards the door.
"The professor said he'd pick you up at 10, right?" he confirmed with his son.
"Yeah, that's what the letter said."
But it was only a minute shy of 10 o'clock, and no one was outside the door.
"Are they late?" Fiona guessed.
"Maybe something delayed them," Ferdinand looked out again. "I just hope they don't suddenly appear at the door."
"That won't happen, there are Muggles around here! How many people would see that?" Fiona said with certainty. "They must have been delayed by something, maybe we'll receive an owl soon."
As Fiona spoke, she ran to open a window, making it easier for an owl to fly in. Just as she turned around, the fire in the fireplace roared, turning green and bathing the entire room in a verdant glow. Then, a dark figure emerged from the fireplace.
Ferdinand shot up, his right hand swiftly reaching behind his clothes for his pistol, while his other hand pushed Wade back, shouting, "Who's there?!"
"Stop—Dad, it's Professor Moray."
Wade quickly grabbed his arm, suddenly realizing his father's palm was icy cold.
He looked over in surprise, seeing Ferdinand clenching his jaw, the veins in his neck bulging, his tense expression appearing cold and unfamiliar.
Wade was stunned.
Ever since he received his Hogwarts acceptance letter, the Gray couple had always seemed very happy. They were full of curiosity about the world of magic, eagerly participating in this new world, and were quickly becoming more knowledgeable about the wizarding world than Wade himself.
Wade had always thought that was the case.
But at this moment, he suddenly realized that in his father's heart—perhaps a deep fear of the wizarding world had always been hidden.
Fiona, on the other hand, was only startled at first. Hearing Wade's words, she quickly calmed down. She took a few steps forward and asked curiously, "Is this Floo travel?"
Ferdinand quickly walked over, as if to greet the guest with his wife. But Wade saw that he was actually shielding Fiona.
Emerging from the flames was indeed Professor Moray. He dusted the soot off his clothes and smiled, "Yes, a safe and convenient way to travel, everything's great except for getting a bit of soot on you—Hello, Mr. Gray, Mrs. Gray, I'm Terence Moray, I believe you already know."
"Of course." Ferdinand had already put his pistol away, and there was no unusual expression on his face. "Welcome, Professor Moray. I apologize, our fireplace hasn't been thoroughly cleaned in over two years."
Fiona peeked out from behind him and asked, "Can we travel by fire too?"
"Oh, probably not." Professor Moray smiled. "Actually, the Ministry of Magic prohibits connecting Muggle fireplaces to the Floo Network. I had someone temporarily activate the Floo Network for me to pick up Wade, and it will be disconnected after we leave—Wade, glad to see you're ready."
"—Yes, Professor."
Wade glanced at his parents, put his wand into the wand pocket of his formal robe, and walked over, saying, "Shall we leave now?"
"Of course, the guests are waiting for us!" Professor Moray conjured a small pouch filled with glittering powder and asked, "Have you used Floo powder before?"
"No, Professor."
"It's very simple, watch me."
He handed the pouch to Wade, pinched a small amount of powder, and threw it into the fire. Instantly, the flames turned emerald green.
"Remember, you must pronounce the address clearly—Suoluo Garden. Close your eyes, and don't wobble around in the fireplace, or you'll end up bruised and battered, and might even come out of someone else's fireplace."
Professor Moray walked straight into the fire, demonstrating, "Suoluo Garden."
He whooshed and disappeared from the fire.
Wade also pinched a small amount of Floo powder and walked towards the fireplace. Just as he was about to drop it, he turned back and looked deeply at his father, saying, "Dad, I'll be back tonight."
"Mhm." Ferdinand's throat bobbed, he wanted to say something but held back, looking down at him. "Stay with your professor—don't get into conflicts with anyone."
"I understand." Wade nodded seriously.
Fiona put her hands on her hips, pretending to be angry, "Only saying goodbye to Dad, not Mom?"
"How could I?" Wade smiled, stepped forward, and hugged his mother. "Goodbye, Mom."
He sprinkled the Floo powder, and the flames immediately turned emerald green. Wade suppressed his instinctive fear of the flames, walking in as if accustomed to it.
Flames enveloped him like warm breaths. Through the firelight, Wade saw the lingering apprehension in his father's eyes.
It was the unease and fear that came from someone's supposedly safe haven suddenly being invaded by strangers.
"Suoluo Garden," Wade said clearly, looking into his father's eyes.
In an instant, his parents and the living room vanished from his sight. He spun rapidly in the emerald flames, countless fireplaces flashing by. Wade immediately closed his eyes. Just as he was getting dizzy from the spinning, the rapid rotation suddenly stopped. As Wade was about to fall, a strong pair of arms steadied him.
"Not feeling too good, are we?" a voice said. "I heard this is your first time using the Floo Network."
The person pulled him out of the fireplace. Wade coughed twice, rubbing the soot out of his eyes, and saw a large man standing before him.
He was very tall, about two meters, with a sturdy build and a somewhat fierce appearance, but the look in his eyes when he bent down to look at Wade was very gentle.
"Cough cough—Excuse me, you are?" Wade asked.
A cup of water was offered to him.
"Have some water," the large man pulled out his wand and cast a [Scourgify], and all the dust on Wade instantly disappeared.
He said, "I'm Steven Moray, son of Terence Moray. My father was waiting for you here, but a French friend just arrived, and he went to greet them—you can walk around and grab something to eat first."