Chapter 111: Friends, News
Last night, Wade checked in the Book of Friends. Michael, Neville, Hermione, and Theo all confirmed they'd come. Padma asked if her sister could join. Ryan was on a trip to Italy with his family and wouldn't be back for a few days. Harry hadn't replied.
Green flames flared, and one by one, they arrived.
At school, they were used to seeing each other in black uniforms. Now, dressed in casual clothes, they presented a novel sight.
The Patil sisters, in particular, wore splendid long dresses with light makeup, their wrists and necks adorned with glittering jewelry. They were dazzlingly beautiful, their figures graceful and elegant.
"Good morning! Hope we're not late," the girls said in unison.
The Patil sisters were already stunning, and being twins amplified their charm several times over.
Michael, who had been observing the animals outside from the window, practically apparated to the fireplace upon hearing their voices, elegantly raising a hand in greeting.
"No, we just got here too," he said happily.
"Miss Patil and Miss Patil, welcome to Granian Farm."
Steven said, then turned to Wade, raising an eyebrow slightly.
Wade precisely understood what he was trying to say—
Such beautiful girls, why don't you make a move?
Wade shook his head.
Steven was probably reflexively conditioned by his father constantly pushing him to get married, infecting him with a bit of a matchmaker's streak.
Neville stepped out of the fireplace, letting out a long sigh of relief.
"Grandma didn't want me to come at first," he said, still a little shaken. "But she changed her mind when she heard the top student and the second-best student were both here."
Theo had barely arrived when he heard the Patil sisters gasp.
"What's wrong?"
Everyone thought they were under attack and rushed over to see.
"My necklace and earrings are gone!" Padma said, touching her empty earlobes.
"And my bracelet and hair clip," Parvati added anxiously. "They just vanished in an instant!"
Steven understood immediately.
"It's a Niffler," he said helplessly. "These little creatures love shiny things. Don't worry, I'll get them back for you right away."
He whistled, and a Crup with a forked tail came running over, sitting upright like a soldier.
Steven stroked its ears, whispered a few words, and the Crup dashed off.
Soon after, it returned, carrying a blue-black Niffler in its mouth, somewhat resembling a platypus.
The Crup wagged its tail rapidly, its face full of a "praise me" expression.
Steven took the Niffler, stroked the Crup's head, and praised, "Good boy."
"This is a Niffler?" Parvati asked curiously, looking at the small animal. "I don't see any jewelry! Did it hide them in a hole?"
Steven said, "This is a Cronus Niffler. Unlike an Irish Niffler, it has a magical pouch—watch!"
He held the Niffler upside down by its hind legs and shook it. The Patil sisters' gold jewelry clinked down, along with Occamy eggshells, golden cutlery, and some small, shiny stones.
When the little creature was placed back on the ground, it looked extremely angry. With tears in its eyes, it scrabbled the scattered items back together, then turned and ran off.
"I think you'd best put your jewelry away," Michael advised. "Otherwise, a Niffler might steal it again sometime."
Theo suddenly said, "Look, it's a Fairy!"
Everyone looked over.
At first glance, they looked like a group of dragonflies fluttering among the flowers. But on closer inspection, besides their colorful wings, they were entirely human in form.
These exquisitely featured tiny beings, dressed in clothes made of petals or grass blades, busily flitted about. Sometimes they would stop on a leaf, as if resting.
Everyone watched with bated breath, not daring to breathe too loudly, afraid of startling them away.
One Fairy, as if drawn by a scent, flew towards Padma. After circling twice, it landed on Theo's finger instead.
"Merlin…"
Parvati let out a groan-like sigh.
Theo looked in surprise at the green-haired Fairy, who held a tiny Wand in its hand. As it flew, its wand tip sometimes sprayed golden and red specks.
Another Fairy with transparent wings flew over, and the two communicated with a low buzzing hum. A moment later, both flew off together.
Theo touched his finger, feeling a little wistful.
"Some wizards treat Fairies as beautiful decorations, enchanting them to fix them onto candelabras or Christmas trees," Steven said with a touch of pity. "But I think… they are more beautiful when they fly freely."
"Fixed onto candelabras?" Padma asked. "Can they still live like that?"
"Some people release the Fairies they've used… but not everyone is willing to do that," Steven said.
"Do they feel pain?" Theo whispered.
"Fairies have always been thought to be unintelligent, with minds comparable to insects," Steven said. "But how could any living creature not feel pain? It's just that arrogant wizards are incapable of empathizing with their suffering."
His words silenced the young wizards for a long time, leaving each of them deeply affected.
Hermione arrived that afternoon, looking very worried.
"Have any of you been in touch with Harry recently?" she asked everyone.
They all looked at each other and shook their heads.
"Harry doesn't seem to have opened his Book of Friends at all," Hermione said anxiously. "I even rented an Owl to send him a letter, but he hasn't replied. It's the same with Ron…"
"Nothing's happened to Harry, has it?" Theo frowned.
"Maybe he's been imprisoned by his Muggle relatives," Michael guessed, surprisingly hitting the mark. "I knew he wasn't being treated well!"
"Imprisoned? Do Muggles dare do that to him?" Parvati exclaimed in surprise, then added, "Why don't we all go and check?"
"Great, it'll be a group activity!" Michael said enthusiastically.
"Don't!" Wade interjected. "So many people showing up in a Muggle neighborhood would be too conspicuous. I'll just go and check things out myself."
"What can a child like you do?" Steven said. "I'll go with you."
"I want to go too!" Hermione said. "I'm too worried to stay here."
"None of you need to!" Wade saw Theo about to speak and decisively refused. "Besides, I won't be alone… I'll ask Remus to come with me."
"Him?" Steven frowned at first, then something clicked. "Oh… Remus Lupin, I remember he was good friends with James Potter."
When James Potter enrolled, Steven was already close to graduating. And they weren't in the same house, so they didn't know each other.
However, as the four of them were prominent figures at school, Steven had heard their names and some of their exploits.
If Harry Potter was truly in danger or being mistreated by Muggles, then Remus Lupin, as his father's friend, would certainly be the most suitable person to intervene as an elder.
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