Everyday Life of a Top Student at Hogwarts

Chapter 126 The Warmth of Home and a New Beginning

Chapter 126 The Warmth of Home and a New Beginning (Bonus Chapter for Yu Tuo Ji Ran's Alliance Leader Support!)

Passing through the magical wall of Platform 9¾, the hustle and bustle of King's Cross Station instantly envelops you.

Karen, pushing the luggage cart with Phobos's cage on top, squeezed through the slightly crowded aisle, her eyes immediately searching the crowd of people waiting to arrive. Almost simultaneously, a clear, joyful scream pierced the noise: "Brother! Karen! Over here!"

A small figure in a red jacket rushed over—it was Lily. She bumped into Karen's arms, hugging his waist tightly, her face flushed with excitement.

"Lily!" Karen smiled, put down the stroller handle, bent down, picked up his little sister, and spun her around. Lily giggled and hugged his neck tightly.

"Karen!" David and his wife hurried over, their faces beaming with the joy of a long-awaited reunion and a sense of relief. Emily's eyes were slightly red as she opened her arms and gave her son a big hug, patting his back forcefully. "Welcome home, dear! You look taller and stronger." She gazed intently at Karen's face, as if trying to make up for all the changes he had missed in the past year.

David, on the other hand, seemed more composed. He patted Karen on the shoulder forcefully, his smile hearty: "Good lad! It's good to be back! How's school life? Nothing happened, right?" His eyes were filled with concern. Clearly, the reports in the Daily Prophet about conflicts between pure-blood students had left this Muggle father with some doubts, wondering if anything similar had happened to Karen since.

"Everything is fine, really. I haven't encountered anything like that since, Dad, Mom." Karen put Lily down, feeling the care of her family. "The teachers and classmates are all very kind. Professor Flitwick taught me a lot of spell techniques, and Professor McGonagall gave me a lot of guidance on Transfiguration. My flying lessons were also thanks to the help of my classmates."

"Karen! Me too, I have something to tell you!" Lily eagerly tugged at Karen's sleeve, her face flushed with excitement and the desire to share the secret. She stood on tiptoe, straining to get close to Karen's ear, and whispered excitedly in what she thought was a very soft voice, though everyone around could hear it: "I have a secret to tell you! Last week! My little teddy bear, it floated up by itself! Right on my bed!"

"It floated so high!" She gestured frantically, raising her small hand to Karen's waist, her big eyes sparkling with surprise and a hint of pride. "I didn't touch it! Really!"

David and his wife looked at Karen with mixed feelings, a mixture of relief and a sense of knowing that "it had finally come to pass." He cleared his throat and said, "Well, it seems our little witch needs to prepare in advance. Karen, you'll have to teach your sister a lot in the future."

"Of course." Karen smiled and ruffled Lily's hair. "Lily is so smart, she'll definitely learn quickly. But we'll have to wait until she's eleven to receive the letter." He reminded his excited sister.

The family chatted and laughed as they pushed their luggage cart out of the station. Lily, like a happy little sparrow, chirped incessantly around Karen, asking, "Karen, you didn't take me with you to France for Easter. Was it fun there? Is there a Hogwarts there? What do their wands look like?"

Karen patiently answered all the questions, filtering out anything involving danger, conflict, and the true identity of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, focusing instead on the magical and interesting scenes, such as the novelties seen at the French magic market during Easter, and some interesting things in Nicolas Flamel's house.

"Nico Flamel?" David glanced at Karen in the rearview mirror as he drove, his tone filled with disbelief and awe. "The legendary alchemist you mentioned in your letter? The one who lived over six hundred years and created the Philosopher's Stone? You—you really saw him?"

"Yes, Dad." Karen sat in the middle of the back row, Lily leaning against him, already somewhat drowsy. "He also invited me to study there again during the summer vacation." He calmly dropped this bombshell.

The carriage was silent for a few seconds. Emily turned her head and looked at her son in surprise: "Going to France again? For the whole summer?" Her tone was reluctant, but even more so, it was shocked by her son's opportunity and a little proud.

“Not the whole summer,” Karen explained, “maybe a few weeks. Mr. Nicolas Flamel thinks I have some interest and potential in alchemy and is willing to give me some more guidance, and Professor Victor is there too.”

"Instructions," David repeated, his grip on the steering wheel tightening. He shook his head, his tone carrying the wistful emotion of a Muggle father facing a world beyond his son's comprehension. "Alright, Karen. As long as you feel it's helpful and safe, your mother and I support you." He paused, then added, "But remember to write back often to let us know you're safe. Don't worry us. France is so far away."

"I will, Dad," Cullen promised. "And it's safe with Mr. Nicolas Flamel, and Professor Victor will look after me there, as Headmaster Dumbledore knows." He invoked the names of Dumbledore and Victor to reassure his parents.

He watched the familiar scenery rush past the car window, feeling a sense of peace.

Dinner was a "Welcome Home" feast meticulously prepared by Emily: perfectly roasted lamb chops drizzled with a rich mint sauce; freshly boiled Devonshire white shrimp; tender peas picked from their own garden; and Karen's favorite, a flaky fruit pie topped with thick cream and raspberry jam. The aroma of the food and the warm lighting filled the restaurant.

"Well then," David said, wiping his mouth with his dinner coins as dinner drew to a close, looking at Karen with a mixture of curiosity and caution, "you mentioned in your letter that you made some um... little gadgets? The kind that can protect people?" He was clearly both curious about magical items and instinctively cautious.

Karen put down his fork. "Yes, Dad." He took three small badges from his backpack. The badges were silver-gray.

They were warm to the touch, and the main body was a matte metal that seemed to have an extremely faint shimmer under the light. He handed two of them to his parents and one to Lily, who had just been woken up and was still a little groggy.

“These are protective badges,” Karen explained. “You should wear them close to your body, or clip them inside your clothes.” He picked up Lily’s badge and gently pinned it inside the collar of her pajamas. “It’s sturdy and won’t break easily.”

"How do I use this?" David carefully held the badge, feeling that it was a little heavier than he had imagined, with a peculiar warmth, unlike the coldness of metal.

“It’s usually dormant,” Karen said, knowing he couldn’t demonstrate, “but it automatically activates when the wearer experiences a sudden, intense impact, or,” he chose his words carefully, “…when they sense strong malice and danger approaching.” He pointed to the rune in the center of the badge and the obsidian around the edge. “This rune absorbs a special kind of energy from the environment, similar to—well, a stable ‘field.’ The obsidian helps store and channel this energy. When the activation conditions are met, the stored energy is released instantly, forming an energy shield, like an invisible, very sturdy cushion or airbag.”

"Automatic?" Emily looked at the unassuming little badge in her hand in surprise. "No spells needed? And no wand?"

“Yes, Mom,” Karen answered confidently. “It’s not a magical object ‘casting a spell,’ but rather a sophisticated device that passively triggers an energy field using special materials. So it’s not subject to the Ministry of Magic’s surveillance.” He emphasized this point to reassure his parents. “Furthermore, it absorbs energy from the environment to maintain its operation, so it needs some time to recharge after activation.”

"A low-temperature environment allows it to accumulate energy faster and maintain its effect for a longer time." He didn't mention the manufacturing process, which was too complicated for parents, but he explained the basic principles and safety.

David looked down at the small badge in his hand, then looked up at his calm son, his eyes filled with complex emotions:

He was astonished by his son's incredible creation, proud of his abilities, and also felt a touch of awe for the mysterious power behind it. "This is amazing, Karen," he finally said, carefully putting the badge into his pocket. "Thank you, son. We'll keep it safe."

"Wow! Brother is so awesome!" Lily exclaimed in pure admiration, her little hands tightly rubbing the badge on the collar of her pajamas, her face beaming.

After a cozy dinner, the family sat in the living room, a warm fire flickering in the fireplace. Lily nestled in her mother's arms, listening to Cullen continue her tales of Hogwarts and France, her eyelids beginning to droop.

David took a sip of tea and looked at Karen: "So, about going to France to study with Master Flamel—when exactly do we depart? What do we need to prepare? Should Dad take you there? Or is there any special passage through the Ministry of Magic?" He was concerned about the details.

"Nico's letter said I can let him know once I've set a time." Karen took the thick parchment letter, which had a faint herbal scent, out of her backpack and handed it to her father. "He'll arrange for someone to pick me up using something called a 'door key,' it's very convenient, they can get there in a flash. No need to trouble Dad to take me." He knew what his father was worried about.

David took the letter, gazing at the elegant yet completely unfamiliar cursive script and the peculiar wax seal. Though he couldn't decipher the contents, the antiquity and mystery it conveyed convinced him. "A door key—" he murmured, handing the letter back to Karen. "Well, sounds magical. Be careful then. When you get there, listen to Professor Victor and Master Flamel, and study diligently. Oh, and," he remembered something, "your Professor Victor? How is he? You said last time his condition had stabilized."

Karen nodded. "There are no problems for now. Professor Victor is also recuperating at the 'Quiet Abode'."

"Oh, that's good," Emily replied. "We feel more at ease having a familiar teacher around. Please remember to give our regards to Professor Victor and wish him a speedy recovery. Also, be sure to be polite and diligent with Master Lemaître—"

Karen's parents then went on and on, giving him many detailed instructions about daily life, which he readily agreed to. He felt their deep, slightly anxious yet unwavering support and love.

"Don't worry, Dad, Mom," Karen promised earnestly, "I'll take good care of myself, study hard, and write back often."

As night deepened, the Hawthorne couple took the sleeping Lily upstairs to rest. Karen also returned to her room on the second floor. Everything in the room was almost exactly the same as when she left; several physics and chemistry books lay open on the desk. Outside the window was a tranquil seaside night, with countless stars dotting the deep blue sky, and the distant barking of dogs.

Karen put down his backpack, opened Phobos's cage, and the little snow raven flew out lightly, landing on the perch by the window and beginning to preen its feathers. He walked to his desk, and from the innermost part of his backpack, took out Nicolas Flamel's invitation letter and the notebook from Professor Castor.

The notebook cover was cold and textured, with a tiny symbol in the corner, outlined in silver thread, depicting thorns entwined with stars, faintly visible under the lamplight.

He placed Nico's letter in a prominent position on the table, a reminder of the journey that was about to begin. His fingers gently traced the cover of the notebook, feeling the peculiar texture of the leather and the weight it contained. He sat down and turned on the desk lamp.

He gently closed the notebook, placed it together with Nico's letter on a corner of his desk, and then walked to the window and opened it.

A year at Hogwarts, filled with magical wonders, academic challenges, precious friendships, and unexpected adventures, has now settled into a warm foundation in my heart. First year is over, and ahead lies a new beginning.

A new magical exploration had quietly begun on this quiet night of returning home. Karen took a deep breath of the air from his hometown, his grey-blue eyes reflecting the starlight, calm and resolute. He knew that this summer vacation would be another important starting point on his magical journey.