Wade felt that the moment school started, time seemed to be accelerated—it began slipping by in weeks. In the blink of an eye, Monday had turned into Friday, and then it was the weekend again.
Students preparing to go to Hogsmeade Village had already donned gloves and scarves, and were waiting eagerly at the school gates.
"Don't forget the Boggart training, Wade!"
As he jumped down from the carriage, Michael waved and shouted, then walked off with Harry and the others.
Wade smiled and nodded, then saw Caryll bidding farewell to his friends in Gryffindor. He breathed into his hands for warmth and walked toward Wade.
"Bloody hell!" Caryll shoved his hands into his pockets and complained, "This weather is damn freezing!"
"If you didn't wear one less sweater just to look cooler, you'd find the temperature actually pretty comfortable today," Wade said with a crooked smile.
"I'm more built than you are. They said I look like a bear when I dress too thick—my place is a bit farther out."
Caryll led Wade along a narrow path between the houses, heading toward the edge of the village.
"Who's 'they'?" Wade asked from behind.
"Just… girls."
"Then you should find someone who appreciates your strength, not try to impress a bunch of girls who laugh at you for looking like a bear," Wade said. "Besides, they're not going to think you look cool with less clothing—they'll just think you look silly."
"I was kidding… I'm not actually cold," Caryll said defensively.
"Your snot is practically frozen," Wade mercilessly exposed the truth.
As soon as the words left his mouth, the two of them paused, stunned for a moment. Suddenly, it felt like they'd gone back to childhood.
Back then, Caryll was always getting into mischief, doing silly things no one else could understand, and Wade, who got dragged along, would stand nearby making sarcastic remarks.
Most of the time, Caryll knew Wade was right, but he still did whatever he wanted just because it was fun. He never really thought about the consequences.
So after a whole day of playing, Wade would return home neat and clean, while Caryll often came back bruised and scraped, not even sure how he got hurt.
But… those days were truly happy.
Caryll's steps slowed more and more, and when a wooden cabin, nearly hidden by tall trees, came into view at the edge of their sight, he suddenly stopped.
"Wade?"
"Yeah?"
"I said you could bring a few friends… why didn't you?"
"I'm already a guest—bringing others without an invitation felt rude. Besides, Michael and the others already had plans today."
"Then did you inform… have you told any professor?"
"Why would I need to inform a professor just for spending half a day at your house?" Wade's voice sounded a bit surprised. "Caryll, what exactly are you trying to say?"
"Nothing."
Caryll kept his head down and walked forward, but after a few steps, he realized the footsteps behind him hadn't followed.
He turned around and saw Wade still standing there. Shadows from the houses on either side cast over him, as if the darkness was about to swallow him up—but those light gray eyes shone with a calm, moonlit clarity.
The morning sunlight fell on Caryll, but he didn't feel any warmth at all. Instead, a bone-deep chill gripped him, freezing his hands and feet.
Caryll forced a smile and asked, "Why did you stop, Wade?"
"Do you want to talk, Caryll?" Wade said. "Right now, right here… is there anything you want to say?"
Caryll was silent for a moment, then asked, "…Say what?"
"I don't know… maybe anything."
Wade said, "Like how your parents ended up in Hogsmeade, the real reason for this invitation, your life before Hogwarts… anything you want to talk about. If you need help, you know I can help you."
Caryll gave an awkward little laugh. "You're a student too—what can you help me with?"
"Don't dodge the question. You know what I mean, Caryll," Wade said calmly.
For a split second, scenes of his conversations with Dumbledore flashed through his mind.
…
That old man, who rarely appeared outside mealtimes, wasn't just sitting in his office all day writing letters, reading newspapers, or playing with figurines. Behind the scenes, he did a lot of things that no one could have imagined—
Presiding over Wizengamot trials, assisting the Ministry of Magic in various issues, investigating Voldemort, working to stop Grindelwald's influence… and of course, investigating a certain vampire student.
"Wade, I believe Caryll has already realized something—like the fact that his current parents are not his real ones."
Dumbledore sat in his high-backed chair, his face was full of compassion as he let out a soft sigh.
"I originally intended to tell him the truth before the holidays and help him break away from that so-called vampire family. But Caryll refused."
"He has other intentions in his heart, something he doesn't want me to know. He also doesn't want to abandon those fake parents. I fear that child is planning to do something very dangerous."
"So what do you plan to do, Professor?" Wade asked. "Just kill those two adult vampires? Wouldn't that be simpler?"
"Patience, Wade. The vampires seem to be gathering. Besides… I want to give that child a chance. He's not even fourteen yet. He deserves a chance to turn back."
…
"This is your chance, Caryll," Wade said. "Once we step into that house, everything might change. But right now, you can still walk away."
Caryll suddenly smiled. "So you did inform Dumbledore, didn't you?"
"Of course."
"You know he has something important to attend to today, right? He'll be too busy to intervene."
"I trust Dumbledore."
"Ha! Trust!" Caryll sneered. "Must be nice, huh? Having the most powerful wizard in the world at your beck and call. I'm really jealous of you, Wade. Why is it that misfortune never seems to fall on you?"
"Is that what you think?" Wade asked calmly. "Because you got caught in the rain, you hope I don't have an umbrella either?"
Caryll had never heard that expression before. He froze for a moment, then quickly understood. Gritting his teeth, he said, "If you'd gone through what I have, you wouldn't be so calm now—Shakespeare."
"I'm not as clueless as you think, Caryll," Wade replied. "If our roles were reversed, I'd seek revenge too—but I would never pass my pain onto my friends."
"Revenge?" Caryll snapped angrily. "What's the point of revenge? It doesn't change anything!"
"And obeying them does?" Wade shot back.
Caryll's nostrils flared, rage flashing in his eyes—but he didn't argue further.
"Let me throw your words back at you, Wade—you still have a chance to turn back. I suggest you run, and fast, because my… enthusiastic friends will catch up soon.
Or you can keep walking forward. But let me remind you—Dumbledore may not always be able to protect you."
The two stared at each other. Caryll's wand slipped from his sleeve with its tip just barely showing.
He clearly believed Wade would attack first. His body was taut, ready to strike at any moment.
After a few long, drawn-out seconds, Wade suddenly stepped out of the shadows at the corner of the wall. He walked past Caryll and headed straight toward the old wooden house.
Caryll was stunned for a moment, then hurried to follow.
Now it was Wade in front, Caryll behind. Caryll stared at the unguarded back in front of him, and his eyes struggled more violently than ever before. His fingers curled slightly—he lifted his hand a few times, then let it fall again.
In what felt like the blink of an eye, the house loomed before them.
No one knew how many years it had stood against wind and rain. The walls looked crooked, but still stood miraculously upright. The garden was overgrown with weeds, with only a narrow little path leading to the front door.
Wade had a strange sense that someone was watching him. He turned his head, but saw only rough wooden window frames.
Through the wooden walls, he couldn't read the names of those inside—but then, a plump woman stepped out.
She wore an apron, hands clasped in front of her, dressed almost like a maid. Beaming, she said, "Oh, dear Caryll, and this handsome little guest—please, come in… they've been waiting for you!"
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⭐Harry Potter: Becoming a Study God (HP:BSG)- +235 Chapters
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