"Jim exclaimed excitedly when he saw Felix. "You're the legendary wizard I saw on TV, it startled me!"
Felix just shrugged. "I had to keep my identity hidden, actually leaving the orphanage to go to school," he explained his true journey over the years simply.
"And your work experience—" Jim looked skeptical, "That's not made up too, is it?"
"That part is true. I worked in London for two years after graduation."
"Strange hobby," Jim couldn't understand this approach, "If I had the talent, I'd focus solely on studying magic." Later, the door opened from outside, and it was Rebecca. She was so surprised to see Felix that she almost shouted out.
"Wow, it's really you! The magician?" She took out a carrot from her bag, pretending it was a wand, and made a peculiar noise, "Did you use magic to dispel the clouds over the entire country?"
"To be precise, a wizard," Felix corrected, "And it wasn't just me."
"Rebecca was asleep at the time; she saw it on a TV broadcast," Jim took the bag from her and turned to explain, "She's been a bit sleepy lately, the doctor suggested she get more exercise." Felix looked at Rebecca's slightly bulging belly, surprised.
"Yeah, we got married," Jim said. "We couldn't reach you, thought you were abroad. But now we know why."
Felix thought of his seldom-used phone.After changing, Rebecca sat next to Jim. "The TV said they would invite some people to visit the wizarding world?"
"Would you like to see what real wizards are like?" Felix asked, whether it was securing two spots or arranging it privately, it was an easy task for him.
Jim seemed tempted but glanced at his wife, hesitating.
"Let's not," he shook his head, "Rebecca is pregnant. I wouldn't want—" he blushed slightly, "Well, I worry about the risks."
Felix nodded in understanding.
At this time, having a relationship with wizards might not be a good thing for ordinary people. Felix himself would be fine, but his friends might face threats, which was also why he came. After asking Jim and Rebecca's opinion, Felix cast a complex spell to keep this friendship a secret.
After staying a while longer, he stood up to leave, leaving behind a card. "Wizards are particularly good at dealing with problems. If you encounter any tricky trouble, you can contact me. Just tear up the card."
Jim took the card solemnly and escorted Felix to the door.
"The old headmaster's not in good health," he said.
Felix paused, "I'll visit him."
"Hey! The due date is in early January," Jim called out from behind. Felix turned around, and Jim waved the card, "At least this time, we won't worry about not being able to find you."
---
The next morning at Hogwarts, students were chatting in small groups after dealing with the day's newspapers.
"Did a new organization emerge today, determined to drown wizards like rats?" Ron asked mockingly.
"No," Harry yawned, "But there was something about the low employment rate for wizards, offering us jobs."
Ron muttered, "Busybodies."
Dean semi-seriously said, "I might give it a try once things stabilize."
Neville looked up hopefully, "Any new progress in negotiations? My newspaper didn't mention anything."
"Not so fast," Hermione cheerfully said, "It's only the second day. But we always prepare ahead, aiming to be at the forefront—anyone going to Sword Castle?" she looked around.
"You mean the Diagon Alley shopkeepers' meeting?" Harry asked keenly, "You're going?"
Hermione shrugged. Luna and Ginny passed behind Harry, Ginny raising her arm balletically around him before disappearing. Hermione chuckled.
Harry looked puzzled.
"Nothing," she said quickly.
Then, Hannah and Susan Bones joined the conversation, with Ernie and Justin following behind, both pale as if they hadn't eaten breakfast, and Daphne constantly stroking her hair on the right side.
"It's outrageous, some newspaper claimed wizards have radiation—what's that?" Hannah said indignantly.
"Like a malignant contagious disease," Hermione explained briefly. "Dragon pox?" Hannah asked. "Sort of," Hermione said, then realized, "Did the newspaper really say that?"
Hannah spelled out a word.
Hermione was incredulous, "I can't believe they'd make up such lies."
"Next time, check if the author's last name is Dursley," Harry said listlessly, "Sounds like something my uncle would say; he always thought wizards would pollute the environment..." he mused, "Newspapers shouldn't allow too much foul language."
"And there's talk about wizards and the apocalypse," Ernie chimed in, turning to Justin, "Involving a prophecy, I forgot the
word—"
"Mayans," Justin muttered.
"Were they Muggle seers?" Daphne asked curiously.
"Not sure, what's known is they were a branch of the ancient Indians, once highly advanced, then suddenly declined," Hermione explained, "Later generations found some ambiguous prophecies in their relics."
"It sounds real on the newspaper," Justin said earnestly, "I saw something similar as a kid, in a book with a terrifying cover—though my mom confiscated it later."
"What did she say?" Hermione asked.
"She said it was a waste of time," Justin scoffed, "But she didn't know about Divination classes then. During holidays, she'd use kitchen eggs for divination, through 'Peering Through the Mist' book."
"You still kept it? I thought you threw it away," Ernie said.
Hermione, clearly uninterested in Divination despite acknowledging Trelawney's occasional accurate prophecies, stubbornly believed Trelawney's mind was usually muddled, often by sherry. She asked again who was going to Sword Castle.
Finally, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Susan, and Neville decided to check out the commotion. "What about Ginny?" As they headed towards the Transfiguration office, Harry looked for the redhead.
"I saw her leave with Luna," Hermione said.
They reached the second-floor Transfiguration office, formerly Professor McGonagall's but now vacant since she moved to the headmaster's office. The office's fireplace was available for students' daily travels.
Diagon Alley's shops were eerily quiet, with closed notices on the windows.
"Look over there, Harry!" Ron pointed out sharply.
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