Chapter 168: Ceremony

“Wizard Sean and Harry’s are better than ours,”

Fred said, running his hand over Harry’s sweater,

“Clearly, Mum cares more for people who aren’t her own.”

“Why don’t you put yours on, Ron?”

George asked,

“Come on, put it on—it’s beautiful and warm.”

“I don’t like maroon.”

Ron grumbled half-jokingly, pulling the sweater over his head.

“Your sweater doesn’t have a letter,”

George said,

“She probably figured you wouldn’t forget your own name. We’re not stupid—we’re the ones she keeps calling Joe-red and Fred-ge.”

“What are you two fussing about? Oh, Mr. Green.”

Percy Weasley walked over, seemingly to make small talk.

In his hand was a package—he was clearly unwrapping his Christmas gift, and a bulky sweater already hung over his arm, which Fred snatched away.

“‘P’ stands for Prefect! Put it on, Percy, hurry up—we’re all wearing ours.”

“I—don’t—want—to—”

He mumbled, but the twins didn’t care—they shoved the sweater over Percy’s head, knocking his glasses askew.

“You two!”

Percy chased after the Weasley twins again.

“Well, that’s not the point…”

Ron sighed, nudging Harry.

Harry was mindlessly reaching for a box.

“Harry, wait until you get to the Room of Requirement to open it.”

Wizard Sean guessed what it was and quickly stopped him.

“Oh… oh…”

Harry snapped back to himself, giving Wizard Sean a grateful look.

His mind was full of the joy of sharing secrets with his friends—Wizard Sean surely knew more than they did. But he nearly forgot: he only wanted Wizard Sean to know, not everyone.

The refreshments consisted of turkey sandwiches, toasted crumpets, wine-soaked fruit pudding, and Christmas cake. Though Wizard Sean felt nothing, after eating them, Harry and Ron both grew drowsy.

“This is just lunch… I heard dinner will have eight hundred barrels of honeywine and the Weird Sisters singing…”

Ron said.

When Harry pulled out the invisibility cloak, everyone fell silent.

It was a silvery, liquid-like substance that slid to the floor and pooled, shimmering.

“This… is my father’s.”

Harry clutched the note, stunned.

“He must love you very much, Harry. You should use it first.”

Wizard Sean said, and Ron’s petty jealousy vanished.

Yes, Harry should use it himself.

It seemed Harry would soon be sneaking out at night.

Wizard Sean thought—unless he misremembered, this night’s stroll would lead Harry to the Mirror of Erised.

Wizard Sean wasn’t curious about the Mirror of Erised; the magic he most desired, he already had.

With the Christmas holiday arrived, young witches and wizards ran wild.

But Wizard Sean always had more important things to do, so he left the Room of Requirement.

“Harry, Harry… don’t you think Wizard Sean’s talking more now… like just now—he wouldn’t have said so much…”

Ron elbowed Harry.

“Really? Maybe…”

Harry nodded.

And Wizard Sean’s odd behavior was tied to the same reason the professors had all vanished unusually.

Headmaster’s office.

Dumbledore beamed, especially as he watched the Potions professor stare at the kettle for over ten minutes—his eyes grew even more mischievous.

“Oh—”

Dumbledore suddenly sighed,

Snape instinctively glanced at the door, then shot Dumbledore a furious glare.

“You should see Madam Pomfrey about your throat, Albus.”

He growled.

“The person I’ve been wanting to see lately isn’t Poppy… it’s your letter, Minerva.”

Dumbledore’s beard bristled completely.

Minerva McGonagall nervously took the letter from the owl’s claw—it was a Ministry notice, informing them the ceremony was about to begin, and all must attend.

Not just her—Professor Snape, Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, and others had received the same.

Dumbledore stared at the letter; his gaze seemed to pierce through Hogwarts’ ancient walls, seeing the wizard who had run here in panic, transforming into a cat.

“Black cats—what do you think of black cats? As lucky statues for the third floor?”

Dumbledore winked.

“I see your taste remains as dreadful as ever, Albus.”

Snape said coldly.

“Lucky black cats.”

Professor McGonagall gave a slight nod.

“Of course—”

Dumbledore interlaced his fingers and laughed merrily.

He neither confirmed nor denied, only gave Professor Snape a long, meaningful look.

At the stone gargoyle outside the Headmaster’s office.

A black cat leapt into the air and suddenly transformed into a small wizard in a black robe.

Wizard Sean again had no password; he was about to try a Cockroach Cluster when the gargoyle leapt aside eagerly.

The wall behind it split open instantly, revealing a slowly ascending spiral staircase.

“He’s here—oh my goodness—”

Fat Lady suddenly dashed into the portrait inside the Headmaster’s office.

“Elegance, my dear lady—the more urgent the moment, the more elegant you must remain.”

Sir Cadogan rode his pony proudly, comforting Fat Lady.

Madame Violette also wore a grand white gown, pulling Fat Lady close as they both watched the door anxiously.

Then the brass door knocker shaped like a griffin was pulled.

A head appeared, then a long black robe.

“What an exhilarating moment—”

Dumbledore stood, wearing the same robe from the Start-of-Term Feast, draped in a purple cloak that swept the floor, and boots with buckles.

Behind his half-moon spectacles, his bright blue eyes gleamed.

“Then, I shall announce—”

…

“Now—I declare—the ‘Special Adoption Decree Issued Jointly by Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the Ministry of Magic’ is effective immediately!”

Dumbledore winked at Wizard Sean.

And Wizard Sean was suddenly embraced by Professor McGonagall, who arrived gracefully, almost running.

He had once run like that himself—now—the wind whistling past his ears grew louder still.

Professor Flitwick clapped vigorously; Professor Sprout smiled like a winter sun.

…

Wizard Sean didn’t know how he left the Headmaster’s office, only that Hogwarts was now drizzling, and he stood inside the castle, with shelter from the rain.

On the Headmaster’s desk, a list had changed:

【Wizard Sean Green, Guardian: Minerva McGonagall; Severus Snape】