[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hogwarts-learning-panel":3,"chapter-hogwarts-learning-panel-hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-381":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Hogwarts Learning Panel",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2250619,4210,"Chapter 381: Ghost Friend","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-381",381,"\u003Cp>The borderlands, the world beyond the Veil, the lands once trodden by Merlin…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whatever the name, all terms convey the mystery of this place and the potent magic surely hidden within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, a black cat walked here, pacing around the dilapidated Victorian buildings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This area had once been empty and blindingly white, but now a short stretch of street had appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black cat walked down the street, gazing curiously at the puddles that had formed here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The transparent puddles sharply reflected a world wrapped in mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black cat lifted its head, its whiskers trembling; behind it, the transparent mist churned, and some “clumps” seemed pulled forward toward the cat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could see these clumps varied in size, emitting rings of mist; at the center of the rippling mist, the cat saw the wizards’ dreams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the three largest clumps, Professor McGonagall sat on a chair beside sun-dappled fields, a breeze brushing her face as she smiled quietly, her gaze fixed calmly on the black cat leaping and trying to catch butterflies;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor Snape’s clump showed almost nothing—his dream was deeply veiled; the cat could only occasionally glimpse cats and deer running through it;\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Jia Siting’s dream was more direct—he saw himself waving his wand, blocking Voldemort from going on a killing spree.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black cat walked past these clumps and came to several larger ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It recognized these as Hermione, Neville, Harry, Ron, and the professors; Wizard Sean even saw Headmaster Dumbledore—his dream was also hazy, seemingly containing only himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Wizard Sean gazed at the headmaster, Dumbledore suddenly turned, smiling with delight at the black cat:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Green, won’t you invite me for tea?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Startled, the black cat’s fur bristled; it paused for a second, then pulled the curious old wizard forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m delighted to see you in a dream. The children in the castle haven’t been spreading rumors about dreams lately—I thought you’d grown tired.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old wizard in purple robes stepped in naturally and sat on the newly appeared chair along the street,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I remember there were no chairs here… Good progress, Mr. Green.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black cat nodded, as if remembering something, then detached a small ball from its tail; the ball churned in the deep mist and quickly reshaped into a cup of heavily sugared black tea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems you haven’t forgotten my taste. Have I never told you how thoughtful you are?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old wizard took the steaming cup shaped like a black cat, his lips unable to suppress a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Headmaster Dumbledore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black cat finally greeted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore’s words reminded it: this was its borderland, its own dream.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If so, then shaping a cup of tea shouldn’t be difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It turned its gaze to its tail, curious:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What else could it shape? And why did the mist-clumps separate from its tail?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Call me Albus here, Wizard Sean.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Headmaster Dumbledore sipped the tea; its sweetness felt as real as if he weren’t dreaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed to recall something, his expression turning grave:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course, indulging in illusions while forgetting real life is of no benefit…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black cat sensed something sharp; it knew Headmaster Dumbledore had visited the borderland before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The headmaster had reminded it that dreams could be shaped—had Dumbledore himself already used this ability?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This made the black cat stop thinking further; it knew clearly how deeply false, fleeting happiness could scar those who lived through shameful days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Headmaster Dumbledore, I must endure two seven-hour periods before dawn arrives—is there any way to shorten this process?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black cat asked, standing atop a mist-clump.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There is no way,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore smiled, watching the cat’s ears droop before continuing,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unless…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black cat asked quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You have a friend who just arrived in the borderland. If it loves you, perhaps you can find a path to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You know, souls gather together…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His suggestion was merely an interesting guess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The adventures after death are far more thrilling than they imagine, and the borderland far vaster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Souls newly arrived in the borderland vanish quickly—let alone the ones they might be near, the ones the seeker longs to see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What about ghosts?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black cat asked unexpectedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ghosts?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore chuckled; perhaps because he was in the borderland, he was more “honest” than he had been at Hogwarts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The ghost lady who just arrived in the borderland.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black cat said seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Very well, ghosts. Then, Mr. Black Cat, master of fortune, look at the mist around you…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore’s smile slightly froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black cat froze; after hearing Dumbledore’s teasing, its tail twitched irritably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ms. Iso Ser—she says she has family wandering, waiting for her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a few seconds, it spoke while rummaging through its clumps, finally spotting a small one with exceptionally thick mist threads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It didn’t notice the old wizard’s expression shifting repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hurry, Wizard Sean.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore watched the mist rising around them, showing a hint of unease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Found it—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black cat had just lifted its head when it saw Dumbledore sigh helplessly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, Wizard Sean, I’ve waited decades—I suppose waiting a little longer won’t hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What matters is hope. It’s more precious than any treasure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore glanced back once more, then vanished into the mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, the black cat saw his dream clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore stood in a modest little house, where an elderly wizard directed a hammer to repair the walls, while a kind woman watched him, cradling a delicate young witch; beside her, a grumpy wizard handed out his Christmas gift, and Dumbledore slowly took the wool socks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene flashed by, like a soap bubble bursting at the slightest touch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black cat turned its head, its tail drooping slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It let out a low rumble and moved forward again into the endless white expanse of the borderland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One clump floated beside it, following its movements and guiding its path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After an unknown length of time, the black cat leapt nimbly through countless dangerous mist-clumps, and the dilapidated Victorian buildings vanished from sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, it sensed that Ms. Iso Ser was nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>",1012,"2026-06-19T10:00:41.888Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ca44399ec01d27aa9cbfe4bd052acfeac6eb9a0883507ead2e1bc7fbc16f16c0","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-382","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-380",526,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhogwarts-learning-panel-cover.jpg"]