[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hogwarts-learning-panel":3,"chapter-hogwarts-learning-panel-hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-458":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},2250696,4210,"Chapter 458: Marcus","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-458",458,"\u003Cp>“Mr. Marcus McGonagall—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendant called out again, lowering his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know my name? You once worked in the Auror Office?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus lifted his head proudly, brimming with energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No no no—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendant shook his head swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it was Marcus’s turn to be baffled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Please follow me to the VIP room, esteemed Mr. McGonagall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendant appeared especially excited, respectfully leading Marcus and Wizard Sean to a quiet room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The space seemed enchanted with a silence charm, muting all outside noise instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, may I ask what this is about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus always spoke his mind directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, esteemed Mr. McGonagall, you are a friend of Mr. Hermes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Please know that the Fairy Workshop offers free access to you and Professor Minerva McGonagall.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendant asked in surprise, unable to understand Marcus’s confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Friend?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus furrowed his brow—he had no memory of ever knowing such an alchemical master.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It must be Minerva’s colleague.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Wizard Sean tugged at his robe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s leave soon, my dear little Green.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus spoke as if soothing a child.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My deepest apologies, Mr. McGonagall—please take this magical hand mirror…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendant swiftly placed a thin, lightweight magical hand mirror into Marcus’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Would you like a multi-mirror? We have three-mirror, four-mirror, up to seven-mirror models—all crafted personally by Mr. Hermes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You need not worry about stock; you have the highest priority.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is a multi-mirror? Sir, please explain quickly—my young gentleman here has waited too long.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus’s interest surged again, and he asked swiftly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course—a multi-mirror enables multiple people to communicate face-to-face simultaneously. It is a rare product of the Fairy Workshop, with fewer than thirty in existence; the top-tier seven-mirror model has only three copies.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The attendant explained rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This… this… oh—I must ask Minerva—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus suddenly remembered something, and his expression grew somber.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dared not spend freely here without knowing who this mysterious alchemist was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had always understood: the freest things are often the most expensive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Grandpa Marcus, here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A special mirror surface appeared beside his hand; when he looked down, Minerva McGonagall’s gentle face appeared clearly upon it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My dear Minerva—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus exclaimed in delight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after a moment did he realize—he widened his eyes, glancing from the mirror to Wizard Sean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know an alchemical master named Hermes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He swallowed his question and asked Professor McGonagall instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Marcus, you’ve gone senile…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minerva McGonagall shook her head, a wry smile tugging at her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ask Mr. Green.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The VIP room fell silent; the attentive attendant, upon hearing this, wisely withdrew, leaving only Wizard Sean and Marcus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is our shop, Grandpa Marcus.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the noisy clamor gone, Wizard Sean could finally make his words heard by the excitable Marcus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had been pondering for a long time whether the magical world had any sound-transmission magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus’s eyebrows knotted into a question mark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When did Minerva become an alchemical master…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He muttered under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is not Professor McGonagall,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus was utterly lost—he racked his brain trying to recall which of his incompetent children could possibly hold such a title, until his dazed gaze landed on Wizard Sean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Thrice-Great Hermes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus gasped, his voice rising sharply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just a rumor,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The greatest wizard of the future?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus’s lips curled into a wide, ecstatic grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The magical world always loves exaggeration, Grandpa Marcus,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean shook his head like a spinning fan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the beard of Green—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus finally cried out in joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seconds later, Wizard Sean felt himself rising inexplicably—the glass display cases below shrank as Marcus lifted him into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three seconds later, a black cat dove from the air, landing and transforming into a young wizard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What beard?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean asked, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A gift bestowed upon the McGonagall family—the beard of Green—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcus remained lost in his bliss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Wizard Sean heard clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He unconsciously touched his chin—there was no beard there, but his Animagus form had one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was hard to say whether this was accurate or not.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Marcus’s most joyful day in decades.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He surveyed the bustling Fairy Workshop, one hand holding the magical hand mirror, the other holding the young wizard’s, savoring the overflowing joy within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bright blue sky had been waxed; even the winter-worn leaves had been glazed with color.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The world suddenly seemed clear and bright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Happiness stirred within him like a fluffy little cat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he the happiest wizard under this blue sky?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, of course.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In such a moment, it was impossible to feel troubled—even Voldemort could not shatter his joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>War would naturally destroy many things, but certain wizards were never greatly affected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, the top-tier masters—especially the Potions Masters and Alchemical Masters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rulers constantly exchanged power, reshaping the magical world to suit their desires.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet true top-tier wizards still lived well enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His thoughts could be verified by facts: like Nicolas Flamel during Grindelwald’s reign, or Minerva McGonagall, constrained and persuaded to surrender, yet still teaching at Hogwarts under Voldemort’s rule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the wizards scrambling to buy the magical hand mirrors, Marcus hummed a cheerful tune under his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Minerva’s child, my dear child, child of the McGonagall family…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He muttered incessantly along the way, sometimes laughing at his own words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean watched Marcus with concern, secretly observing the old wizard’s involuntary, radiant smile through the magical hand mirror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the fireplace farewell, the old wizard didn’t blink—he was already pondering how to tell Nai this good news, while soothing himself:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s just a simple parting—spring has come; how far can summer vacation be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waiting is painful, but one must endure it…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean opened his mouth but could not find words to say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can do it, Marcus—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he heard Marcus’s voice again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Green flames swallowed Wizard Sean’s form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the familiar castle appeared before Wizard Sean, he had already figured out, during this day’s free time, how to resolve the curse of the Resurrection Stone.\u003C\u002Fp>",1006,"2026-06-19T10:00:42.198Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","b606de6fc584d02a92cff2befe6dc66798b3b43b57450b973275667e9439ca43","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-459","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-457",526,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhogwarts-learning-panel-cover.jpg"]