[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hogwarts-learning-panel":3,"chapter-hogwarts-learning-panel-hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-67":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},2250305,4210,"Chapter 67: I Have Waited Too Long","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-67",67,"\u003Cp>The Great Hall, at the staff table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dumbledore’s silver beard shimmered in the candlelight; when an owl dropped a packet of sweets onto the head of a Gryffindor, his half-moon spectacles concealed a cheerful blink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as he blinked with delight, the student beside him—excelling in Transfiguration—had vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so his smile deepened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The greatest white wizard of this century interlaced his fingers and murmured:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, that’s good, isn’t it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People will eventually discover that at Hogwarts, those who need help always receive it…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bustle of the Great Hall meant nothing to Wizard Sean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He held the letter, walking down the empty corridor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw armor glinting; the proud owl perched on his shoulder, cooing and pointing toward a path he had passed countless times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not notice that the portrait of Professor McGonagall’s wheat field behind him was now crowded with figures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Golden wheat rolled under the sun like an ocean kissed by daylight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the waves, figures holding a few blue cornflowers whispered to one another:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, I’m so moved—today that child looked so troubled, his sharp eyebrows nearly twisted into an egg.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Violet clutched the hem of her dress, watching the young wizard pass with the owl; for a moment, she felt she could not breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady Violet, oh, come help me—I can’t reach my eye with my injured hand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sir Cadogan set down his small horse, his eyes sparkling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You all saw the letter?! I never imagined… Do you know? I’ve watched young McGonagall for fifty years!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Fatness pressed a hand to her chest, but Sir Cadogan cut her off in a low voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, alright, my dear lady, go admire that big cat—knights ought only to watch young Green.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Professor?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean knocked on the wooden door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was nervous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was not afraid of Professor Snape, nor did he harbor prejudice against Professor Quirrell—even if the two-headed man was truly bizarre.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But only Professor McGonagall—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>he would never forget the owl that crashed through the window—yes, the very one on his shoulder—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>nor would he forget Professor McGonagall’s help.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orphanage bed always smelled of mildew; the constant sense of impending death was unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made Wizard Sean remember all the more clearly the day the professor took him away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pushed open the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Transfiguration office always carried a faint scent of sandalwood and parchment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fire in the hearth burned erratically; beside it, a long object was tightly wrapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor McGonagall’s emerald robe rustled; a few strands of silver hair glowed faintly gold in the firelight. Her expression, rare for her, lacked sternness; her voice was gentle and steady:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Green, come here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean obediently trotted over, not noticing the deeper sorrow in Professor McGonagall’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a slight flick of her wand, the long object floated onto the desk before Wizard Sean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unwrap it, Mr. Green.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean held his breath; his mind went momentarily numb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the wooden desk, inside the carefully opened wrapping, lay an excellent broom:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elegant lines, glossy finish, the handle made of rosewood, the tail bound with neat, straight twigs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nimbus 2000”—the words glowed gold along the top of the handle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I may not understand, Professor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faced with such a tremendous temptation, Wizard Sean felt no excitement or joy—only a quiet, faint question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Think: he was not a Gryffindor, nor was he the Chosen One.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even three months ago, he had been merely a sickly orphan in the home, waiting only for his health to improve so he could escape Holsay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He knew Professor McGonagall was cold on the outside but kind within—but did he deserve such fierce kindness?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Nimbus 2000 was no broken broom—it cost at least six hundred Jin Jin Jialong in Diagon Alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By King Arthur’s beard!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the portrait frame of the Transfiguration classroom, Sir Cadogan nearly reached out to tap Wizard Sean’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lady Fatness held him back:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sir, my dear sir, how could you ruin this moment—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the glow of the hearth, Minerva McGonagall gently moved the broom aside; the tenderness in her eyes erased Wizard Sean’s confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come to me, child.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean suddenly felt himself embraced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He smelled a comforting fragrance; confusion and an inexplicable warmth wrapped around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw the emerald brooch with stars on the professor’s chest glinting, and heard her soft voice say:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Green, no magic today—tell me about your days at Hogwarts, would you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the corridor, a knight strode forward with two ladies through golden wheat fields,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>all three faces radiant with smiles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even the sternest faces can suddenly burst forth with astonishing warmth—truly worth the journey—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Fatness wiped her corner of the eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sir Cadogan’s beard bristled; he muttered,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Coward, coward—can’t even handle happiness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, his voice grew quieter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean carried the broom all the way to the Quidditch pitch; a charm on the broom made it weightless to hold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come quickly, Mr. Green,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Madam Hooch was arranging brooms; she spotted the gleaming new one at once and nodded in satisfaction,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine new broom—get used to it. Today we’ll simulate the test.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean nodded, mounted the broom,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and only then did he recall Madam Hooch’s “hints.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, without even politely asking her permission, he took off—his usual caution seemed to have faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Madam Hooch’s hawk-like eyes watched him,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>filled with quiet approval.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The test was demanding: weaving through rings, dodging poles, avoiding enchanted golf balls—all to be completed within half an hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Madam Hooch followed the strictest standards:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Green, turn! Pull up! Stay focused, adjust your posture—only enough skill can save you from the flying dangers common at Hogwarts!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the room where the hearth burned fiercely,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the tall witch stood watching the pitch, as an old voice spoke beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Minerva, you haven’t cared for a child this much in a long time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kindly wizard, with long white beard, gazed at the painting within the room; his blue eyes held mischief, then shifted to gentle teasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Minerva McGonagall’s robe still bore creases; her voice was stern yet softened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two qualities blended unexpectedly well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at him—as if at a seed, or as if at a tender shoot finally breaking through the soil.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t understand, Albus—he smiled slightly and told me many things,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>and I feel… for this, I have waited too long.”\u003C\u002Fp>",1069,"2026-06-19T10:00:40.768Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4ec90f59a64d6a67061e499e896884d4239e8bb5d2aa874b7bd772f33d568bcf","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-68","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-66",526,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhogwarts-learning-panel-cover.jpg"]