Chapter 428: This is the prime age to strive

Two weeks later.

John finally came home.

After recuperating at Nicolas Flamel's place for a full two weeks, his body and mind had mostly recovered.

The moment he pushed open his own front door, a familiar scent washed over him.

"John!"

Hermione's surprised voice came from the living room, followed quickly by the sound of hurried footsteps.

She jumped up from the sofa, ran to the door in two strides, and threw her arms around John.

"You're finally back! How do you feel? Is anything still uncomfortable?"

The little girl's questions came rapid-fire, nonstop.

Meanwhile, she kept sizing up John's body up and down, and finally her gaze settled on his left index finger.

That index finger was no longer its original shape, but a prosthetic.

Hermione, feeling a pang of sympathy, lifted John's left hand and gently stroked the prosthetic fingertip, feeling its cool touch.

"It's fine, Hermione; I'm feeling much better now."

John laughed, lifted that hand, and flexed the prosthetic finger in front of her, as if waving.

"Look, it bends and stretches even better than the original—Mr. Nicolas Flamel's craftsmanship is superb."

He even did a little finger dance for her.

Hermione finally laughed through tears, though her eyes were still red.

"Even like this, you still aren't being serious..."

Listening to Hermione's scolding, John chuckled and then scooped her up.

"This is just the beginning; later I'll show you something even more outrageous~"

Hermione's cheeks flushed instantly, and she lightly punched John's shoulder.

"Put me down; you've just recovered, don't mess around."

"I won't~ someone wrote so many lines missing me in that letter—I ought to give her a proper reply."

John said teasingly.

He naturally meant the letter Hermione had entrusted Dumbledore to give him earlier.

Because she knew John would need a while before he could return.

So she poured all her worry and longing into the letter.

Since they met, they had never written a single letter to each other.

Because whenever something came up, they just met in person—no need for letters.

Being suddenly separated like this was the first time.

So Hermione put all those things she usually felt too shy to say into the letter, pouring them out onto the parchment all at once.

"I... I was just worried about you!" Hermione's face grew redder, her voice dropping, "Who knows what state you'll end up in again..."

"Hmm, that makes sense." John affected a solemn nod, then said, "How about you check for yourself?"

Hermione's face reddened further.

But little Hermione also had a temper; being teased like this by John, her puffy little cheeks showed a hint of stubbornness.

"Fine, I'll check..."

She muttered softly, bringing her little face close to John's lips.

Then, without further ado, she began kissing John.

As if venting the days of longing and worry she'd accumulated, it all turned into tenderness and urgency between their lips.

John was somewhat caught off guard by Hermione's sudden assertiveness.

It was the first time Hermione had taken the lead, pressing him.

But he quite enjoyed Hermione's proactive attitude.

He lightly wrapped his arms around her waist, letting her clumsy yet utterly sincere kisses land on his lips.

Hermione's breathing grew a little ragged; her hands unconsciously climbed onto his shoulders, fingertips tightening slightly, as if afraid he might vanish the next second.

Kruk Mountain, perched on the nearby cat tree, watched the entwined pair and couldn't help but yawn.

Seeing the litter‑box officer, who'd been gloomy for two weeks, finally cheer up, Kruk Mountain flicked its tail, tucked its head between its paws, and began to purr contentedly.

In its mind it thought, "Finally I don't have to cheer up that moody litter‑box officer anymore."

Regarding Yueer's situation, the next day John went to report to the two elders.

After two weeks of gestation.

The embryo's development had entered a relatively stable stage.

Nicolas Flamel gave an estimate: about six months left.

This fleshly form, backed by surging vital energy and a constant supply of power, will develop much faster than a normal human embryo.

Once fully formed into a human shape, Yueer will arrive in the world as a complete, independent life form.

Then it will continue growing at a normal human pace until it is indistinguishable from an ordinary infant.

As for after birth, it will be left to them, as its parents, to raise.

John relayed Nicolas Flamel's words verbatim to the two elders, who listened with both excitement and nervousness.

Who would have thought that at their age they'd have to raise a newborn daughter all over again?

"Don't worry; she retains all her current memories, and her bodily development will be relatively swift, so she won't be too hard to raise."

John still thought the elders were worried about childcare, so he reassured them.

But that wasn't what they were actually worried about.

Because in order to make Yao'er's birth more reasonable, they agreed that when the time came they would go to the hospital, casually cast a Confundus Curse on the doctor, and say that Yao'er was born after ten months of pregnancy by the mother.

During this period, let the mother pretend to be pregnant and take maternity leave.

To avoid unnecessary trouble caused by Yao'er's birth.

Although saying she is an adopted daughter would be more convenient, the two elders insist on having Yao'er born as their biological daughter.

"I'm just thinking, we're already this old, having a child might make people laugh..." The old father scratched his head, his face showing a bit of embarrassment.

"What are you talking about? Mom and Dad, you're not even forty yet; this is the time to strive."

"In a few years I'll give you another grandchild."

When John said that, the old couple were first stunned, then their faces flushed.

The old mother angrily smacked him: "You child, so rude."

Beside her, Hermione was so embarrassed her ears burned, and she secretly pinched John.

The old father then lightly coughed and gave a reminder.

"You two are still young, don't rush, don't rush..."

John smiled and agreed, chatted a few more sentences, then got up to take his leave.

Leave the time for them, the old couple.

Think back, when we first went to Hogwarts to study.

They even sneaked off behind my back for a honeymoon.

They almost didn't bring back a younger sibling for him.

So there's no need for me to worry about the two elders' relationship.

Afterwards John returned to school.

He was on leave during this period, because the semester hadn't ended yet.

Of course, he still came home every night.

Yao'er remained at Nicolas Flamel's place, and John had obtained Nicolas Flamel's permission to visit Yao'er anytime.

But only he could go alone.

Mainly because the old man is still in seclusion.

It's not good to bring others to disturb him, so even John himself goes only once every week or so.

So John spends most of his time enjoying campus life.

And there are the days when he returns home to be close with Hermione.

In the blink of an eye, sixth year is also coming to an end.