Chapter 99: Going Home II

Finally, the day to go home arrived. Early in the morning, John boarded the Hogwarts Express with his friends.

Several people chatted about their respective vacation arrangements on the train.

Because the Quidditch World Cup wouldn't start until the end of the summer vacation, for the first month and a half of the summer vacation, they still had to live their respective vacations as usual.

Of course, if an idea-king appeared one day and sent invitations to the other few people, they would also likely go.

"Hey, you guys look, my dad is in the newspaper."

Inside the compartment, Titus suddenly happily raised the Daily Prophet in his hand.

Today's front page of the newspaper was a news report about the Quidditch World Cup, with a moving photo published on it.

In the photo, it was Minister of Magic Fudge, Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation Old Barty, and Director of the Department of Magical Games and Sports Ludo Bagman; they were standing next to a golden trophy taking a group photo.

The explanatory text below the photo read: "Magical Sports Event — The Quidditch World Cup is about to kick off, national teams are ready to go, and the eyes of the Wizarding World are gathered together!"

The three people in the photo each had smiles on their faces, and in the background, one could vaguely see flags of teams fluttering.

It should just be a promotional photo specially arranged by the Ministry of Magic to report that the preparations for this Quidditch World Cup were ready.

It's just that they didn't see Titus's father in the photo.

"Where is your dad, why didn't I see him?"

Rui'an asked somewhat strangely.

"Right here, this back view!"

Titus pointed to the very tiny back view in the corner of the photo.

Several people were all stunned, looked carefully, and discovered that this back view really looked a bit like Mr. Claude.

John was also somewhat speechless; such a back view could actually be discovered by Titus.

Worthy of being his own son.

John took the newspaper and started reading the content on it.

This was a newspaper they had jointly subscribed to; the newspaper would be delivered to Hogwarts on time every week, and then they would read it together.

During the vacation, they subscribed to it separately; after all, they weren't together.

Most of the content in the newspaper was reports about the World Cup preparations, and the content was quite detailed.

Besides this, there was no other special content, just magic accidents happening in various places in the Ministry of Magic, as well as the appearance of some strange beasts.

John flipped back to the front page of the newspaper, and his gaze fell on that group photo again.

As the Minister, Fudge stood in the C position, while Old Barty and Ludo stood on both sides.

Fudge's smile looked very kind, as friendly as a neighbor uncle.

Ludo Bagman's smile appeared even more flamboyant, and between his eyebrows and eyes, there was an excitement that couldn't be hidden.

And the smile on Old Barty's face was very official, without any warmth, as if he were just maintaining his expression reluctantly while performing some kind of duty.

He always felt that Old Barty's temperament was somewhat different from what he saw in the newspaper last term.

But where it was different, John couldn't say.

If he couldn't say it, he wouldn't say it.

John didn't think much more, handed the newspaper to Rui'an opposite, and watched the scenery outside the window himself.

Soon the train arrived at King's Cross Station.

John and his friends dragged their suitcases off the train together; they agreed to write letters to keep in touch during the summer vacation, and then each walked toward their parents who had been waiting for a long time.

John walked all the way to the outside of the station, intending to go home directly.

Anyway, it was just two steps to get home, and his parents wouldn't come to pick him up.

As a result, just after arriving outside the station, John saw his mother chatting with a familiar-looking couple, and they were chatting very happily.

John was stunned for a moment, then walked over quickly.

After walking closer, he recognized that the couple was the Granger couple.

"Mom, and Uncle and Aunt, hello."

John called out to the few people, and Mrs. Merrick then turned around, a smile appearing on her face.

"Back, son, let Mom take a look."

"Hmm, grown taller, not bad."

John's mom said while looking up and down at her son, her eyes full of gratification.

Mrs. Granger on the side also smiled and interjected: "Yes, little John is much taller than the last time we saw him; I guess next year he will be taller than our daughter."

Hearing this, John put his hands on his hips and said proudly.

"No need for next year, next term will be enough, Aunt."

Hearing this, the three parents looked at each other and all laughed amusingly.

At this time, a familiar voice sounded from behind.

"You think only you will grow taller, I won't?"

Hermione appeared behind John with a suitcase in one hand and a cat cage in the other, with a familiar smile on her face.

John didn't want to complain about Hermione's habit of appearing behind him anymore.

Hermione just winked at him playfully, then greeted her parents and Mrs. Merrick.

Mrs. Merrick was happier to see Hermione arrive than to see her own son.

"Little Hermione, you're finally back; Aunt has been waiting for you for a long time."

John on the side:???

Weren't you waiting for me?

Mrs. Merrick hugged Hermione affectionately, just like hugging her own biological daughter.

Even the Granger couple shook their heads helplessly with a smile.

Although Hermione was somewhat unaccustomed to this treatment, she still responded to Mrs. Merrick's hug with a smile.

After Mrs. Merrick let go of Hermione, she took the luggage from her hand and stuffed it into John's hand, while muttering: "John, you take it, don't let little Hermione get too tired."

Then she held Hermione's hand and said to her with a smile.

"Let's go, little Hermione, come to Aunt's house as a guest together."

Hermione looked at her parents, and they nodded with a smile.

Clearly, the two families had already discussed it beforehand.

Only then did Hermione agree with a smile.

Then Mrs. Merrick held Hermione's hand, greeted the Granger couple by the way, and walked toward the other side of the street together.

Leaving John alone carrying the luggage standing in place, looking at the backs of the few people leaving in a daze.

?

It was only later that John found out.

It turned out that since they got to know the Granger couple last time, the parents on both sides had chatted very congenially, so they often contacted and visited each other, gradually becoming familiar.

Today they also agreed in advance to visit the Merrick side on the way and have dinner.

Anyway, it was right next to the station, very convenient.

His old father didn't show up because of work reasons, but he rushed over as soon as he got off work.

The two families also had a happy dinner, and after that, the parents sat in the living room chatting.

While John and Hermione hid in the room, staring at each other.

Speaking of which, it was Hermione's first time entering John's room; she hadn't entered it at all last time.

Hermione looked around; the room was quite simply furnished, without too many decorations, and it was very tidy.

Of course, this tidiness was likely cleaned by Mrs. Merrick.

And John didn't care about Hermione looking around; after all, he didn't hide anything shameful in his room.

He hugged Big Orange and lay on the bed on his own.

The bed at home is still the most comfortable.

Big Orange had already gotten used to John's kneading; it just lazily turned over, learned John's appearance, lay on John's chest, and exposed its furry belly.

John gently scratched Big Orange's belly, closed his eyes; he was a bit tired after sitting in the car for a day.

While Hermione was looking at a photo frame on John's desk.

That was a group photo of John and his family during a family trip.

At that time, John was only 7 years old; he didn't let his parents hold him, but stood between his parents, making a V-sign and smiling brightly, his cheeks still carrying baby fat.

When John first transmigrated here, it also took him quite a few years to accept the setting of his new parents.

He also gradually let go and completely treated himself as a child, enjoying this hard-won second childhood.

Hermione looked at John in the photo and chuckled.

"You were quite cute when you were young."

"Just kidding, I've been handsome since I was young."

John didn't open his eyes and responded shamelessly, to which Hermione rolled her eyes.

She looked at John and Big Orange lying on the bed, smiled, and sat on the edge of John's bed.

She reached out and touched Big Orange's belly; Big Orange squinted to enjoy it but didn't move a bit.

Hermione said to John with annoyance.

"I came to your house as a guest with great difficulty, and you're lying on the bed sleeping?"

"Who's sleeping, this is called resting."

John said lazily.

Hermione shook her head helplessly, looked around the room, and it seemed there was nothing else to look at.

She looked at John, and then looked at the empty edge of the bed beside him.

After hesitating for a moment, she also lay on the bed, lying side by side with John, looking at the ceiling.

She was also a bit tired, and gradually closed her eyelids.

The room became quiet, and John felt Hermione's movements but didn't have any reaction.

Both of them closed their eyes, and gradually their breathing became steady.

I don't know how long it had passed, when Mrs. Merrick's voice came from outside the door.

"Little Hermione~ your parents are calling you to go back, how about forget it, just stay at our place tonight..."

Mrs. Merrick said while pushing open the door, but stopped abruptly halfway through her words.

She saw two cute children leaning together and sleeping quietly, with that big orange cat lying in the middle.

The orange cat saw someone enter the door, lazily opened its eyes, yawned, and then squinted its eyes again, clearly somewhat dissatisfied with this disturbance.

Mrs. Merrick saw this scene, immediately covered her small mouth, little stars appeared in her eyes, and her heart was melted.

After watching for a while, she then belatedly exited the room and gently closed the door.

After going out, she turned and ran back to the living room, put her hands on her hips, and smiled at the Granger couple.

"Your daughter is staying here today! No discussion!"

Granger couple:? ===== CHAPTER 100 =====