The days of hanging out at Hogwarts

"For decades, what has sustained me is the belief in taking care of the relatives and friends of my comrades. I have a farm in Scotland and give the rent to them every year."

"I have always felt that this is my responsibility, the meaning of my life. I was the only one who came back alive, so I should shoulder the responsibility. Year after year, people I have never met gradually pass away, but I am still alive."

"The widow of my last comrade passed away, and I no longer have any nostalgia for this world."

"That day, the mayor suddenly came to tell me that I still have a distant grandnephew who needs to be taken care of. It's you. They said that you have encountered misfortune and need a shelter."

"I agreed, and they sent you here within a few days. That afternoon, I looked at that boy, his clothes were in tatters, his feet were bare, and he was covered in mud."

"You know everything that happens next."

Loren listened to Bates talk about his past experiences, and his heart was ironed to perfection. But looking at his pale beard and deep wrinkles, I suddenly felt some pity.

Because of an accident, this old man has been burdened with sin all his life and lives alone, far away from people. He should have enjoyed honors, but he was lonely all his life.

Loren didn't know how to comfort him, so he patted Bates on the shoulder: "Thank you."

Bates said no more, and the two of them just stared at the wilderness until late at night.

…

Loren didn't mention the werewolf thing again in the following days. He was also curious about whether werewolves were afraid of silver bullets, whether they were invulnerable, and whether they could eat raw meat.

But every time I looked at Bates's beard and wrinkles, I never mentioned it again.

In this way, Bates occasionally taught some fighting skills and reconnaissance skills learned in the army, and lived an ordinary life at other times.

Loren flipped through the two strange books again and again, trying to figure out what kind of world this was. Was it Nico Flamel himself who sold him the book, or was it someone else?

If he thought about it more, he would feel that the name Nico Flamel was a bit familiar, maybe he had heard of it in his previous life. But there is still no answer.

Ordinary days continued until 1991, when Loren turned 11 years old.

The mountains are much cooler in summer than other places, and the pasture tastes good. Goats are scattered on the hillside. Loren is leaning on a stone with a book and reading.

He had read the travel notes in the latter part of "An Introduction to Hieroglyphs" many times, but there were no other diversions during the days on the mountain.

Peter no longer worked as a sheepherder and went to the city. At first he wanted to study, but later he heard that he was learning to repair cars with his uncle.

The current shepherd was Loren, and Bates had said that he would be sent to a boarding school in the city for a few years to attend public school.

Loren had no other plans, and he had no objection to this arrangement.

There was a commotion from the sheep, and Loren looked up and saw a gray-brown owl flying unsteadily over.

Are there owls in the mountains here?

Loren was a little confused, he had never seen it before.

As it neared, Loren watched the owl fly over, clutching a letter in its talons.

This strong sense of déjà vu reminded him of something, and his eyes widened as he watched the owl getting closer and closer.

The owl landed in front of him, put the letter in his hand, and then stared at him with its round eyes.

Loren hurriedly took out a piece of cheese from his bag and handed it over.

The owl flapped its wings, nuzzled Loren's hand with its small beak, and held the cheese in its mouth. The pure and fragrant goat cheese is made by Loren himself.

Loren Morgan swears he actually saw surprise in the owl's eyes.

Ignoring the owl, Loren opened the letter eagerly, looking at the big "H" and logo in the middle of the envelope and the animals surrounding it.

In the middle of the first page it says:

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(President of the International Federation of Wizards, First Class of the Order of Merlin, Archmage, and Chief Magician of the Wizengamot)

This is followed by the main text:

Dear Mr. Morgan:

We are pleased to inform you that you have been admitted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Attached is a list of required secretaries and equipment.

The semester is scheduled to begin on September 1st. We will be waiting for your owl to bring your reply before July 31st.

Vice Principal (Female)

Sincerely, Minerva McGonagall

The second page contains new items, including:

【uniform】

First-year students need:

1. Three-sided plain work robe (black)

2. A plain pointed hat (black) worn during the day

3. A pair of protective gloves (made of fire dragon leather or similar materials)

4. A winter cloak (black, silver buckle)

Please note: All student clothing must have name tags

【textbook】

All students need to prepare the following books:

Standard Spells, Elementary, by Miranda Gorshak

A History of Magic, by Bathilda Bagshot

The Theory of Magic, by Adebe Wulfling

The Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration, by Emeric Switch

A Thousand Miracle Herbs and Mushrooms, by Phyllida Spohr

Magic Potions and Potions, by Arseny Giger

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, by Newt Scamander

Dark Arts: A Guide to Self-Defense, by Quentin Trimble

【Other equipment】

a magic wand

A crucible (made of pewter, standard size No. 2)

A set of glass or crystal vials

a telescope

a brass balance

Students may bring an owl or a cat or a toad

Parents are particularly reminded that first-year students are not allowed to bring their own broomsticks.

Loren's hands trembled as he unfolded the letter.

This is not the UK in the 1980s, this is the wizarding world of Harry Potter!

He had always planned to go to famous places to make money when he was older, such as Wall Street and Silicon Valley.

But what happened to Grandpa Bates kept reminding him that this was not a normal world.

Loren always had trepidation about his future imagination. He might go on living his life step by step, and he might come into contact with some extraordinary things, but he could never feel at ease.

Now, the world has never been so clear to Loren!

He spent the whole afternoon carefully looking at the letter, its printing, ink, and pen. He looked over it over and over again, and it seemed that he never got tired of it.

Finally, it was getting dark. With an excited heart, Loren drove the sheep down the mountain to the residents, and then rushed towards the cabin.

"Grandpa Bates! I have a great thing for you." Loren handed the letter to Bates, who was building a new chair.

Bates looked at the uncontrollable smile on Loren's face, and then looked at the delicate letter. He rubbed his hands on his clothes a few times before picking up the letter.

It didn't take long for Bates to finish reading the letter.

"Are you sure this strange magic academy is not a liar?" Bates didn't doubt the existence of magic. After all, he was a werewolf, but he was afraid that this was some new scam.

"Probably not..."

Loren was naturally aware of the situation, but he didn't know how to explain this scene to Bates.

Just as the two of them were going back and forth over the letter, a middle-aged woman wearing a black skirt and black square-rimmed glasses walked up the side of the road. She had a serious expression and a neat step.

This was not a normal situation. Walking up from the bottom of the mountain, Bates could notice the figure in the mountain half an hour in advance. This person did not go up the mountain normally.

Bates studied the woman.

"Sorry, the other student was too enthusiastic and delayed us for a while." The visitor first explained the situation.

"I am the Vice-Principal of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Minerva McGonagall..."

Next, Professor McGonagall introduced the basic situation of Hogwarts to Bates and Loren.

Bates was suspicious at first, but Professor McGonagall turned the wood on the ground into a group of tabby cats, circling around him. No one would suspect a group of cats meowing around you, and Bates finally came to believe this reality.

Bates and Loren were in complicated moods and didn't say much.

Professor McGonagall made an appointment with the two of them to take Loren to Diagon Alley tomorrow to buy items for the start of school, and left soon after.