Harry Potter: Days Mixed in Hogwarts

During dinner, Bates was unusually silent.

He had long known that this world wasn't as simple as ordinary people perceived, but when the magical curtain lifted just a little for him, he was still deeply shaken.

Did wizards have any connection to werewolves? Could wizards cure his troublesome little condition?

These questions circled around his heart like the wooden cat from earlier that day, scratching relentlessly at his mind.

Bates almost confided in Professor McGonagall, but when he heard that magic was an innate talent and that only the chosen ones could become wizards, he calmed down.

He dared not reveal that he was a werewolf. Perhaps, to wizards, werewolves were unforgivable creatures. Beyond the unknown dangers, he also didn't want to affect little Loren.

The old man felt he had lived long enough; it wouldn't matter even if he died. But Loren had a remarkable future ahead of him.

Bates believed Loren would achieve great things, and he didn't want to be a burden or bring him any trouble.

Since returning from the battlefield, Bates had been living for others. Responsibility and duty kept him going, so he didn't have to think about what kind of monster he was or when he should seek redemption from God.

They also controlled him—he had been a machine called "Bates" for decades, not a real person.

Loren's arrival made him feel truly alive.

Taking care of a child wasn't easy, but Loren was more sensible than any child he had ever met. Before long, Loren would be able to cook delicious meals on his own.

Every time Bates swallowed the steaming food, he felt the certainty of his own existence.

Bates didn't say much. He didn't want Loren to go out of his way for him. If werewolves weren't a big deal in the wizarding world, Loren would figure it out himself. But if werewolves were also a problem for wizards, Bates didn't want to add any pressure on him.

On the other side, Loren was completely unaware of Bates's somber mood—he was organizing his thoughts.

This world had letter-delivering owls and Transfiguration professor McGonagall. It was now confirmed—this was the magical world from the Harry Potter movie series. The world had lifted its veil of mystery, revealing itself to him.

Loren had watched all eight movies and knew the plot. Based on the timeline, he should be in the same year as Harry Potter.

In the coming years, the antagonist Voldemort would infiltrate Hogwarts and cause trouble.

Dumbledore, the headmaster, would mentor Harry and his friends while methodically destroying the seven Horcruxes, and in the end, after ensuring Voldemort's downfall, he would lay himself to rest.

Overall, as a children's fantasy story, Loren figured as long as he focused on studying and stayed at Hogwarts until the finale, surviving shouldn't be too difficult.

As for himself, Grandpa Bates's werewolf condition was the same as Lupin's in the magical world. This type of werewolf was more like a disease—transforming uncontrollably during the full moon, severely disrupting daily life.

Fortunately, the wizarding world had a special potion—the Wolfsbane Potion—capable of mitigating the effects. Potions professor Snape could brew it, and Loren could buy it from him or even learn how to make it himself.

If he dreamed big, perhaps he could study hard and find a permanent cure for werewolves.

Then there was that peculiar bookseller and those two strange books.

The Interpretation of Hieroglyphic Symbols likely contained alchemy-related content. Nicolas Flamel had appeared in the original storyline as a background figure. According to his autobiography, The Book of Abraham was a guide to creating the Philosopher's Stone.

Loren now took both books far more seriously.

As for whether the person he met that day was Nicolas Flamel himself, he wasn't sure. But that didn't matter. What mattered was that he now felt incredibly secure.

He knew the story's trajectory, had a clear plan for the future, and didn't need to rely on the wizarding world for a living. With his knowledge of how the world would unfold, he intended to return to the Muggle world after graduation, start a small business, and enjoy life.

For now, all he needed to do was grow up step by step.

Loren thought to himself—he had never had such a wonderful start.

"Kekekekeke."

Bates watched as Loren covered his mouth, his shoulders shaking oddly. Suddenly, he wasn't so sure about Loren's supposed "great achievements."

The next morning, after breakfast and tidying up, Loren and Bates sat properly on their chairs, dressed neatly.

The wait felt long. Bates appeared a little nervous—he hadn't hosted guests in decades.

Fortunately, they didn't have to wait too long.

As Loren sat on the chair, he suddenly turned to look at an empty spot. Bates was puzzled and followed his gaze.

With a sharp "pop," Professor McGonagall appeared out of nowhere.

Seeing this magical phenomenon, Bates was even more shocked than when he saw wood turn into a cat the day before.

Professor McGonagall met Loren's gaze directly and noticed the flickering shadows in his deep blue eyes.

"Did you know I would appear there beforehand?" she asked in slight surprise.

"I just... noticed that something seemed different in that spot."

Loren was confused. Could other wizards not see the point where Apparition landed? The movies never mentioned this.

"This is an extraordinary talent…" Professor McGonagall started to explain but suddenly stopped as if remembering something.

"Come along, we have a lot to do."

She extended her hand, taking Loren's, and bid farewell to Mr. Bates.

"Apparition."

Pop!

Loren felt as if Professor McGonagall's hand was slipping away, so he gripped it tightly.

A suffocating darkness enveloped him, and he felt an intense compression from all directions, as though iron bands were tightening around his chest.

Pop!

Loren stumbled out, coughing uncontrollably, his eyes watering, his nose running.

It felt like he had just been squeezed through an incredibly narrow rubber tube. The magical world wasn't as effortless as he had imagined.

"Normally, our travels would be smoother, but today we're in a bit of a rush."

Professor McGonagall patted his back comfortingly. Loren quickly recovered, realizing she wasn't as strict as he had remembered.

They were now standing in front of a suburban house—much better than Loren's small wooden cabin and far cleaner than his vague memories of the orphanage. This was probably the most stereotypical 1980s British house he had ever seen.

"There's another student joining you." Professor McGonagall walked up and rang the doorbell.

Soon, a young couple appeared at the door with a girl about Loren's age.

To Loren, the couple looked like typical white British people—nothing particularly distinctive.

The girl had thick, bushy brown hair that, despite obvious efforts to tame, still looked somewhat messy.

Her round brown eyes were bright and full of curiosity. When she saw Professor McGonagall, she grinned widely, revealing slightly large front teeth—absolutely adorable.

Seeing the familiar face, Loren was surprised—he was meeting Hermione on his very first day?!

While he was lost in thought, Professor McGonagall finished discussing matters with the Grangers and led the girl out.