The last week without classes flew by quickly. The final Quidditch match of the semester was held on the weekend.
The Gryffindor team, lacking a Seeker, was utterly defeated by Ravenclaw. Ravenclaw's Seeker, in particular, leisurely flew around in the sky for a long time, only catching the Golden Snitch after ensuring Ravenclaw had a complete advantage.
Thus, this year, Ravenclaw finally lifted the Quidditch Cup. Gryffindor was indignant but helpless.
However, the house with the most points was still Slytherin—there was no denying that Professor Snape had made outstanding contributions in this regard.
Yet, at the Leaving Feast, Dumbledore finally awarded points to everyone who had ventured into the Chamber of Secrets earlier: each person earned twenty points for their house, and Harry Potter received an additional fifty points. Gryffindor immediately soared to first place, while Slytherin slipped to second.
The excitement belonged first to the Snake House, then to the Lion House. The Ravenclaw students applauded along—they were third before the points were added, and still third afterward. But even if they were last, the Eagle House didn't really care.
It didn't matter whether the banners hanging overhead were red or green; the dramatic emotional shifts of the Lion and Snake House students were far more amusing.
At the teachers' table, the subtle changes in Professor McGonagall's and Professor Snape's expressions seemed to convey a thousand words.
"I still can't quite believe it," Michael whispered to Wade. "Professor Snape wasn't Quirrell's accomplice! He just looks so much like a Death Eater... Don't you think so?"
"He certainly does. But if he were, why would Dumbledore let him stay at Hogwarts for so many years?" Wade said.
The day after the Leaving Feast, the exam results were finally posted.
Wade's overall score was the highest in the entire first year, but Hermione topped the charts in both History of Magic and Astronomy. The other SSC members also scored very high, with almost all of them ranking at the top in every subject.
Of course, to those unaware of the SSC, it simply seemed that this year's first-year students were all very competent, and distributed relatively evenly across the houses (Malfoy and Zabini from Slytherin also scored very high). Unlike previous years, where most of the top ten were Ravenclaws.
Students once again signed the notices prohibiting the use of magic during the holidays, packed their trunks, and boarded the Hogwarts Express. Wade, Michael, Theo, and Ryan occupied one compartment, Hermione was with the Patil sisters, and Harry and Neville were in a compartment with their dorm mates.
"How about coming to my place for the summer?" Michael said enthusiastically. "My house is by the sea; we can take a boat to nearby islands."
"Sounds great!" Theo responded eagerly. "Let's set a time and all hang out together. Otherwise, two whole months at home will be too boring."
"What about you, Wade? Do you have time?" Ryan asked.
"I'll be studying alchemy with Professor Moray, but if I can make time, I'll definitely come!" Wade laughed. "Even I don't want to spend the entire summer doing nothing but studying."
"Then wait for my message—don't forget to check the Book of Friends!" Michael reminded him.
The train pulled into King's Cross Station, and students disembarked one by one. As Wade stepped onto the platform, he saw Ferdinand and Fiona standing side by side, happily waiting for him.
His mother, as usual, gave him a hug, while his father helped him with his trunk.
"Let's get in the car first. I've already booked a table at the restaurant."
Ferdinand opened the boot and put the trunk inside. Watching him struggle, Wade momentarily wanted to use a Levitation Charm, then remembered he had left school and suppressed the urge.
"Wade, I heard some rather outrageous rumors at the Leaky Cauldron—"
After eating their fill, Fiona eagerly said, "That's not true, is it? I mean... about one of your professors being a puppet for a Dark Lord... and your school hiding a stone that grants immortality and all that..."
Wade looked up and saw Ferdinand silently watching him too.
"The Philosopher's Stone is real," Wade said. "Mr. Nicolas Flamel and his wife have been living for six centuries thanks to the Elixir of Life!"
"Goodness!" Fiona said distractedly. "I've only read about him in fantasy novels! I can't believe he's actually alive... I wonder what it feels like to be immortal..."
She looked quite longing.
"Actually, it only grants eternal life, not eternal youth. So..." Wade spread his hands, letting his mother imagine the rest.
The image of a mysteriously handsome wizard with eternal life immediately crumbled. Fiona's mind conjured up an image of someone with white hair, wrinkled skin, and missing teeth and hair.
But the oldest person she had ever seen was barely over a hundred... what would a six-hundred-and-sixty-year-old look like? Fiona didn't know... her imagination began to extend towards a Cthulhu-like figure.
Ferdinand noticed the part Wade glossed over, and his heart sank.
That evening, back home, Fiona went to freshen up. Ferdinand gestured, and father and son went to the balcony.
"So... that's true too?" Ferdinand fiddled with a lighter, but didn't light a cigarette. Instead, he asked, "About... the rumors of You-Know-Who?"
Wade hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to tell his father the truth.
Ferdinand saw his hesitation, and his mood grew heavy. He forced a smile. "Don't tell me... the truth is even stranger than the rumors?"
Wade finally made up his mind.
"It's like this—it wasn't You-Know-Who's puppet that infiltrated Hogwarts, but him personally... He didn't completely die; instead, he possessed Quirrell as a wandering spirit..."
Considering most people's fear of Voldemort's name, Wade consciously avoided mentioning that name in front of others.
Ferdinand's hand trembled, almost dropping the lighter.
"He... didn't die?"
He asked, his face pale.
"No. But that person's concealment wasn't good enough. Dumbledore discovered it from the start, so the situation was always under his control..."
Wade said in a light tone, "You've probably heard that Quirrell was eventually defeated by first-year Harry Potter. Actually, it wasn't Quirrell who failed again, but You-Know-Who."
Ferdinand was silent for a long time. Not until he heard the sound of the bathroom door opening did he prepare to go back to the living room. As he pushed the door, he suddenly turned back and said, "Wade—"
"Hmm?"
"You've also learned magic now... you can't become an Obscurial anymore... Have you... have you ever thought about..."
Ferdinand seemed to speak with great difficulty.
Wade waited quietly.
"—Do you want to go to America? Or Australia?" Ferdinand said. "I heard there's a very good magic school in America, maybe they'd be willing to accept transfer students..."
Wade was silent for a moment before saying, "...I'm sorry, Dad."
"Alright..." Ferdinand sighed. "I'm really not surprised at all."
"But we can prepare in advance," Wade added. "If one day, the situation becomes very dangerous, I hope you and Mom can move there first."
"Silly boy," Ferdinand smiled helplessly. "How could we leave you... and hide in a safe place alone?"
"If I were in danger, I would go too," Wade said with a smile. "You know, wizards can Apparate. I plan to learn that spell in my second year, so it'll be easier to escape..."