Chapter 204: The Major Life Event of a Thirteen-Year-Old
The Hogwarts Express.
Aaron looked at the scenery outside the train window and sighed melancholically.
"Why do you look so glum?" Draco, sitting opposite him, asked in confusion. "Aren't you happy that school is out?"
"No." Aaron waved his hand weakly. "I'm extremely happy."
Draco's eye twitched slightly. He didn't know if it was his imagination, but he felt an indescribable sense of dejection emanating from Aaron.
"We're good friends, aren't we?
If you have any problems, you can tell me, and I'll help you."
"Thanks, but unfortunately, you can't help me, and neither can anyone else.
Some things I have to bear myself." Aaron shook his head with a bitter smile, then opened his Personal Panel.
[Host: Aaron Gaius]
[magic energy: Main Body 4010, thought form 3990, Total 8000 (Intermediate Archmage, the lifetime peak for most Wizards)]
[Talent: Once in a Century (magic energy increases by 3 points daily, Main Body increases by 2 points, thought formincreases by 1 point)]
[Items: Drop of the Moon (Can dispel any negative curse), Resurrection Potion (Can resurrect any creature that died within the last hour)]
[magic points: 3]
Last night, he agonized until dawn before finally making a decision: to deceive the perceptions of his ancestors, he converted all the magic points he had painstakingly saved into magic energy.
Perhaps due to OCD, he rounded the numbers for both his Main Body and his thought form, leaving the final three magic points isolated and supporting the data, creating a feeling of desolation.
Although his true strength had been boosted to the Intermediate Archmage level, the feeling of returning to square one overnight still left him feeling lost.
What was more tragic was that this method of enhancement was fair; half of the magic points were evenly distributed to the thought form.
In other words, even now, his Main Body might still be unable to defeat his own clone.
However, Aaron had enough confidence that as long as he could survive this summer vacation, slightly widen the gap in magic energy, and add the buffs stacked by his twenty-plus tutors, he would definitely be able to defeat his thought form upon returning to school.
A few hours later, the train slowly arrived at King's Cross Station.
Aaron stretched and walked out of the Compartment with Abey.
He left his luggage and holiday homework for the thought form, bringing nothing this time except his pet, a wand, and a few Galleons.
"Long time no see, Young Master." Gines walked over. "Did you not bring any luggage?"
"Evidently not."
Aaron shrugged and walked forward by himself.
He knew clearly that he would have no free time from tomorrow until school started, so he had to seize the day to rest properly.
Gines quickly followed, saying with great satisfaction, "A while ago, Albus Dumbledore sent a letter to the house. Since the Family Head and Madam were both away, I took the liberty of opening it.
But what I read shocked me.
Young Master, you actually managed to defeat a Thousand-Year-Old Basilisk and the sixteen-year-old Dark Lord. This truly brings honor to the Gaius Family."
"Heh heh!
I thought you were going to criticize me!" Aaron chuckled, "After all, I was risking my life..."
"The Young Master would never do that." Gines smiled knowingly. "If you didn't have enough confidence, Gaius, you wouldn't take the risk. The Young Master might lose, he might fail miserably, but he definitely won't die."
Aaron gave him a speechless glance. "You talk as if you know me very well."
"After all, I watched the Young Master grow up!"
Just then, a familiar voice suddenly appeared behind Aaron. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley walked over, accompanied by Ginny, Ron, Fred, and George.
Harry and Hermione were also walking beside the family.
"Aaron, thank you so much this time," Arthur Weasley said gratefully. "Dumbledore told us everything. You saved Ginny's life."
"Yes! She is our only daughter." Molly tightly gripped Ginny's hand. "The thought of her almost leaving us breaks my heart."
"It was the least I could do. After all, I was quite happy during the days I stayed at The Burrow. This was a favor I owed the Weasleys, and if I hadn't saved her, I wouldn't have felt right."
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley exchanged glances, and their children also looked a bit uncomfortable.
It was true they had taken Aaron in back then, but he stayed in his own tent and paid sufficient board, so it could easily be considered a fair transaction. The most they did was take him to the station on the first day of school.
In comparison, Aaron risking his life to save Ginny made them feel very ashamed.
"Aaron, you are welcome to visit The Burrow anytime," Arthur said awkwardly but politely. "If you ever run into trouble, you can always come find me. Although my position at the Ministry of Magic is relatively low, many people are still willing to do me a favor."
If the Gaiuses couldn't handle a problem, the Weasleys certainly couldn't be relied upon.
Although he thought this internally, Aaron didn't want the Weasleys to lose face in public, so he just smiled and nodded.
"This is for you." Harry handed Aaron a piece of parchment. "It's called a Telephone Number, a Muggle way of contacting people. If you don't know how to use it, you can find someone to teach you."
"Uh..." Aaron didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "My family is different from most Wizarding Families; we haven't broken contact with the Muggle World for thousands of years."
Hearing this, Harry's face flushed slightly.
Many classmates he knew looked down on Muggles, and most Pure-blood Wizards scoffed at them, so he had preemptively assumed the Gaius Family was the same.
"I'll take the Telephone Number, but I'm not sure if I'll be able to call you." Aaron said, glancing at Gines and sighing, "After all, my holiday is truly out of my hands!"
Harry remembered Aaron being forced to run away from home by his tutors last year and gave an embarrassed smile. "I can certainly understand that."
"What do you mean?"
Hermione was confused. It made sense that Harry, living under someone else's roof, might not have much freedom, but Aaron didn't look like someone who lacked freedom at all!
"It means I will be very busy during the break, exceptionally busy," Aaron said. "Unless there's a turn of events."
"There won't be any." Gines patted his Young Master's shoulder, his playful smile carrying a hint of seriousness, and stated solemnly, "I stake the dignity of my remaining life that we absolutely will not stumble in the same place twice."
Aaron scoffed internally. His clone was still running wild at Hogwarts; their dignity, along with that of the six bodyguards, had already been cut in half the moment Ginesspoke those words.
After passing through the barrier to Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, everyone went their separate ways home.
Aaron didn't waste time on the road, leading Gines into a quiet alley. "Just use Apparition to take me back!"
"Young Master, there's no need to rush."
"Heh heh! School starts tomorrow." Aaron deliberately emphasized the word "starts," saying coldly, "If I don't take advantage of today to rest properly, I'll be in poor condition, and might even fall behind in the curriculum. Do you think my tutors will be happy about that?"
Gines's mouth twitched. He reluctantly grabbed Aaron's arm, while Aaron picked up one of Abey's paws.
The next moment, the two people and one dragon were sucked into a Spatial Vortex and instantly vanished from the spot.
When they reappeared, they were already in the main hall of Gaius Castle.
"That felt pretty good." Aaron evaluated objectively. Gines's Apparition was slightly inferior to his own, but much better than the average person's.
"The Young Master's Talent far surpasses mine; learning this magic is only a matter of time."
*I already know it, you just don't realize it.*
Aaron chuckled inwardly, but nodded confidently on the surface. "When are my parents coming back?"
"Well..." Gines hesitated for a moment. "The Family Headand Madam have some matters to attend to. They won't be back for at least another month."
"I knew it." Aaron shook his head, pressing his hand to his forehead, and said speechlessly, "Uncle Gines, I suddenly feel a little unloved. I've spent less than two months with them combined over the past few years. Am I even their real son?"
"Undoubtedly, yes." Gines said with a serious expression. "And with all due respect, Young Master, your view is a bit pessimistic. Although your parents aren't here, you have more than twenty ancestors constantly looking out for you. How many people in the Wizarding World get to enjoy such treatment?"
Aaron:...I really want to applaud your negative energy.
"Is that supposed to comfort me?" Aaron asked, wanting to cry but unable to shed tears. "Twenty-plus tutoring classes! Whose childhood can withstand such torment? Could you have handled this when you were thirteen?"
"No," Gines said very frankly, then changed the subject. "But the Young Master certainly can. You proved that when you were twelve. Furthermore, being mentored by twenty great Wizards is something ordinary people can't even imagine in a lifetime. Both logically and emotionally, Young Master, you should seize this opportunity."
Aaron's eye twitched. According to him, was Aaronungrateful for the blessings he had?
Gines saw the Young Master's bewildered expression, whose anger level was steadily rising, and immediately decided to change the subject, or he would surely be met with a torrent of abuse.
"Ahem, Young Master, you're not exactly young anymore."
"I'm only thirteen," Aaron retorted, pouting.
"I know, of course. What I mean is, does the Young Masterhave a girl he likes at school?"
Hearing this, a flicker of doubt crossed Aaron's eyes, and he asked uncertainly, "Why are you asking that?"
"The Madam asked me to ask." Gines explained. "After she found out you risked your life to save a girl... she started imagining a lot of things. She's even impatient to go to the Weasley house to see what her Future Daughter-in-Lawlooks like."
What the actual f*ck! Aaron's face flushed crimson, and he nearly slid off the sofa.
"Are you kidding me?"
Aaron felt thunder rolling in his heart. He never imagined his mother could be so unreliable.
Shouldn't major life decisions like this be up to him? Why were they being so hasty? Besides, he had absolutely no romantic feelings for Ginny; she was just a normal friend at most.
"Don't get agitated, Young Master," Gines teased. "The Family Head stopped her in time, so nothing has happened yet."
Hearing this, Aaron remembered the Weasley family's attitude toward him at Platform Nine and Three-Quartersand sighed in relief. "My dad still loves me. He's always so rational."
"However, they did reach a consensus on some points, such as scouting for a Fiancée for you. Miss Ginny is on the shortlist. They will be back in a month, so you should prepare yourself."
Aaron:...I'm tired. Just destroy me already!