Owl Post

Pomona's terrible shopping experience in Diagon Alley left her in a bad mood for the next two days. During that time, she refused to speak to Pete, while Pete clearly had no desire to bother with her either. He had his own friends, so she returned to her old routine, tending the plants in the fields with Madam Sprout.

House-elf magic could surpass that of wizards. Wizards could not Apparate within Hogwarts, but the elves could. However, most House-elves only knew domestic magic. If House-elves were creatures that lived in the forest, then Veela were spirits responsible for maintaining it. Veela were naturally highly attuned to plants, which was why every pumpkin at Madam Sprout's home was large and sweet.

"All right, let's take a break." After spending the entire morning tending the vegetable garden, Madam Sprout announced, "What would you like to drink, dear?"

"Tea will do." Pomona rose to her feet and removed her mud-caked gloves. "It would be perfect with the honey cake you baked yesterday."

"Would you like to have tea inside or out?"

"Outside!" Pomona pointed at the little pavilion on the hillside. "The weather is lovely today, and the breeze feels wonderful."

"All right, go wait there. I'll be along soon."

The beautiful countryside was far from the clamor of the world. Anywhere in England, if one cared to look, one could always find a place or two secluded from the rest of the world. As Pomona lifted her skirt and walked toward the pavilion, the desolate landscape in the distance did not make her feel lonely. This place was as full of life as the city. Beyond the fence, several small fir trees were striving to grow taller, while a row of thin brambles chased the sunlight in one direction. Flocks of birds filled the reed beds, and invigoratingly pure air flowed through the area at all times, utterly unlike Diagon Alley, which seemed prosperous on the surface but in truth left people feeling gloomy.

Durmstrang had declined after Grindelwald was brought to justice. Hogwarts, now filled with Death Eaters, would likely become oppressive as well. Beauxbatons might be more relaxing by comparison. As long as she learned to keep a low profile and avoided provoking those hateful relatives, she would be fine. But if she returned to France, she would no longer be able to visit Madam Sprout's home, and the holidays would become terribly difficult to endure.

It was time to make a choice. Pomona had never heard of students transferring between the three great wizarding schools.

Students who graduated from Hogwarts generally stayed in England to work. This pavilion had been built by Pete's father, who loved Baroque architecture. Its decorations were elaborate and exaggerated, making it resemble an elven palace from a fairy tale. Yet his job was that of an exceedingly boring Curse-Breaker at Gringotts, where he spent his days underground without ever seeing daylight.

"What kind of life do you want, Pomona?" she murmured as she gazed at the wilderness in the distance. She did not like the wizarding world as it was now, but returning to Veela society was impossible too. After the war, Muggles had continuously expanded their cities and destroyed the forests. Veela were difficult to find now.

Some kind of change was drawing near. She felt lost and helpless, yet she did not know what to do. She wanted to trust her instincts, but instincts were not always right. Just like that day at Ollivander's, no one understood her. The wand made with Veela hair was still sitting in her bedroom.

Not long afterward, Madam Sprout arrived at the pavilion. Carrying a basket, she shuffled toward it. Aside from cooking, she rarely used magic. In her words, it was the strange insistence of an old woman like herself.

"I heard from Pete that you learned Expecto Patronum the first time you picked up a wand, and even summoned a guardian spirit?" Madam Sprout said as she made tea. The delightful fragrance of tea spread through the air, and Pomona found that she was calm enough to discuss the matter now.

"Yes, Madam." Pomona took the sliced honey cake from the basket.

"Then why don't you use that wand? It suits you very well, doesn't it?"

"Madam Sprout, how did you meet Mr. Sprout?"

She raised an eyebrow, took a sip of the steaming tea, then gracefully set it back onto its saucer. The porcelain clinked pleasantly as she said softly, "We met at school. Back then, I was practically a Squib, so the Sorting Hat placed me in Hufflepuff. I must say, it truly was a clever hat. If I had been sorted into another house, perhaps I would never have met him."

"How many people get married after they graduate?"

Madam Sprout burst out laughing.

"Oh, dear, you're going to Hogwarts to study, not to fall in love. Though I doubt Dumbledore would punish students for dating while at school, I think you should focus on your studies."

Pomona could not put her feelings into words. She felt that no one would understand her.

"You're worried because of your mother, aren't you?" Madam Sprout patted Pomona's hand. "Worried that you'll make the same mistake she did?"

"Why do people refuse to heed warnings?" Pomona asked sadly. "When we bought wands that day, I met a Muggle-born girl. She knew she might face danger at school, yet she still wanted to become a witch."

Pomona believed that someone must have warned her mother not to marry a human. Yet she had still followed her heart, and that was what turned her life into a tragedy.

"I don't know, Pomona, but I do know that if you try, you may have a fifty percent chance of success. But if you do not even have the courage to try, then you will fail one hundred percent of the time." Madam Sprout spoke gently. "In our day, wizards were not allowed to marry Muggles or wizards from Muggle families. But Henry left his family for me and made a home here. Love gives people the courage to overcome every obstacle and hardship. But before you decide to love someone, you must learn how to judge people. Some people's hearts are not what they appear to be. That is why I hope you can learn from the Fat Friar. He has eyes that are good at seeing through people."

"What good qualities does Peeves even have?"

"Who knows? You can ask him after you enroll." Madam Sprout picked up her teacup again. "Rather than worrying about the future, you should first decide what kind of person you want to be. I believe a kind and compassionate person will live happily. What do you think, dear?"

As soon as Madam Sprout finished speaking, her gaze fixed on a spot as though she had seen something. Pomona followed her line of sight and saw a dark shape slowly flying toward them from afar. It grew larger and larger until its form became clear. It was an owl, clutching envelopes in its talons.

The time for fate's judgment had come. Pomona stood and walked to the entrance of the pavilion. The owl flew straight toward her when it saw her. Just as she thought it would crash into her, it suddenly released its talons and dropped two letters at her feet. Then it nimbly flapped its wings, circled the pavilion once, and finally landed on the table in the middle. As though it were the master of the place, it began pecking at the sweet-smelling honey cake.

Could it be that both schools had sent acceptance letters?

Pomona was bewildered. She crouched down and picked up the two letters. One bore the Hogwarts crest in sealing wax: a large "H" before a lion, badger, snake, and eagle representing the four houses. The other had nothing at all, no mark on the envelope. In one corner, it only read, "To Pomona."

"That is your father's handwriting." Madam Sprout took a sip of tea. "No matter what, you are still his daughter. He will not simply ignore you."