The Mystery of Brook's Past

Chapter 33: The Mystery of Brook's Background

"How did you know? Are you a wizard too?" Brook asked.

"I went to Eton College looking for you, but there was no record of you. I believe you wouldn't lie to me, so there's only one possibility—you couldn't talk about that school."

A flicker of loneliness passed through Oliver's eyes. "Neither your mother nor I are wizards. Our branch actually comes from the Bones family, one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight. Because your grandfather was a Squib, he moved into the Muggle world."

He grabbed Brook's shoulders. "Brook, I'm truly happy now."

Brook felt a little uncomfortable under Oliver's burning gaze.

This must be his uncle's obsession.

He suddenly remembered what Dumbledore had said—that he had a distant relative who was a wizard.

Back then, he thought Dumbledore was just giving him an easy way out, not wanting to dig deeper.

So he really did have such a distant relative after all!

"Brook, do you want to return to the family?" Oliver asked expectantly.

Brook was silent for a moment. "Uncle, how many people are left in the Bones family now?"

"The Bones family has declined. Besides our branch, there are probably four or five people left. But I haven't been in touch with them for a long time, so I'm not sure of the specifics."

"Then let me look into it first before deciding."

Brook didn't really have any resistance to returning to the family.

The Bones family had few members.

If he could inherit some property or something, he certainly wouldn't refuse.

But if there were a lot of trouble and not much money, he'd have to be sick in the head to go back.

"Take your time thinking it over. No rush, no rush." Oliver misinterpreted his meaning.

He thought Brook was resentful that the family had abandoned them and didn't want to return.

But he couldn't push it now.

He'd have to give Brook some time to digest it and take it slow.

"By the way, you want these fruit trees to put in equipment enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm, right?"

"Yeah, the vegetables and fruits at Hogwarts are too limited. I want to grow some so I can eat them anytime," Brook explained.

"Good. I don't have much else here, but I've got plenty of vegetables and fruits. Take whatever you like. Do you need me to call someone to help?"

"No need, I can handle it. And it's better if no one sees."

"Alright, I'll notify everyone right now to take the day off. The whole farm is yours to do with as you please."

Once all the farm workers had left, Brook got busy.

Strawberries, cherries, plums, currants, mulberries, broccoli, cauliflower, beetroot, dahlias, raspberries—every variety on the farm was transplanted into his ring.

He worked straight through until late at night.

He also asked Oliver for many books on planting and caring for these plants.

He didn't want the farm he'd worked so hard to build to wither away in a few days.

He looked at the vast farm he had created with his own hands.

If only he could add a few more "you-know-whats," it would be perfect.

By the time Brook returned to the Hogwarts dormitory, the antique clock on the wall was already pointing to one in the morning.

In the dorm, everyone else was already lost in dreams.

Ron's snoring and Neville's teeth-grinding rose and fell in turns.

Brook couldn't even be bothered to take off his clothes; he collapsed directly onto the bed.

He was utterly exhausted.

Originally, he thought he'd just take a little bit of each fruit and vegetable.

After all, counting Hermione, Hagrid, and the Weasley twins, preparing enough for ten people would be more than enough.

But Oliver seemed afraid he wouldn't have enough to eat—he gave him a hundred cherry trees alone.

The vegetables in his ring were so numerous it was staggering; he'd set up two hundred greenhouses alone.

Now, forget ten people—even the entire Hogwarts couldn't finish it all.

He was even more worried now.

These vegetables and fruit trees weren't something you could just leave alone and be done with.

Fertilizing, irrigating, harvesting, pruning—every task couldn't be neglected.

It looked like he had to talk to Dumbledore.

"Forget it, let's sleep first."

Brook muttered to himself.

He had just closed his eyes, then abruptly sat up again.

He seemed to have forgotten something very important.

Brook quickly got up, left the dormitory, and hurried to the Gryffindor common room.

By now, the fire in the common room was nearly out, with only faint embers flickering.

In a corner, a single lamp was still lit.

A little girl in a pink nightgown was sprawled over a table, fast asleep.

Brook: ε=(´ο｀*)))~

Hermione knew he had gone out today.

He had guessed this little girl would wait for him.

But he hadn't expected her to still be holding out here so late, just to see him return.

He walked over and gently nudged Hermione. "Hermione, wake up. Go back to bed."

Hermione groggily opened her eyes, and seeing it was Brook, she snapped awake a bit.

"Brook, you're back!"

"If you're tired, just go to sleep. Why insist on waiting? What if I hadn't come back tonight?" Brook said, with a hint of reproach.

Hermione: (ꈍᴗꈍ)

She tilted her little head up, revealing her pale neck, and stubbornly said, "Who was waiting for you? I was just reading too late and wanted to rest for a bit. I didn't mean to fall asleep."

Brook: ╮(╯▽╰)╭

"Then please, Lady Hermione, go back to bed right away. Don't catch a cold."

The weather had turned chilly now, and the common room wasn't warm.

It wouldn't be good if Hermione got sick from the cold.

"I'm not that dumb."

Hermione smiled smugly and pulled a small tin can from her robes.

Inside, a cluster of blue bell-flame was burning, steadily providing her with warmth.

Brook ruffled her little head. "You're really clever."

"Was Hogsmeade fun? You're back so late?" Hermione gave him a suspicious look.

By this hour, the shops would have closed long ago.

What mischief had Brook been up to, coming back this late?

"It was alright! I mainly went back to London to see my uncle."

Brook chose to tell the truth.

This little girl was sharp—hard to fool.

More importantly, there was no need; she'd find out sooner or later anyway.

"Oliver? You went to get the produce, didn't you!"

Hermione had met Oliver a few times when she visited Brook before, and she knew he was a farmer.

"Yeah, from now on, we'll have more fruits and veggies than we can eat."

Hermione: (✧◡✧)

What girl doesn't like fruit?

She didn't eat any at Hogwarts because there wasn't any.

Brook pulled out a large bag of candy and handed it to Hermione.

"A gift for you. I bought it at Honeydukes."

Hermione stared at the candy bag, bigger than her head. "Why did you buy so much? I can't finish it."

"Who said you have to eat it all yourself? Share some with your roommates," Brook explained. "A favor in hand, a favor in mouth—snacks can quickly help you bond with them."

Hermione nodded.

Her relationship with her roommates wasn't bad, but they had little in common, so she was subtly left out.

Instead, she got along much better with the new Ravenclaw senior, Cho.

Though she didn't care, or rather, she was used to it.

Still, the fact that Brook noticed made her heart feel sweet.

"Brook, you've been busy all day. You must be tired—go get some rest!" Hermione said with a yawn.

"Yeah, you get some sleep too," Brook replied.

Hermione hugged the big bag of candy and headed contentedly toward the girls' dormitory.