Homecoming, Mother and Son Reunited

The school year had ended. On this final night, the young wizards in every dormitory were busy taking stock of their luggage. Their wardrobes were quickly emptied, everything packed away into their trunks.

Yet in Linley's dormitory, nothing seemed to have changed. Every article of clothing remained where it had originally been, while Linley lay comfortably on his bed, idly flipping through a copy of Tales of Poet Beedle the Bard.

The next day, Linley merely opened his small backpack enchanted with the Undetectable Extension Charm and gave his wand a wave. His clothes and luggage lined up like little people and hopped into his bag.

Just before leaving Hogwarts Castle, every young wizard received a notice warning them not to use magic during the holidays.

But this notice was utterly useless to Linley. During the summer, he would either live with his mother, Rowena, at Roer Castle or travel through France with Professor Green. The Trace attached to the notice could only detect magical activity within a certain area; it could not identify the exact caster.

Therefore, even if Linley cast spells as he pleased, the Trace would be unable to tell whether the magic had been cast by him or by an adult wizard nearby.

Moreover, even without other adult wizards around, Linley had already mastered Wandless Magic for Incendio. He had no fear of the Ministry of Magic's so-called Trace.

Linley was now attempting Wandless Magic for other spells. So far, he had successfully cast Lumos and the Levitation Charm, the two most basic spells, without a wand.

After leaving Hogwarts Castle, Linley and the other young wizards once again crossed the Black Lake aboard Hagrid's fleet of boats before boarding the Hogwarts Express.

As villages and lush green woods swept past the train windows, the Hogwarts Express finally entered the city and pulled into Platform 9¾ at King's Cross Station.

On the other side of the barrier, an Auror disguised as an old security guard maintained order, having the young wizards pass through in a line.

"See you next term, Linley! Remember to write to us!"

Fred and George waved to Linley before heading toward Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, who had been waiting for them for quite some time.

Charlie and Percy had already reunited with their parents, and Mrs. Weasley beamed at her children.

After the Weasley twins came over, Mrs. Weasley noticed Linley standing alone some distance away.

"Child, come over here. I've already heard about you from Fred and George. I should thank you for looking after them this past year!"

Mrs. Weasley spoke to Linley with a smile, seemingly unconcerned that a Death Eater had once come from his family.

Linley gave Mrs. Weasley a slight bow and said modestly, "No, Fred and George helped me quite a lot too."

In truth, Linley felt somewhat guilty before Mrs. Weasley. After all, the Improved Stink Pellets he had made were a major reason the Weasley twins had caused so much trouble this school year...

After bidding the Weasley family farewell, Linley walked to an unoccupied corner, where the House-elf Gael had long been waiting for him.

Pop!

Linley grabbed Gael's wrinkled hand, and with a sharp burst of air, the two vanished from where they stood.

Rohl Manor, first floor of Roer Castle.

"Mom, I'm back!"

Linley walked excitedly through the castle gates with Gael. He handed his small backpack to Gael and had him take it back to his bedroom before heading over to his mother, Rowena.

Though he was someone who had been reborn, Rowena was still undeniably his mother in this life. The bond they had forged through eleven years of relying on one another was irreplaceable.

After not seeing her child for a year, even strong-willed Rowena was filled with longing for him.

Sitting together on the sofa in the living room, Linley told Rowena every detail of his life at Hogwarts over the past year. A black-and-white television bought from the Muggle world played Muggle news in the distance.

When she learned that Linley had found a good teacher and learned alchemy, Rowena's face lit up with surprise, and she felt proud of him.

When she learned of the danger Linley had encountered that Halloween night, Rowena was terrified and still felt lingering fear. She had nearly lost her only child!

When she learned that Professor Green's practical combat lessons had greatly increased Linley's strength, Rowena's feelings toward Professor Green became extremely complicated. She was grateful that he had accepted her child as his student and helped him grow stronger and stronger, but the matter of the Dark wizard Cassirachi also left her with some resentment toward Professor Green.

"Mom, you don't need to dwell on it. I was the one who wanted to help Professor Green that Halloween night, and I didn't actually get hurt, did I?" Linley comforted his mother, finally easing her worries.

Rowena looked at Linley and asked gently, "You said you've learned Wandless Magic for some spells, as well as silent, wandless Incendio. Could you show me?"

Naturally, Linley did not refuse. He did not draw his wand. With only a wave of his left hand, a ball of flame swiftly rose from his palm, dancing and changing rapidly in the air at his command.

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

Linley recalled the flames and then recited the incantation for the Levitation Charm. A cup of water before them steadily rose into the air and drifted over to Rowena.

Rowena smiled as she took the cup and sipped from it.

After guiding the cup back onto the table, Linley also demonstrated his wandless Lumos to Rowena.

"Linley, I remember giving you a one-handed sword for Christmas. You said you wanted to use it to study alchemy. May I see what you've accomplished?"

Rowena still spoke with a gentle smile, resting her chin on one hand as she watched Linley.

Linley drew the one-handed sword from the canvas bag at his waist, which had been enchanted with the Undetectable Extension Charm. The sword looked incomparably sharp, reflecting dazzling silver light beneath the lamps.

Along the blade, Rowena could see at least three Alchemy Formations linked in series. These formations imbued the sword with the powerful properties of "Sharpness," "Penetration," and "Poisoning."

However, since the Alchemy Formation bearing the "Poisoning" property had not absorbed any actual venom, it had yet to truly take effect.

At the sword's hilt, Rowena could see two Alchemy Formations arranged in parallel. They granted the properties of "Strength" and "Dexterity," respectively, allowing Linley to choose one according to the situation during battle.

As for the solitary Alchemy Formation in the middle of the sword, it possessed the property of "Reinforcement," capable of enhancing the sword itself as well as the functions of the other Alchemy Formations.

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