Because he had spent a long time experimenting in an abandoned classroom before coming here, Bing Huan was feeling rather tired as he sprawled across the sofa. "Uh, the reason the same spell costs me more is that English isn't my first language. It's like talking to you right now: the English you speak enters my brain through my ears, then I translate it into Chinese, think of a response in Chinese, and finally translate that into English before saying it."
"I can't understand English directly. Likewise, when casting spells, I have to translate the English incantation into Chinese before I can resonate with magic, then translate it back into an English incantation to say aloud. That's why I end up with high costs and low results. It's too hard~"
Dumbledore took a sip of lemonade. "Now that you've found the reason, you just need to work on improving it. What's there to worry about?" The principal, who had puckered at the sourness, poured Bing Huan a glass as well.
"I did think about casting spells in Chinese, but... something like Stupefy really does save some energy. However, some spells become too awkward after translation and lose their effect. And if the translation sounds too English, my brain subconsciously takes a few extra turns, which actually costs even more. Tsk~ Old Dumbledore, don't you like sweets? Why is this so sour?" The boy's two eyebrows had nearly puckered into one.
"Oh? You think so too? Looks like I really did forget to add sugar."
Bing Huan: ...(╯‵□′)╯╧╧
Dumbledore switched their lemonades for black tea, then leaned toward Bing Huan and tapped his head. "Actually, you've already found the right direction. Why not be a little bolder and create a set of spells unique to you? Of course, that might be even harder than becoming a native English speaker. You'll need a certain level of knowledge and understanding of the magic behind the spell you want to create, like this."
Dumbledore picked up a sheet of paper and recited, "Wingardium Leviosa." But instead of floating up, the paper accelerated downward and landed on the table. "When an incantation has nothing to do with the magic yet remains unaffected, that too is a sign of mastery." Bing Huan took out his wand and thought for a moment before looking at Pikachu beside him. "Drop that thing!"
The wand in Pikachu's little hand fell to the ground. "Pika-pi?!"
Bing Huan stared excitedly at his own wand. "It worked!"
"Pika!" Pikachu picked up his wand and indicated that he wouldn't let Bing Huan get away with that so easily again. Bing Huan gathered his magic. "Put that thing down!" This time, the wand flew straight beside the Sorting Hat.
"Clap, clap, clap." Dumbledore applauded and congratulated him, then casually helped Pikachu retrieve his wand. "This is a good start, Little Huan. But I have to remind you that until you understand the spell, it's better to use the more laborious method. This is for your safety as well."
"Also, in your future daily lessons, unless necessary, you should keep your special spells as trump cards. Most young wizards still need to learn the standard knowledge from their textbooks. If you have any ideas, feel free to ask Professor Flitwick more often. He's not only the Charms professor but also the champion of the Duelling Club."
Bing Huan picked up Pikachu and prepared to return to his dormitory to continue thinking about spells. Before he left, Dumbledore called out to him again. "There's one more thing."
"What is it, Old Dumbledore?" (?˙▽˙?)
"Let me see... Today is the twenty-eighth. The night after tomorrow, you'll go with Hagrid to pick up a new student. His relatives, the family who adopted him, have stopped him from coming to Hogwarts." Dumbledore narrowed his eyes at the calendar as he spoke to Bing Huan.
The questions in the boy's head multiplied. "Why? Don't they believe in wizards?"
"On the contrary, they may be the people among Muggles who believe in wizards the most. Of course, they don't have a favorable impression of them." Dumbledore told Bing Huan the story of Harry's family, Snape, and Voldemort. Under the impact of that enormous amount of information, the thirteen-year-old's CPU nearly overheated. As for Pikachu in Bing Huan's arms, he was already completely dizzy.
Bing Huan opened and closed his mouth, unsure what to say. "That's way above my level. I haven't even been in a relationship, and you want me to accept a connection this complicated? Speaking of Professor Snape, he usually keeps strangers at arm's length. Who would've thought he could be such a simp—" He abruptly corrected himself. "I mean, so devoted."
"Alas, that day he didn't even have time to tidy Lily's remains and say a proper farewell before returning to Voldemort's side to continue working undercover. He's suffered greatly all these years."
"...Old Dumbledore, you're not planning to have me find him a partner, are you?!"
Dumbledore: (･_･?)
"What I mean is that Severus has always believed that Lily died because he failed to arrive in time to save her. Although he often goes to Privet Drive to see Harry, he's never known how to face him.
"On top of that, he's still working undercover for us. With his foul temper, he'll definitely push Harry away to protect him. I hope you can mediate between them and help the two of them recognize each other when the time is right."
Bing Huan: ( °Д °;) "That's even worse than asking me to find him a partner! How could I possibly get involved in grudges spanning several generations? At most, I can help you look after Harry a little and keep the two of them from fighting."
"Deal!"
＞:-(
Fine, he'd fallen into another trap. (Damn it!)
Although he hadn't said anything aloud, Dumbledore could more or less sense that the boy was cursing viciously. After discovering that his attacks through eye contact had no effect on the old fox, Bing Huan grumbled all the way back.
Two days later~
Bing Huan sat atop the Flying Sword while Hagrid drove his magical motorcycle. Hagrid handed Bing Huan a cake and a letter of admission. "Little Huan, keep these for me. They'll get crushed in my pocket."
"Happy Birthday, Harry. Today is Harry's birthday?! And... aside from Harry's name, not a single word is spelled correctly."
"That's right. And I doubt that family will celebrate Harry's birthday. I'm even worried Harry doesn't know when his birthday is. Poor child." Hagrid answered in his deep, muffled voice as he drove the motorcycle.
"Why didn't Old Dumbledore tell me? I didn't prepare a present." Bing Huan checked his Storage Ring. He didn't seem to have anything suitable as a gift. The only amulet he had had already been given away.
"It's fine. I didn't buy anything either. Once we reach Diagon Alley, I'm planning to buy him an owl."
On a stormy night, outside a cottage on an isolated island, two figures stood at the door. "Good grief, it must've been hard for them to hide that far away."
Inside, a bespectacled little boy lay on the floor, using his finger to draw himself a birthday cake. When his cousin's watch showed that it was midnight, he blew out the candles he had drawn on the ground. "Happy birthday, Harry. Make a wish."
"Bang!"
The wooden door shook under a heavy blow, accompanied by a faint conversation from outside.
"Hagrid, you have no presence at all. Watch me. Open up, damn it!—Unlocking Charm!"
"You'd have even less presence using an unlocking spell."
"Don't you get it? I'm making sure I can kick it open with my foot. Otherwise, failing to look cool would be terribly embarrassing."
The next second, the rattling wooden door gave out completely.
"Harry! I'm fucking here!!"
Harry: !
The Dursleys: !
Hagrid: (⌬̀⌄⌬́) He learned!
Dursley looked at Bing Huan, who had kicked his way inside, and Hagrid, who had just squeezed through after him. Raising his shotgun, he shouted angrily, "Get out of my house immediately! You're trespassing!"
Hagrid stepped forward and bent the shotgun barrel in one hand. He growled, "Shut up! Dursley, you shameless old bastard." Then he put on a smiling face and walked over to Harry.
"The last time I saw you, you were still a baby. And now look at you. Harry. Oh, right, Little Huan, take that out. I made the cake, and this little fellow helped me alter the writing."
Bing Huan took out the cake Hagrid had made and the letter of admission. Harry accepted them excitedly. They were the first birthday presents he had ever received! Hagrid sat down on the sofa and used his little red umbrella to ignite the fireplace.
Harry set down the cake and began asking about the two visitors. "My name is Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and groundskeeper at Hogwarts. This is Bing Huan, and he'll be starting in the same year as you. Of course, you must know about Hogwarts."
Little Harry shook his head. "Sorry, I... I don't know."
"You don't know? Harry, don't you want to know where your parents learned magic? You're a wizard, and one of the best. You only need a little guidance."
"My parents died in a car accident, didn't they?"
Bing Huan leaned his head back and glanced at the Dursleys. "Looks like you hate magic even more than I imagined."
Harry was reading his admission letter when Dursley angrily rushed over. "Don't even think about it! The day we took him in, we swore that we would never have anything to do with that trash!"
"You knew all along? Why didn't you tell me?"
Petunia approached with her arms crossed. "Of course we knew. My perfect little sister, the pride of our parents, was a freak. She even met another freak, Potter, and gave birth to you, just like them. Then she was blown to pieces, and we had no choice but to take you in."
Hagrid angrily pointed his little red umbrella at them. "That's an insult and slander against James and Lily!"
Dursley said with outward ferocity and inward panic, "I'm not spending money to let some old lunatic teach him how to do tricks."
The next moment, the little red umbrella pressed against his forehead. "Don't you dare insult Albus Dumbledore in front of me."
"All right, Hagrid." Bing Huan stepped forward and lowered Hagrid's wand, then looked toward the Dursley family. "I know what happened to you. I understand your actions, but I don't approve of them. Regardless, Harry should never have been treated like this."
Before you continue