The Lost Ghost

Lin An Alvin Bones stopped at the end of the shadows. The magic in the air trembled faintly as a ball of white light slowly emerged, then took the form of a woman's phantom.

She had waist-length hair and a cool, elegant bearing, her every movement carrying a scholar's restraint and confidence. She was the Daughter of Ravenclaw—Helena Ravenclaw.

"Lin An," she said calmly, her voice carrying a slight chill. "Five years. You just abandoned me like that?"

Lin An gave a faint smile. "I told you before I left that this day would come. You can't blame me."

"Oh? With your abilities, couldn't you Apparate to see me?" Helena raised an eyebrow.

"Apparition is forbidden at Hogwarts."

"Not even in the Forbidden Forest? Or could you have had a House-elf bring you here?"

Lin An fell silent for a moment, looking slightly embarrassed. The expression stirred something in Helena's heart, though she still maintained her cold demeanor.

"Let's not talk about the past." Lin An stepped forward, his tone gentle. "I'm back. I'll be teaching at Hogwarts this term. We have plenty of time ahead of us."

He raised his wand and murmured an incantation.

"Corporeal Manifestation."

Magic rippled outward, and Helena's translucent figure gradually solidified. Her skin, her hair, even the tenth-century dress she wore, all became tangible.

She lightly touched her arm. Warmth and breath had returned. Before she could marvel at it, Lin An had already reached out and pulled her into his embrace.

At that moment, the cold night seemed to have been driven away, leaving only the warmth of a reunion after a long separation.

"Don't dwell on the past anymore," he whispered in her ear. "From now on, time belongs to us."

Helena gave a soft snort, her tone carrying a trace of coy resentment. "Hmph. If I didn't think you were still somewhat charming, I wouldn't forgive you so easily."

Their lips met and their breaths mingled. Like lovers separated by a thousand years, they released the emotions they had suppressed for so long during their brief reunion.

Footsteps suddenly sounded—it was Filch on his nightly patrol.

Lin An frowned and flicked his wand. "Disillusionment Charm."

Their figures became transparent ripples. Holding Helena in his arms, he rose into the air and silently flew toward the Professor's Quarters.

That night, they slept leaning against each other.

For a ghost, it should have been an unimaginable experience; but under the effects of Lin An's Alchemy and Soul Magic, anything was possible.

As dawn began to brighten, Lin An woke up. Helena was gone from beside him, leaving behind only a faint trace of magic.

He murmured, "It seems the Corporeal Manifestation Spell doesn't last long enough yet... But she should have left me a message, shouldn't she? Is she sulking?"

After washing up, he headed to the Great Hall for breakfast. On the way, a familiar figure caught his attention—Neville Longbottom.

The boy clutched two gifts, looking nervous yet full of anticipation.

"Professor!" Neville ran over and offered the packages with both hands. "The first is from my grandmother, and the other is something I bought with my savings... Thank you for saving my parents."

Lin An paused slightly. The gifts were an old book and a bag of candy.

"Thank you, Neville." He accepted them with a smile. "A gift's value isn't in how expensive it is, but in the thought behind it."

The boy bowed gratefully and left.

On the way, he happened to run into Harry, Ron, and Hermione. After hearing the exchange, the three asked curiously.

Neville explained without hesitation:

"After Voldemort was defeated, Bellatrix Lestrange cast the Imperius Curse on my parents, and they suffered mental breakdowns.

"Many years later, Professor Bones developed a new Soul Magic healing spell, allowing them to gradually recover. They can recognize me and my grandmother now. Although they can't use magic yet, they'll make a full recovery in a few more years."

Harry and the other two remained silent for a long time, their expressions complicated.

For the first time, they truly understood how many experiments and risks this seemingly gentle professor had borne alone.

At that moment, Lin An sat at the head table, his thoughts drifting far away.

He recalled that research into the relationship between "mind, body, memory, and soul."

It was that experiment that had allowed him to witness countless souls ravaged by magic at St. Mungo's Hospital—

Some had lost consciousness, some had lost their memories, and some had broken souls.

He had interned there for a full year and had even visited Gilderoy Lockhart, who was well versed in related spells, learning the secrets of the Memory Charm from him.

Afterward, he refined the soul-healing system and used his own methods to cure several patients.

To outsiders, it was merely charity;

To him, it was another experiment in the "Fusion of soul and body."

Before breakfast had even ended, Lin An suddenly received a magical message—it was Snape.

"I forgot to remind you last night. Something happened at that biological cloning company of yours in the Muggle world."

Lin An set down his goblet. "I understand. I'll go there this afternoon."

"As you wish." The voice faded away.

He looked up at the morning mist beyond the window.

Hogwarts's sunlight streamed through the high windows onto the long tables, refracting into a faint glow.

The corners of his lips lifted slightly.

"It seems the plan should continue moving forward."