The Wheelchair War God Is Speedrunning Hogwarts

Harry's eyes immediately lit up. "Great! I bet Hagrid knows some clues about that thing!"

Hearing this, Hermione shook her head helplessly, but she did not object.

After returning to the dormitory, the three girls washed up and prepared for bed.

Vera sat by her bed, looking at the moonlight outside the window, but her thoughts drifted far away.

What had happened today confirmed her suspicion—the course of the plot really would change because of some of her actions, but the key events would still appear in some form.

The Troll incident had happened early, and the location had changed from the girls' bathroom to the dungeon, but it had still happened in essence.

Then the Quidditch match, where Quirrell interfered with Harry's broom, and the Forbidden Forest incident should still arrive as scheduled.

She needed to prepare in advance.

With a soft sigh, her gaze unconsciously fell upon the model star chart on her bedside table.

"Vera?" Harry's voice pulled her back to reality. "You're spacing out again. Are you too tired?"

Vera came back to herself and realized Harry had already changed into her pajamas. She was crouching beside the bed, looking at her with concern.

"I'm fine," Vera said softly. "I was just thinking about something."

Harry tilted her head. Her green eyes looked especially bright beneath the moonlight. "Are you worried about the person trying to steal that thing?"

Vera did not deny it. "A little."

Harry suddenly took her hand. "Come to think of it, I still haven't thanked you for coming to find me today. If it hadn't been for you—"

"I only did what friends should do." Vera shook her head.

Harry's eyes shimmered in the moonlight. She suddenly leaned forward and gave Vera a tight hug. "Thank you, Vera. Thank you for always protecting me."

Vera froze slightly. Before she could react, Harry had already let go and skipped off to find Hermione.

She watched Harry's retreating figure and unconsciously pressed her lips together, until a string of information gathering across her retina pulled her attention back—

[Hogwarts Recognition Obtained: 10%]

[Current Recognition: 10%]

[Effect: Within Hogwarts, magical power recovery speed increased by 10%, casting speed increased by 10%, magical power bonus increased by 10%]

[Hint: Continue increasing recognition to unlock more permissions]

Vera raised an eyebrow. She was not particularly surprised that her earlier thoughts had been confirmed.

After all, Hogwarts itself was a product of Ancient Magic. Nothing that happened there would be surprising.

She had gained recognition this time because she had successfully prevented the chaos caused by the Troll and protected the castle's safety.

In other words, every crisis that occurred within the school afterward could increase her recognition as long as she resolved it?

That was good news.

She placed her hand against the wall bricks and felt the magical power flowing through her body. It truly was more active than usual, as if the entire castle were supplying her with energy.

This feeling... was truly wonderful.

Vera gently closed her eyes, sensing the path of magic as it circulated through her body.

If she continued raising her recognition, would there come a day when she could, like Dumbledore, Control the castle's power to a certain extent?

For example, she could Apparate within Hogwarts, or find that hidden chamber beneath the castle?

Or even... become the true Control of Hogwarts.

At the thought, the corners of Vera's mouth unconsciously rose.

She was really looking forward to that day.

Author's Note: Ten updates complete! Please check out the reward offer, and subscribe and tip generously!

Chapter 70: Hagrid's Hut

At breakfast the next morning, the entire Great Hall was discussing last night's Troll incident.

It was not until Dumbledore stood in the center of the staff table, glanced around for a moment, and lightly tapped his goblet that the Great Hall immediately fell silent.

"Last night, a Troll accidentally entered the castle and caused some disturbance."

His gentle voice carried into every corner. "The Troll has now been subdued, and no one was injured. The school is investigating the matter, so there is no need for anyone to worry."

As he spoke, Vera was also discreetly observing the staff table—Quirrell's large turban was wrapped tighter than usual, and he looked quite haggard.

Professor McGonagall was speaking quietly with Professor Flitwick, her expression serious.

Snape sat at the very edge of the staff table, his face even gloomier than usual.

His gaze swept toward the Gryffindor table from time to time, lingering especially long on Harry.

"Is he still angry?" Harry asked quietly, stuffing a piece of bacon into her mouth.

Hermione blinked hesitantly. "Doesn't it look more like... he's worried?"

"Come to think of it, did you notice that Professor Snape's leg seemed to be injured?" Vera asked casually as she stirred her oatmeal.

Harry froze, then looked toward Snape with concern. "Could he have been hurt while subduing the Troll?"

Then Vera saw Snape's expression visibly stiffen for an instant before he swiftly turned his face away, as if Harry's gaze had burned him.

Vera turned away, her lips curling as she casually replied, "Who knows?"

Harry noticed her expression and blinked in confusion. "Vera, what are you smiling about?"

"I just think..." Vera reined in her smile and lowered her head to take a sip of porridge. "Professor Snape is really cold on the outside but kind at heart."

Well, that was indeed true.

She just did not know whether Snape himself would like that assessment.

After the morning classes ended, the three girls headed for Hagrid's Hut as planned.

Hogwarts was already somewhat cold in November. The trees at the edge of the Forbidden Forest had begun shedding leaves, which gave off crisp sounds beneath their feet.

Crossing the damp grass, they could see Hagrid's little wooden hut at the edge of the Forbidden Forest from afar. Smoke drifted from the chimney, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of baking biscuits.

Harry ran excitedly ahead and pounded on the wooden door. "Hagrid! It's us!"

A burst of barking and heavy footsteps immediately sounded from inside. Then the door was yanked open, and Hagrid's large, heavily bearded face appeared in the doorway.

"Harry!" he cried in delight, then noticed the other two girls behind her. "And Hermione and... Vera?"

When he saw Vera in her wheelchair, Hagrid's expression visibly stiffened for a moment, but he quickly regained his enthusiasm. "Come in! I've just baked some Rock Cakes!"

Vera pushed her wheelchair, following Harry and Hermione into the hut.

Hagrid's hut was just like it had been in the film, with only one room, though it was more spacious than expected.

Hams and pheasants hung from the ceiling. A copper kettle boiled over the brazier, all sorts of strange objects covered the huge wooden table, and the fire in the fireplace crackled.

A large bed stood in the corner, covered with a patchwork quilt made from scraps of cloth.

Fang, the large black boarhound, immediately pounced enthusiastically on Harry and nearly knocked her over.

"Get down, Fang!" Hagrid scolded. Then he turned to Vera with a somewhat awkward smile. "Er... would you like some tea?"

Vera nodded gently. "Thank you."

Hagrid hurriedly poured several cups of tea, then brought out a plate of biscuits that looked as hard as rocks. "Try my Rock Cakes!"

Harry and Hermione each took one. Vera politely accepted one as well, but did not eat it right away.

"So," Hagrid said, rubbing his large hands as he sat opposite them, "what made you think of visiting me?"

Harry took a bite of her Rock Cakes and nearly cracked a tooth, but she still forced herself to swallow it. "Did you hear about the Troll appearing in the school last night?"

Hagrid's hand trembled slightly, spilling some tea onto the table. "Oh, that... heard about it. Strange business, isn't it?"

"Yes." Vera took a sip of hot tea and spoke calmly. "Luckily, there were no casualties. At most, the three of us accidentally encountered the Troll and narrowly escaped."

Hagrid froze, his expression instantly turning horrified. "What?! You encountered the Troll?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah! But we trapped it! Professor McGonagall even gave us points!"

"There was actually something like that?" Hagrid's large hand trembled as he set down his teacup, his face turning pale. "...Are you all right? Were you hurt?"

"We're fine," Hermione hurriedly reassured him. "Thanks to some protective tools Vera prepared in advance."

Hagrid's gaze turned toward Vera, a trace of complicated emotion flashing through his eyes. "Is, is that so... That's really wonderful..."

Vera gently set down her teacup, her dark eyes looking directly at Hagrid. "Come to think of it, Mr. Rubeus, how do you think the Troll got into the school?"

Hagrid visibly panicked, unconsciously rubbing his beard with his large hands. "Er... that... maybe it slipped in from the Forbidden Forest? Yes! That must be it!"

"Would a Troll from the Forbidden Forest open Hogwarts' gates by itself, avoid every professor, and accurately find the dungeon?"

Hermione spoke bluntly. "Besides, you're the gamekeeper. How could you make such a mistake?"

Hagrid's expression grew increasingly conflicted, and he stammered without being able to say anything.

"Don't worry, Mr. Rubeus. We aren't here to question you."

Vera gently set down her teacup, looking directly at Hagrid. "We're just worried that if someone can truly bypass the school's defenses and release a Troll, then the students' safety will become a problem in the future."

"Dumbledore will handle it. You don't need to worry." At the mention of Dumbledore, Hagrid's expression immediately turned resolute. "He's the greatest wizard. He'll definitely protect everyone's safety."

Vera nodded thoughtfully. "Let's hope so."

In truth, Vera also knew very well that the hidden thread in the first book was that Dumbledore had deliberately arranged a series of events to observe and cultivate Harry's abilities and character.

In the end, all of those trials would take the form of tangible obstacle-course challenges.

The first few stages of the trial were questions jointly set by the teachers of the major subjects, intended to test Harry's abilities.

Originally, the Troll had been placed in the underground room in advance as part of the Defense Against the Dark Arts test, but Quirrell had secretly released it.

Even if Dumbledore had not noticed Voldemort had already infiltrated the school at first, by now he should have sensed something.

It was only because he had almost everything under control that he had not directly removed the risk, instead choosing to make it another new trial for Harry.

Therefore, aside from the unexpected Troll incident and the later Forbidden Forest Unicorn incident, Vera was basically not worried about Harry and the others' safety for the rest of the year.

Vera's Hint

The conversation seemed to stall.

Inside the hut, the fireplace cast firelight over everyone's faces, stretching their shadows long.

Harry's gaze moved back and forth between Hagrid and Vera for a while. Then she suddenly leaned closer to Hagrid. "Hagrid, do you remember the little package you took from Gringotts when we first met?"

Hagrid's eyes widened at once. "Y-you, why are you suddenly asking about that?"

"Just curious." Harry shrugged, looking innocent. "Where is that package now?"

"I can't tell you!" Hagrid shook his head fiercely. "It's top secret!"

"Is it hidden in that forbidden corridor?" Hermione suddenly interjected. "Guarded by a Three-Headed Dog?"

Hagrid abruptly stood up, knocking his chair over. "How do you know— I mean, you shouldn't know that!"

Vera gently pressed down Harry's hand before she could continue questioning him. "Mr. Rubeus, we're only worried that if someone released the Troll to create chaos, they might use the opportunity to steal that thing..."

"Impossible!" Hagrid shook his head excitedly. "Fluffy is completely reliable! No one can get past him!"

"Fluffy?"

"Yeah, he's mine... I bought him from a Greek bloke I met at a pub last year, then lent him to Dumbledore to guard—"

Hagrid realized he had let something slip and slapped his forehead in frustration. "Listen, all I can tell you is that thing is very safe. With Fluffy and the other protective measures, no one can steal it."

He forcibly changed the subject and shoved another rock-hard biscuit into each of their hands. "Now, have some Rock Cakes! I just baked them!"

Seeing Harry and Hermione bite into them with troubled expressions, Vera could not refuse either. She cautiously took a small bite, then helplessly put it down.

Eating this thing was starting to feel like abuse of a disabled person.

She placed the biscuit on the napkin over her lap. "Mr. Rubeus—"

"Just call me Hagrid," Hagrid said somewhat awkwardly.

Although Vera's surname had indeed made him feel somewhat conflicted toward her before, Harry and Hermione had escaped danger only thanks to Vera.

The simple-minded half-giant naturally would no longer harbor any ill will toward an eleven-year-old girl like her.

Vera nodded and readily changed how she addressed him. "Hagrid, I've often heard Harry mention you before. She said you seem to be very skilled with magical creatures."

At the mention of magical creatures, Hagrid's eyes immediately lit up. He straightened his back and wiped biscuit crumbs from his beard. "That's right! Those little fellows are all very cute!"