章節 11: Chapter 11
After the worries were lifted, Cedric became much more cheerful and stopped reading books. He approached Kain proactively and said, "Hello, may I call you Kain?"
"Of course," Kain nodded and said, "In fact, my father also works at the Bureau of Magical Creatures Control and Regulation, alongside your father."
"Your father?" Cedric paused for a moment and then asked uncertainly, "Is it Mr. Chris Jobber?"
"Yes," Kain replied.
Cedric suddenly realized, "Your last name is Jobber, and you know the Weasley twins too... Oh, I should have guessed earlier; we are even neighbors!"
With this connection established, the relationship between the two became much closer, and they interacted more naturally, feeling like old friends who had known each other for a long time, even though they had never met before today.
"By the way, Kain," Cedric seemed to remember something and asked curiously, "I remember I tried to visit you once, but you weren't home. At that time, my dad told me that since you were very young, you've always been learning from Mr. Scamander, and you were bound to achieve great things. Is that true? Have you really been learning from Mr. Scamander all this time?"
Cedric was incredibly curious, especially since it concerned Scamander, a celebrity in the magical world. While many are famous within their own countries, like some textbook authors or novelists awarded the Order of Merlin, Third Class, their recognition often does not extend far beyond Hogwarts.
Only a few wizards are renowned throughout the entire magical world and have their portraits featured on Chocolate Frog cards while they are still alive. Scamander is one of these few.
Feeling the proximity to such a legendary figure, Cedric was naturally very curious.
...
On the other side, Kain was incredulous as he looked at Cedric.
He had also sought Kain out, and Kain was not home either? What a coincidence.
And Mr. Digory, didn't he share an office with Chris? From where did he get such rumors, and how could he possibly have been always at Uncle Newt's place?
Kain rubbed his forehead in exasperation and thought for a moment before saying, "First of all, the statement that I was bound to achieve great things is definitely correct, but it was my dad who was Mr. Newt Scamander's student; I just went there to play."
Newt, unlike Dumbledore, had severe social anxiety. It was somewhat manageable in his youth; he didn't talk much but managed to make a few friends, fight the dark lord, or mentor a few students about magical creatures.
However, since Grindelwald was imprisoned in Nurmengard, Newt seldom participated in social activities and devoted himself to magical creatures.
In the past thirty years, he barely spoke to strangers, worsening his social anxiety.
You couldn't expect such a Newt to teach a young wizard daily, then follow up on his progress and grade assignments like a Hogwarts professor.
That would be impossible.
Moreover, Newt was well aware that his personality was not suited for teaching. In his view, professors and teachers should be like Dumbledore.
Thus, Chris was technically his last student.
Although many people entertained the idea, even involving Dumbledore as a mediator, Newt rejected them all without exception.
Newt didn't want to mislead anyone, even if they didn't mind, he couldn't overcome his own reservations.
Initially, Kain was only taken to Newt's because Chris and Diana were too busy to look after him. At that time, Newt's wife, Tina, learned about it and took Kain under her wing, helping Chris while keeping herself busy.
Imagine coping with a husband who barely talks and only cares about magical creatures; Tina might have gone mad if she didn't find something to occupy herself.
Moreover, Kain was just six then, a notoriously difficult age according to Tina; maybe he could even help ease Newt's social anxiety.
Their grandson was about the same age and gave Newt a tough time, talking more in a day than he used to in a month.
On this front, Kain didn't disappoint Tina.
Although he wasn't a troublesome child, his curiosity was strong, especially when encountering various magical creatures for the first time, which inevitably led him to ask endless questions.
Perhaps because these questions were all about magical creatures, Newt, though rarely initiating conversation, always responded seriously whenever Kain asked.
This led to him talking more, willingly so.
In the end, all three were very satisfied.
Even after Chris and Diana became less busy, Kain continued to spend time there each year.
...
Of course, Kain did not plan to share all this with Cedric; after all, it was important to maintain the image of Newt as a reclusive legendary master of magical creatures rather than a socially anxious old man.
So, after a brief explanation, Kain did not want to continue the topic. Talking too much could lead to slip-ups, and it was good as it stood.
"By the way, Cedric, what do you think about the professors at Hogwarts? Are they easy to get along with?" Kain naturally turned his gaze to the "Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection" book in Cedric's hand and said, "As you know, it's my first time at school, and I'm not familiar with these things. What if I accidentally upset a professor, could I get expelled?"
"You don't need to worry about that at all,"
Cedric, not suspecting anything amiss, smiled and said, "The professors are all very nice... well, at least most of them are. And even the strictest professor wouldn't easily expel a student.
Unless you commit a serious violation of school rules."
At the end of his statement, Cedric's expression was very serious, and his lips twitched slightly, as if he wanted to say something but didn't know how to start.
Seeing this, Kain guessed what he wanted to say and quickly waved his hands, "Don't worry, my last name isn't Weasley; I definitely won't break the school rules."
Hearing this, Cedric finally breathed a sigh of relief, "Sorry... I didn't mean that."
Kain shook his head, "It's okay, I understand."
Now that they were on the topic of Hogwarts, Cedric became more enthusiastic, sharing more detailed stories with Kain in the time that followed.
For instance, you don't need to worry about the annually replaced Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, the sternest is the professor who is obsessed with transforming into a cat... and most importantly, the Potions professor who loves to deduct points and doesn't wash his hair, among others.
Basically, it was all quite similar to what Kain already knew; there wasn't much new information.
(End of Chapter)
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票