147: Chapter 145 We're best friends, you can't abandon me!

Perhaps because she had something on her mind, Rowling went to bed very late but woke up exceptionally early.

Putting on a gray trench coat and applying her makeup, she drove her beloved car through the dim morning light all the way to her best friend's house.

Her best friend was named Melody; unlike Rowling, who had bought a villa in the suburbs, she lived in a three-story building in the city center.

After parking in a roadside space, the masked Rowling took elegant steps toward the building's entrance and raised her hand.

"Knock, knock—"

Five minutes after the knocking, the door was finally pulled open from the inside.

Melody, who was about the same age as her, had messy long hair and was yawning in the entryway while wearing pajamas: "My God, do you know it's not even light out yet?"

"Isn't it the perfect time for a drink?"

Rowling visited her home often and was very familiar with the layout; she headed straight for the open-air rooftop terrace upon entering.

"Nothing cold."

Halfway up the stairs, Rowling looked back to instruct her friend standing in front of the refrigerator, then arrived at the rooftop terrace and sat down by a wooden table.

In the summer, Melody would set up a parasol for the table, but since it was now late autumn, it wasn't necessary.

Thus, Rowling had a clear view to enjoy the upcoming sunrise.

About ten minutes later, Melody came up carrying a wooden tray.

She placed the two glass goblets and a bottle of high-end red wine on the table, then pulled the cork and tilted the bottle toward the glasses.

"There," she said, putting down the bottle once the scarlet liquid filled a third of the glass. "Now, tell me, what's bothering you?"

Not surprised that her friend had guessed her thoughts so accurately, Rowling said, "Melody, Ma..."

She had intended to speak plainly, but on second thought, she reconsidered; her grandfather's attitude toward his existence being exposed was still unclear.

So she switched to a bystander's tone: "I have a friend.

He believes that Hogwarts and wizards really exist, that he's been there himself, and that the headmaster is his grandfather.

But now that the academy is recruiting new students, his grandfather hasn't contacted him to revisit the campus, so..."

"Rowling," Melody rolled her eyes, "I've looked into Chinese culture."

"Uh..."

"Is this 'friend' actually you?"

Speaking, Melody couldn't help but advise, "Maybe you really should go out more. You're so deeply immersed in your own fictional world that you can't pull yourself out; it's not a good thing."

This wasn't the first time Rowling had fantasized about the reality of Hogwarts, and Melody had been her listener every time.

But she swore that everything from previous years combined wasn't as serious as this time.

Before, she used to think about how romantic it would be if Hogwarts truly existed.

Now, she was actually imagining that she had traveled to Hogwarts and that the headmaster was her grandfather!

Her clumsy disguise having been seen through, Rowling felt a bit embarrassed: "It's just... a simple chat."

"You can't go on like this," Melody believed the situation wasn't as light as she made it out to be. "I know a good psychiatrist."

"Hey, I'm not sick!"

"So?

You want to tell me that your novel wasn't made up in your mind, but was adapted from your own experiences?"

Rowling looked at her friend's face full of absurdity and didn't get angry at being questioned.

Before she had reunited with her grandfather, she would have absolutely had the same perception.

After all, a few months ago, she had personally hosted a press conference to explain to fans that Hogwarts was fictional.

After tilting her head and thinking for a moment, she smiled and said, "Perhaps the facts are indeed as you say."

Just then, the morning sun peeked out, and the first ray of sunlight shot across the horizon, directly facing Melody.

She squinted instinctively and quietly reached for her phone, sending a text to the doctor: "I have a patient here whose condition is very serious. I hope you can come over immediately; the address is my house."

Feeling that she shouldn't provoke the patient, Melody followed the topic: "If the headmaster of Hogwarts really is your grandfather,

then when the old gentleman picks you up to go back to school for a visit, remember to bring me along."

At this, the smile on Rowling's face turned into gloom: "Enrollment is underway, which means the school gates have reopened. Why hasn't Grandfather come to pick me up yet?"

Hearing her low mutterings, Melody felt a bit panicked.

Are you for real?

She messaged the doctor again, asking him to arrive as quickly as possible and emphasizing that the condition was urgent and couldn't wait.

Then, she swallowed and comforted Rowling: "Maybe your grandfather is busy with other things."

Snapping out of her contemplation, Rowling seemed to think of something and said in a serious tone, "No, I didn't say anything.

There is no Hogwarts, no wizards, and certainly no headmaster grandfather."

"Okay, okay, if you say there isn't, then..."

Halfway through, Melody suddenly froze and asked instinctively, "Rowling, I remember a plot in your novel where the protagonist and a Classmate fly a car through the sky, right?"

"Yes, there is such a plot. Why?"

"Look, is that the car?"

Following the direction of her finger, she looked at the morning sun behind her.

Raising her hand to block the dazzling sunlight, she saw an old car flying high above the center of London.

Is it Grandfather?!

Before the surprise in Rowling's heart could subside, the old car approached at a very high speed, growing from the size of a palm to that of a normal car in an instant.

"Yo, my little granddaughter, how have you been lately?"

The old car hovered at the edge of the balcony, and Dumbledore, wearing a robe, pushed open the car door and floated through the air to stand before them.

"Grandfather, I've been very well." After speaking, she stepped forward and took his arm with both hands. "Grandfather, this is my best friend, Melody."

"Hello." Dumbledore's gentle gaze looked at her through his round lenses.

"H-hello, sir. I, uh, how should I address you?"

She was somewhat incoherent, but fortunately, her good upbringing prompted her to follow her physical instincts and make the appropriate greeting.

"Just call me Dumbledore." He turned to explain to Rowling, "I originally intended to take you to Hogwarts.

But on second thought, you seem to have forgotten many relevant memories.

Perhaps taking the train again would be a wonderful experience."

"Rowling will do as Grandfather says."

"Then," Dumbledore smiled and pulled a letter from the wide sleeve of his robe, "this is a first-class ticket prepared specifically for you.

Also, there's no need to hide our relationship; you can announce to everyone that you are my granddaughter.

Well then, that's all. I have other matters to attend to.

Have a pleasant journey; see you at Hogwarts."

The old man turned and got into the car, driving the old car away until it quickly became a small black dot on the horizon.

Melody hurriedly chased to the edge of the terrace, leaning over to watch until the old car completely disappeared.

Looking down at the road below, early-rising pedestrians and commuters were all holding up their phones, jabbering away about goodness knows what.

"Oh! It's a ticket!" Rowling's joyful exclamation came from behind her.

She quickly turned around, and seeing Rowling excitedly waving the letter, she hurried over: "Let me see, just one look, just one look!"

After holding the letter high to tease her friend for a while, she handed it over. Melody scanned the translated English: "Is this a group ticket?"

Rowling took the letter back and scanned it: "There's no explanation. I forgot to ask Grandfather."

After a moment of daze, Melody's expression changed as she recovered: "We're best friends, you can't abandon me!"

"Uh, I'll ask Grandfather for you, but just to be safe, you can try those."

Looking back at the sky, she saw Owls filling the air, flapping their wings as they flew.

She could vaguely see a few of them carrying white envelopes in their beaks.