173: Chapter 171 I almost thought you'd been to "the world" before.

The darkness in the room was dispelled by a bright light.

When Toby, who had instinctively raised his hand to cover his eyes, lowered it, he saw Dumbledore holding a glowing wand.

After a moment of daze, Toby asked blankly, "Why are you..."

"I am also returning to Hogwarts, why can't I be here?"

"But, I remember you have a flying car..."

"Don't choose to ignore the beautiful scenery along the way because of haste."

Dumbledore smiled and walked to the wall, pulling open the curtains.

Somewhat piercing sunlight shot into the room through the glass, and Toby unconsciously moved closer to the window.

Outside the window flowed a narrow river, dividing the lush spring green into left and right sides. At this moment, the train was traveling over the middle of the river.

As if the clear river smoothed the irritability in his heart, Toby's breathing became steady: "Mr. Dumbledore, did we pass the test?"

"Test? What test?"

Toby, who had a peaceful expression, suddenly turned around and asked in astonishment: "Is this not the entrance exam?"

"It's just a little greeting gift from Hag, who hasn't welcomed a new student in a long time."

This greeting gift isn't just unpleasant; it makes me extremely repulsed...

Dumbledore glanced at Misha, who was picking up her wand, and Leon, who was snoring on the floor:

"I know you brought some things from the outside world, like that little toy and the camera.

Hogwarts does not forbid the use of filming or playing with toys, but considering that learning magic requires concentration, try to use them as little as possible."

"Uh, I understand."

"Then, keep in mind the precautions mentioned in the Interview Letter and enjoy the two-day, two-night journey to the fullest."

Seeing Toby open his mouth to speak, the old man led Hag straight out of the room.

Ordering the puppets to go about their business according to the preset program, Zhang Mu, who had activated his Transformation Technique, walked towards the last carriage with his hands behind his back.

The reason he ignored Toby was that he knew the other party wanted him to wake Leon up.

But knocking someone out is easy—just a light prick to the mind with Mental Energy—but waking them up...

Zhang Mu hadn't found any magic similar to "Rennervate" for restoring consciousness in the Saul Continent.

"After going through this, they shouldn't doubt the authenticity of the puppets anymore."

Muttering this, Zhang Mu came to the last room of the tail carriage and pushed the door open.

Rowling sat on a wooden chair by the window, holding a cup of coffee, her eyes reminiscent as she admired the river under the train bridge tracks.

Startled by the sound of the door opening, she turned to look: "Grandfather, you're here."

"Is the room comfortable enough?"

"It's very good, Grandfather." Rowling put down her coffee cup and gestured with both hands in front of her, "I remember this river, Grandfather.

I thought for a long time about the location for the movie filming, and finally decided on the River Thames in London, which most closely matches the illusion in my heart.

Look."

She lifted the window glass, letting the wild wind mess up her loose long hair: "How much it resembles the Thames."

Honestly, if Zhang Mu didn't know that he had designed this narrow river with the Thames as a reference...

Hearing her categorical words, he almost thought she had visited "Hogwarts" in advance.

After a moment of slight embarrassment in his heart, his face still bore a kind and smiling expression: "Your seal is gradually disintegrating."

"Grandfather." She propped her elbows on the table, resting her chin in her hands, looking out the window with her face turned, "Does Hogwarts have a Whomping Willow?"

"It's not called a Whomping Willow; 'Watchdog Willow' would be a more appropriate name."

"Then... do those magical creatures in my novel exist?"

"A small portion do; the rest are fictions combining your blurred memories with real creatures."

"Grandfather, then..."

Rowling seemed to have returned to a childhood full of unknowns about the world, asking strange and even somewhat naive questions one after another, endlessly.

Zhang Mu, who disliked trouble and was even a bit taciturn, felt his scalp go numb from the questioning.

However, since he had already established the persona of a "kind grandfather who dotes on his granddaughter," he had no choice.

He explained them one by one with patience.

Fortunately, the excuse of the "memory seal" was very convenient; Zhang Mu answered what he could.

For what he couldn't answer, he would just brush it off by saying, "You remembered it wrong."

Already sitting on the train, Rowling didn't have the slightest doubt.

After all, having personally passed through a wall and stepped onto this express train to Hogwarts, questioning it would be the abnormality.

In this way, time passed quietly amidst the questions and answers.

Zhang Mu was a bit puzzled; she hadn't eaten a bite since morning, and it was fine if she wasn't hungry.

But seeing the coffee cup nearly empty, wasn't her mouth dry?

If he remembered correctly, coffee should make one drier the more they drink it, right?

"Grandfather, is there no age limit for new students at Hogwarts?"

Coming back to his senses, Zhang Mu, in the form of the old man, said: "There will be differences depending on the individual.

For example, Misha, she can bear the heavy weight of magic, so she could receive an Interview Letter even though she is young."

The human education system, which is linked to age, made it difficult for Rowling to understand why this was the case.

With adults and children mixed in one class, wouldn't there be a generation gap?

Barriers between Classmates would also have a negative impact on the learning atmosphere, right?

She would find out once they reached Hogwarts.

Thinking this, Rowling changed the subject: "Grandfather, my best friend hopes to come to Hogwarts for a visit; you've met her.

Oh, and my husband, who is also your grandson-in-law."

"In the first semester, the academy's main goal is to help new students become familiar with a life where magic is all around them.

Considering they've never been in contact with magic, they will soon have a holiday to let them go home and catch their breath.

When the second semester officially begins, invite them then."

"Thank you, Grandfather." Rowling smiled happily, then paused as she thought of something.

"Will new students learn magic in the first semester?"

"They'll have to come into contact with some."

"Then..." Her tone was a bit worried, "After returning home, the Royal Family will surely..."

"Grandfather, Her Majesty the Queen won't do anything excessive, but the situation in the Kingdom is different from before.

The one with the most power is the current Prime Minister, and there are also ambitious people at home and abroad, they..."

"Hehe." The old man raised the wand in his hand, "I am no stranger to human history.

It cannot be denied that there are always arrogant people lacking clear self-awareness who think they stand at the top of the world and can control everything beneath their feet.

Even the falling rock I released cannot stop their greed."

"That's how it is, Grandfather." Rowling's face was serious, "I'm not worried that they can hurt you, Grandfather; it's just that it will bring trouble after all."

"When trouble cannot be prevented from coming, it can only be crushed."

The old man put down his wand and looked out the window: "Do they really think Hogwarts is a sheep that grows sharp horns but rarely, or even never, uses them when facing predators?"

There was a hint of violence and bloodiness in his words; a chill from nowhere made Rowling shiver involuntarily, but it vanished in an instant.

He is my grandfather; being powerful means he can better protect me and my family.

During the brief pause in their conversation, Rowling felt hungry.

After she suggested having a meal, Dumbledore led her to the dining carriage.

The rest of the journey was smooth; the train traveled for two days and two nights, slowly pulling into the terminus at two in the morning on the third day.