Chapter 152: The Opportunity (Patreon)

Wade settled down in Jericho.

The hotel he was staying at was less than half an hour away from Nevermore Academy by car, making the trip back and forth fairly convenient.

Over the following days, aside from recording Nevermore’s coordinates and creating a Portkey that could take him there, Wade spent most of his time performing divinations, trying to gather as much information as possible.

But after more than a week, although he had found quite a few hidden passages and secret rooms, he had gained very little.

The only thing he considered genuinely valuable was a picture depicting a wizard holding a wand confronting a ponytailed girl.

“Looks like the time hasn’t come yet.”

Wade sighed softly, packed up his things, and headed for the principal’s office.

Seeing him carrying a suitcase, Larissa immediately understood what he intended to do.

“You’re leaving?”

“If I can’t find the opportunity I’m looking for, there’s no point in staying any longer.”

Wade answered bluntly.

Then his tone changed.

“However, I did find something valuable.”

Wade placed a piece of parchment on the desk.

“I found this in one of Nevermore’s secret rooms. This page is only a copy. I didn’t touch the original.”

Larissa looked at the two people facing each other in Nevermore’s courtyard depicted on the parchment.

Her brows furrowed slightly, and her fingers unconsciously rubbed against the edge of the parchment.

“What is this?”

“If my divination is correct, this is the opportunity I’m looking for.

“If you discover anything related to it, please be careful.”

“Then how am I supposed to contact you? By phone or by letter?”

“Neither.

“I’ll perform a divination every morning and evening. The moment the opportunity appears, I’ll come back.”

After leaving the principal’s office, Wade walked toward the school gates while taking a tennis ball out of his pocket and gripping it tightly.

His figure seemed to be sucked into a spatial vortex.

When he reappeared, he was back on the same stretch of coastline where he had started.

“I’m back.”

Wade took a deep breath and put away the Portkey that could transport him back there.

He took out a Galleon and performed a quick divination.

After confirming that no one was nearby, he wiped a hand across his face.

His appearance changed from Enzo back into Wade Moria.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to continue acting.

He simply didn’t have enough time.

There were only a few days left before school started. He needed to return to his true identity to collect some money, and he also had to finish the homework he had neglected over the holidays.

Wade first returned home.

He casually used magic to clean the entire house, then sorted and organized all his belongings.

Not counting the money stored in his Gringotts vault, his entire fortune amounted to 27,420 Galleons and £4,700.

All of that money would have to be brought to Hogwarts.

Otherwise, once he finished digesting the Sequence 6 potion, he wouldn’t have enough money to unlock the Sequence 5 potion formula.

Sigh.

I’m afraid the day I advance to Sequence 5 will also be the day my entire fortune hits rock bottom.

Wade silently complained to himself.

He put 27,400 Galleons and £4,500 into a money pouch enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm, then tossed the pouch into his suitcase.

He had to be careful with his spending.

The remaining 20 Galleons and £200 were all the money he could freely spend before the Christmas holidays.

He packed his textbooks, parchment, quills, and other school supplies into his schoolbag.

His alchemy and Potions notes went into the suitcase Nicolas Flamel had given him.

By the time he finished, all he had on his person was a little money, several unfinished notebooks, and two Portkeys—one that could take him to Nevermore and another that could take him home.

After finishing everything, Wade stretched and prepared to rest on the sofa for a while.

But the moment he took a step, a tapping sound came from the window.

An owl was perched outside, clutching a letter in its talons.

The look it gave Wade was filled with resentment.

“What happened to you?”

Wade opened the window in confusion.

The owl flew inside, dropped an envelope bearing the Hogwarts crest in front of him, and then collapsed onto the table, looking utterly exhausted.

Wade tore open the envelope and pulled out a sheet of parchment.

Dear Mr. Moria,

Please note that the new school term begins on September 1st. The Hogwarts Express will depart from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters at King’s Cross Station at eleven o’clock.

Third-year students are permitted to visit Hogsmeade Village on certain weekends, provided they have a permission form signed by a parent or guardian.

Given your special circumstances, the form may be signed on your behalf by Severus Snape, Head of Slytherin House.

In addition, please do not wander around unnecessarily during the holidays. This owl has already been looking for you six times without success.

Enclosed is the book list for the coming school year.

Yours sincerely,

Professor McGonagallDeputy Headmistress

Wade glanced at the owl sprawled across the table before pulling the book list out of the envelope.

Intermediate Transfiguration.

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 3.

The Monster Book of Monsters.

An Introduction to Intermediate Ancient Runes.

The Runes Dictionary.

...

The long list of titles made the corner of Wade’s mouth twitch.

His budget was only twenty Galleons, and these books alone would probably eat up most of it.

At this rate, he wouldn’t be able to afford staying at the Leaky Cauldron anymore.

Fortunately, he wouldn’t need to stay at an inn in the future.

He already had his own place to stay in Diagon Alley.

With that thought, Wade took out a sheet of parchment and wrote a letter to Draco.

The Malfoys had promised him something, and it was time for them to deliver.

He only wrote down the agreed-upon time and place for their meeting.

As for what he meant by it, Wade was confident Lucius would understand.

Wade poked the exhausted owl, poured it some water, and then fed it some snacks.

Only after that did it regain a little of its strength.

“Help me deliver a letter to Malfoy Manor.”

The owl froze.

It stopped chewing.

Its large eyes were filled with confusion and disbelief.

It seemed unable to understand how Wade could say something so cold with such a warm, human mouth.

I’m a public-service owl belonging to Hogwarts, not your personal messenger.

And can’t you see I can barely move? I’d be lucky if I could fly back to Hogwarts safely.

Wade remained silent for a moment.

Then he added another sentence to the letter:

Please take good care of the owl. It’s completely exhausted.

“Pure-blood wizarding families have plenty of high-quality owl food. You’ve probably never tasted any of it.

“This is your chance.

“I’ll have the Malfoys send a letter to Hogwarts and give you a day off before you return.”

Wade added another line to the letter.

“Preferably, let it rest for a full day.”

“I’ve shown you my sincerity. It would be great if you’re willing to deliver it.

“If you aren’t...”

Wade sealed the letter in its envelope, his tone completely calm.

“Once school starts, I’ll come visit you in the owlery.”

With both temptation and intimidation, the owl finally couldn’t resist.

It immediately sped up its eating, then grabbed the letter in its talons and flew out through the window.

“An owl that knows when to submit is a good owl.”

Wade shook his head with amusement.

He couldn’t help wondering whether he should buy an owl of his own.

He couldn’t keep borrowing other people’s owls forever.

But he ultimately abandoned the idea.

Once Griffin’s complete set of equipment was finished, it could also handle the job of delivering letters—and it would be several times more efficient than an owl.