Chapter 155: Astoria (Patreon)

Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.

The Hogwarts Express billowed clouds of smoke as witches and wizards crowded the platform to see their children off to school.

Wade sat by the window of a compartment, with Daphne and her younger sister, Astoria, sitting opposite him. Daphne, however, looked so irritated that he had no idea what to do.

“Who made you angry?”

“Who do you think?”

Daphne gave a soft snort. “I wrote you seven letters, and every single one disappeared without a trace. You didn’t even send me a single reply.”

Wade’s face immediately filled with embarrassment.

As expected, he had been busy playing the role of “Enzo” at the time. He had either been studying alchemy at Nicolas Flamel’s home or searching for that so-called opportunity at Nevermore Academy.

The former residence was protected by magic, while the latter wasn’t even in Britain. There was no way an owl could have found him.

Of course, he couldn’t exactly explain that to her.

“I swear, I wasn’t deliberately ignoring your letters. I didn’t even know you’d written to me.”

“That’s not what my sister is angry about.”

Astoria teased him.

“She’s angry because you never wrote her a single letter.”

“Well… I don’t think that was really necessary.”

“How was it not necessary?”

Daphne glared at him and emphasized every word.

“It was absolutely necessary. I wrote you seven letters, and you didn’t write me even one. Do you think that’s acceptable?”

“All right. I definitely will next time.”

Daphne seemed satisfied with his willingness to admit his mistake. She folded her arms across her chest.

“Where did you go during the holidays, anyway? So many owls couldn’t find you. They’re supposed to be exceptionally good at locating people.”

“I don’t think they could keep up with the Knight Bus constantly Apparating between different cities. And they certainly couldn’t catch a plane flying overseas.”

“Did you go traveling?” Astoria asked curiously.

“First around Britain, then to America. I can’t really say much more than that.”

Wade shrugged, but when he noticed Daphne showing signs of anger again, he helplessly added, “I wasn’t simply traveling for fun. I kept myself relaxed while traveling, and that helped me with my alchemy studies.”

“After all, I don’t have the magical talent of a pure-blood wizard. I can only make myself better in other areas.”

Daphne’s anger subsided slightly.

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”

“You can ask Draco. I made a deal with the Malfoys and obtained a collection of books on Potions and alchemy from them.”

Daphne believed him, but she still felt somewhat dissatisfied.

She had spent every day eagerly waiting for a letter from this guy. Even her sister couldn’t bear to watch her anymore. The awkwardness and anxiety she had felt couldn’t simply be brushed aside with a few casual explanations.

“I’m not going to forgive you that easily. Leaving a lady waiting for you like that is extremely rude.”

Wade could only laugh helplessly.

“Your sister really does like taking things seriously sometimes.”

“Hermione also wrote me several letters during the holidays. I didn’t reply to her either. Once she learned the reason, she didn’t say anything.”

“Granger?”

A hint of wariness flashed through Daphne’s eyes.

“When did you see her?”

“Yesterday. I ran into her while having lunch at the Leaky Cauldron.”

Daphne pressed her lips together, but before she could ask anything, Astoria asked the question for her.

“Was it just the two of you?”

“Draco was there too. He took us to see the shop the Malfoys prepared for me in Diagon Alley. I’m planning to open a Floating Cloak shop next year.”

“And then?”

Astoria continued questioning him.

“Draco went home, Hermione went to the pet shop to buy an owl, and I stayed behind to organize the alchemical materials the Malfoys gave me.”

“I was originally worried about how I was going to fully equip Griffin, but with this batch of materials, that’s no longer a problem. It’ll just take some time.”

Daphne quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

The situation wasn’t as bad as she had imagined. Still, Granger was definitely a potential rival and someone she couldn’t afford to ignore.

A Gryffindor writing letters to a Slytherin—and not just one letter, either.

However she looked at it, something about that just didn’t seem right.

“Astoria, which House do you think you’ll be sorted into?”

“Slytherin, because my sister is in Slytherin.”

“That’s my good little sister.”

Daphne happily wrapped her arms around Astoria, and all those messy thoughts disappeared in an instant.

Wade quietly activated his Spirit Vision, taking in the auras surrounding both sisters.

Daphne had barely changed. Her white aura was still tinged with an abnormal trace of blood-red, which was slowly eating away at her life force.

Astoria’s condition wasn’t much different from last year either, but the curse afflicting her was considerably more severe than Daphne’s, and her remaining lifespan was much shorter.

It’s fine. None of this is a problem.

Wade was confident.

A mere curse. Once his Sequence was high enough, he would be able to break it with ease.

The train sped onward.

The scenery outside gradually became more desolate. Thick clouds gathered higher in the sky, and the light slowly faded.

By the time the plump witch came pushing the food trolley through the train, heavy rain had already begun falling outside.

Mist covered the windows, blurring the rolling mountains beyond the glass.

“Are you cold?”

Daphne looked at her younger sister worriedly.

“No.”

Astoria pointed at the cloak she was wearing.

“It’s very warm.”

Wade spent a few Sickles on some pies, cakes, chocolate, and pumpkin juice.

“A premium Floating Cloak made by Moriah. It has pretty good insulation against the cold.”

Daphne rolled her eyes at him.

“It just took a little too long to make.”

“My alchemy skills weren’t that advanced back then, but things are different now.”

Wade proudly straightened his back.

“I learned a lot during the holidays, and my alchemical efficiency has improved dramatically.”

“How much can you really improve during a single summer?”

Daphne rolled her eyes.

Then she suddenly thought of something.

“It’s Astoria’s first day at Hogwarts. How about doing a divination for her?”

“No problem. Friend’s price—one Galleon.”

“Here.”

Daphne immediately placed ten gold Galleons on the table.

Wade raised an eyebrow.

The young lady is as generous as ever.

“What are you divining?”

“Her fortune, of course.”

Wade slipped nine Galleons into his pocket and held onto the remaining one.

“Dragon means good luck. Wizard means bad luck.”

He placed the Galleon on the table and flicked it lightly.

The coin began spinning.

When it finally stopped, the wizard’s head was facing upward.

Well, this is awkward…

The atmosphere in the compartment immediately became awkward.

Daphne remained silent for a moment before glaring viciously at Wade.

“Don’t you think that divination was a little too perfunctory?”

“That one doesn’t count. Do another one for Astoria.”

Wade smiled unconcernedly. He took a Tarot card from his pocket, placed it in front of Astoria, and spread the deck out.

“Pick one.”

Astoria selected a card and placed it on the table.

The Wheel of Fortune—reversed.

“What does that mean?”

For some reason, Daphne suddenly felt uneasy.

“It means something bad is going to happen.”

Wade’s expression turned solemn.

“I suggest that you stay with her the entire night before she goes to sleep.”