Hogwarts: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me From Studying

Vid felt that as soon as he arrived at the school, time seemed to accelerate, passing by in weeks, and before he knew it, Monday had turned into Friday, and then came the weekend.

The students preparing to go to Hogsmeade Village had already put on their gloves and scarves early, waiting at the school gate.

”Don’t forget the Boggart special training, Vid!”

When jumping off the carriage, Michael waved and shouted, then walked away with Harry and the others.

Vid smiled and nodded, then saw Carrel also say goodbye to his friends in Gryffindor, exhaling warmth into his hands as he walked towards Vid.

”Damn it!” Carrel complained, sticking his hands in his pockets, ”This weather is damned cold!”

”If you didn’t wear one less sweater to look more handsome, you’d find today’s temperature quite pleasant,” Vid said with a smirk.

”I’m bigger than you, they say wearing too much makes me look like a bear—my home is a bit farther away.”

Carrel led Vid along a small path between the houses, walking towards the edge of the village.

”Who are they?” Vid asked from behind.

”Just... the girls.”

”Then you should find someone who appreciates your strength, rather than trying to please a bunch of girls who say you look like a bear,” Vid said. ”Besides, they won’t think you look handsome wearing less, just silly.”

”I was kidding... actually, I’m not cold,” Carrel retorted stubbornly.

”Your snot is about to freeze,” Vid mercilessly exposed his disguise.

As soon as the words were spoken, both were taken aback, suddenly feeling a sense of nostalgia.

Back then, Carrel was always doing foolish things that others couldn’t understand, while Vid, who was dragged along to play, would constantly criticize him.

Carrel actually knew most of the time that Vid was right, but because he found it amusing, he did whatever he felt like without considering the consequences.

So after playing all day, Vid would return clean, while Carrel often came back with bruises, not knowing how he got injured.

But those days were really joyful!

Carrel’s pace slowed down more and more, and when a cabin, almost completely obscured by tall trees, appeared at the end of their sight, he suddenly stopped.

”Vid?”

”Hmm?”

”I said you could bring a few friends... why didn’t you?”

”I’m just a guest; bringing other guests without an invitation isn’t proper, right? Besides, Michael and the others already had plans today.”

”Did you notify... did you tell any professor?”

”Why inform a professor just to play at your house for half a day?” Vid’s voice sounded somewhat surprised. ”Carrel, what exactly are you trying to say?”

”Nothing.”

Carrel trudged forward, but after a few steps, he noticed the footsteps behind him hadn’t followed.

He turned around and saw Vid standing still, the shadows from the houses casting over him as if to swallow him in darkness. Yet those pale gray eyes seemed washed by moonlight, calm and bright.

The morning sunlight fell on Carrel, but he felt no warmth, only a chilling sensation that seeped into his bones, making his hands and feet cold.

Carrel forced a smile and asked, ”Why did you stop, Vid?”

”Do you want to talk, Carrel?” Vid said. ”Right now, right here... is there anything you want to say?”

Carrel remained silent for a moment and asked, ”…Say what?”

”I don’t know... maybe anything.”

Vid said, ”Like how your parents ended up in Hogsmeade, or the purpose of this invitation, or your experiences before entering Hogwarts... anything you want to say. If you need it, you know I can help you.”

Carrel gave a helpless smile and said, ”You’re a student too; what can you help me with?”

”Don’t dodge the question, you know what I mean, Carrel,” Vid calmly said.

Instantly, a few conversations with Dumbledore flashed through Vid’s mind.

...

The old man who rarely appeared outside of meals wasn’t spending all his time in the Headmaster’s Office writing letters, reading newspapers, and playing with figurines. Behind the scenes, he’d done many unimaginable things—

Presiding over Wizengamot trials, assisting the Ministry of Magic in various issues, investigating Voldemort, stopping the expansion of Grindelwald’s forces... and of course, investigating a certain vampire student.

”Vid, I suspect Carrel already realizes something, like his current parents aren’t his true parents.”

Dumbledore sat in a high-backed chair, with an expression of sympathy on his face, and sighed softly.

”I intended to tell him the truth before the holiday, helping him completely break away from that so-called vampire family, but Carrel refused.”

”He has other plans in mind, unwilling to let me know or to shake off those fake parents. I think that child seems to want to do something very dangerous.”

”What do you plan to do about it, Professor?” Vid asked. ”Isn’t it simpler to just kill those adult vampires?”

”Be patient, Vid; the vampires seem to be gathering. Also, I want to give that child a chance... He’s not yet fourteen; he deserves a chance to change.”

...

”It’s an opportunity, Carrel,” Vid said. ”Once we enter that house, everything might change. But right now, you can still turn back.”

Carrel suddenly laughed, ”You did inform Dumbledore, didn’t you?”

”Of course.”

”You know he has something to keep him busy today, right? Busy enough not to spare any attention.”

”I believe in Dumbledore.”

”Ha! Believe! It must feel great to have the world’s most powerful wizard at your beck and call.” Carrel sneered, ”I’m really jealous of you, Vid. Why has misfortune never befallen you?”

”Is that what you think?” Vid asked calmly. ”Just because you’re drenched, you want me to be without an umbrella too?”

Carrel had never heard that saying and was momentarily stunned. He quickly grasped it and, gritting his teeth, said, ”If you experienced what I went through, you wouldn’t be so calm, Shakespeare!”

”I don’t know as little as you think, Carrel,” Vid said. ”If I were in your place, I would seek revenge, but I would never transfer tragedy onto my friends.”

”Revenge?” Carrel said with angry defiance, ”What use is revenge? It changes nothing!”

”Does following their orders yield benefits?” Vid countered.

Carrel’s nostrils flared with anger, but he did not continue arguing.

”The earlier words apply to you, Vid—you can still turn back now; better run fast, because my passionate ’friends’ will soon catch up. Or you can keep going forward, but bear in mind, the Dumbledore you trust might not always be able to protect you.”

They stood gazing at each other, with Carrel’s magic wand emerging from his sleeve.

He seemed convinced that Vid would take him down first, his whole body tensed, ready to cast a spell at any moment.

After a particularly long few seconds, Vid suddenly stepped out of the shadows by the wall, passed Carrel, and walked towards the old wooden house.

Carrel was momentarily stunned, then hurried to catch up.

It was now Vid leading in front while Carrel trailed behind. Watching this seemingly defenseless figure, Carrel’s expression showed intense inner struggle. His fingers twitched slightly, lifting then dropping back down several times.

As if in a haze, the wooden house was suddenly right in front of them.

Who knows how many storms this house had weathered, its walls seemed crooked yet miraculously stood firm. The garden was overgrown with weeds, with only a narrow path leading to the door.

Vid vaguely felt someone watching him, turned to look, but only saw the rough window frames.

Beyond the wooden walls, he couldn’t see the names of the people inside, but soon, a slightly plump woman came out.

She wore an apron, hands clasped, dressed like a maid, smiling broadly, ”Oh, dear Carrel, and this handsome young guest, come in... they’ve been waiting!”