Chapter 25: Oh no! It’s the Chosen Melon!

"Yes," Professor Hicks said with a smile. "I have already learned about your situation from Professor Dumbledore. I just want to say that you are the bravest young wizards I have ever met."

"At this age, not everyone has the courage to do what you did. I suspect you will both certainly be sorted into Gryffindor."

Li Wede couldn't help but blink. Tom Riddle sorted into Gryffindor? What kind of dark joke was that?

Salazar Slytherin would be spinning in his grave!

"What is Gryffindor?" Tom asked naively.

Li Wede pulled a book from Tom's pile of luggage and tossed it into his hands.

"Read this book and you'll know. You didn't buy this without reading it, did you?"

Tom looked at the title on the cover: *Hogwarts: A History*. He couldn't help but frown.

He had indeed not read the book, as his attention had been entirely captured by the spellbooks. He only would have bought such a historical text if he wanted to gain a slight understanding of Hogwarts and happened to have money to spare.

Professor Hicks laughed. "I would actually be delighted to tell you about the history of Hogwarts, but I have some things to attend to now. Would you mind waiting in the carriage for a moment?"

"Oh..." Li Wede nodded. He had already guessed what Professor Hicks needed to do. It seemed Dumbledore had entrusted her with the task of erasing any traces of himself and Tom.

"All right, let's go," Professor Hicks said, placing her hands on the shoulders of Li Wede and Tom.

The next second, the three of them appeared in front of the orphanage... right beside the carriage!

"Ugh!" Tom gagged, feeling a bit sick.

Li Wede’s face was also quite pale.

"The first time you Apparate, it’s quite common to feel a bit out of sorts. Take a moment to recover."

As Professor Hicks spoke, she vanished from the spot again. When she reappeared, she had brought all of Li Wede and Tom's luggage with her.

"Frank, please look after them for me, could you?" Professor Hicks said to the coachman.

"Of course. Make it quick; dawn is almost upon us."

The coachman, named Frank, jumped down from the carriage as he replied, then secured Li Wede and Tom's luggage onto the rack at the back.

"Um... Professor Hicks, may I bring my house-elf?" Li Wede suddenly asked.

"You have a house-elf?" Hicks looked at Li Wede in surprise.

"Yes, I found him in the alleyway just a few hours ago," Li Wede said, calling out into the surroundings, "Toby, are you there?"

*Pop!*

Toby appeared directly in front of Li Wede.

"Master Ved, Toby is here. Do you have any commands?"

Toby looked much healthier than he had a few hours ago, and, strictly following Li Wede's orders, he had cleaned himself up. He had even replaced the rags he was wrapped in with a clean, neat piece of curtain fabric, though it was unclear where he had scavenged it.

Li Wede turned his head to look at Professor Hicks with an inquiring gaze. "Professor Hicks?"

"Since he is your elf, you may certainly bring him along."

Although Hicks was surprised, she had no reason to forbid Li Wede from bringing his house-elf. Besides, even though she had many questions, now was not the time to ask them.

"Thank you," Li Wede said.

Afterward, both Li Wede and Tom climbed into the carriage, while Toby sat on the luggage rack at the rear. Through the carriage window, Li Wede and Tom watched silently as Professor Hicks pushed open the door and entered the orphanage.

"Don't worry, Eulalie is a very capable witch; she won't harm anyone inside," Frank said, leaning against the carriage while puffing on a pipe.

"Mr. Frank, is she planning to erase their memories?" Tom suddenly asked.

Frank blew a smoke ring and replied, "My name is Frank Doyle. You can just call me Mr. Doyle."

"Well... Eulalie is going to remove the parts of their memories concerning you, and then modify a few others."

"Finally, she will take all the files about you from the orphanage. It sounds complicated, but for Eulalie, it's nothing; she'll have it done in no time."

"By the way, she is coming to teach at Hogwarts this year as well. She’ll be teaching you Charms. Honestly, many people didn't expect her to leave Ilvermorny to teach at Hogwarts."

Before Frank could finish his rambling, the gate of the orphanage opened. Professor Hicks stepped out and gently closed the door behind her.

"Done. Let's go." Hicks came to the carriage and signaled to Frank.

Frank nodded and hopped into the driver's seat. Professor Hicks opened the carriage door and stepped inside. She looked at Li Wede and Tom with a smile. "Gentlemen, are you ready to start your new lives?"

A moment later, the carriage soared into the sky and vanished into the clouds.

...

The carriage flew through the air for a long time, and the sky had turned fully bright. Because they were flying above the clouds, Li Wede finally caught a glimpse of the blue sky and sunlight for the first time in a while.

By now, the excitement of their first flight had gradually settled into calm. Tom began using his books to ask Professor Hicks for knowledge about various charms. Upon learning that she was the new Charms professor, Tom could no longer suppress his desire to become stronger. Professor Hicks did not refuse and began explaining things to Tom very earnestly.

In fact, there were very few who could resist Tom’s "charm"—otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to make the entire school staff and student body fond of him.

Li Wede did not join in. He watched the blue sky and white clouds outside the window, then pulled the disguised copy of *The Comprehensive Guide to Transfiguration* from his pocket and continued reading.

He didn't know how much time had passed when the jolt of the carriage landing brought Li Wede back from his book.

"Welcome to Godric's Hollow, children," Frank's voice drifted from the front.

"Godric's Hollow is a semi-magical settlement. Many wizards live here, but there are also quite a few Muggles who don't know the truth. Still, it goes to show that it’s a very livable place."

As Professor Hicks spoke, she stepped out of the carriage. Li Wede and Tom followed. The carriage was parked in front of a house. The building looked quite new, yet many of the plants in the garden had withered. It appeared as though the owner hadn't lived there for some time.

Professor Hicks said with a smile, "This is the English home of a Muggle friend of ours, named Jacob Kowalski."

"He and his family are planning to come to England from America for a while; they should be here by the day after tomorrow. Until then, you will be under their care."

"Don't worry, Jacob and Queenie are very good people."

Jacob Kowalski? The legendary chosen Muggle?!

Li Wede immediately felt a sense of foreboding. He remembered Jacob's wife, Queenie Goldstein—she was a powerful Legilimens!

Unlike Dumbledore, her ability to perform Legilimency was innate, passive, and uncontrollable. As long as you were near her, even without meeting her gaze or standing face-to-face, she could hear your inner thoughts...

In other words... if she were standing in front of Li Wede right now, all his secrets would be laid bare!

Li Wede couldn't help but frown. Since his transmigration, this was the first time he had felt a genuine sense of crisis.