The unfinished book lay on the table next to a bookmark he'd made from a Hippogriff feather. On the bed were a Puffskein plushie and a teddy bear. Even the landscape poster on the wall, which occasionally rippled as if in a breeze, needed to be rolled up.
Mabel had thought she hadn't lived there long, so her luggage should be minimal. But as she packed, she realized just how many traces of her life had accumulated.
Fortunately, the trunk she held had been charmed with an Undetectable Extension Charm by Wade, expanding its space threefold. This allowed her to fit everything inside, and it didn't feel heavy when she picked it up.
Finally, Mabel picked up the photo frame from the table.
It was a Hogsmeade Weekend afternoon. Wade, Harry, and Michael had all come to Lupin's house to play. Wade had brought his camera and taken a pile of photos of everyone. This was one of the large group shots.
Mabel, still unfamiliar with the others, had initially planned to be the one taking the pictures. But Michael pulled her onto the sofa to sit down.
So, in the photo, the girl sitting in the very center had a surprised yet shy smile, surrounded by several lively young Wizards.
And Lupin stood at the very back, arms spread, leaning on the back of the sofa, as if to shield everyone under his wing.
Mabel looked at the photo, couldn't help but smile, then carefully placed it into a hidden compartment within the trunk.
She took one last look around the bedroom she'd lived in for several months, feeling that every corner held many beautiful memories.
A hint of reluctance showed in the girl's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by relief and joy. She put on her hat, picked up her trunk, and walked lightly down the stairs.
The sofa in the living room was identical to the one in the photo. Wade and Lupin were sitting on it, chatting.
"Going to Privet Drive tomorrow?" Wade asked.
"Yeah, Sirius hasn't had time lately, but Harry still has to stay with the Dursleys for two more weeks."
Lupin sighed, saying, "They're on some 'diet plan,' but I suspect they genuinely want to starve Harry to death. If I don't go, he basically gets only a handful of grass to eat every day."
It sounded pretty miserable, but Wade couldn't help but want to laugh.
"Doesn't Harry have money? He can buy his own food, why suffer like that?"
"Harry paying for his own shopping? That would drive the Dursleys mad! They are truly the most unreasonable Muggles I've ever met. Their house has more rules than a church."
Lupin shook his head, helplessly.
No sooner had he finished speaking than he heard footsteps from the staircase. He turned to see Mabel descending the stairs, wearing a ruffled blouse and a light green pleated skirt, looking fresh and lovely.
Lupin stopped mid-sentence, looking at the child he had practically considered his daughter, finally ready to leave. His eyes were filled with reluctance.
"Mabel, is everything packed?" Wade asked.
"Of course." Mabel smiled at Lupin and said, "Remus, thank you for taking care of me all this time."
"It's nothing," Lupin said softly. "Take care of yourself over there too… You know you're always welcome back. This place will always be your home."
"Mhm."
Mabel nodded vigorously, sniffled, and stepped forward to hug Lupin.
"Goodbye, Remus," she whispered, her voice choked.
Lupin stroked the girl's soft hair, admonishing, "Keep in touch… If anyone bullies you, tell me immediately."
...
The carriage swayed as it left Hogsmeade. Mabel turned her head, watching the pointed cottage grow smaller and smaller, and finally, a few tears escaped.
Wade handed her a handkerchief, saying gently, "You know, you don't really have to rush off."
"I'm afraid the longer I stay here, the harder it will be to leave."
Mabel wiped her tears, trying to force a smile, and said, "Besides, I have to adapt to a normal life, don't I?"
Wade sighed inwardly, remaining silent, his thoughts drifting back to two weeks prior.
After the Obscurus was separated, Mabel's weakened body couldn't immediately recover. Madam Pomfrey gave her two Potions a day, and Dumbledore even had Fawkes visit once.
The golden-red Phoenix, upon seeing Mabel, regally shed two tears to help her recover.
Wade didn't see the separated Obscurus again after that, because Scamander had packed it into his briefcase that very day. He heard that Dumbledore and Scamander had been studying the thing during this time.
On the third day, urged by Hailey's adoptive parents, the two sisters had to say goodbye, and Lupin drove the little girl home.
On the seventh day, Scamander checked again, confirming that the Obscurus's dark power had completely vanished from Mabel's body.
But at the same time, Mabel seemed to have lost her Magic.
She had already learned many basic Spells before, but now, holding a Wand, she couldn't cast Magic, like a Squib, only occasionally managing to produce a few scattered sparks from the Wand tip.
Dumbledore contacted the Ministry of Magic. Many Ministry of Magic officials came and went, almost wearing down the gravel path in front of Lupin's house, until, two days later, the warrant for Mabel's arrest was finally revoked.
This was immediately followed by widespread reports in the Daily Prophet, with headlines like "Unprecedented Breakthrough" and "The First Obscurial Cured."
Many reporters wanted to interview the "miracle girl" Mabel, but Wade, in conjunction with FMC [Marchioni's media company] and Dumbledore, managed to stem the tide. Under FMC's guidance, the media's focus shifted to Scamander and Dumbledore, who had created this miracle.
Those two had ample experience handling the media; as long as they didn't want to be found, reporters couldn't even catch a glimpse of them, so there was no worry of being harassed.
However, when Wade caught a familiar beetle on the oak tree outside the door, everyone realized that the media hadn't truly let go of Mabel as a hot topic, at least not persistent reporters like Rita Skeeter.
Especially since Mabel now lacked magical ability, remaining in Hogsmeade, a Wizarding village, and at Lupin's already-exposed address, would be entirely harmful and offer no benefit.
Lupin had originally planned to send Mabel to Privet Drive. Sirius had also bought a house there, and that area was under strict protection by the Ministry of Magic, so Mabel's safety was generally not a concern.
But before that, a letter arrived at Lupin's house.
This letter was from Hailey's adoptive parents. They had managed to send the letter through Professor Sprout. On the letter, they expressed their anticipation and request to adopt Mabel.
The kind couple had heard Mabel's story from Hailey, and even though they hadn't met her yet, they already felt immense affection and pity for Mabel.
From the Daily Prophet, they learned that Mabel might have become a Squib, so they cautiously sent this letter, detailing their financial and living conditions, as well as nearby schools and hospitals, to assure Mabel that she would be perfectly comfortable in their home.
Of course, for Mabel, the most important thing was just one — Hailey was there.
...
The Thestral snorted, flicked its tail, stretched its bat-like wings, and trotted lightly.
Mabel, naturally, could also see the Thestral. She asked curiously, "Are all horses in the Wizarding World like this?"
"This is a Thestral. Among Pegasi, they're considered less attractive, but they're very intelligent, extremely loyal, and have a great sense of direction."
Wade said, "At Beauxbatons — that's another magic school — they raise many Abraxans. Their coats are white or pale gold, and they're very beautiful."
"Are there many magic schools in the world?" Mabel asked curiously.
"There are a total of eleven schools like Hogwarts, and some smaller training institutions."
Wade said, "After school starts this year, many students from other schools might come to Hogwarts for an event. It'll be very lively. Do you want to come? We can pick you up then."
Mabel looked wistful, but after a moment's thought, she shook her head with a smile.
"That sounds interesting... but no, thank you. I've already decided to leave, and if I keep coming back, I'm afraid I'll regret it."
Mabel turned and looked at Wade, saying, "Besides, the Muggle world has many wonderful things too! I've actually been looking forward to it for a long time. I want to know what it's like to go to school... If I stay in the Wizarding World, I'll never be able to go to school."
Wade couldn't help but nod in agreement, feeling that this girl was truly very clear-headed.
"Then you might need to do some remedial work beforehand," Wade suggested. "You've never been to school, so you'll definitely find it hard to adapt at first... If you preview the textbooks, you'll at least understand what the teacher is saying."
"You're right." Mabel instantly forgot her regret about leaving the Wizarding World and said somewhat nervously, "At my age, when I go to school, I can't possibly start from first grade, can I? Will what I need to learn be very difficult?"
Wade: "..."
Mabel's age meant she should be going to junior high. That level of difficulty wasn't even a warm-up for Wade, but Mabel had been experimented on in The Organization's research institute for as long as she could remember...
The two of them exchanged glances for a while. With about ten minutes left until the carriage reached its destination, Wade first taught Mabel some math.
Other subjects could be taken slowly, but math needed a solid foundation. And when Wade was in primary school here, he had seen how his classmates struggled with math.
So, for the rest of the time, Mabel was reciting the addition table, and then the multiplication table, muttering to herself as if chanting a Spell.
A few minutes later, Wade wondered if he was being a bit too eager, because Mabel seemed to be stuck in a "what-horse-what-plum" loop, randomly mixing up the addition and multiplication tables.
Britain's multiplication table still involved inter-multiplication up to 12, and combined with the language difference, it couldn't be recited like a jingle as in Chinese, which further increased the difficulty of learning.
By the time they got off, the girl's eyes were practically spinning. They hailed a taxi, and when they reached the nearby Muggle train station, she was still muttering, "Five times six is thirty-five? No, five times six is sixty-one? Wait... I think it's twenty-seven?"
"Mabel." Wade patted the girl's shoulder and tilted his chin, motioning her to look ahead.
Mabel immediately escaped the hell of math and saw Hailey jumping and waving at her from not far away.
Beside the young girl stood a plump middle-aged man, dressed in a grey suit, with a simple, gentle smile on his face, looking at Mabel.
Mabel stopped abruptly and turned to look at Wade.
"Go on," Wade said, looking at her encouragingly. "Keep in touch."
Mabel nodded, gathered her courage, and pulled her suitcase towards the two people.
Wade watched Mabel walk over, saw her hug Hailey, and then shyly greet her future adoptive father.
The man bent down to pick up her suitcase, smiling as he watched the two sisters chatting and laughing as they boarded the train.
Just before getting on, Mabel turned and waved vigorously at Wade. Wade also smiled and waved back, watching their backs disappear into the train car.
Then he sighed, helplessly looking to the side, and asked, "If you're so reluctant, why didn't you show yourself? Mabel surely wanted to see you just now."
"It's not good for her... She has a new family now," Lupin's muffled voice came from the air. "If she keeps clinging to her old family, she won't be able to integrate into her new one."
"So you went invisible and hid nearby to cry, Mama Lupin?" Wade scoffed. "This isn't a farewell. You can go see her anytime you miss her."
"It's different," Lupin said softly, his voice clearly sad.
Wade found it amusing.
The Lupin in the original story seemed to be a more emotionally repressed and secretive person.
When he taught at Hogwarts, burdened by his Werewolf status and Snape's suspicion, he showed no signs of being Harry's father's best friend. He rarely visited Harry, even until his death, and almost never revealed his vulnerable side in front of the children.
He was a reliable but low-key elder, his whereabouts a mystery, only appearing occasionally when Harry needed him.
But the Lupin Wade knew wasn't troubled by a life of poverty. Only a few close people knew about his Werewolf status, and they all thought it wasn't a big deal.
This Lupin could express his concern for everyone around him more naturally and frankly. Sometimes, he even seemed overly doting because he thought too much.
The train had already departed, and the people seeing them off on the platform gradually dispersed. Wade also turned and headed towards the exit.
"Let's go."
"Okay," Lupin said. "I'll take you home first."
"No, we're going to visit Harry," Wade said playfully. "Let's see if he's turned into a rabbit from eating grass all day."
...
On the desolate hillside, a Grim slowly rose, its figure hidden in the bushes, almost merging with the darkness. Only a pair of sharp eyes glowed.
He had been watching the two for so long, and this was the first time he'd seen that yellowish-grey rat appear near them.
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