Chapter 202: 202: A Trip to Hogsmeade · Finale

Words : 1222 Updated : Oct 8th, 2025

The sun set over Hogsmeade, casting long shadows across the cobbled streets. The village, bathed in the golden glow of dusk, felt both mysterious and peaceful. Small groups of students meandered back toward Hogwarts, their voices blending into the quiet hum of evening. On a small hill just outside the village, three figures stood together, gazing at the horizon. "It's a nice place," Cho murmured, her voice almost lost in the wind. "I'm so tired of the noise in London... In the future, I think I'd like to live somewhere quiet. What about you two?" "Randall Gorge is quiet," Eve replied with a smirk. "You can barely find anything there—except for gravestones and wild wolves." "Gravestones? Wolves?" Cho gave her a bewildered look. "Where exactly do you live?" Nolan thought for a moment. "It's peaceful, isn't it? I enjoy the stillness of the crypts and the solitude of the wilderness. Gravestones keep people away. So do wild beasts. And people are the noisiest creatures of all—keeping them at a distance is never a bad thing." "That's exactly something you would say..." Cho sighed. She hesitated before finally asking, "Tell me about your family, Nolan. I know you were raised by Professor Felicia, but what else?" Nolan's expression turned slightly odd. "Felicia? Raising me?" He scoffed. "I don't know who told you that, but Felicia wouldn't raise anyone. Her clumsiness and misguided kindness tend to do more harm than good." Remembering their former Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Cho couldn't help but agree—Felicia was indeed... an odd one. "Then who raised you?" "Baron Dura," Nolan said simply. "A rather charming, overweight man." Eve chuckled. "He's quite the character. He's fascinated by the Muggle world. He spends six days a week in London, running a bridge club... and a strip club." Cho's eyes narrowed. "How do you know all this?" "You have to make an effort to understand him," Eve said, crossing her arms. "Nolan would never tell you anything on his own. Over the past year, I've spent more time studying him than I have on any subject at Hogwarts. If there were an exam on Nolan Von Draugr, I'd score the highest in the school—higher than even Nolan himself." "I don't believe that." "She's telling the truth," Nolan said, frowning slightly. "Because even I didn't know Baron Dura spent six days a week in London... How do you know this?" "Miss Theresa and I are close," Eve said, flashing a victorious smile. "Good grief—who's Miss Theresa?" Cho grumbled, feeling as though she was playing catch-up in a game she never knew had started. "Is she the woman who picks you up when you go back to London?" Before Nolan could answer, Eve elbowed him aside and replied smugly, "That's her. Miss Theresa is the head maid of the Von Draugr family. She's the best maid I've ever seen—she can clean up anything." Cho let out a defeated sigh. "Maybe I should visit Nolan's home this Christmas..." She hadn't expected Eve to have come this far already—not only had she been to Randall Gorge, but she had also built relationships with Nolan's family. And what had Cho done? She didn't even know what secrets they were keeping from her. "But this year, Bai might come home... No, I need her to come home," Cho murmured to herself. "She needs family. I know she'll never adjust to a boarding school. It's bad for her mental health." "You're right. She can't avoid you forever," Nolan said, patting her head lightly. As they walked back, Cho hesitated but finally asked, "Am I really not allowed to know your secrets? I know it must be something huge, but I have the right to know. If you think I haven't been obvious enough, then today should have made it clear. I openly admitted in front of the entire Slytherin House that I want to be with you—even as a third person. Isn't that enough?" Her expression was darker than when she had spoken about Bai, and Nolan knew he couldn't let her continue feeling this way. "Christmas... or maybe this summer. I'll tell you when the time is right." Eve added, "Prepare yourself before then, because I don't know if you'll be able to handle it." ... "Where am I?" Ginny Weasley shivered as she found herself standing in the girls' bathroom. She didn't remember coming here. "Damn... My condition is getting worse. Maybe Nolan's medicine didn't work after all..." As she left the restroom and made her way back to the Gryffindor common room, she muttered under her breath, trying to shake off the strange, lingering thoughts in her mind. Today, Hogwarts felt... off. "What's wrong, Lavender?" she asked, noticing that the older girl was dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. "It seems like all the girls are in a bad mood today." Lavender sniffled dramatically. "Nolan has a girlfriend!" Ginny blinked, then gave her a sympathetic look. "Who? Eve Stock? Cho Chang? Penelope Clearwater? Or... Astoria Greengrass?" Lavender hiccupped, then paused. "Wait, who's the last one?" "A first-year in Slytherin. Slytherins and Gryffindors have a lot of classes together—you should know her." Ginny handed her another handkerchief. "I always hear her whispering with her friends about how she's going to win Nolan over." "Ugh, thanks, Ginny. That girl is awful. But I don't think she has a chance... None of us do." Lavender wiped her tears. "The ones who won were Eve Stock and Cho Chang. We should have known! Why did we lie to ourselves, thinking they were just friends?" Lavender's dramatic monologue continued, but Ginny's expression shifted. "Wait... Two girlfriends?" "Yeah, two." Ginny rolled her eyes. "Oh, for Merlin's sake." She shook her head and huffed, "Listen, girl, don't waste your tears on a guy like that. You have your own worth. Why not look at the boys around you? I bet they're more... devoted than Nolan." While the Gryffindor girls were sulking and sniffling, the portrait hole swung open. Ron and Harry entered, carrying several trunks and bags. "Guys! Look who's back!" Ron announced cheerfully. A shy, chubby boy with a round face stepped forward, his cheeks bouncing slightly as he moved. "Neville!" Seamus and the others ran forward, engulfing him in hugs. "Neville's been in St. Mungo's for months, but now he's finally well enough to leave!" Harry grinned. "Professor McGonagall says he's as healthy as he was when he first started school—he even lost three kilos! Ginny, why don't you come and meet Neville?" At the sound of Harry calling her name, Ginny's face instantly turned red. Lavender scoffed, rolling her eyes. "And you tell me not to cry over a guy..." ---------------------------------- T/N: There are pretty much zero Patreon members for this novel ????. Hardly anyone seems interested—just a few readers. Even the view count on Webnovel is super low for this novel. i might just drop it sooner or later if this goes on. Kinda feels pointless to keep updating it.

Chapter 202: 202: A Trip to Hogsmeade · Finale

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