Chapter 807
Michael's Thoughts
Chapter 807 Michael's Thoughts
When the group turned around, they saw Hermione holding a thick travel guide, carefully checking the boarding gate information, and saying:
"This time we must prepare all the documents in advance and be quicker at security, so we don't almost miss our flight like last time..."
Harry was getting a headache from her nagging, but when he saw Wade and the others, he waved with delight and said:
“Hey, Wade, Remus… uh, Professor Moody!”
He strode over and asked, "Did you encounter any trouble on the way?"
"Of course not, the journey went very smoothly."
Lupin smiled and then gestured to the three people beside him: "Look, we've met a few more... companions."
Harry looked curiously at the three strangers to him and smiled kindly.
“Harry Potter.” Mordisi extended his hand and said with a smile, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Harry shook hands with him.
Immediately afterwards, the Weasley family also rushed over, and this once quiet corner suddenly became bustling with activity.
The twins enthusiastically exchanged various ideas inspired by the airport facilities. Ginny was comforting Mrs. Weasley, who was becoming even more stern due to nervousness. Mr. Weasley was almost lured away by a vending machine several times, and Sirius held onto his arm the whole way.
Ron approached Harry, and looking at the group of alchemists who had coincidentally boarded the same plane, he couldn't help but gape in astonishment, exclaiming:
"I never expected there to be so many people like us on one plane. It's like a wizard's train!"
He had barely finished speaking when Mrs. Weasley heard him, and she immediately turned around, her voice sharp and urgent as she warned:
"Don't say that word, Ron! Do you want all the Muggles... all the ordinary people to notice us?"
After speaking, she nervously glanced around the airport terminal, paying particular attention to the uniformed security personnel not far away, and reminded her family:
"I remember that places like this are completely under their surveillance. They might even record and analyze what you say. Be careful what you say, kids!"
Harry couldn't help but explain in a low voice, "Actually, Muggle surveillance isn't as powerful as it's portrayed in TV shows... They can see a lot of places, but it's impossible to monitor everyone at the same time at an airport... and they can't understand what we're saying either..."
He tried to ease Mrs. Weasley's tension, but Moody, standing not far away, unusually showed undisguised admiration.
“Molly is right, stay vigilant! Don’t let your guard down just because you know them, Potter!”
He glanced at Harry and added, "Overestimating the enemy's abilities might only make you nervous for a while; but underestimating them could cost you your life!"
Harry and Ron couldn't help but exchange a glance, as if to say, "I knew it."
They were already used to Professor Moody's remarks.
Victor and the others standing nearby wore somewhat subtle expressions.
Zakharov nodded slightly and said, "Mr. Moody is right."
“Although Muggle surveillance usually doesn’t notice individuals, if our group is too conspicuous, they might mark us as ‘abnormal targets’ that require special attention.”
"At that time, everyone's words and actions will be magnified and analyzed, and subsequent investigations and attention will follow one after another—just like the collapse of a dam often begins with those tiny cracks."
His words seemed to contain a prophetic pessimistic power, instantly silencing the surroundings, even Fred and George became more obedient.
Ron, who had brought up the topic, shrank back, awkwardly shut his mouth, and glanced guiltily to his left and right. Seeing that no one was going to criticize his slip of the tongue further, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Wade noticed that Michael was unusually quiet today. While everyone else was chatting and laughing, he just silently followed behind the group. Even his parents seemed to have distanced themselves from the others.
Taking advantage of a brief lull in the silence, Wade walked over to Michael and whispered:
"Are you alright? You don't look very energetic."
Michael looked up, revealing prominent dark circles under his eyes. He shook his head and said, "It's nothing... I guess I just didn't sleep well last night and I'm a little tired."
Wade could tell he had something on his mind but didn't want to say more, so he nodded and said, "That's good... Don't hesitate to ask if you need any help."
“Of course,” Michael laughed. “I won’t stand on ceremony with you.”
But after Wade was called over by Sirius, Michael watched his retreating figure, a complex emotion flashing across his eyes.
He recalled his conversation with his parents in the hotel room the previous night.
……
The Corner couple are actually very open-minded parents; they never interfere with their son's friendships.
Even though the girl Michael frequently wrote to would have a different name every time he came home for summer vacation, the couple would only offer some suggestions when buying him gifts, but they would not frequently question or criticize him.
Of course, they also learned about Michael's best friend, Wade Gray, from him. The Conners were very happy to see this exceptionally talented young man becoming more and more famous and successful.
The name Wade Grey often appears alongside Harry Potter, Voldemort, Grindelwald, Dumbledore, and others—because these names all appear in the book *A History of Modern Magic*, making Wade seem like a character from the story.
The experiences the Conners heard from their son about Wade were even more fantastical than some legendary tales, making them seem all the more unbelievable.
This time, the couple accompanied their son to the United States, partly out of a desire to "chase their idol."
Although they couldn't go to the match, they were thrilled to see Wade and Harry in person, and since they lived next door, it was just as exciting as a Muggle attending their idol's concert.
However, the attack outside the White Bridge Hotel was like a thunderbolt, completely waking Michael's parents.
Unlike the stories seen on the spotlight or read in the Daily Prophet...
This time, the deadly curse truly struck at the entrance of their hotel, with the target being their son's best friend.
Michael was in the hotel at the time, very close by.
Imagine that day... Michael sees his friend returning and happily goes to greet him... or he has to go out unexpectedly and happens to pass by that road...
Would the attackers abandon their plans and destroy the traps they had painstakingly set up simply because he wasn't their target?
The couple were acutely aware that—no way!
To those involved in the game, Michael Conner was just an insignificant nobody, and no one cared whether he lived or died.
Do not……
Maybe there is...
For some, his greatest value might be that... while alive, he could be a threat, a link in luring Wade into a trap; while dead, he could be a blow to Wade and his associates.
But for parents, their children are priceless treasures, and they simply cannot tolerate such "accidents." This personal fear is completely different from the feeling of reading the news.
That evening, after calming down a bit, Mrs. Corner said to her son in a trembling voice:
“Michael, my dear…you see how dangerous it was today! If Mr. Moody hadn’t discovered it in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable!”
“Of course… Wade is a good kid, very talented, we all know that… It’s a real honor to be his friend… But… But Michael…”
"What kind of things are surrounding him?! This is something an ordinary family like ours should never get involved in!"
Mr. Conner said in a somber tone, "We're not trying to interfere with your friendship, Michael. But... you have to face reality—"
Is it really a good thing for you to continue being friends with Mr. Wade Gray?
He analyzed the situation rationally:
"His location is destined to make him the eye of the storm. I know you can risk everything for your friends, but what if... you're the one who brings the danger to them?"
“He left England, and he was always protected by men comparable to the elite Aurors. What if the enemy felt they had no chance and chose to target you, controlling you with an Imperius Curse, or reading your memories and transforming into your likeness to attack him?”
“I’m so sorry, child… but… faced with such danger, neither you… nor we… had any power to resist…”
Mrs. Corner choked up, "I really like that boy, Vader, and I really love magic too..."
“But Michael, you are our only child, and your parents cannot afford to lose you.”
"Could you... in the future... keep a little distance from him? At least... at least don't let people think you're good friends..."
“Of course, the final choice is still yours,” Mr. Conner said, trying to be open-minded. “You’re all grown up now, and we respect your thoughts and choices.”
“But…think about what I said, Michael…don’t let your emotions cloud your judgment, you’re a Ravenclaw…think about what I’m saying, doesn’t it make sense…”
……
Michael frowned slightly, his parents' words echoing in his mind, making him feel extremely troubled.
—Is there any truth to what my father said?
That makes sense, of course.
But if friendship can be measured so simply by interests and risks, then it is not true friendship.
When he first became friends with Wade, it wasn't because of his talent and fame; and if he had chosen to rationally distance himself under the banner of "for safety," their friendship might have truly ended.
Michael's gaze swept past the noisy crowd and landed on Wade's tall and serene back, his eyes filled with a mixture of admiration and indescribable disappointment.
In first and second grade, they could still discuss their studies together, and he could even occasionally act as Vader's teacher in the history of magic and astronomy.
However... he didn't know when it started, but he could only listen to Wade's story and watch his back like other passersby, gradually regarding him as the next "Dumbledore", but could no longer sit down and have a passionate discussion with him about a certain issue.
This sense of loss exists in the hearts of most people in SSC, including the carefree Theo and Ryan.
—They seem to have lost the ability to keep up with Wade's pace, let alone provide any substantial assistance as before.
That person... is like a star gradually rising into the distant night sky, bright, yet destined to become increasingly unreachable.
In situations like these, should we do as our parents say... and proactively and gracefully distance ourselves, instead of becoming a burden?
……
Inside the waiting area, a clear, slightly electronic female voice broadcasted throughout the hall:
"Please note. British Airways Flight 294, direct to London Heathrow Airport, is now boarding at Gate 37. First Class passengers, passengers traveling with young children, or passengers requiring special assistance are invited to board at this time..."
The broadcast paused briefly, then repeated itself.
"Time to go!" Moody stood up first and growled, "Check your things and stay close!"
Mrs. Weasley urged the children quickly, "Ron, Ginny, grab your bags! Fred, George, stop looking around!"
"We'll have to wait a while for economy class, Mom!" Ginny whispered a reminder.
Both the Corner and Weasley families had purchased economy class tickets, and as the group split into two groups, the Corner couple couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
They watched as Vader and Harry picked up their belongings, and Zakharov, Victor, Mordisis, and others also stood up.
Mr. Conner couldn't help but mutter, "The Black family is one thing, but are all those alchemists this rich? Aren't they supposed to be...money-devouring beasts before they become famous?"
"They've already shown their faces at the alchemy competition, isn't that enough to make them famous?" Mrs. Conner said dismissively. "Maybe it's because their families are rich?"
“That makes sense.” Mr. Conner smiled with relief. “Maybe I was just too tense today, and I tend to overthink things.”
“We’ll be back in England soon, and then we’ll be safe,” Mrs. Corner suggested. “How about we go on a short trip abroad after the kids start school?”
“Great!” Mr. Conner immediately perked up: “Then how about we go to Greece…”
Beside them, Michael crossed his arms, frowned slightly, and looked at the first-class passengers.
Besides Vader and his group, along with three foreign alchemists, there were six or seven other passengers pulling suitcases to the ticket check-in area, which would probably fill the first-class section.
What Michael found somewhat strange was that, apart from Alastor Moody, there wasn't another elderly person among the passengers.
The remaining unfamiliar passengers were all in their twenties or thirties, in the prime of their lives, tall and well-proportioned, without baldness, beer bellies, weak gaits, or the tainted appearance of those corrupted by alcohol, women, wealth, and power.
Are all rich Muggles this well-mannered?
A question flashed through his mind, but he wasn't quite sure.
In the magical world, if you have money, you can indeed make yourself look younger, stronger, and more attractive by taking expensive potions... Perhaps Muggles have similar methods?
As Michael thought this, he quickly opened his friend's book and wrote down his findings and doubts.
Shortly afterward, when Michael heard the announcement to board the plane, a line of text appeared on his parchment:
[Wade: Understood.]
(End of this chapter)