Chapter 36: Potter's House
After finishing their meal and settling on the afternoon plans, Alexander suddenly remembered a topic that would surely catch Kate's attention. She was one of Dumbledore's biggest fans, nearly choosing Gryffindor House just because of him.
"Kate, how much do you know about Dumbledore?"
Kate's interest was piqued immediately. "Dumbledore? What does this have to do with him? Isn't the Dumbledore family from the fertile plains of England?"
Wow, she even knows obscure facts like that.
"Dumbledore was born in the Fertile Fields, but after his father was imprisoned in Azkaban, his family moved here. I've seen the tombstones of his mother and sister," Alexander explained.
So, Alexander patiently led Kate back, passing Amber's grave, unlocking the small gate to the churchyard, and spending time in front of Kendra Dumbledore's tombstone.
Unfortunately, the Potters' old house was on the edge of the village, a bit of a walk away.
As they headed back, Alexander carried Kate effortlessly, though the lion's mane on her hat kept scratching his neck.
They passed by the Harry Potter memorial statue again and followed the street opposite the church, which led out of the village. After a while, they arrived at a cluster of houses, with one ruin at the center—overgrown with hedges and waist-high weeds.
The ruins still stood tall, ivy-covered and dusted with snow. A large part of the upper right side had been blown apart.
"Is this where the Potter family lived?" Kate asked curiously.
"Yes," Alexander replied briefly, wondering if this visit was a mistake. The atmosphere wasn't right—bringing a girl to this kind of place.
This wasn't just a tourist site—it was a symbol of Voldemort's downfall, a monument to peace hard-won.
Kate placed her hand on the gate, and from the tangled nettles and weeds rose a wooden sign, like a magical flower blooming. Golden letters appeared:
> October 31, 1981
Lily and James Potter died here.
Their son, Harry, was the only known survivor of the Killing Curse.
Invisible to Muggles, the house has been preserved in its ruined state as a memorial to the Potters and a reminder of the violence that tore their family apart.
Around the inscription were dozens of magical messages—glowing signatures, initials, and well-wishes from witches and wizards who had come to pay their respects.
"Good luck to you, Harry, wherever you are."
"Hope you see this, Harry. We're all rooting for you."
"Long live Harry Potter."
Kate gently tugged Alexander's hand and encouraged him to leave a message, too. He did—though the cheerful mood from earlier was completely gone now.
Just then, a cold little hand slipped mischievously into his collar from behind.
"Today made me really happy," Kate said with a soft smile. "For the first time, I realized how much sacrifice lies behind our peaceful lives. It's… meaningful."
"Really?" Alexander smiled faintly. I'm a time traveler, the so-called chosen one. How could I be comforted by a little girl? Still… she has a point.
By the time they left the site, it was already six o'clock. A black carriage emerged from the mist, bells jingling softly.
"Mr. Smith and Miss Lewinster? Welcome aboard. First stop: the Vampire Castle in Romania," announced a short, hook-nosed wizard in black robes, stepping down from the carriage with a courteous smile.
He bowed slightly and motioned for them to board.
What in the world? Is this their idea of a Muggle-style tour group? Are we even using the same definition of Muggle? Alexander thought.
Kate leapt off his back excitedly and climbed aboard.
The carriage was in classic Gothic style, but its interior was much larger than expected. Blood-red carpet covered the floor, bat-shaped magical lamps fluttered gently above, and the space resembled a three-bedroom apartment—complete with a bath, entertainment room, and bedroom.
"Mr. Smith, Miss Lewinster," the hook-nosed wizard said, "you'll dine and rest here tonight. Feel free to enjoy the tea and food in the entertainment hall."
He closed the door behind them and walked toward the entertainment room. Just opposite it sat a large, ominous black coffin.
"That's… the driver's seat," Kate said, dead serious.
The entertainment room was full of magical games: Wizard Chess, Gobstones, and Exploding Snap.
Kate pulled Alexander to the couch. "Come on! Let's play Gobstones!"
Gobstones, popular among wizarding kids, was like Muggle marbles—but the losing side would get sprayed in the face with foul-smelling liquid.
Alexander stared blankly. Seriously? Who thought this was a fun game? Even with a bathroom nearby… ugh.
"Don't want to play? Come on! Romania's far away, we have time! Let's see who gets sprayed first!" Kate said, grabbing a deck of Exploding Snap cards.
Alexander sighed. Are these really the only games wizards have?
"I'd rather look out the window. Maybe there's some nice scenery," he muttered, opening the one-way enchanted window.
The scenery passed in a blur. He couldn't see much at all.
"What scenery? It's all fuzzy," Kate grumbled.
"Mr. Smith, the bat lamp will play music to signal your arrival at the castle," the hook-nosed driver called out helpfully—from inside the coffin.
Well, at least he remembered to say it this time, Alexander thought, pouring two cups of tea.
He opened a pack of Chocolate Frogs and pulled out the card. It showed a man with a long crooked nose, half-moon glasses, and a beard like silver thread.
"It's Dumbledore! Alexander, you got Dumbledore right away! That's so unfair—I only have three!" Kate exclaimed, chewing a licorice wand.
> Albus Dumbledore
Current Headmaster of Hogwarts
Widely regarded as the greatest wizard of our time.
Dumbledore is known for defeating Grindelwald in 1945, discovering the twelve uses of dragon's blood, and his partnership in alchemy with Nicolas Flamel.
He also enjoys chamber music and ten-pin bowling.
Kate pouted. "They still didn't update this! No mention of the Barnabus Finkley Award for Excellent Spellcasting he won in seventh year! I even wrote to them about it, and they didn't reply."
This was the first time Alexander had seen Kate like this—pouting, passionate, and completely herself.
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