A ruined Hogwarts

The study room, which is simply and neatly decorated, is lit by dim yellow lights, and the ink bottles and book covers on the desk reflect the bright light. Outside the window was a dark and narrow alley. The patter of rain washed the dark road, and the whole world was so quiet that only the sound of rain fell.

Owen sat in the armchair behind the desk, rubbing his eyebrows with his fingers, looking at Natasha standing opposite him with a headache. Natasha rolled up a strand of long red hair hanging on her chest with her right hand and looked at him with a somewhat proud and excited expression, like a child who expected to be praised by her parents after getting a perfect score in the exam.

Next to her stood a man in gray clothes. The tattered robe was still clean, with many traces of mending on it. The man's appearance is still young, but his light brown hair is already a bit gray, and his face looks sickly, as if he is about to collapse at any time.

At this time, the man was also looking at Owen calmly. After showing a hint of surprise when he first saw that the owner of the bookstore was a child, he has always had such an expression that is neither humble nor overbearing. He looks gentle and humble like a gentle scholar, but his clothes are extremely poor.

Irving covered his eyes with his hands. Didn't he open this bookstore just to use it as a secret base that he could freely control? Did he recruit this person because he thought Dumbledore didn't have more channels to understand him, or because he didn't know enough about himself?

"Mr. Remus Lupin, right?" He breathed softly, crossed his hands on his chest, and smiled politely and distantly, "As an outstanding graduate of Hogwarts, you have such talents. , why do you have to settle for being a clerk in this small bookstore like mine?"

Hearing the rejection contained in Owen's words, Lupine, who had experienced similar scenes countless times, said with a melancholy and calm expression: "Because of my identity, no one is willing to work with a werewolf."

"With all due respect, Mr. Lupin, you knew you would be rejected if you revealed your identity, so why didn't you conceal it?" Owen raised his eyebrows.

Lu Ping smiled bitterly and said in a hoarse voice: "I have tried it before, but this kind of deception cannot last long and can easily cause danger to others. So I have never stayed in one place for a long time in these years, and I can't beat anyone everywhere. A monthly odd job." He glanced at Natasha: "I didn't expect Miss Valente to hire me after knowing my identity..."

"Call me Natasha, Lupin." Natasha scratched her hair irritably. She hated the name she inherited from her father.

"Okay, Miss Natasha," Lupine said apologetically, then returned to his usual calm, waiting for himself to be rejected and driven away as before. In fact, after seeing that the owner of this bookstore was a little wizard, he knew that he shouldn't stay here.

Owen tapped the table with his index finger. Just as he was considering the pros and cons, he heard Natasha say to Lupine with a gentle face: "Lupin, can you go to the store first? I'll talk to the boss for a while. ."

Lu Ping walked out calmly, closed the door gently, and went down the wooden escalator to the first floor.

After hearing the footsteps disappear, the kind expression on Natasha's face instantly turned cunning, looking like a cunning little fox. She raised her eyebrows at Owen proudly, as if to say: Am I awesome?

"What do you think, Natasha?" Owen had a thoughtful expression on his face, looking at Natasha as if he were looking at a red-haired husky.

"Lupin was selected from many applicants. After all, the salary you offered is very generous." Natasha's crimson eyes flashed shrewdly, "He is very powerful, I can't beat him." , I even think he didn’t use his full strength. And his arithmetic is good, which is a rare skill here in Knockturn Alley.”

"It's cheap, easy to fight, and hardworking. One person can be used as three persons." She said with her fingers. "If you miss this kind of shop assistant, you won't be able to find it."

Her expression immediately became serious: "The most important thing is that he is quite honest and has no evil intentions. He is barely worthy of initial trust. He is not as evil and violent as the group of evil-doing werewolves hiding in the gutter. . If he hides his identity from me, I will definitely drive him away, and I can smell the werewolf smell on him from afar."

"Aren't you afraid that he will bite you if he loses control?" Owen said with a smile.

"I've seen a lot of werewolves and so on. They are actually not as scary as the legends say. They only turn into irrational beasts on full moon nights." Natasha once again had a trace of pride on her face. "Precisely because he is a werewolf, he can accept a lower salary than ordinary people and is willing to sign a more demanding contract..."

As she spoke, she pulled out a thick paper contract from the desk and pushed it in front of Owen: "So, we can sign him for only 35 Galleons, saving 15 Galleons... And you don’t have to worry about food! In fact, I think the pressure can be lower, since there is not much work in the bookstore after all.”

"The contract stipulates that he must stay away from the bookstore on every full moon night. If the bookstore suffers any losses due to his own situation or negligence, he needs to compensate according to the amount of the loss. Deducted directly from salary..."

Natasha explained the strict contract to Owen with a smile, looking like a smart and capable housekeeper. Accustomed to living a poor life, all she could think about was saving money. She usually wished she could split a copper nut in half and spend it, so she learned how to exploit employees without any teacher.

Owen listened indifferently, but his mind began to wander. He didn't think Lupine came here under Dumbledore's instructions. That was not necessary at all. In other words, Lupine's behavior was completely voluntary. Being able to accept such a salary and contract, it seems that he has been really miserable these years.

He suddenly fell silent. It seemed that 35 galleons was the average salary for shop assistants in Diagon Alley. There are not many customers in the bookstore in Knockturn Alley, and the work is idle. Although there is a certain degree of danger, for Lu Ping, who has to do odd jobs to survive, this is already a good job that falls out of the sky...

Am I really being taken advantage of? Owen thought with wandering eyes.

"Owen, what do you think?" Natasha said until her mouth went dry before she stopped. She licked her thick lips with the tip of her tongue, waiting for Owen to make a decision. If he didn't agree to keep Lu Ping, then she could only resolutely ask him to leave. At most, she would feel a little regretful. After all, such cheap and useful employees were not easy to find.

"That's it," Owen said. Now that everyone has been invited, he has no intention of driving them away. At most, he can just take it easy when using black magic in the store in the future. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to recruit a professor-level employee at a bargain price? The most important thing is to have a high moral level and not have any bad intentions.

"Add another clause in the contract to keep the store secret, especially about me. Natasha, don't tell him too much about me." Owen warned, "Also, he is not A dark wizard."

Natasha nodded with understanding and said, "I understand."

Owen gave her a confused look, not sure what she understood. He didn't want to ask any more questions, he just leaned back lazily on the chair, squinted his eyes and smiled: "Ask him for more magic advice. This is a free personal trainer."

Natasha nodded seriously and said sincerely: "Lupin is so useful."

She picked up the quill on the table, added a line to the contract in her own ugly font, and then took it to the first floor with a soft smile on her face again. Such a helpful clerk must appease the other person's mentality.

"The boss is very optimistic about you, Lupin. This is the contract. If you have no objection, just sign it." Natasha shook the paper in her hand.

Lupine was silent for a moment, took the contract and struggled to read the dog-like font on it, then looked up at the little wizard who was slowly going downstairs, and said hoarsely: "Thank you."

Natasha turned to Owen and said, "Are you going back?"

"Well, school is about to start, and I have to go back and pack my things." Owen glanced at Lupine and raised the corners of his mouth slightly, "Speaking of which, there are two more professors with unusual backgrounds in the school this year."

"I know, that famous writer, I think his name is Logit, is your new black magic professor?" Natasha thought for a moment and said.

"No, he is a security consultant. The new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is not him, but a hero who has been resurrected from the dead..." The smile at the corner of Owen's mouth slowly widened, "I remember his name is... Pettigrew Peter.”

Lupine raised his head suddenly, his pupils trembling violently. He squeezed the contract in his hand so tightly that the thick parchment crinkled.

"Lupin, what's wrong with you?" Natasha looked at him suspiciously.

"Nothing." Lu Ping handed her the signed contract, but his brows furrowed tightly, and his pale and haggard face looked even worse.

"Peter Pettigrew...resurrected from the dead?" Natasha asked Lupine's question.

Owen briefly told what happened eleven years ago, and then said: "Anyway, he came back, sought asylum at the Ministry of Magic, and told everyone that he had just lost his memory over the years..."

"Oh, the Ministry of Magic's ability never disappoints." Natasha sarcastically said, and then she no longer cared about such things.

Lu Ping's brows furrowed even more tightly. He looked out the window at the narrow alley with no sky in sight, as if he could see a distant place through the dark wall.

"I'm leaving first, bye." Owen recited a water-avoiding spell to himself, and then opened the black umbrella in his hand.

"Do you need me to take you out of this alley?" Lu Ping came back to his senses and asked in a gentle tone.

"I can go back by myself." Owen turned his head and smiled, recited a magic spell to himself, and disappeared into the air with his umbrella, and then walked into the gray rain curtain.

…

It was just dawn when Owen was woken up by the alarm clock. He sat on the bed and was confused for a while, then got up to wash and dress as if sleepwalking.

As soon as he walked down the stairs, he saw Mr. Albert stuffing a large bag of coins into his suitcase, which probably weighed thousands of galleons.

"Your pocket money." Albert winked at him, "There is no need to save it for me, especially since you are at the age of having a girlfriend now."

"I'm only twelve, Dad," Owen said calmly. Let him attack a girl around twelve years old? He is not an animal. As for finding an older girlfriend...is she an animal? He actually attacked a twelve-year-old boy!

"It's late, Owen." Albert sighed, "Every minute and second of a young man's time is extremely precious and must not be wasted."

"So I have to devote my limited time to unlimited learning." Owen replied with a smile.

"Remember what you said today, you will regret it, Owen." Albert raised his hand to pinch Owen's cheek, but was dodged as expected. He continued to stretch out his hand reluctantly: "Why don't you let me squeeze you? I think you liked me to hold you the most when you were very young..."

Don't think I don't have memories of that time... Owen skillfully avoided his father's hand and remembered the unbearable past. When he was just a baby, he was pricked with his beard without any resistance, kneaded like dough, and tossed up and down like a basketball. He once suspected that he was being used as a stress reliever.

Ms. Adeline leaned against the door, stroking her chin with one hand, smiling as she watched the father and son playing around, and then helped Owen straighten his robe that was askew due to the playing.

When the time was almost up, they arrived at King's Cross Station together, passed through the partition wall between platforms nine and ten, and arrived at platform nine and three-quarters.

The crimson Hogwarts Express was parked next to the platform, and the billowing smoke of the steam locomotive filled the air. The platform was crowded with chattering people, cats of various colors shuttled under people's feet, and owls hooted shrilly.

"Ahem...when will they get rid of this cumbersome big iron lump?" Mr. Albert was choked and coughed, "Obviously, using floo powder only takes a moment."

"Then they have to spend a longer time looking for those little guys who accidentally or deliberately said the wrong destination." Ms. Adeline said with a smile in her gentle words.

"Okay, that makes sense." Albert curled his lips.

"Remember, Owen, if anything happens again in school this year, you must write to us. Don't take risks." Adeline put her right hand on Owen's shoulder and warned seriously.

"I will, mom." Owen nodded obediently.

The family talked for a while, until the train whistled loudly. Owen then stepped onto the train with his suitcase, waved goodbye to his parents, and then walked along the aisle looking for empty cars. As the departure time approaches, there are not many empty carriages left.

He saw Draco, Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle sitting in a carriage. There were no empty seats inside. Blaise spread his hands at him and pointed to the car next door.

Owen came outside the next car and looked in through the window on the door. Daphne and Pansy were sitting inside, next to Millicent Bursted, who was in the same grade, and two unfamiliar girls.

He continued walking forward and saw Neville sitting in a carriage with a strange little girl. He knocked on the door and then asked, "Can I sit here?"

Neville was holding his toad Leif. He nodded quickly after seeing Owen, and then looked at the girl sitting opposite. The girl who had been facing the aisle finally turned around, and Owen saw clearly that she had just been breathing into the car window and drawing on the window glass.

"Of course." She said in a sleepy tone, her slightly bulging light-colored eyes staring intently at Owen's face, looking as if she was a little surprised.

Owen sat next to Neville, smiling and nodding to the girl opposite him. His eyes quietly passed over the butterbeer cork necklace hanging around her neck and the orange radish earrings on her ears, and finally stopped at her. On that long blond hair that was messier than Hermione's.

Well, my hands are a little itchy, and I want to find a magic spell to tidy them up.

The little girl seemed to be aware of it and raised her hands to straighten her hair, which only made it messier.

"Hello, hello. I'm Owen Shafik. Like Neville, I'm a second-year student." Owen said with a slight cough.

"Hello, I'm Luna Lovegood, a freshman." The little girl's silver eyes were still staring at him without blinking, and she said in a daze.

Owen let her look at him, then turned to look at the painting he had drawn on the car window. Well, stream of consciousness, abstraction, he couldn't understand it.

When the train started to move forward slowly, he found that Luna was still looking at him, with a hint of confusion and surprise in her eyes, and she was so confused that she seemed to be about to fall asleep. Only then did he speak softly, breaking the somewhat awkward silence in the carriage: "Excuse me, is there something on my face?"

"Black." Luna said lightly, then looked away and turned to look out the car window.

Owen wiped his face and looked at Neville.

"Nothing." Neville honestly searched Owen's face several times, then raised his hand to assure him.

"Okay." Owen can only say that she is indeed a crazy girl, and her brain circuit is indeed different from ordinary people.

At this time, the door of the box was pushed open again, and a red-haired head stuck in and asked breathlessly: "Hi, can I sit here?"

None of the three had any objections, and Luna enthusiastically walked over and helped carry the girl's luggage in.

"Thank you." The girl brushed her hair away from her ears, sat opposite Owen, and introduced herself: "Ginny Weasley."

The speed of the car began to increase, and the scenery outside the window was quickly thrown behind. The four people in the carriage were chatting, and the atmosphere gradually became harmonious. Although Ginny looked at Owen strangely when he told her which house he was in, he could always make himself very popular if he wanted to.

"Ginny, why aren't you with your brothers?" Owen asked casually when the atmosphere was right.

"They're all busy with their own business," Ginny said nonchalantly.

"What are Fred and George busy with? They persuaded me to invest in their business last year, but I lost all my money." Owen said with a smile, as if he had a good relationship with them.

Ginny glanced at him sympathetically: "You'd better be busy playing pranks." She held her chin and looked out the car window with some distress, like a mother worried about her children: "They seem to be having conflicts recently. This is really A strange thing, right?"

"They...will have a conflict?" Owen raised his eyebrows.

"This is also the first time I have met. They have been as good as the same person since they were young, but their relationship has become a little weird recently." Ginny pretended to be a mature little adult and sighed deeply, "Maybe Just like dad said, they are finally starting to grow up."

Luna on the side seemed to have heard a very funny joke, and laughed indifferently, until she burst into tears. The remaining three people looked at her. After a long time, she stopped laughing, raised her hand to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes, took out a copy of "The Quibbler" and covered her face.

"How's Ron doing?" Owen continued to ask, seeming to genuinely care about his friend.

"His mouse was lost, and he was very sad during this period...probably." Ginny seemed a little angry, and started talking more, "Secretly locking herself in the room all day long. And Percy. , I write letters every day, and I feel weird when I see people... The atmosphere at home has become extremely weird recently because of this."

Owen blinked his eyes and looked a little serious. The Weasley twins are in conflict, Ron is mysterious, and Percy is weird. Although it doesn't sound too abnormal, but combined with the missing diadem...the Weasley family is going to hell.

"Who has a problem? Or, do they all have a problem?" He tapped the table lightly, and a card rolled smoothly in his hand. The suit kept changing with the ups and downs of his thoughts, sometimes spades. , sometimes it was a heart, and in a blink of an eye it turned into a diamond and a club.

Luna's eyes were fixed above the magazine, staring at the movements of Owen's hands without blinking, and she suddenly said: "This is not magic."

Owen looked up at her in surprise. After a moment, he suddenly grabbed the cards in his hand. He clenched his fist and then released it suddenly. A white rose appeared in his hand. He handed the flowers to Luna and said under the dumbfounded gazes of Ginny and Neville: "I like you." She was the first person in the world to see at a glance that Owen's magic was not magic. Such a child really Be a little more likeable.

"Thank you." Luna took the flower very naturally and pinned it to her left ear.

Owen nodded politely and continued the unfinished topic. Luna raised the magazine in her hand again and read it calmly and intently.

Ginny and Neville exchanged glances, and they suddenly felt that the two people's brain circuits were equally weird.

Thank you to book friend 20180127183357667 for the 1,000 starting coins. Thank you, boss~