HP Midnight Light

In September 2026, Erica Wood made an appointment with her superior, Mr. Spencer Barnold, for an interview with her about writing a new book.

"I have collected some information that is very helpful for writing, but it is not enough." Erica handed an application form to Mr. Barnold, "I need to get some Muggle There's more to come out there, so it would be great if you could sign off on this proposal."

Mr. Barnold temporarily suppressed her application form: "Is there anyone else you need to see besides Muggles?"

"I also hope to meet Pansy Parkinson and Ann Smith."

"It's hard, Miss Wood. Maybe they won't want to see you, or you won't be able to get in touch with them at all."

"I understand," Erica said. "If this path doesn't work, I'll take another one. Anyway, since you approved my writing project, I will try my best to finish it."

With a faint smile on Mr. Barnold's wrinkled face, he picked up the quill and signed his name on Erica's application form, then handed it back along with the other two glass bottles.

Erica asked in surprise, "Mr. Barnold?"

"This one is the memory of my aunt, Miss Wood," said Spencer Barnold. "Her name is Arabella Figg, and she met Hyacons and Sirius many years ago, and The former had a personal relationship."

Erica vaguely guessed the source of the second glass bottle.

"This is my own memory." Spencer Barnold turned another glass bottle, "In a sense, I also accidentally witnessed the whole story..." His eyes were dazed for a few seconds , and then gently pushed it in front of Erica, "I'm looking forward to your work, Miss Wood."

Unsurprisingly, Pansy Parkinson declined Erica's request to meet.

She was not surprised by this. What surprised Erica was that on the same day she received the rejection letter, she received two letters at the same time, both of which wanted to interview her—one signed "Ann Miller" , and the other simply stated that it was sent from the Burst Manor.

The former was right in her arms, while the latter was a surprise.Without thinking about it, Erica immediately wrote a reply requesting to meet with the other party at noon and afternoon respectively. Fortunately, she got affirmative answers from both parties shortly after.

Erica was ecstatic, she simply prepared and left the Bathilda Bagshot Research Center with her shorthand and quill for London.

After waiting anxiously for hours, Erica met Ann at the appointed coffee shop.

"I think you are Miss Erica Wood." A white-haired old man wearing a pearl necklace sat down opposite her, "I'm Ann Miller."

"Hello." Erica suppressed the excitement in her heart and looked at the other party.

"Why don't we get straight to the point?" Ann seemed to see her excitement, "I think you might need to collect my memory?"

"That's true. But if you don't mind, I hope you can also tell about your experience after leaving the wizarding world." Erica added, "If you want to keep it a secret, of course you can refuse, and that's okay."

"I don't mind telling one more story." Ann folded her hands, and calmly talked about the past, "Actually, I had secretly left the wizarding world as early as the beginning of 1983. Sean Greengrass claimed that his wife was dead. I was ill and needed to rest. Since my elder brother and sister-in-law didn’t really care about my life and death, this good drama ended successfully. But Sean failed to help me find William’s whereabouts as promised. As compensation, he Giving good money and helping me get a new Muggle identity."

"Did you abandon your identity as Ann Smith?" Erica asked, "to cover up the four years you were missing?"

"I still use my original name, but my college experience in the Muggle world has been erased - in order to avoid unnecessary trouble." Ann continued her story, "I spent half a year searching for William's The whereabouts, but nothing. In the end, I chose to leave London and go to Bath to continue my student career under disappointment. After I obtained a degree certificate, a university in the United States extended an olive branch to welcome me to continue my studies there. Therefore, in In 1986 I left the UK for the US and stayed there for seven years - three years studying and four years working. At the beginning of the eighth year, my boss sent me back to the UK for an exchange. On that exchange I Dramatic reunion with William."

Erica let out a surprised "oh!"

"It's a clichéd story, isn't it?" Ann took a sip from her teacup, she frowned slightly as if lost in memory, then she raised a smile: "I heard someone calling my name, and I saw it when I turned around He was - caught off guard, but I wasn't surprised at all - William was older, calmer and more talkative than I remembered. I was completely flabbergasted at the time, and then he came up and asked I've been doing well these years?' I replied: 'It's ok, how about you?' He said 'good', I made an excuse to leave after a few pleasantries, but he came forward after the seminar Asked for my contact information. The next day he asked if I would like to have a cup of coffee together, which I couldn't say no to; a week later we went to a hot local bar and he told me how he was doing. There After that, we met every other day, and I gradually learned about his experiences over the years, and he also learned about mine.

One month later, the exchange activities ended, and on the eve of my departure back to the United States, he directly found the hotel where I was staying and invited me to go for a walk.I said yes, thinking this was the last time we would see each other in our lives.He led me back to the place we met at the beginning, which is Wu's Orphanage, which has long been converted into a library.Before I could figure out why I came here for a walk, he got down on one knee and proposed to me.I know it's dramatic, but after only five seconds I said 'I do'..." She flicked her fingers casually, her wedding ring gleaming.

"Congratulations." Erica admired sincerely, "You are really lucky."

"Maybe." Ann smiled faintly, "The only regret is that we wasted too much time, which is mainly my fault, otherwise we should have a better life. Like children." Her expression hides A trace of loss, Erica noticed:

"But you can grow old together and take a leisurely walk on the street to watch the sunset. This is a marriage that many people desire but cannot get."

"That's right." Ann looked down at the wedding ring on her finger and smiled, "But people always want more." She looked up at Erica and lightly changed the subject, "Don't talk about me, I'm not today protagonist of the story."

"Okay." Erica followed her lead and opened the notebook. "Then let's talk about Hyacinth. I guess the last time you saw her was at the Ministry of Magic trial?"

"Yes." Ann admitted shyly, "I heard about her intermittently after that, but we didn't see each other until I left the wizarding world."

It took her less than half an hour to recall every detail of her relationship with Hyacinth, and when her memory came to an end, Erica continued to ask:

"Did you see anyone else afterward—Mrs. Ballmer? Mr. and Mrs. Greengrass?"

Ann's smile froze slightly: "I saw Mrs. Barmer once back in the Muggle world, but she passed away before I went to America." She shook her head, "As for the Greengrasses... I don't know. Know."

"They left England at the end of 1998 and have not been heard from since," Erica told her, "but there are two others you might want to know about."

"Who?"

"One is the administrator I just mentioned who survived the case of Wu's Orphanage. The Ministry of Magic modified her memory to make her forget the murder. Later, she still worked in the orphanage and retired. She died at home without a cause." Erica paused for a moment, "The other person was Sean's ex-wife Vera. She had a very miserable life after being abandoned: homeless, crazy, constantly in the Muggle world and the wizarding world. wandering between, and once eked out a living by stealing and selling her body. When her friend Mrs. Crabbe found her, she had already contracted an incurable disease. Mrs. Crabbe secretly paid for her to go to St. Mungo's for treatment, but this A condition beyond the medical scope of both Muggles and wizards, she died in a wizarding hospital 16 years after divorcing Sean."

An Jiu didn't speak for a long time.

"She's poor," she said at last, and Erica knew she was talking about Vera.

"I know. So I'm sorry to let you hear such unpleasant news." She replied, "But I am a researcher in the history of magic. In history, everything must be judged fairly: poor people must be hateful." place."

"But history is written by the victors."

"That's right. That's why we met." Erica replied calmly, "If Riddle's side had won, then there would be two different people sitting here today."

Ann laughed.They talked intermittently about other things, until the café gradually filled up for afternoon tea.

"So," Ann asked hesitantly before leaving, "do you think it would have been better if I had been with Hyacins after Blake was in prison?"

"I'm not sure." Erica said honestly, "But you don't need to feel guilty. After all, under the circumstances at that time, protecting yourself was the most important thing."

Ann raised her eyebrows uncertainly: "I remember... this seems to be something Slytherin would say?"

"That's right." Erica laughed, "But now the boundaries between the four colleges are not so clear." She thought for a while and added, "There is one more thing I have to tell you——Magic The Ministry has already passed and revised and updated the Squib affirmative action that was suppressed many years ago, and now Squibs have equal rights with ordinary wizards, and most of them will be placed in Muggle schools Read books, and the rest will be trained to do jobs in the wizarding world that don't require the use of magic."

An was startled, and then a sincere smile bloomed on her face, as if someone had suddenly lit up her whole body with a light.

"Goodbye, Mrs. Miller." Erica smiled.

After bidding farewell to Ann Miller, Erica hurried to Burst Manor. The place was so desolate that it took a long time for anyone to open the door after Erica rang the bell.

"Miss Wood." Erica recognized at a glance that the person who opened the door was the popular writer Millicent, "I'm sorry for making you come here in such a hurry, but I'm afraid things are a bit complicated." She politely invited her in before explaining said, "That letter was sent to you by my grandmother, old Mrs. Bulstrode. I guess she was out of her mind at the time, and had no idea what she was doing. Anyway, her life came to an end this morning. Go see Merlin." Millicent said in a mocking tone, "So, your trip is probably just a waste of time, I'm sorry."

"Old Mrs. Bulstrode passed away this morning?" Erica immediately understood the reason for Millicent's presence here—whether she had separated from the Bulstrode family in name or not, according to the laws of the wizarding world, she still Heir to the estate and the name.

"Yes. She has no medical records in St. Mungo's, and there are no house elves here, so I don't know what's going on at the moment." Millicent politely poured a cup of tea for Erica, solemnly Apologizing for the third time, "I'm sorry to let you make this trip in vain."

"Then," Erica said unwillingly, "since I'm here, can I meet your aunt?"

"Olivia?" Millicent was taken aback and then smiled a little embarrassedly, "But you also know..."

"Please." Erica begged.

Millicent finally agreed after hesitating for a moment.She led Erica straight to the attic: "She has been living here since her illness became more and more serious. Wearing shackles for a long time and being old and weak made her lose the ability to walk." Millicent pushed the door open for her After that, I consciously left space for the two of them.Erica caught sight of the frosty, visibly aged woman in the wheelchair.She should be younger than Ann Miller, but she looks older.

"Olivia." Erica knew that she was not mentally normal, so she stepped forward and called softly tentatively, "Can you hear my voice?"

Olivia stared at the tiny window in the attic, and Erica wondered what she was seeing.

"Miss Burst, I..."

"She died."

It took several seconds for Erica to finally recover from the hoarse voice: "Yes." She replied instinctively, and then her eyes widened in surprise belatedly.

"Then, I can finally speak normally now." Olivia said clearly and calmly, "This scene can come to an end."

Erica was stunned by this explosive news and was speechless for a long time: "You..." She tried her best to search for words, "You're not crazy—I'm sorry, I didn't mean that..."

"Crazy is the only way I can escape control, Miss Wood." Olivia sneered, "I wish I was crazy, but I didn't. So for a while I lived in my In fantasy, it is a pity that any daydream has a moment of shattering... Millicent was wrong, the letter was sent by me, not my mother. I have wanted to see you for a long time, Miss Wood."

Erica felt dizzy for a while because of the twists and turns of the plot, and Olivia had already made a suggestion opposite her: "I know you are planning to write a biography of Hyacinth, Miss Wood. You can Take my memory from me—it will pretty much help you recover everything about our campus life and the history of the Burst family—but I want you to tell me the real cause of Regulus' death."

The Bathilda Bagshot Center for the History of Magic has not disclosed plans for the biography to the public, but Olivia has apparently guessed or speculated about the progress of Erica's material collection.She sighed, and said truthfully under Olivia's silent gaze: "Regulus had been aware of Riddle's plan to split his soul a year before his death. Although he didn't fully understand it. Riddle's overall plan, but he decided to sacrifice himself to get the locket hidden in the cave. I'm not sure if Regulus knew that Riddle was going to make six Horcruxes, but he must have known that he was going No answer, so..." Erica paused and then mentioned another matter, "Regulus left a note identifying himself in the fake locket, which is also the reason we have never been able to decipher. He doesn't seem to care how Riddle punishes the rest of the Black family when he realizes his betrayal—"

"He's not his person anymore." Olivia interrupted her with some disrespect. "How much he worshiped the Dark Lord once, and then he wants him to fail. Of course he doesn't care about other people— —Bellatrix, the Rodolphs brothers, his parents, the Malfoys..."

"Regulus was cleared after the war. He's a total hero now, and people know the legend of Brother Black."

"I don't know if this is what he wants." Olivia said indifferently, "Just as long as he thinks it's worth it." She turned the wheelchair and returned to the dressing table to pick up an already empty one on it. The perfume bottle, from Erica's perspective all she could see was her trembling hands - wrinkled and old, belonging to an old man rather than a young girl.

In a sense, Regulus was actually cruel to her.Erica thinks that Olivia may have already guessed the cause of Regulus' death, but when the truth is confirmed by others, she will become more and more heart-pounding.

After all, those crazy and waking things are just a dream.

"Olivia," Erica asked, interrupting her grief somewhat harshly, "during your last conversation with Hyacins, what did you say?"

Olivia choked and held the perfume bottle for a while before she calmed down. She replied in a nasal voice: "That's not important anymore, Miss Wood."

"I need to know," Erica pressed relentlessly. "Whether it's good or bad, I can't write a complete story without it."

Olivia raised her head and looked at her steadfastly, her blue eyes flickered with an almost cold light: "Do you really want to know?"

"Of course," said Erica bravely. "Now that I'm here, I'm taking something more valuable than memories. But, first of all, I want to know that she knows you're not really crazy." ?"

"I think she has already guessed it." Olivia had a cold smile on her lips, "Because she left me a note with a hidden password. On the surface, it only said that Rozier's daughter was dead. .But in the code she said she decided to get revenge on Parkinson and invited me to join her plot."

"Invite you to participate in her conspiracy?"

"Invite me to also start revenge - to my mother." Olivia's smile hides pain and pain, "She has ruined my life, and there is no doubt that she will ruin Millicent's life next .You think I'd be willing to stand by?"

A chill ran up Erica's spine. She leaned slightly to look into Olivia's eyes, and lowered her voice instinctively: "How is Hyacinth planning to take revenge?"

"She didn't say it clearly, but she said that she would let everything end where it started. Maybe she thought of a very terrible revenge plan. After all, she didn't care about the consequences and just wanted Parkinson to pay the price." Olivia replied, "It's a pity that Black's escape from prison interrupted her plan and gave her new hope, but in fact...it was just complete despair."

After a moment of silence, Erica asked, "Then why did you abandon your plan?"

Olivia smiled bitterly: "It's really easy to take revenge on an enemy, but if she is your mother, it will become difficult anyway." She blinked her eyes to hide the shallow water. Guang, "No matter how mean she treated you, she gave you love and care, not to mention the confession that was too late." She turned her wheelchair back to Erica, "Miss Wood, you will never be in this world One of the things that can be overcome is humanity."

Erica knew she was right.

"Please keep it a secret for me, Miss Wood." Olivia then demanded, "I would rather continue to be a lunatic in people's eyes."

Then she refused to say another word.Erica watched her back silently, and turned away after a while.

Millicent was still waiting in the living room.

Erica originally wanted to ask her what she planned to do with Olivia, but as an outsider, she really couldn't get involved in other people's family affairs.After twists and turns on the tip of the tongue, a sentence finally changed its flavor: "You are a very lucky person."

"I don't think so." Millicent denied it neatly. "Everything I own is earned by my own ability. Miss Wood, I don't think there is any 'lucky' or 'unlucky' in this world." , the only difference between people is their attitude."

"You think so?"

"Isn't that so?" asked Millicent. "If you were a man who retreated easily, you wouldn't be the author of this biography."

Erica looked at this legendary senior in the literary world with some surprise, and she suddenly understood another reason why Olivia gave up her revenge plan.

Erica returned to the research center late that day when she was met by a colleague in the hallway who told her that an anonymous package had been owled in the evening.

The package sat on the desk without any additional information on it.Erica carefully opened it suspiciously, and inside was something wrapped in kraft paper, which felt like a book.

An attached note then appeared in front of her eyes, with unfamiliar handwriting on it:

"Please don't think too badly of me."

She opened the kraft paper package, and a thick diary appeared in front of her eyes.

The author has something to say:

Note:

1. [Miller]: William's Muggle surname.

2. [The password in the note]: The note was given to Olivia by Hyacinth sometime between 1983 and 1991.The one that Blaise failed to translate was not "repeating the same mistakes" but "breaking the shackles." In a sense, both of them have the meaning of "don't follow the old way, but take a new way".The second cipher "I end at the beginning" refers to Hyacinth's intention to use Hogwarts (where the story begins) to exact her revenge.Olivia hid this from Erica.As for Hyacinth's revenge plan, let it be left blank for the time being.

3. The last thing that appears is Hyacinth's diary.The note was from Edmund.He ordered Tata to be delivered to Pansy when she returned to Parkinson's Manor, but Pansy never came back, so the house-elf mailed it to Erica against her master's orders.This will be explained in the next chapter.

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