[Zhongyingmei] Good men are to be robbed!

Delaford House on Christmas Eve.

"Wow wow wow..."

Casablanca, who was hugging each other in the living room, frowned, and she pushed Brandon, who was reading a story to his baby: "Chris, I seem to hear the baby crying."

"This day?" It was snowing heavily outside, and Brandon could hear it. He put on his coat and said to Casablanca, "It's too cold outside, I'll go out and have a look."

Casablanca waited for a while, and Brandon came in wearing a coat and holding a baby purple with cold.

"Oh my god!" Casablanca exclaimed, she took the shivering baby and held him in her arms to keep him warm, while asking, "What's going on?"

"His mother fell at the door, and it seemed that he had just given birth to him." Brandon looked complicated, "I went too late, she just had time to say his name before she passed away. I used to ask the housekeeper to collect the funeral We will bury her in a few days."

"Which family is it?" Perhaps because of her pregnancy, Casablanca became more sentimental.

"I don't know him, probably a stranger." Brandon said.A foreigner, with no identification on him, feared that he might not be able to find his father.

"It's so pitiful!" The baby in his arms was small and thin, perhaps because he was in a warm environment, his grape-sized eyes turned black, and his heart melted when he saw it. "Can we keep him?" Casablanca Looking at Brandon imploringly, it is impossible for a family like them to have sex at will, but it is still possible to raise a child.

"Of course, Richard must be happy to have a younger brother when he comes back." Of course Brandon would not refuse his wife's request, and he couldn't bear to send such a little baby to an orphanage.

Grace was born in midsummer when the flowers were in full bloom, and the half-year-old Tom was lying on the side of the crib with a confused face while spitting bubbles.Six-year-old Richard, with his fluffy hair, was also leaning against the crib, looking at his newborn sister excitedly. He carefully stretched out a finger and poked the fleshy cheek. The baby smacked its small mouth unconsciously, without any reaction.

"Tom, look, this is our sister." Richard touched Tom who was lying on the side, staring at the big round eyes with an ignorant expression, and said happily.

Five years later.

"Tom, Tom, shall we catch butterflies?" The chubby little girl in a beautiful floral dress poked a head through the door, her dark golden pupils shining brightly.

The little boy with black hair and black eyes, dressed as a gentleman, has an unbelievably beautiful face. He closed the book, beckoned to the little girl outside the door helplessly and dotingly, let her sit next to him, and said, "Brother Richard said Maybe he will come back today, you must not want him to see a dirty and fat loach when he comes back!"

The little girl was full of displeasure with her puffy bun face, she snorted and climbed off the chair, "Don't talk to Tom anymore!" She chopped her little feet and ran out.

Presently Tom saw the little girl thrashing about in the garden and playing with herself through the window.With a smile on the corner of his mouth, his gaze returned to the book, occasionally glancing at the little girl outside the window.

From time to time in the garden, the little girl giggled like silver bells, and the atmosphere was as beautiful as ever.

Suddenly, there was a tragic scream of "ah". Tom ignored the fallen book and looked for the little girl by the window.

The little girl who was shuttling among the flowers ran to the fence at some point, and the dense bushes covered the little girl's figure. Suddenly, a big date-colored horse jumped out of the fence and rushed straight at the little girl. When it fell, the people on the horse were obviously shocked, but they couldn't stop the horse, seeing that a tragedy was about to happen.Suddenly, time seemed to slow down, and a figure jumped out and hugged the little girl and rolled over to prevent this accident from happening.

The person who came was Sir Henry, who lived in the surrounding area and often came to the door. He was very nice because he had a good habit of riding horses.When he stabilized the horse and jumped off the horse, he felt that his feet were soft, and ran to the side of the ball with a pale face: "Are you all right? Are you all right?"

It was Richard who just came back who hugged Grace. The scene just now scared him to death. After touching his sister, he found that there was nothing serious except for the frightened expression, and then responded to Henry: "No serious problem, but I'd better ask you to call a doctor."

"Of course, of course." Henry responded again and again.

The frightened Grace didn't recover until she was put under the quilt, sobbing and crying, so pitiful.

"Sir, ma'am, I'm sorry, I should be with Grace." Tom stood in front of Brandon and Casablanca guiltily and admitted his mistake.

Even though she felt sorry for her daughter, Casablanca would not be angry. She touched Tom's head and said softly, "It's not your fault, don't blame yourself." Then she glared at Brandon and said very dissatisfied, "It's all those It’s the trouble of the guy who doesn’t like to go the right way and show off all day long!”

Brandon's complexion was not good, and his tone was blunt: "I will send them a notice, and such a thing will never happen in Delaford again."

Casablanca, who was assured, nodded, and she gently pushed Tom: "Go and see Grace!"

After drinking the medicine prescribed by the doctor, Grace soon fell asleep.Richard was at her bedside. The 11-year-old boy looked very much like his father, Colonel Brandon, with a solid build and a serious face.For this elder brother, Tom has admiration and a little fear.He looked at Grace, walked up to Richard, and admitted his mistake in a low voice: "I'm sorry, I didn't protect Grace well."

Richard turned his eyes to Tom. After going to the boys' school, he added a bit of the air of a big brother. He suppressed his voice: "Tom, I'm not at home, you are the only big brother, protect your sister, you It really didn’t go well this time.”

Tom stood straight in front of his elder brother, with a hint of shame in his eyes, "Brother Richard, I will definitely be a competent elder brother to protect Grace in the future."

This oath has become the belief that runs through Tom's life.

Grace, who was five years old, was still a child with a lot of forgetfulness. After sleeping, she jumped and ran around the manor again.

On Richard's 11th birthday, the whole family gathered around the dinner table to celebrate him.Tom gave a pen bought with his pocket money, and Grace handed Richard a chubby white rabbit.

"Brother, although the rabbit was caught by my father, it took me a year to raise it so well." Grace, who was holding the fat rabbit, blinked her eyes, looking very cute.

Richard looked at his chubby little sister and the chubby little rabbit, held back his smile, took it, and rubbed Grace's head with one hand, "Thank you for the gift, my brother likes it very much. .”

"Ding Dong"

"Who is here?" Casablanca looked at Brandon suspiciously.

Brandon put down the tableware, wiped his mouth, and said, "I didn't invite anyone."

"Master, Madam, Professor Dumbledore is visiting." The maid welcomed the guests into the dining room and retreated by herself.

The visitor had half-white hair, a pair of glasses, and a kind smile. As soon as he came in, he introduced himself: "I am Professor Dumbledore from Hogwarts. I believe you have received our letter."

Except for Grace who was still holding the bowl with a blank face, the others immediately understood the identity of the visitor.

"It turned out to be true?" Casablanca murmured in surprise.

"Of course, the world is always so amazing." Dumbledore, who had a good ear, drew out his wand and performed a little magic.

"Excuse me, does every child with magical powers have to go to Hogwarts?" Richard, the person involved, asked calmly.

"No, there are people who choose to go to other magic schools, but in England, there is only Hogwarts." Dumbledore seemed to feel something, and explained patiently, "Going to a magic school is not only about learning magic, but more importantly It is to teach the little wizards to learn to control their own magic power, so as to avoid magic riots. Magic riots can be injured at the slightest, and become squibs at worst—that is, people without magic, or die."

"Richard, I respect your decision." Seeing Richard looking at himself, Brandon said, he has always been proud of his eldest son, and he believes in his heir.

Richard, who got his father's promise, looked at Dumbledore: "Mr. Dumbledore, may I ask if there is a potion to eliminate magic power in the wizarding world? I don't intend to enroll in Hogwarts, I'm sorry."

Although Dumbledore felt Richard's resistance at the beginning, his words were far beyond his expectations, "Why?" He couldn't believe it, "Many children are happy that they have magical powers. Wizards are not like It's evil as the church says, they're just a little bit special than normal people."

"I am the eldest son of the Brandon family. I want to inherit and expand the family business. My shoulders bear the glory of the Brandon family. Going to Hogwarts not only wastes my time learning the knowledge I need, but also It made me lose the opportunity to expand my social circle. Besides, I don’t feel happy about being special at all, I would rather be an ordinary person.” Richard’s tone was calm, and it was obviously his decision after careful consideration.

He was calm, more calm than a kid of his age should be.If it was the past, Dumbledore would probably worry that such a calm and strong person would become a dark wizard, but the reality is that he doesn't want to enter the wizarding world at all, and he doesn't even want that magical power at all.Dumbledore had a headache: "I understand what you mean, but there is no potion to remove the magic power. You must know that every little wizard is a precious existence." After speaking, he almost gritted his teeth.

Richard was silent for a while, and then said: "It's okay, I can control it, as long as my emotions don't get out of control. Mr. Dumbledore, I'm sorry to make you go for nothing, why don't you stay and have dinner together!"

Dumbledore, who had no room for rejection, laughed and agreed.

"Grandpa, do you know Santa Claus?" Dumbledore happened to be sitting next to Grace. The little girl stared at the grape-sized eyes full of curiosity, and she stared at Dumbledore's white beard shiningly.