A Sudden Premonition

In the end, Adam successfully secured the prestigious position of Newt’s teaching assistant and, before leaving, warmly recommended several Hufflepuff upperclassmen to Newt.

Newt needed teaching assistants because he lacked the energy, so there should at least be one assistant for every class, right?

Other classes were another matter, but how could any class with Hufflepuffs let such a valuable opportunity slip away?

"Adam really is an excellent Hufflepuff…"

Perhaps infected by Adam’s energy, Newt could not help smiling. He pulled the Four-Fruit Soup Adam had left behind closer and took a spoonful.

At his age, he did not usually eat sweets anymore. But Adam had said that the desserts he made would place no burden on the body, and of course Newt did not doubt him. It really did taste quite good.

"…If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now."

Professor Dumbledore gazed wistfully at the bowl of Four-Fruit Soup in Newt’s hands as he spoke.

It was not as though he had never bought Four-Fruit Soup from Adam before, but Adam’s little shop only sold the original version: mung beans, barley, lotus seeds, and red beans, with honey water, emphasizing the pure, natural flavor.

But look at the bowl in Newt’s hands. Aside from the four fruits, it also contained pudding, taro balls, tapioca pearls, white fungus, peach gum, grass jelly, peanuts, longan, watermelon, dragon fruit, Hami melon… There were so many toppings that they rose above the honey water in a heap!

Was this Four-Fruit Soup or eight-treasure porridge? And the container beneath it could practically be called a basin!

Professor Dumbledore’s mouth watered furiously.

"Oh, all right, Professor Dumbledore. Go get busy."

Newt hurriedly nodded. Professor Dumbledore really was too polite; a headmaster was leaving, yet he had actually informed a professor who had not even taken up his post yet.

Professor Dumbledore: "…"

I’ve put it that clearly, and you won’t even politely invite me to have a couple of bites? Can you really finish such a huge bowl?

In the end, Professor Dumbledore lingered at the entrance to The Office for nearly a minute. When Newt still showed no intention of asking him to stay and even looked up at him in confusion, he finally sighed and walked out of that heartbreaking office.

He should avoid walking this way next school year if he had no reason to…

Unaware of Professor Dumbledore’s inner turmoil, Adam was in a very good mood.

"Wow! I can hardly believe that next year, we’ll get to be Newt Scamander’s students!"

Klon bounced about excitedly in the dormitory.

Uther did not feel much about it, but Eugene was caught in a tremendous dilemma… Should he switch from Ancient Runes to Care of Magical Creatures?

With his monstrous strength, he might end up caring for magical creatures until they needed protection instead.

But that was Newt!

Adam had no solution to Eugene’s dilemma. If it were Hagrid’s Care of Magical Creatures class, Eugene attending would not matter much, but Newt’s Care of Magical Creatures class… Adam had no idea what magical creatures they would encounter.

News that Newt would be coming to Hogwarts to teach for a year next school year swiftly spread throughout Hufflepuff. Just as Adam had expected, everyone was excited. Only the first-year newcomers and seventh-year seniors beat their chests and lamented that it was unfair.

Other than the Muggle-born young wizards who did not yet know who Newt was, the calmest first-year student was probably Rolf Scamander. He was even somewhat relieved; although he had a good relationship with his grandfather, becoming teacher and student with him probably would not be a particularly pleasant experience.

Amid such an atmosphere, Hufflepuff displayed extraordinary fervor during that weekend’s Quidditch match against Gryffindor. Unfortunately, they still ultimately lost to Gryffindor.

"Next year, the Hufflepuff team’s upperclassmen will enter their seventh year, and six positions will open up. Are you interested in joining the Quidditch team?"

On the way back, Cedric ran over to chat with Adam and the others.

"Looks like you’ve decided to join the Quidditch team?"

"Of course."

Cedric wore a confident smile.

"I’m planning to compete for a Seeker position."

"I’m joining the Quidditch team too!"

Klon’s eyes lit up. He clenched a fist and waved it.

"I’m planning to try for Beater. I remember Hufflepuff’s current two Beaters are both sixth-year upperclassmen."

"I remember you performed well in flying class during your first year. Your chances of being selected should be pretty high."

Adam thought back.

"What about you? Are you interested in Quidditch?"

Cedric looked toward the remaining four.

"I want to try out for Keeper."

Eugene thought for a moment before answering.

Uther was not very interested in playing Quidditch himself. Bernard was somewhat interested, but when he considered the tedious training Quidditch players had to undergo, he gave up on the idea.

"All right, then what about you, Adam?"

"I’m not that interested in playing Quidditch either."

Adam’s answer disappointed Cedric somewhat, but Adam truly had little interest in flying through the air to catch and hit balls, especially while riding a flying broomstick… He would have been more interested if magic could be used.

"But I’ll cheer for you… in the form of logistical support."

Adam’s final words lifted Cedric’s spirits again.

"Oh! With you saying that, maybe we can take first place next year."

"Let’s hope so."

Adam took it in stride.

Come to think of it, following the original course of events, next year would be Cedric’s first and last Quidditch competition.

The year after that, the Triwizard Tournament would resume…

Adam pressed his lips together.

Beginning next year, Hogwarts would be increasingly affected by outside forces.

Dementors, Death Eaters, the Ministry of Magic…

Thinking of that, Adam suddenly remembered something.

His arrival should have been nothing more than an accident, so everyone else in the original story should still be unaffected. Then with Uther around, why did the Ministry of Magic dare go so far? Were they not afraid of causing diplomatic disputes?

This sudden thought did not vanish in an instant like the other things he thought of while idly musing. Instead, it took root and sprouted in his heart, making Adam feel waves of unease.

The sudden premonition concerned Adam. After returning to the dormitory, he summoned the Clow Cards.

"What are you doing?"

Klon glanced over curiously.

"There’s Divination next year. I’m getting some practice in first."

Adam answered casually, closed his eyes, and murmured.

"Clow Cards created by Clow Reed, please answer my question and tell me…"

Adam’s voice paused before he continued.

"Uther Ramses’s circumstances over the next few years."

Feeling magic surge, Adam turned over the first card. It was a hint regarding the outcome.

"Erase Card!"

Adam’s pupils shrank. This Clow Card did not seem to indicate a good outcome… Uther had disappeared?

Had his parents kept him in Egypt because Hogwarts was too dangerous, making him disappear from Hogwarts’ perspective? Or had he encountered some danger and vanished from the world entirely?

Kero and Suppi, crouched on the table, reached out their paws and pressed them against the back of Adam’s hand, seemingly trying to comfort him this way.

Forcing a smile, Adam smiled at the two little ones before looking at the row of Clow Cards in the middle, his expression turning grave.