vncnus Chapter 3 You are not allowed to go to Hogwarts!
Chapter 3 You are not allowed to go to Hogwarts!
Professor Sprout glanced guiltily at Finley McGregor, genuinely worried that the grumpy old man would make sarcastic remarks at her. Fortunately, he was preoccupied and silently sipped his strong black tea with two spoonfuls of whiskey.
The professor breathed a sigh of relief, looking at Lucas who was still waiting for his evaluation, and couldn't help but shout in his heart.
It's true! Lucas is really a great cook!
Merlin, this eleven-year-old boy is actually a food expert!
"Lucas, your culinary skills have completely exceeded my expectations! And your amazing knife skills—even magic couldn't do better!"
"Delicious, Lucas, these are the best scones I've ever had!"
Lucas smiled broadly and bowed slightly: "Thank you, Professor Sprout. Your satisfaction is the greatest reward for me."
He straightened up, his hazel eyes sparkling. "Of course, I know the professor said that just to encourage me. My cooking skills are just those of an ordinary person; how could they compare to magical wonders? In the wizarding world, there must be countless amazing delicacies waiting for me to explore and learn."
"Professor Sprout, I can't wait! How am I supposed to get to Hogwarts?"
Professor Sprout paused, about to say that Lucas didn't need to be modest, when Finley McGregor slammed his hand on the table, the cups and saucers clattering: "No way! Lucas! What magic school? Never even heard of it! What if it's a fraudulent cult?"
"Mr. McGregor, the wizarding world keeps Muggles—excuse me, Muggle is just what we call ordinary people, no offense intended—completely secret from them, so you don't know Hogwarts and don't believe in magic." Professor Sprout maintained his smile. "Please allow me to demonstrate again."
She drew her wand and tapped it gently.
The cutting board, plates, and knives that hadn't been cleaned up yet floated up gently, jumped into the sink, put on a dishcloth, and began to wash.
Professor Sprout waved her wand again, and this time, she deliberately recited a spell.
"Completely cleaned up!"
The tea stains that had spilled on the table, along with some tiny crumbs of scones, had vanished into thin air.
"Mr. McGregor, this is magic. And Hogwarts is responsible for teaching young wizards how to use magic to protect themselves, explore the world, and realize their dreams."
Make your dreams come true!
Lucas stared at the spotless desktop, his mind reeling.
In my past life... I made a terrible mistake. I abandoned my dreams, wasted my talent, and buried my life. It wasn't until I was dying that I finally realized what I truly loved, what I wanted to pursue, and what kind of life I wanted to live.
Perhaps some unseen being heard my repentance and gave me a chance to be reborn.
So this time, I vow to always live in the moment and pursue what I love!
I have been honing my culinary skills, dreaming of rekindling my passion for food and becoming the greatest chef and gourmet in the world.
The Scotland I'm in now, in 1991, is no different from the Britain of my late 20th-century past—a complete culinary wasteland. I was originally planning to wait until I was older to travel the world and see if different cuisines existed...
But now, I've witnessed magic!
So this is a world where magic exists and wizards are hidden! And I am a born wizard!
Just imagine, what would food look like because of the existence of magical powers? The delicacies of the magical world would certainly be completely different from these ordinary foods, something that ordinary people could never imagine!
What do wizards eat? I really can't wait to find out...
I absolutely must go to Hogwarts! My culinary adventure will begin there!
"Grandpa! Please let me go!" Seeing Finley's shock at the magic, Lucas pressed his advantage. "If I learn magic, I can make crops ripen overnight, make livestock grow stronger, and even change the taste of farm products!"
Finley turned his head: "Change the flavor?"
"Yes! Like chocolate-flavored milk, or strawberry-flavored eggs—"
"Strawberry-flavored eggs?!"
“Someone will love it!” Lucas grabbed his grandfather’s hand. “Think about it, Grandpa. A magical farm! The name McGregor will live on forever, along with this land!”
Professor Sprout opened his mouth.
She originally wanted to say that, according to the Secrets Act and related laws, the use of magic in front of Muggles is strictly limited. Even if Lucas returned to the farm after graduating, he would have to protect the farm with spells and isolate it from the Muggle world, let alone use magic to shock the world.
But Lucas quietly waved to her.
Finley looked into Lucas's hopeful eyes, then at the kitchen utensils that were still cleaning themselves.
"Will the whole world know about McGregor Farm?"
“Of course, Grandpa,” Lucas said.
The old man pursed his lips: "Will you come back? Every year?"
"I will definitely go home every holiday, I promise."
Finley McGregor fell silent; the only sound in the room was the bubbling of boiling water.
After a long while, the old man looked at Professor Sprout.
He said curtly, "Professor, Luca lost his parents at birth and I raised him. As long as I live, I will not let anyone hurt him."
"I will not agree unless I see Hogwarts with my own eyes and see that such a magic school actually exists."
Lucas jumped for joy. Good heavens, this was no small feat for his stubborn, somewhat neurotic grandfather!
Lucas turned excitedly to Professor Sprout. All the professor had to do was give them a quick look at Hogwarts and a preview of the campus—
"I'm sorry," Professor Sprout's smile froze, "I'm not sure... In fact, it's very difficult to do."
Lucas was stunned, while Finley's face immediately turned ugly.
"What?"
Professor Sprout said urgently, "Because of the Statute of Secrecy, the existence of the wizarding world must never be revealed to any Muggle, even if you, Mr. McGregor, are Lucas's guardian—"
"He is the only guardian!" Finley slammed his fist on the table again.
"Yes, of course, we completely understand," Professor Sprout explained. "So, according to the Ministry of Magic's regulations, you are allowed to accompany Lucas into Diagon Alley in London, a large gathering place for wizards, where Lucas will buy all the magical items he needs to go to school. But you cannot set foot in Hogwarts."
"I'm sorry, there's no precedent for this in Hogwarts' thousand-year history. Of course, I will submit your request to the Headmaster..."
"Professor Dumbledore is the greatest headmaster in Hogwarts' history; he might agree, but it still needs Ministry of Magic approval. In short, I must warn you that the chances of success are slim—"
"My answer is just one word: No!" The old man roared angrily, his face flushed. "Not even a glance? Who knows what you're up to!"
Professor Sprout stood up anxiously. She knew that as Lucas's sole guardian, if Finley McGregor insisted on not allowing Lucas to enroll, there would be only one outcome.
Lucas and Finley will have this memory erased, forever losing their connection to the magical world.
"Grandpa, calm down." Lucas gently patted his grandfather's back, then nodded to Professor Sprout. "Professor Sprout will help us. Let's just wait for the results, okay?"
Professor Sprout could clearly see the pleading and longing in Lucas's eyes, and she sighed.
"Of course, I will do my best."
However, I really have no confidence... My concern is not for Albus, but for the bureaucrats of the Ministry of Magic. They won't make an exception for Lucas, an unknown Muggle freshman.
Throughout Hogwarts' thousand-year history, countless Muggle students have been unable to enroll for various reasons.
Merlin, is Lucas still able to go to school?
Just then, a piercing bark suddenly came from afar!