Hogwarts: Novel Era of the Wizarding World

Sophie looked at Adam with a serious face and spoke, "Adam, now that we've established an Unbreakable Vow, I can tell you everything. But still, I must tell you that this is an important matter to my family, and it is most important to me."

Adam heard the seriousness in her voice and nodded. Then, knowing that Adam understood the gravity of the situation, Sophie continued, "Our family is one of the oldest wizarding families. Even before the concept of pure-bloods came to be, our family still had its fame and reputation. We've mostly aligned ourselves as neutrals in many conflicts, except for those that we couldn't avoid. But still, our family can be considered one of the top three pure-blood families in the current wizarding world."

"But there is a severe curse going around in my family since ancient times. It is a curse that strips a person of their human body, mind, and soul—their humanity is consumed by this curse. It is a curse that appears once every few decades. We have been searching for a long time for a cure, but we've never come close to finding one. Until now..."

Sophie picked up her glass and took a sip of wine. Then, she closed her eyes for a couple of moments before opening them again to continue.

At this moment, Adam also felt like her words had plucked the strings of his memory, removing the dust that had settled on it. He remembered Astoria and her death due to the blood curse. As Adam was reminded of this, his train of thought was derailed by Sophie's voice as she continued her explanation.

Sophie's voice remained steady, but there was a weight to her words. "This curse hadn't appeared in the past few decades, but this time… it has appeared again in one of the members of my family. And we can't let them be taken away from us by this curse. So we searched tirelessly for clues, and finally..."

She paused. Her hands clenched into tight fists, her knuckles turning white. Her eyes glistened with moisture—she didn't let the tears fall, but they betrayed the sorrow she was trying to hide. Adam understood. He already knew that the one afflicted by this curse was Astoria—her own child. How could any mother bear to watch their child succumb to such a cruel fate?

Feeling the weight of the moment, Adam asked softly, "Did you find a way, Mrs. Greengrass?"

At the sound of his voice, Sophie unclenched her fists, her eyes opening with renewed determination. A flicker of hope shone within them. She nodded heavily and answered, "Yes. We found a clue about this curse— blood curse, a vicious curse that follows generations. Not every generation will have someone afflicted by it, but it is always there, waiting. It may appear in anyone at birth. We searched a lot before finding a piece of information that could be of help to get rid of this curse. We found this clue through a dark wizard, but we confirmed it via an Unbreakable Vow."

Adam was surprised at the mention of a dark wizard, but given Sophie's background, it wasn't entirely unexpected that she would have dealings with them. He considered it for a moment before asking, "What was the clue, Mrs. Greengrass?"

Sophie's expression grew more serious. "It was a clue about a book. A book about blood magic. Blood magic is a dark art, but it has many uses—including some of the most powerful healing spells ever known." She took a breath before continuing. "This dark wizard once studied at Hogwarts, and during his time there, he discovered Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem."

Adam's eyes widened slightly.

"That diadem is an artifact said to grant great wisdom to its wearer," Sophie continued. "And it was through its power that he uncovered the existence of a hidden, forbidden magical book. A book that Rowena Ravenclaw herself concealed. She set up a trial—one must pass it to claim the book."

Adam listened, his mind racing. His shock deepened as he thought about the only person in recent history known to have found Rowena Ravenclaw's Diadem. Ofcourse Adam was the only person to know this information.

Tom Marvolo Riddle.

Lord Voldemort.

A chill ran down his spine, but he didn't let his expression betray his thoughts. He simply listened, maintaining his composure as best he could, while the weight of the revelation settled within him.

Sophie took a deep breath, her expression unreadable. "This information is definitely true because the Unbreakable Vow did not react. But where the trial is, we don't know." She looked at Adam intently. "So, I want your help, Adam."

Adam finally understood what she wanted from him. He met her gaze directly and asked, "Is the one under this curse… Astoria?"

Sophie's eyes immediately contracted at his words. The air in the room grew heavy, thick with tension. The silence stretched, the weight of her emotions pressing into the space between them.

Adam knew. This was the same as his past life. A cruel fate repeating itself. He sighed, regret washing over him. He had always remembered Astoria as the kind, fragile girl who once called him big brother. How could someone like her, so gentle, be burdened by such a curse?

Sophie's silence stretched on, but Adam could sense the dangerous glint flashing in her eyes. Understanding that she was trying to decipher how he knew, he quickly spoke.

"I saw your teary eyes," he explained. "And Astoria seemed very weak yesterday. The way she always stayed behind you… it felt like she hadn't had much contact with people. So I guessed."

Sophie's tense expression softened slightly. Her sharp gaze wavered, and for a moment, she simply stared at the boy sitting in front of her. She seemed to be weighing his words, deciding whether to believe them.

After a few moments, she finally asked, "So, are you willing to help me, Mr. Taylor?"

Her tone had shifted—now distant, more formal. Adam noticed it but didn't think much of it. Instead, he looked at her, carefully calculating the pros and cons of this deal.

The Unbreakable Vow ensured that he would be paid fairly, even generously—that was one benefit. But the dangers? They were too many to count. Not only was this connected to an ancient and deadly curse, but the information itself had definitely come from Voldemort. That meant it wasn't just a lead—it was a trap.

After weighing his options, Adam made his decision.

"Mrs. Greengrass, I would like to decline your offer because of the dangers it could bring me."

Sophie remained composed, but Adam caught the brief flicker of disappointment in her eyes—one that quickly faded as if she had expected this response. She let out a sigh. "I understand. Teemy will take you back."

The moment he heard those words, Adam smiled. He leaned back slightly and spoke, "Mrs. Greengrass, I said I would like to decline your offer. But I don't intend to do so. I accept it."

Sophie's expression shifted to surprise. She looked at his smiling face and understood immediately—this had been a test. He had wanted to see how she would react to his rejection.

Realizing this, Sophie let out a soft chuckle, shaking her head in admiration. "Adam, it seems I passed your test. You are much smarter than I thought." She leaned forward slightly, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "But I want to know—why did you agree? Is it because of the benefits?"

Adam shook his head. "You misunderstood me, Mrs. Greengrass. I won't deny that I want rewards—but not at the cost of my safety." He then sighed, running a hand through his hair before continuing. "But this isn't just about rewards. It's about a life. The life of a person who called me 'big brother'. I can't bear to ignore that."

He shrugged, throwing his hands to the side as if to say that's just how I am.

For the first time since their conversation began, Sophie smiled genuinely. A bright, relieved smile. It was as if, in that moment, she had truly found hope for her daughter.

"You are not alone in this, Adam," she said, her voice filled with warmth. "My eldest daughter, Daphne, will also be searching for the trial and working hard to clear it alongside you. It was her decision, and I can't stop her—Astoria is her sister too." She hesitated briefly before adding, "So please, support my daughter in any way you can, if needed."

Adam was surprised once again. Endangering one child to save another? He could never make that choice. But looking at Sophie, he understood. This wasn't about forcing Daphne—she had made the choice herself. And if she was determined to do it, it was better to support her than let her act alone when she goes to Hogwarts.

A question then rose in his mind.

"Then why me, Mrs. Greengrass? Why not a sixth or seventh-year student? They're definitely more powerful and knowledgeable than me."

Sophie nodded, as if expecting the question. "That is a valid concern," she admitted. "But there is a condition—the trial can only be cleared before the age of 15. And it consists of three trials, each of which can only be completed one per year."

Adam frowned. "So, if someone fails the first trial at age 11, they can still try at 12, 13, or 14. But if they turn 15 before passing all three, they're out?"

"Exactly," Sophie confirmed. "It is a strange condition, but the Unbreakable Vow prevents falsehoods. And, knowing Rowena Ravenclaw, she would have designed these trials specifically for students aged 11 to 15. After all, she was known for her unparalleled intelligence—she wouldn't make trials impossible for young students."

Adam absorbed the information carefully. It was starting to make more sense.

"I see. I understand, Mrs. Greengrass," he finally said. "I'll support and help your daughter in any way I can to get the book. But I must keep a copy of it—in case one day, the book is used for harm."

Sophie's gaze sharpened at his words.

Adam continued, "I don't want a book on blood magic to fall into the wrong hands—even within the Greengrass family. And I also need to protect myself."

'If Voldemort truly intended for someone to find this book, I need to leave a safeguard for myself.' Of course this part, Adam thought of only in his mind and didn't dare to reveal.

He smirked slightly. "Oh, and by the way—it's not included in my rewards."

Sophie stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter. It was a genuine, amused laugh, filled with relief and admiration.

"Very well, Adam," she said, smiling. "I agree to your condition."

And with that, their meeting concluded.

Before parting ways, Adam took the opportunity to ask Sophie some final questions. While she answered some, there were many things she could not disclose. There were still gaps in the puzzle—things Adam would have to figure out himself.

Finally, Sophie bid her farewell, and Teemy prepared to take Adam back to Diagon Alley.

Before leaving, however, Adam didn't forget something important.

Since the restaurant belonged to Sophie, the food was basically free.

So, he made sure to pack plenty of expensive, delicious dishes for his parents.

Soon, Adam made his way back home and shared all the delicious food he had brought from Sophie's restaurant. His parents were initially surprised—and even a little worried—upon seeing the luxurious and expensive dishes. But when Adam reassured them that they were a gift from someone he knew, their concern eased.

They were curious about who this mysterious benefactor was, but they chose not to press him for details. Adam didn't provide a direct answer, and they respected his privacy. They trusted their son deeply, knowing that he would not bring harm upon himself.

With only a few days left until the Hogwarts Express would depart, Adam and his family embraced the peaceful moments they had together. They laughed over meals, spent time sharing stories, and enjoyed the warmth of their home.

Yet, in the background, the world was shifting silently.