Harry Potter and the Candy Factory

After a few casual words, seeing that it was getting late, and Headmaster Dumbledore and the three little ones were almost at class time, Charlie stopped dawdling. He raised his arm, glanced at the time on his wrist, and said, "It's getting late, I should go."

Dumbledore's face still held the same smile. His deep eyes swept across Charlie's face, and he nodded, offering a gentle and kind blessing for the journey about to begin.

"Safe travels, Charlie. When you return, if you're willing, I hope you can tell me more about Nicolas Flamel's recent situation..."

"Of course, Headmaster, see you later."

After replying with a smile, he bid farewell to the three young wizards, specifically mentioning the arrangements for their visit to the candy factory after the holidays. Once everything was done, Charlie finally strolled down the corridor towards the lower floors.

The four people didn't leave immediately but watched as the tall and familiar figure walked into the distance of the corridor, bathed in the morning light.

Just as Charlie's figure was about to disappear completely around the corner of the stairs, Harry, who had been clenching his fist in hesitation, seemed to finally muster his courage. He took a big step forward and abruptly called out to Charlie, who was about to go downstairs.

"Mr. Black!"

Hearing the voice, Charlie stopped, his raised foot returning to the ground. He turned his head, looking back in the direction he had just come from, focusing on Harry in the distance.

Although the distance was too far to clearly see the expression on Mr. Black's face, Harry could still vaguely feel the weight of that kind and warm gaze, like sunlight, upon him.

His cheeks flushed red, and after taking a deep breath, he finally mustered the courage to shout to Charlie:

"The Slytherin Quidditch team captain said there would be a test for me next Sunday. If I pass, he'll let me be the reserve Seeker for the team—"

"Excellent, Harry, I'm proud of you."

Charlie raised his head, responding loudly, while raising his right hand and giving Harry a thumbs up, regardless of whether the other person could see it from such a distance.

Encouraged by Charlie, Harry's face became even redder, and the joy hidden in his eyes could no longer be concealed.

"I wanted to ask, if you have time, would you be able to come and watch my test then..." Saying this, the courage he had managed to muster seemed to have vanished, and he quickly added in a weak voice after his previous words:

"Of course, if you're too busy, just pretend I didn't say anything."

However, to his surprise, Charlie didn't refuse. After thinking for a moment, he readily accepted Harry's invitation, saying with certainty:

"Don't worry—I'll be there to watch you become Hogwarts' youngest Seeker."

… … … … … … … … … … … …

After Charlie left, Dumbledore led the three towards the classroom, hurrying to begin the first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson of the new day.

At noon, after class, the trio made their way to the dining hall.

"Hey, don't you feel like Harry's acting a little strange?"

Looking at Harry, who was skipping and humming a song ahead of them, Hermione couldn't help but frown. She reached out and subtly tugged at Draco's sleeve, speaking softly.

Draco, who was reading a book, was interrupted from his thoughts. After blinking at Harry's back, he thought for a moment and then shrugged in response, as if it were obvious:

"I don't think anything's wrong. Maybe my uncle's words this morning made him too excited."

After saying that, he glanced at the inexplicable expression on Hermione's face and reluctantly put a bookmark in his book, continuing to explain:

"After all, if my uncle personally promised me that he would witness the most glorious moment of my life with me, and be proud of me, then I'd probably be as excited as Harry."

With that, he turned his head to look at Harry's back again, watching his messy curls and the corners of his robes fluttering wildly in the wind with his movements. For a moment, a feeling of envy was revealed in his eyes.

"Seriously… you two are like you've been brainwashed by him."

As a girl who had always been strong and ambitious, Hermione really couldn't empathize with the two boys' almost fanatical worship of Charlie Black. In the end, she could only shake her head and sigh.

Draco withdrew his gaze from Harry, reopening his book to the page he had been reading. After glancing at Hermione, he suddenly said:

"But you have to admit, my uncle, Charlie Black, is a perfect wizard."

Hermione's eyebrows shot up, and she was about to retort subconsciously, but she only saw that Draco's small face was already full of inviolable seriousness, as if the moment she denied his words, he would immediately start a fierce debate with Hermione on this matter, until she was willing to admit the proposition—"Charlie Black is the most perfect wizard in the world."

Seeing this, Hermione finally stopped saying anything. She just gave him a big eye roll and quickly caught up with Harry, who was walking and skipping ahead, seemingly forgetting about the two behind him.

"Tch, boys…"

"What? I'm stating a fact—"

Draco looked innocent, saying this as he hurriedly pulled up the hem of his robe and jogged a few steps to catch up.

… … … … … … … … … … … … … …

Meanwhile, in the bustling crowds of Manchester Airport, Charlie Black, having changed his attire, was now indistinguishable from a Muggle in appearance.

His face wore a gentle yet distant smile, his curious gaze constantly darting about, examining everything in what was known as the UK's third-largest airport.

Indeed, for this trip to France, he didn't use wizarding means of transportation like Portkeys. Instead, he truly acted like a Muggle going on a trip, choosing an airplane as the starting point of his journey.

He didn't have to wait too long. After passing through security and arriving at the departure lounge, he stood in front of the huge glass curtain wall, watching the massive iron wings slowly descend from the horizon with a rumbling sound, carrying wind and frost. Charlie couldn't help but think of his beloved car…

"If I were to add a few spells to an airplane and modify it, then the final result would probably be particularly amazing."

Just as he was idly pondering how he would deal with Voldemort hijacking the plane, he didn't know how much time had passed when a sweet female voice echoed throughout the departure lounge with a Manchester Airport announcement.

"Good morning, passengers. This is an announcement for flight xxx to Paris. Please have your boarding passes and identification ready. Regular boarding will begin in approximately ten minutes. Thank you."