Hogwarts: Harry Potter's Return from the Witcher World

"You seem to speak from experience," Harry said, glancing at Dumbledore.

The moonlight was gentle, spilling over them and filling the boat.

"Not everyone is like you," Dumbledore said, his expression complicated. "Who hasn't made a few mistakes?"

"The first fifty or sixty years of my life were failures, even if they earned me the title of 'the greatest white wizard.'"

Harry shook his head. "Do you remember what I once said to you?"

"Staying away from politics is the greatest wisdom."

He paused for a moment.

"If it weren't for saving my godfather, I wouldn't bother exchanging even one word with people like that."

Dumbledore laughed softly. He could tell the difference between truth and lies. Harry had always been consistent.

"Feeling reassured now?" Harry shot him a look.

Dumbledore kept smiling. "You must forgive an old man who's spent a lifetime making mistakes for being overly cautious."

"Professor, there are many ways in which I'm not your equal," Harry said as the boat neared the shore. He transfigured the cat back into a fish and released it into the water. "But in one regard, I'm far ahead of you."

Dumbledore shook his head. "There are many areas where you surpass me."

"I see Hogwarts as my home," Harry said as he stood, gazing at the castle. "What about you?"

Dumbledore opened his mouth to reply.

"I know what you're going to say," Harry interrupted. "The professors are your family, the students are your children. You know every student's name, even their dreams."

"But what about Hogwarts itself?"

"Just Hogwarts?"

"What does it mean to you?"

Dumbledore froze, sitting motionless in the boat.

"Great power requires restraint," Harry said, looking back at Dumbledore. "Don't let the past hold you back, my dear Professor Dumbledore."

"I'm always moving forward."

With that, he leapt onto the shore and waved energetically. "Good night, Professor. Sweet dreams!"

The young figure walked steadily toward the castle.

Dumbledore remained seated, watching until Harry disappeared into the castle. Only when Fawkes landed in his lap and nuzzled his face affectionately did he come back to himself.

"Old friend, I'm glad you're still here." Dumbledore held Fawkes close, carefully disembarking and heading toward the castle.

Gryffindor Common Room

Ron and Hermione were working on homework, surrounded by younger and older Gryffindors who were still awake. Inspired by Harry and his friends, they felt obligated to study diligently.

"Harry, just getting back now?" Hermione asked as Harry sat down beside her. "Did Professor Dumbledore finally make time to tutor you?"

Harry shook his head. "We didn't stay in the office today. We practiced outside."

"Outside?" Ron looked up, startled, and gave Harry a pitying look. "Oh no, that must've been awful."

"It was fine during the day, but the weather at night was ridiculous—wind, rain, thunder, all at once."

"It came on fast and left just as quickly, but it was miserable."

"Even Percy got soaked on his date," Ron added.

Harry nodded. "That was today's lesson."

Ron froze.

Hermione almost dropped her quill.

"What was Dumbledore teaching you?" Ron stammered, his words stumbling over each other.

Controlling the weather...

That didn't sound like ordinary wizardry.

"Was it the Weather Spell?" Hermione quickly recalled.

Harry nodded.

Hermione pursed her lips. "That's a NEWT-level spell, harder than the Patronus Charm."

"Actually, it's easier than the Patronus Charm," Harry said casually, waving his hand. "Once Ron masters the Patronus Charm, I'll teach both of you."

Ron immediately looked down, shivering slightly.

He'd asked Percy about it. The Patronus Charm was introduced in their sixth year's advanced spell class, and even Percy—an outstanding student with straight Os—hadn't fully mastered it.

Hermione had only been practicing for about a month, maybe a little more.

"You've got to try harder, Ron," Hermione said calmly.

Ron nodded, his voice shaky. "Y-yeah, I will."

Suddenly, he had an idea and extended his hand toward Harry. "Hey, Harry, Hermione only succeeded when using your wand. Can I borrow it?"

Harry handed him the wand.

As soon as Ron gripped the cedar wand, it emanated a subtle sense of disdain. He tried the incantation, but the wand didn't channel his magic. Nothing happened.

Ron attempted again.

"It's rejecting you," Harry couldn't help but point out.

Ron froze.

"The wand," Harry clarified. "The wand is rejecting you."

Reluctantly, Ron returned the wand and turned to Hermione, bewildered. "Why would it reject me? I'm your friend too, Harry."

"Hermione can use it, but I can't?"

Hermione hummed happily, flipping through her book with slightly flushed ears but said nothing.

"It's not about the wand," Harry said, wiping the wand clean before giving it a casual wave to summon a glass of milk. "It's about conviction."

Ron frowned even more deeply. Conviction? What does that even mean?

Percy had mentioned it too—he was stuck on that very concept.

"It's about a 'click' moment," Hermione offered, trying to help. "That sudden realization when everything falls into place and you can conjure the Patronus."

Ron shuddered. "Oh no, 'click' makes me think of my head being unscrewed."

Hermione rolled her eyes and turned to Harry. "What are your plans for Christmas?"

Professor McGonagall had been collecting students' preferences recently. Hermione hadn't filled out the form yet.

"I'll stay at Hogwarts," Harry replied.

"Not going home with Sirius?" Hermione asked.

Harry shook his head. "It's not much of a home with just the two of us—or rather, three of us."

Hermione blinked. What kind of answer is that?

"The Potter house hasn't been restored," Harry continued with a soft smile. "During the summer, I never imagined my godfather would be so reckless."

"He doesn't want to return to Grimmauld Place. That house hasn't been lived in for over a decade. It's probably in terrible shape now."

"As for Lupin, you know his circumstances. This semester has been the most comfortable he's had since graduation."

Hermione opened her mouth, but no comforting words came out. Anything she could say felt too hollow.

After a long pause, she sighed. "Alright, I'll stay at Hogwarts too."

"Why are you staying?" Ron asked.

"My parents are spending Christmas in France. I don't feel like going. We already went there over the summer," Hermione replied casually.

Satisfied with her answer, Ron returned to his book.

Christmas Morning

When Harry woke up, a pile of presents awaited him at the foot of his bed.

He unwrapped them one by one.

From Dumbledore, he received a pair of woolen socks—soft, sturdy, and immediately put to good use.

Lupin's gift was a collection of notes on Defense Against the Dark Arts—his personal insights from over the years.

Sirius, however, went all out.

His gift was the largest of all, containing a mix of prank items, potion ingredients, and a few serious items: several old, hefty books on potions and alchemy.

Across the room, Ron seemed puzzled. "What did Hermione give you, Harry?"

"A weather glass. Why?" Harry replied, summoning the gift box with his wand. The lid opened, revealing the contents.

Ron held up his gift. "She gave me a book."

"Maybe she saw how hard you've been studying and wanted to share her secrets," Harry said absentmindedly.

Ron's voice turned complicated. "The book's title is The Encyclopedia of Feline Species. And the pictures don't even move—it's a Muggle book."

Harry paused, then said seriously, "That makes it even more important."

"You should study it carefully."

Ron muttered an uncertain "Okay," and decided to follow Harry's advice. Surely, it wouldn't lead him astray.

Once all the gifts were opened, the trio headed to the Great Hall for breakfast, where Sirius and Lupin were already seated, chatting animatedly.

"Morning, Harry!" Sirius greeted cheerfully. His appearance had undergone a transformation: his hair was neatly groomed, his teeth sparkling clean, and he wore a shining set of robes. Only his gaunt frame betrayed the hardships of his past.

"It's noon, Sirius," Harry corrected.

"Did you like my gift?" Sirius asked, winking. "I picked it out with great care."

"The books are excellent," Harry replied honestly.

Sirius waved dismissively. "I wasn't talking about the books—I meant the gadgets!"

Harry glanced at the Weasley twins and replied with a blank expression, "I'll ensure they're used to fulfill their purpose."

Sirius, missing the double meaning, burst into laughter. "That's the spirit!"

"Harry, a young wizard should embrace some fun."

Snape, who had just entered, scoffed. "Fun, yes. But not mischief."

Sirius shot to his feet, glaring at Snape. "What's your problem, Snivellus?"

Snape's eyes narrowed, his voice cold. "I'm merely correcting your hollow words. Potter has finally shown some discipline—he doesn't need you dragging him down."

Sirius slammed the table. "It's you who's ruining him! Have you heard the way he talks now?"

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Powerstones?

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