The Magical Food God of Hogwarts

Chapter 16 Dumbledore

Hogwarts?!

Lucas straightened up, trying to roll off the bed, but the intense pain pressed him back down.

He could only watch as Ellie danced around excitedly, sharing her experiences: "I wasn't badly hurt, I was completely healed by this morning! Professor Dumbledore allowed me to visit Hogwarts... Merlin, my home is nothing compared to this place."

"Everywhere there are walking, talking armors and murals; ghosts roam the towers in droves; and there are staircases! Those staircases move on their own, taking you to places you never want to go; the ceiling of the Great Hall is filled with candles, and you can see the sky outside..."

"I love it here so much! I really want to go to school here!"

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door of the ward, and then it was pushed open.

"Good evening, children. Miss MacFastie, it's a pleasure that you enjoy Hogwarts. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but your voice carried through the walls of the infirmary. Luckily, Madam Pomfrey has already left..."

A tall, thin old man walked in. He had a long, silver-white beard that reached his waist, and wore a pair of crescent-shaped glasses. His light blue eyes shone with a gentle and wise light behind the lenses.

He wore a dark purple robe embroidered with stars and moons, and his steps were light and quick, making him seem nothing like an elderly man.

Ellie's voice stopped abruptly, and she stood up with a sense of awe.

"Hello, Professor Dumbledore."

Lucas was taken aback. Professor Dumbledore! The Headmaster of Hogwarts!

He recalled the long list of titles on the letter of admission, and Ellie's mention of "the greatest wizard."

Ah, Dumbledore looks exactly like a powerful wizard.

Lucas immediately tried to get up, but Dumbledore had already sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Don't move, Mr. McGregor. You need to rest in bed." Dumbledore smiled, and Lucas noticed his long, crooked nose, as if it had been broken and reattached. "We can talk slowly."

He then turned to Ellie: "Miss MacFastie, your father has arrived and is waiting for you in the Great Hall. He's very worried about you. I think you should already know the way to the Great Hall?"

The blush on Ellie's face quickly faded, replaced by an expression of impending doom.

"Okay..." she drawled, reluctantly moving towards the door, then turning back to Lucas and saying, "I'll come see you later!"

Lucas quickly said, "Please, your father, Ellie, he'll agree to let you go to school!"

Ellie gritted her teeth and nodded forcefully, as if facing certain death.

She left, leaving only Lucas and Dumbledore in the ward.

"You look quite well, Mr. McGregor. We were all terrified when you were first brought here," Dumbledore said slowly and gently.

"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore. Thank you Hogwarts for saving me," Lucas said quickly. "Just call me Lucas."

Dumbledore nodded. "Miss MacFastie has told me everything that happened; it was an extraordinary adventure. Especially you, Lucas, who bravely rode a black dragon to rescue your companions, and then faced a forest monster to protect them… I dare say most adult wizards couldn't have done that."

"If you are already a student at Hogwarts, there is no doubt that you can earn at least fifty points for your house."

Dumbledore paused, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes: "Unfortunately, you haven't enrolled yet."

"Professor Dumbledore!" Upon hearing the word "admission," Lucas suddenly remembered the previous events, and his heart leaped into his throat. "My grandfather! How is he? Does he know about my situation here? He must be frantic with worry!"

"Don't worry, Lucas," Dumbledore said gently. "Professor Pomona Sprout is with him. They're in Hogsmeade right now—near Hogwarts. I've sent a Patronus to let them know you've woken up safely, so they can rest assured."

"My grandfather... can he come here to see me?" Lucas asked expectantly.

Dumbledore shook his head. "No, Lucas. Unfortunately, due to strict legal agreements and various protective charms, he cannot enter Hogwarts. In fact, there has only been one exception since the founding of Hogwarts. A poor student died unexpectedly, and her grieving Muggle parents came in and took her away... Let's hope that such a thing never happens again."

"So, when they learned of your adventure, everyone was terrified, fearing a repeat of the tragedy," Dumbledore said seriously. "Lucas, you must understand that your safety is a very fortunate outcome, and you must not become arrogant or complacent, or even actively pursue adventures. Always think about your own safety, and those around you who care about you."

"I assure you, Professor Dumbledore," Lucas said immediately.

Dumbledore smiled and said, "That's good. Whether it was the dragonflight rescue, jungle survival, or the fight against trolls, you have shown extraordinary courage and wisdom. You will surely become one of the best students at Hogwarts in the future."

Lucas felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He never expected that this "greatest wizard of our time," the headmaster of a prestigious magic school who should have been high and mighty, would treat him, an unknown nobody, with such kindness and affability.

Hogwarts is so great.

"Don't worry, we'll take you to see your grandfather first thing tomorrow morning after you're discharged from the hospital," Dumbledore continued. "Also, there are two special visitors who are eager to express their gratitude to you... The centaur girl Thea, whom you saved, and her father, Ferrenzer, who are waiting for you at the edge of the Forbidden Forest."

"It's good that Thea is alright. Actually, I didn't manage to defeat the troll, so I can't really say I saved her."

"The measure of courage is not the result." Dumbledore pulled an orange candy from his pocket and handed it to Lucas, who winked. "Would you like a lemon Olaf? Bone Age doesn't taste very good, does it? Don't tell Madam Pomfrey, this is our little secret."

Lemon Olaf? Isn't that a common candy in the Muggle world?

No, this must be a special edition from the magical world!

Thinking of this, Lucas quickly took it, unwrapped the candy, and eagerly put it in his mouth.

A refreshing, sweet and sour lemon flavor... and as the sugar shell melts, the powder inside hisses and creates an effervescent effect—

But this is just a regular Lemon Snowball, isn't it?

Professor Dumbledore must have remembered that my injuries hadn't healed, which is why he gave me a Muggle candy...

Dumbledore, oblivious to his slight disappointment, stood up. "Get some rest, Lucas. You need to stay in bed overnight to allow your bones to heal. It will be a little painful, but I think a warrior who dares to fight trolls can overcome this pain, can't you?"