translating_wizard
patreon
Chapter 1428: Ron's Birthday
🕑 Added 2025-04-01 05:14:26 +0000 UTCWhen they were at a standstill, there was no way Voldemort would do nothing. At any moment, he could complete that dangerous magic and becom
When they were at a standstill, there was no way Voldemort would do nothing. At any moment, he could complete that dangerous magic and become an evil god. There was actually not much time left for Evan, and he needed to unlock the Four Founders' secret treasure as soon as possible.
Of course, the main reason Evan could remain so calm now was because Dumbledore was there.
How to put it… It was just too reassuring!
Although Dumbledore refused to tell them anything, there was no way he was doing nothing. He was far superior to Voldemort in overall planning. Even though so many things had changed now, as long as Dumbledore was around, Evan wasn’t worried at all.
Since the Headmaster hadn’t asked him to leave Hogwarts, that meant it wasn’t yet time for him to go...
Evan also had a lot to do while staying in Hogwarts, such as helping Harry, Hermione and Elaine improve their abilities.
This was also very important. The top priority right now was mastering Apparition, a highly practical spell.
This magic was difficult and required a lot of practice to be effective.
After three lessons, no student in the entire sixth year had learned it, though a few more people had managed to Splinch themselves.
Frustration was running high and there was a certain amount of ill-feeling toward Wilkie Twycross and his three D’s, which had inspired a number of nicknames for him, the politest of which were Dogbreath and Dunghead. As for the less polite ones...
The most difficult part in mastering Apparition was to clone oneself, that is, to enter nothingness. This feeling was hard to find, but once found, everything would become much easier. The next step was to Apparate with Determination and Deliberation.
In terms of finding the feeling of entering nothingness, Evan could really help.
His method was simple: practice Apparition more. But since it was impossible to Apparate within Hogwarts, the only way to help them was by going to Hogsmeade.
And so, they were about to enter March with no change in the weather except that it became windy as well as wet.
At the end of February, and to general indignation, a sign went up on all common room notice boards that the next trip into Hogsmeade had been canceled.
Unable to go to Hogsmeade, Evan's plan to help Hermione learn Apparition was ruined.
Compared to everyone’s dissatisfaction, Ron was downright furious.
“Oh, come on! I was looking forward to that!” he said in disbelief.
"That's not surprising, is it? After what happened to Katie, neither the Ministry nor the school will allow us to go to Hogsmeade any time soon," said Hermione, frowning at the sign on the notice board. "They're afraid of more accidents. I think all trips to Hogsmeade will be cancelled until Katie comes back."
"Katie wrote to me last time saying she would be back soon. She’s already recovered and will be spending a few days at home with her parents," said Evan.
"I know, but my birthday is coming up!" said Ron dejectedly. "Now all I’ve got to look forward to is stupid Apparition!"
Evan, Harry, and Hermione exchanged glances and tacitly ignored Ron's words.
In fact, five nights ago, they had secretly discussed this very topic behind Ron’s back.
Harry had told them that Ron really valued this birthday.
After all, this was his seventeenth birthday, after which he would become an adult in the Wizarding World, and it was a very important day.
So, he hoped everyone would think carefully about the birthday present for Ron.
Evan had already prepared his gift, and Hermione had no issue either. Even though she had quarreled with Ron a while ago, they had made up, and she would still give him a coming-of-age present. As for Elaine, that was out of the question. She had participated in the discussion but made it clear she wouldn’t be giving Ron anything.
This girl was really vindictive. She still treated Ron coldly and her hostility was obvious.
After being bitten several times, Evan had come to believe that, no matter what, one should never make an enemy of Elaine...
He wasn't afraid of Elaine biting him, but the habit of biting was contagious, and there was no way Evan could resist Hermione biting him.
Since the topic of turning seventeen and birthdays had come up, it was impossible not to mention Hermione’s birthday, September 19th.
By Wizarding standards, Hermione had already come of age last year! Which meant she could now do all the things only adults were allowed to do, without so many restrictions or concerns.
But there was a problem here, one that left Evan rather frustrated. He wasn’t of age yet. He was only fifteen this year.
What was the use of Hermione coming of age when so many things required two people to participate?
He wasn't of age, and Hermione wouldn't agree to that.
Thinking about it, Evan felt like he had never truly been "of age."
In the blink of an eye, it was March.
On the morning of the first of March, Ron's birthday, Evan got up early as usual. He did not send the gift last night, but agreed with Harry and Hermione to give it to Ron during breakfast as a surprise. When Evan arrived at the Great Hall, neither Harry nor Ron had arrived yet.
At that moment, he had no idea what was happening in Harry and Ron’s dormitory. That was really a birthday surprise...
That morning, Harry, Ron and Neville were woken by Seamus and Dean leaving noisily for breakfast.
“Happy birthday, Ron,” said Harry, rubbing his eyes. “Oh, right, have a present."
He retrieved the package he had hidden under his pillow the night before and threw it across onto Ron's bed, where it joined a small pile of them that must, Harry assumed, have been delivered by house-elves in the night.
“A present? Oh… birthday!" said Ron drowsily. “Cheers!"
As Ron ripped the paper. Harry got out of bed, opened his own trunk, and began rummaging in it for the Marauder’s Map, which he hid after every use.
He turfed out half the contents of his trunk before he found it hiding beneath the rolled-up socks in which he was still keeping his bottle of lucky potion, Felix Felicis.
“Right,” he murmured, taking it back to bed with him, tapping it quietly and murmuring, “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good,” so that Neville, who was passing the foot of his bed at the time, would not hear.
Harry looked at the map carefully. Where was Malfoy?
Just then, Ron shouted enthusiastically, “Nice one, Harry! Thanks for the Quidditch Keeper’s gloves!"
“No problem,” said Harry absentmindedly, as he searched the Slytherin dormitory closely for Malfoy.
Ron was now fully awake, and was too busy unwrapping presents, every now and then letting out an exclamation of pleasure.
“Seriously good haul this year!” he announced, holding up a heavy gold watch with odd symbols around the edge and tiny moving stars instead of hands. “See what Mum and Dad got me? Blimey, I think I’ll come of age next year too. ..."
“Cool,” muttered Harry, sparing the watch a glance before peering more closely at the map.
