Charlie carefully examined the details of the Reinforced Occlumency Technique.
He mentally rehearsed every possible scenario.
Magic flowed gently through his body.
Once he fully mastered it, life would become much easier.
Even before he grew stronger, he would be able to deal with most forms of investigation, suspicion, and mental intrusion.
“Hm?
Albus, I think I just sensed a slight fluctuation of magic from Charlie.” McGonagall suddenly spoke.
“I believe you must be mistaken.” Dumbledore replied without even turning around.
Hearing their conversation, Charlie immediately stopped practicing.
Play dumb first.
Dumbledore naturally knew McGonagall wasn’t mistaken.
He simply didn’t want too many people learning about Charlie’s true abilities.
Better to brush it aside for now.
Not long afterward, the house had been roughly cleaned up.
Dumbledore and McGonagall both bowed deeply before James and Lily.
Then they took Charlie and Harry with them and prepared to return to Hogwarts.
As for James and Lily’s funeral…
That would have to be handled separately later.
Charlie naturally knew what awaited Harry.
Because Lily’s protective magic remained upon him, Harry had to be sent to live with his aunt.
Since his aunt was a blood relative, Lily’s magic would be strengthened by that blood connection, protecting Harry from the Death Eaters.
Allowing him to grow up safely.
As for Charlie…
There wasn’t much to think about.
He would most likely end up in an orphanage.
Harry being sent to his aunt’s house was unavoidable.
If Charlie were sent there as well…
There was no guarantee Harry’s aunt wouldn’t simply dump both children into an orphanage anyway.
Charlie personally didn’t mind.
Technically…
He was Harry’s blood relative too.
But Dumbledore and the others probably wouldn’t let Harry stay with him.
If both children ended up in the same orphanage…
Anything could happen.
Separating them would at least increase the chances of keeping them safe.
…
Time passed quickly.
Dumbledore and the others wasted no time.
Just as Charlie had expected, Harry was delivered to his aunt’s home.
After making sure Harry was settled, they began discussing Charlie’s future.
“Actually…” “If you trust me…” “I’d be willing to raise him.” The one who spoke was Rubeus Hagrid, the giant.
The moment Dumbledore heard those words, he nearly cast a spell on the spot.
“Hagrid…” “Are you certain you wouldn’t accidentally feed Charlie to your Acromantula one day?” Hagrid’s thick bearded face twitched.
He looked deeply wronged.
“I think plenty of wizarding families would be willing to adopt this child.” McGonagall said after thinking for a while.
“Indeed…” “They certainly would.” Dumbledore hesitated.
“But…” “For Charlie…” “I want him to grow up healthy.” “For now…” “He should stay away from the wizarding world.” “That would be much better for both his safety and his development.” After Dumbledore spoke…
Everyone fell silent.
After a long discussion, they all accepted his decision.
And so…
Charlie’s future was temporarily decided.
He would be sent to an orphanage.
In the same city as Harry.
As dawn approached…
Dumbledore and Hagrid set off.
They successfully settled Charlie into a local orphanage.
Before leaving…
Hagrid hugged Charlie tightly.
Then he left behind a small cage.
Inside was a baby owl.
He instructed the orphanage staff to take good care of it.
Once Charlie was old enough to look after himself…
The owl was to be given to him.
Naturally…
Such an arrangement required additional payment.
Finally…
It was Dumbledore’s turn.
After thinking for a long while, he handed Charlie a ring.
“May you grow up healthy…” “Safe…” “And happy.” Once everything had been arranged…
Dumbledore and Hagrid departed.
From that day onward…
Charlie began his new life in the orphanage.
…
Time quietly flowed onward.
Everything gradually returned to normal.
Charlie eventually reached the age of ten.
Over the past nine years…
The wizarding world seemed to have completely disappeared from his life.
Charlie didn’t mind in the slightest.
He quite enjoyed the peace.
Within the orphanage…
He had become something of a legend.
The leader of the children.
The top student.
A genius.
A business prodigy.
Thanks to his Heaven-Defying Comprehension…
He mastered knowledge, learning, and gathering information at astonishing speed.
Even ordinary life skills…
Such as cooking…
Had reached an expert level under his hands.
Whenever the orphanage encountered difficulties…
Charlie would occasionally offer suggestions.
At first, the caretakers and teachers never believed him.
But after several occasions where Charlie’s advice proved completely correct…
Even saving the orphanage from the brink of closure…
Everyone’s opinion of him changed dramatically.
Some of the elderly nuns even knelt beneath the moonlight to pray.
“Charlie is a gift sent to us by God.” Charlie had long since grown numb to comments like that.
One day…
After feeding his owl…
Charlie picked up its cage and casually left the orphanage.
Along the way, children and teachers alike greeted him warmly.
Today happened to be one of Charlie’s leisurely walks.
Boring as they were…
They at least added a little variety to his life.
After wandering around for most of the day…
Charlie eventually returned to the orphanage entrance.
He hadn’t spoken a single word during the walk.
Calculating the dates…
Only one year remained before his eleventh birthday.
By then…
His Hogwarts acceptance letter would most likely arrive.
He only needed to spend this final year peacefully.
Suddenly…
Charlie’s expression shifted slightly.
The corners of his mouth curled upward into a faint smile.
Then he slowly shook his head.
A familiar face…
Charlie turned around.
His gaze passed through the crowd.
Standing among the people…
A man dressed entirely in black stared at him with an indifferent expression.
Severus Snape.
At first, Snape paid Charlie’s glance no attention.
But then he realized…
Charlie wasn’t merely looking in his direction.
He was looking directly at him.
Snape’s heart skipped a beat.