"I... I'm going to rest now. I have csses tomorrow, hahaha..." Hoare's voice was a bit guilty.

  He turned around, "Headmaster, Dean, I'll head back first. See you tomorrow."

  He decisively turned and bolted!

  Run!

  "Stop!"

  Failed to escape—Hoare put down his raised leg.

  F a smile, he turned around, "Mrs. Weasley, is there something you need?"

  Molly Weasley crossed her arms, pag around Hoare twice.

  Hoare was a bit nervous; he still looked like himself.

  He hadn't immediately turned into Henry William, feeling it might make him seem guilty.

  Molly just stared at Hoare, not saying a word.

  Hoare chuckled awkwardly, "Mrs. Weasley, if there's nothing else, I'll go rest now."

  In the wizarding world, matters ing Squibs are handled discreetly, never spoken of openly.

  So, even someone like Dumbledore had only heard rumors about the Weasley family having a Squib, but didn't know the details.

  He thought Molly was bming Henry because of the diary i.

  Dumbledore spoke up to expin for Hoare, "Molly, don't misuand. Henry is a good child, and Ron's involvement this time urely tal."

  Gee and Fred, hiding in the back, leaned in upon hearing Dumbledore's words, "Yes, yes, it had nothing to do with him."

  "Of course it had nothing to do with him! Don't think I don't know it was you two!" Molly gred fiercely at Gee and Fred, then turned her gaze back to Hoare.

  "Is there nothing you want to say to me and your father?"

  Everyone was stunned by Molly's words, except for Arthur Weasley.

  Hoare uood immediately from Molly's words that she had reized him.

  But he still didn't speak, holding onto a glimmer of hope.

  "Albus," Arthur spoke, "could you give our family a pce to talk?" His gaze flitted to the Malfoys opposite and Snape beside them.

  Snape's face darkened, wanting to curse, but Dumbledore stopped him with a gesture. He turned Molly's words over in his mind and uood.

  "Alright, Molly, Arthur. How about we talk in my office? It will also give the children a ce to rest." Dumbledestured invitingly.

  Molly and Arthur nodded gratefully at Dumbledore.

  Molly turo the twins and Percy, "You all go bad rest. Percy, keep an eye on them."

  The twins, of course, were unwilling, their hearts filled with curiosity!

  Molly's implication was clear!

  If it really was him!

  The twins exged a gheir eyes brimming with excitement.

  Then Percy held them down, one in each hand, "Let's go."

  The twins struggled but were defeated by Molly's gaze, relutly following Percy out.

  ---

  Ihe Headmaster's office.

  Arthur Weasley, Molly Weasley, Snape, and Dumbledore.

  The four of them sat around Hoare, their eyes fixed on him.

  "I want to ask—" Arthur spoke first, "why is he here?" He poi Snape.

  "Foolish, because I'm Henry William's headmaster! I o know what's happening with my student!" Snape sneered, gng disdainfully at Arthur.

  Then he gred fiercely at Hoare, "My mysterious student, surely you're willing to tell your poor headmaster the truth."

  Hoare nodded repeatedly, not daring to voiy obje.

  Though Snape was harsh and sarcastic, Hoare had beed greatly from him in Potions over the past half year.

  Some rare potions, even those unavaible for purchase, were left for Hoare to experiment with.

  "Hoare."

  Molly spoke.

  Hoare swallowed.

  "Mom..."

  At the top of the Weasley family food was Molly Weasley.

  Not just because of Molly's abilities, but also out of respect for her dedication to the family.

  Not to mention Hoare calling her mom, Snape's expression had already turned rigid.

  Headmaster Dumbledore was utterly shocked.

  He hadn't expected this at all.

  He was about to speak when Hoare's previous words echoed in his mind.

  Dumbledore suddenly uood why Hoare was so ied in the Squib Potion.

  Because he had suffered, he wao help others?

  Dumbledore was moved, knowing that Henry—no, now Hoare—was a good child, pletely different from Tom.

  He pletely fot about Hoare's exorbitantly priced long-sting Squib Potion.

  "Hoare, what's going on?" Molly asked coldly, "Yuardian told me you were doing well at school?"

  The guardian Molly mentioned was someo by the Squib Support Association to manage and care for Hoare's life in the Muggle world.

  "Mom," Hoare said holy, "he mistook another orphaudent for me."

  He then gave a sweet smile, looking at Molly with a hint of fttery.

  That guardian was truly irresponsible.

  Though called the Squib Support Association, they actually looked down on Squibs or pitied them.

  Hoare had an orphan who couldn't attend school pretend to be him, taking his pce.

  That person would forward aers sent to Hoare. He uzzled why Hoare's family used owls to seers.

  In half a year, Hoare received three letters, one of which told him not to e home for Christmas because they were visiting Charlie.

  After reading the letters, Hoare would reply, and the orphan would help send them.

  This was why the Weasley family hadn't realized Hoare wasn't in the Muggle world.

  As for that guardian, Hoare never received any message saying someone came to see him.

  Molly felt a headache ing on seeing Hoare's expression.

  Arthur asked, "When did you start using magic?"

  "The day Ron received his acceptater," Hoare expined slowly, "I don't know why, but I suddenly had magic. But I was afraid you'd look at me differently."

  Hoare's voice was low, cautiously watg Molly and Arthur.

  "Oh!" Molly couldn't bear Hoare's gaze, pulling him into her arms.

  "Hoare, we're family. We'd never look at you differently," Molly said, heart ag for her cautious son.

  Before disc he was a Squib, Hoare would run around with Ron, carefree, sometimes giving Molly a headache.

  Until that result came.

  Hrew up ht, being exceptionally well-behaved.

  "We never didn't want you because you're a Squib. To us, you're always our child." Molly held Hoare tightly.

  "But..." Hoare looked up, "didn't you think I was an embarrassment?"

  Before, Arthur would proudly take him and Ron out, but ter, only Ron and Gin.

  Hoare's range of activities became smaller.

  Hoare hought being a Squib was the end of the world.

  But he knew many families in the wizarding world saw Squibs as a family shame, log them away, not allowing them tact with the outside world, or letting anyone know they existed.

  This was what Hoare feared.

  More than having or not having magic, he feared losing his freedom.

  0Niffler0