"Huh? In that case, I'll join the Irish national team, just like Erina."
Hannah blinked, following up without hesitation.
She hadn't forgotten her experience during the last Christmas holiday. The Leaky Cauldron was plastered with photos of her taken for "The Quibbler," whether she was eating, playing with a unicorn, or even doing her homework...
The most embarrassing part was that every time she helped out at the pub in her maid outfit, her family would tirelessly point to the photos on the wall, introducing her to the customers as the most adorable little angel of the old Abbott family, and occasionally make Hannah stand in the middle of the pub and recite her "A Bite of Hogwarts"-style articles with great emotion.
Therefore, upon learning that there was a legitimate reason to escape home early, Hannah naturally wouldn't miss it.
"Then I'll also..."
Watching her friends decide which teams they would be joining for the summer, Harry Potter excitedly raised his hand, ready to echo Hannah's words and head to the Irish national team with Erina to experience Quidditch tryouts.
On one side was returning to that small cupboard at the Dursleys', and on the other was going to a magical family filled with novelty and Quidditch tryouts, with Erina and Hannah accompanying him—Harry didn't need any hesitation to make the right choice...
"Sorry, Harry, I don't think that will work."
Before little Harry could finish speaking, a gentle voice reached his ears.
Then, Harry felt a hand on his shoulder.
He looked up and saw Dumbledore looking at him with a serious and earnest expression, speaking firmly in a tone that brooked no argument.
"Until you come of age, you must return to your uncle's side every summer vacation..."
Dumbledore's voice was soft, but it sounded like a thunderclap in Harry's ears.
"But... but..." Harry's lips trembled as he said softly, sounding somewhat pitiful.
"There are no buts."
Dumbledore shook his head, looking directly at the boy's face, which had suddenly turned pale.
"Furthermore, Ludo Bagman did not include your name on his list of recommendations. If you perform exceptionally well in the Quidditch League next semester, he will certainly prioritize you, but not this time..."
"Professor Dumbledore! This isn't fair! Harry flies just as well as I do... no, he flies better than me!"
Glancing at Harry's pale face, Draco Malfoy rushed in front of Dumbledore without a second thought, arguing vehemently for Harry's chance at a Quidditch tryout during the summer, his face flushed with tension.
"You've been watching the games, haven't you! Except for the last match, Harry was the Seeker the whole time, and he played no worse than anyone else. Besides, the final match was ended because he caught the Golden Snitch!"
"Yeah! Professor Dumbledore, we can all vouch for Harry to Ludo Bagman!"
Ron Weasley also stood up, joining in to speak for Harry's unfair treatment.
"That's right, that's right, we can have another match between Slytherin and Gryffindor so Mr. Bagman can see."
"Although Harry didn't pass much on offense to Big Sister, he scored a lot before that!"
Goyle and Crabbe also nodded desperately, echoing the other two's statements. The little boys who had just been glaring at each other about which team was better instantly surrounded Dumbledore like a group of agitated little beasts.
"I'm sorry, this is not something I can decide..."
Dumbledore shrugged helplessly, explaining sincerely.
"You need to understand that Ludo Bagman, as the Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports, cannot come to watch a game specifically for Harry, not to mention that it would require so many scouts and managers from the League Cup teams to be present..."
"Dumpling, Dumpling, say something!"
Hannah anxiously pinched Erina, who was standing beside her without reacting, and said softly.
Compared to the other young wizards, Erina seemed to be in a strange state. Instead of being the first to defend Harry as she usually did, she was standing silently in place, as if contemplating something important.
However, the expected questioning and defense did not come...
Erina frowned, looked at Dumbledore with a serious expression, and suddenly asked a seemingly irrelevant question.
"So, the situation over there... has it been confirmed?"
"Yes, Quirinus's condition suddenly worsened—after he saw the newspaper about the recent public trial."
Dumbledore nodded calmly, responding equally cryptically.
"... I understand."
Erina was silent for a few seconds, then turned to look at Harry and said earnestly.
"Professor Dumbledore is right, you must go back to your uncle's house for a while—if you trust me and Professor Dumbledore, do as we say. When the opportunity is right, I will explain everything to you in person."
...
Just yesterday morning, Quirinus Quirrell, who was staying at St Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, experienced a rapid deterioration in his condition. If it weren't for the help of the kind elderly patients nearby, he might not have survived until the healers arrived and would have died directly.
Even so, poor Professor Quirrell is now completely unconscious, lying in a hospital bed like a living corpse, being cared for by the healers who are trying to awaken his consciousness - although the chances are extremely slim.
This is an extremely secluded, magically protected special ward.
According to feedback from the wizards around, no one other than the healers responsible for caring for Quirinus Quirrell had entered the ward during this period, and all personnel and items entering and exiting had been subjected to multiple inspections, with no dangerous goods, magical items, or potions being missed.
The only unusual thing was the copy of "The Daily Prophet" that was spread out on Quirrell's lap, which seemed to have been rubbed hard.
The title on the cover page was - [Lestrange Family Vaults, Seized by the Ministry of Magic Today!]
Without a doubt, Voldemort had once again deceived everyone.
With Quirinus Quirrell being controlled and one of his important Horcruxes potentially falling into the hands of the Ministry of Magic, Voldemort clearly became anxious. He voluntarily left Quirrell's body and quietly escaped from the hospital as a wraith.
Although Grindelwald and Erina had always looked down on this second-generation Dark Lord in their minds and words, it would not hurt to be a little cautious in this situation. After all, Voldemort had gone further than anyone else in the study of conquering death and Horcruxes, and no one knew what strange abilities he still possessed.
And ensuring Harry's safety was undoubtedly a very important task... because he was Voldemort's only unknown Horcrux.
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Chapter 2! Oh my god!!
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