Hogwarts: Harry Potter's Return from the Witcher World-Chapter 404: Memory

"Who's there?" Dandelion swallowed nervously, his voice trembling slightly.

"Take a guess."

The voice was vague, mysterious, and with it came the creaking sound of the cell door opening.

Just within reach.

The door was right in front of him—something he had longed for all this time.

But his body was stiff as if rooted to the filthy straw mat he'd been lying on.

He couldn't move, didn't dare to move.

And those words...

Guess? freewёbnoνel.com

Dandelion focused and tried to think fast.

He and Geralt had faced many monsters—creatures that could turn invisible, speak human languages, and possess considerable intelligence.

None came to mind.

The only things that flitted through his head were the names of women.

From Oxenfurt to Toussaint, and then to Novigrad...

He was astonished to realize just how many names he remembered.

"All women's names in your head?" the voice spoke again.

Dandelion froze, then looked up, startled.

He recognized that voice.

The fear and tension melted away, and his mind clicked back into place, quickly identifying who it belonged to.

"Harry?" he whispered cautiously.

"I'm so glad you remember me," Harry said with a flick of his wand, and the Invisibility Cloak fell away, revealing him and Hermione.

"My dear friend, it's so good to see you," Dandelion tried to rise gracefully from the straw mat, brushing off the fleas and dust clinging to his clothes. His voice was still carrying that theatrical flair, as if trying to maintain his dignity. "What wind blows you to Novigrad?"

Harry replied softly, "A wind named 'Dandelion Got Himself Captured.'"

"Harry, I already had a plan to escape," Dandelion retorted, hands on his hips. "If it weren't for your sudden arrival—"

Harry snapped his fingers.

With a clang, the cell door slammed shut.

"Well, then, let me see the masterful escape plan of Dandelion the Great."

Silence settled in.

Hermione looked at him curiously.

To her, he seemed strangely familiar.

That bravado, that refusal to admit weakness even when knee-deep in trouble...

It reminded her of someone.

Very much so.

"Harry, you've changed," Dandelion said, straightening his hat. "I remember when your tongue wasn't this sharp."

Harry chuckled softly. "I'm gentle with most people, Dandelion. But you, my dear friend—you're special."

"Alright, enough catching up. We should get you out of here."

Dandelion perked up, excitement in his voice: "So, how are we going to escape? Through the maze of guards around Temple Isle?"

"Quite simple," Harry interrupted. "But first..."

He raised his wand, pointing it directly at Dandelion.

"Scourgify!"

Bubbles and foam erupted, swirling around Dandelion, scrubbing away layers of filth. His clothes, hat, and hair were cleaned and restored to their original luster.

"A new Witcher sign?" Dandelion marveled, inspecting himself with glee.

"A little trick I picked up for... personal reasons," Harry said, shaking his head. "When there's time, I'll explain. But for now, brace yourself."

Dandelion blinked.

Brace himself?

Did Harry really plan to fight their way out of Temple Isle?

Harry cast another spell.

Dandelion yelped, his body twisting and contorting as if caught in a whirlpool. Within seconds, he shrank, his form morphing into a tiny white ferret, chittering anxiously.

He stood there dazed, staring up at Harry and Hermione, squeaking in disbelief.

Harry raised his wand again.

The tiny ferret floated up and landed in his pocket.

"And now, try to resist the urge to chatter," Harry muttered, tapping his little head.

The ferret squeaked twice, clearly frustrated, but Harry's charm held, silencing him.

The world from this perspective was... strange.

Everything was massive, towering over him.

Still, it was oddly exhilarating.

They slipped back under the Invisibility Cloak.

Of course...

They didn't leave right away.

Dandelion's troubles weren't entirely over yet.

At this point, he was still considered a prisoner of the Eternal Fire.

If he suddenly reappeared in Novigrad, alive and well, the Eternal Fire would hunt him down mercilessly to maintain their version of "justice" and authority.

So, Harry and Hermione went to find the High Priest's office.

With a flick of his wand and a touch of Legilimency, Harry altered the man's memories.

Now, the priest believed that he had privately interrogated Dandelion, confirming his innocence. He had discovered that Dandelion was merely a harmless bard, framed by the city's thugs.

To avoid embarrassing the Eternal Fire, the priest decided to secretly release him.

After completing this, Harry opened a window in the priest's office.

Just like leaving the tavern, they flew out of the fortress on broomsticks.

Night flight.

The ferret squealed and shrieked the whole way.

Harry, feeling playful, performed a few mid-air stunts, sending the ferret into a fit of terrified squeaks.

They finally landed back at the Rosemary and Thyme.

Zoltan was already back, raging and shouting: "You sons of bitches! I was only gone for two hours! And you lot broke in again! You even cracked my new lock!"

"Get out of here!"

"This place isn't for the likes of you!"

"If I catch you here again, I'll break your legs, shove them up your ass, and yank them out through your throats!"

Harry lifted the Disillusionment Charm on himself and Hermione, pushing open the door.

The tavern was packed with beggars and thugs, all eyeing Zoltan with a predatory gaze.

Zoltan was standing on top of three groaning vagrants, who had clearly underestimated him.

Priscilla stood behind him, clutching her lute nervously.

"Uncle Zoltan," Harry called out.

"Harry, you're back already?" Zoltan was genuinely surprised.

Harry nodded, turning his gaze to the beggars: "Get out of here."

The Witcher's golden eyes gleamed coldly in the dim light.

"You freak!" one of the beggars spat.

But he didn't get to finish.

Hermione had already pulled out her wand.

"Expelliarmus!"

A flash of red light struck him, sending him flying backward into the wall.

"Levicorpus!"

Another wand flick, and a man floated upside-down in midair.

"Petrificus Totalus!"

A third was frozen stiff, locked in place.

Hermione exhaled deeply, glaring at the rest of them. "So... can you understand human language now?"

She had been itching to do this.

Maybe Harry had grown used to being insulted and spat at by these people, but Hermione wasn't. From the very first village, she'd been bottling up her frustration.

"S-sorceress! She's a sorceress!" one of the beggars shouted in horror.

Hermione raised an eyebrow.

"Obliviate!" A milky-white flash struck his head.

If she was going to rough them up, she might as well erase their memories afterward.

----------

Powerstones?

For 20 advance Chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates