## Chapter 211: Help Me, Ferdinand
Ferdinand sat there, speechless for a long time, feeling stiff all over, as if his tongue had frozen.
What Landon said, what Carlyle experienced—wasn't that precisely what he had been most worried about all along?
Fortunately, they had some superficial understanding of the Wizarding World and hadn't encountered someone like the Black-Robed Man, who specifically sought to deceive people...
Otherwise, what would become of Wade, of House Gray? He truly didn't dare to imagine...
Fiona had always been well-protected, and this was the first time she had heard of such a thing. Landon's despair and regret seemed to infect her, making her feel cold all over, and she couldn't help but wrap her arms around herself.
"You... did you just believe whatever he said?" Fiona asked. "Why didn't you try to verify it?"
Landon looked at her with vacant eyes and asked, "How were we supposed to verify it? We'd never even heard of magic before!"
Fiona was speechless.
Diagon Alley was no longer a strange place to her. So much so that she had completely forgotten about the forbidden barrier between the Wizarding World and the world of ordinary people.
Seeing Ferdinand's troubled expression, Wade walked over and patted his shoulder, saying softly, "Dad."
Ferdinand jolted, turned to see his son standing perfectly fine beside him, and gradually felt warmth returning to his limbs.
Yes, he shouldn't imagine what it would be like if his own family suffered the same misfortune... Wade was fine... He had learned magic, had the power to protect himself, and was even more exceptional than most people...
He took a deep breath and carefully asked, "So, Annie is now..."
"I sent her to a nursing home."
Landon lowered his head and said guiltily, "She's forgotten a lot of things and can't even live normally... And I still need to find Carlyle's whereabouts, so I really can't take care of her..."
"It couldn't be helped. If Annie regains her memory, she'll definitely understand your choice."
After a moment of silence, Ferdinand asked, "What are your plans now?"
Fiona had tried to speak several times, but seeing Ferdinand say this, she looked at her husband in surprise, then closed her mouth, and stood quietly holding her teacup.
Hearing this, Landon looked up, suddenly leaned forward, and tightly gripped Ferdinand's hands, pleading earnestly:
"Ferdinand, I'm your friend, right? We used to be as close as brothers, and even when we had business disagreements, I never let you suffer a loss, right?"
"That's right."
Ferdinand looked into his eyes reassuringly and said, "You've always been my friend; I've never denied that."
"Then tell me honestly... you know people who can do magic, don't you? Are you in league with them?"
Landon stared intently at Ferdinand, his grip on Ferdinand's hands very strong.
Ferdinand looked at his bloodshot eyes, which faintly showed a hint of madness, feeling both sympathy and wariness.
He said softly, "I don't know who 'them' refers to, but my parents were Wizards. So... yes, I know some people in the Wizarding World."
Looking at his honest, gentle eyes, Landon's grip on his hands gradually loosened.
"Both your parents were Wizards... so are you?" he asked hoarsely.
"No." Ferdinand shook his head and said, "I'm a Squib—someone born into a Wizarding family but without magical talent. Traditionally, I was sent to a Muggle family from a young age, almost completely cut off from the Wizarding World. So, I'm no different from ordinary people."
"But your parents... your parents must have still visited you, right?" Landon pressed.
"There was a cruel war among Wizards... they both passed away..."
Ferdinand said, suppressing his grief.
"I-I'm sorry..." Landon released his hands, then pleaded again:
"Then could you help me inquire? Perhaps someone among the Wizards would know who took Carlyle... whether my son is still alive..."
Ferdinand patted the back of his hand and said:
"Of course I'm willing to help you, but you at least need to tell me the name of the person who took Carlyle and any distinguishing features? You wouldn't have let him take your son without even asking his name, would you?"
"Of course not." Landon recalled, "That Black-Robed Man called himself Major Baird, and he was French. He was a bit thin, with curly hair, and his skin was sickly pale... His eyes were dark blue, his appearance wasn't particularly striking, but he had a very noticeable tattoo on his face..."
...
Ferdinand repeatedly promised to help Landon inquire about Carlyle or Baird's whereabouts, only then did he see off his long-lost friend.
Just before leaving, Landon suddenly turned back.
"Ferdinand, since you know about the Wizarding World... do you know Hogwarts?"
He asked nervously.
"...I do," Ferdinand said.
"Then..." Landon's facial muscles twitched slightly, and he asked with difficulty, "Hogwarts... is it really like he said it was..."
Ferdinand initially didn't want to answer, but after a long hesitation, he finally said:
"As far as I know... it's a good school."
"I-is that so... So it really is like that..."
Landon didn't press further; he trembled, repeating the words several times, then turned and stumbled out the door.
The car engine roared to life. The Gray family stood at the doorway, watching the car lurch forward and hit a tree. After a brief pause, it suddenly lurched backward, hitting the curb.
"Wait, Landon! I'll drive you back to the hotel!"
Ferdinand rushed out, but the car had already rounded the corner without hesitation and driven off.
"Is he… really going to be okay?" Fiona murmured.
"I hope nothing happens to him."
Ferdinand said, calling his police friends to warn them to pull Landon Johnson's car over.
Before long, Ferdinand received a call from his friend. Landon's car had reportedly crashed into the outer wall of a bakery and had been impounded by traffic police. Fortunately, the car hadn't been going fast, and no one was injured.
When he closed the door and returned to the living room, the family of three simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief.
"Are you going to help inquire, Ferdi?" Fiona asked worriedly. "This sounds like it's not a simple matter."
"Of course." Ferdinand loosened his tie and poured himself a glass of rum, downing it before saying, "Landon is my friend, after all."
He paused, then added, "And that child, Carlyle, is still missing… I can't just ignore it."
"Then why didn't you say Wade was studying at Hogwarts?" Fiona asked, confused.
Looking at his naive wife, Ferdinand couldn't help but smile bitterly. "Because I wouldn't dare, Fiona."
"I'm afraid the person who took Carlyle will also target Wade."
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