novellaaa Chapter 146 What is Courage?
Chapter 146 What is Courage?
Chapter 146 What is Courage?
Harry's heart skipped a beat, but then a sense of relief, as if "what's meant to happen will happen," made him breathe a sigh of relief.
The realization that Uncle Lynch still cared about him arose in his heart.
He walked to the desk and, without any concealment, told Lynch the whole story—from the sudden inability to enter Platform 9¾, to Ron's suggestion to drive, to the thrills along the way, and finally the despair of crashing into the Whomping Willow.
Lin Qi listened quietly without speaking immediately, only tapping the table lightly with his fingers.
The steady, rhythmic tapping sound was like a countdown clock, striking Harry's heart again and again.
He slightly raised his head, his gaze involuntarily following that slender finger, feeling like a prisoner awaiting sentencing.
After a moment, Lynch spoke, his voice devoid of anger, containing only a concern that Harry could detect:
"You only considered the most superficial and insignificant consequence—the potential criticism for not arriving at school on time. You automatically ignored a series of more serious, even catastrophic, consequences."
"You can choose to wait for the Weasleys to return and have them drive you there in an adult manner. Whether they choose to use that car or the Floo Network, the worst that can happen is that you'll be a little late, and as long as the reason for being late is valid, the school will completely understand."
"You could have chosen to contact me immediately, or any professor at the school. I would have arranged a safe way for you to reach the castle. However, you chose none of these options."
His gaze hardened as he stared directly at Harry: "You chose the stupidest and most dangerous option of all!"
Under that sharp gaze, Harry felt that all his excuses and wishful thinking had been stripped away, leaving him nowhere to hide.
He instinctively avoided that gaze, staring intently at a stain on his worn-out shoelace.
"It was also incredibly lucky that the car managed to hold on until it reached the edge of Hogwarts before going out of control. Imagine if it had suddenly malfunctioned halfway through the journey, while you were flying over some densely populated town or desolate wilderness, and plummeted from thousands of feet in the air—would you have been able to save yourselves with your half-baked levitation or shock-absorbing charms?"
Lynch's voice softened: "If that were the case, I'm afraid the Weasleys and I would have to start preparing for your and Ron's funeral right now, Harry."
These words, like a block of ice, slid down the back of Harry's neck.
He involuntarily shrank his shoulders, as if he could truly see Mrs. Weasley's tearful breakdown and Hagrid sobbing with a huge handkerchief over his face. He lowered his head deeply, not out of shame, but because of a belated, almost overwhelming fear.
His heart turned cold. From yesterday until now, he and Ron had been preoccupied with the punishment and criticism they had received, but they had never considered the consequences if the worst-case scenario were to occur.
Yes, at the time they were only thinking about "having to get to school on time," and didn't consider these terrible things at all.
if".
"I'm sorry, Uncle Lynch," Harry said, his voice a little hoarse.
But Lin Qi didn't respond to him; he just looked at him and continued tapping his fingertips on the table.
A long silence fell over the office, and Harry even felt his heartbeat begin to synchronize with the frequency of his Uncle Lynch's tapping on the table.
After a long while, Lynch's voice rang out again, his tone softening somewhat, but still serious: "I know, Harry, that you crave adventure, are prone to impulsiveness, and tend to act on a whim. These are traits ingrained in the Gryffindor gene, and I'm not asking you to completely abandon them."
He stood up, walked around the desk, and stood in front of Harry. "But remember, acting on impulse is recklessness. True courage is knowing all the possible consequences of your actions, weighing them carefully, and still choosing to do them, and having the guts to bear all the responsibility that comes with them."
He paused, as if reading Harry's mind: "Also, don't refuse help from adults. Relying on us is not weakness. Protecting you, guiding you, and pulling you back when you make mistakes—that's our responsibility as adults."
"Our existence is to deal with things you can't handle, to help you grow up safely, instead of standing aside and leaving you to face dangers far beyond your capabilities."
"Do you understand, Harry?"
"Understood, Uncle Lynch!"
Harry nodded emphatically.
He truly listened to these words, and it wasn't just lip service.
Uncle Lynch's words were like a clear mirror, allowing him to examine himself for the first time not from the perspective of "what he did," but from the perspective of "why he always does it this way."
He suddenly realized that driving the flying car to school was not an isolated act of madness, but a microcosm of his long-standing behavior: whenever he encountered an obstacle, his first thought was never to seek help, but to rush forward recklessly, as if to prove himself to someone. Or perhaps, in the cupboard-like childhood of the Dursleys, crying and asking for help never brought rescue, but only more ridicule and punishment.
Over time, "I can do it myself" became more than just a slogan; it became a hard shell protecting his fragile heart. But now, this shell almost cost him and Ron their lives.
He was so used to facing the Dursleys' predicaments alone that he forgot he could actually rely on others in this magical world.
"Very good." Lynch nodded, ruffled Harry's hair, and said, "Remember, if you ever have a problem that you can't solve on your own, you can come to me directly."
After saying that, he walked out of the office.
"Come with me."
Harry paused, then instinctively followed, "Where are we going? Lockdown isn't—"
"Your confinement is only just beginning," Lynch said without turning around, his voice echoing slightly in the corridor. "Your reckless and impulsive nature needs some 'targeted' treatment. Fortunately, the curriculum I've arranged for your Magic Studies class this semester might help you better 'cure' this problem."
They were descending the stairs, heading towards the cold, dark area beneath the castle.
Harry's heart began to race again, but this time it wasn't out of shame or fear, but rather a mixture of curiosity and nervousness about the unknown course.
He didn't know what Uncle Lynch was going to do, but he had a vague feeling that this would not be an easy stay of confinement.