9. Witch’s Broom

"My mother, your mother, are going to catch the witch."

"My mother, your mother, wave the little stick..."

Aurelius looked at the little girl singing children's songs and playing hopscotch downstairs, feeling very strange.

Especially the lyrics of the song, which are full of violence and blood.

"My mother, your mother, the witch must die. Witch No. 1, drowns in the river. Witch No. 2, let her hang on the gallows..."

This is a scary nursery rhyme called "The Witch's Broom," but with Mary's adaptation, it is even more blatant.

Each of the witches mentioned in this nursery rhyme was a real event that occurred during the Salem witch hunt.

Whether these witches were actual witches in this world is unknown. However, during the Salem witch-hunting incident, there must have been real wizards who were persecuted by ordinary people, which triggered a tense atmosphere of retaliation between wizards and non-wizards in the country for hundreds of years.

This tension included but was not limited to, prohibiting communication, friendship, and marriage with No-Majs.

This law is known as "Rappaport's Law."

"What a terrible world!" Aurelius said quietly.

He could understand that wizards hid in order not to be disturbed and devoted themselves to pursuing the true meaning of magic. He could even understand that it was the self-isolation of a minority group.

But the current situation is that these wizards live like rats in the ditch, yet they think they are superior to others. This is the case all over the world.

This is even true in the Harry Potter timeline decades later.

They despised Muggles and regarded ordinary people as idiots and inferior creatures.

For this kind of behavior, numerous idioms from the past can describe it: Frog in the well!

If the status quo remains, the exposure and destruction of the wizarding world can be expected.

But what did the wizards do? They bury their heads in the sand like ostriches, desperately defending a broken protection law...

Aurelius wanted to say that it was none of his business. He could deceive the world, but he could not deceive himself.

In a situation where the Obscurus is not destined to be a threat, he will become a very, very powerful wizard - whether other wizards admit that the Obscurial is a wizard or not.

And powerful wizards live long lives.

At the very least, he didn't think he would live a shorter life than his uncle Albus Dumbledore.

When the nest is overturned, how can there be any eggs? The sky is falling, but the tall man will stand up!

Unfortunately, Aurelius is both a member of the wizarding world and a future tall man.

There are some realities that he has to face.

"What's going on? Why do I suddenly approve of Grindelwald?" Aurelius raised his eyebrows.

Wow - wow -A raven landed on the eaves, and Aurelius shooed it away. Mary despised anything associated with witches, even if it was just a bird rumored to accompany them.

Aurelius let out a muffled groan and nearly stumbled. He grabbed the handrail of the stairs and covered his head with his other hand.

Obscurus was causing trouble again.

Obscurus didn't harm the body, but it constantly provoked thought.

Since Silence went berserk yesterday, Aurelius found it increasingly difficult to suppress it.

"It's almost... it's almost... it won't be long." Aurelius forced himself to clear those thoughts. These were the prices he paid for a stronger Obscurus.

Obscurus fell silent once more.

Aurelius rubbed his painful head. "Even though I was mentally prepared, this is too uncomfortable."

"Is there any way to relieve it?" Aurelius couldn't help but wonder.

Don't tell me, he thought of something!

"Motla?!" Aurelius slapped his forehead.

Motla rat, an XXX-level magical animal. It resembled a big hairless mouse with tumors resembling sea anemones growing on its head and back. A bite from a Motla rat could cause severe retching and even result in sparks spraying from the anus, lasting up to forty-eight hours.

Level XXX meant that wizards with certain abilities could handle them. Keywords: certain abilities!

By analogy, it was probably the threat that medium and large dogs posed to ordinary adult men.

It was because Jacob was bitten by a Motla rat that his memory wasn't immediately erased. From a certain perspective, it was a blessing in disguise.

But that's not the point.

In his previous life, Aurelius had researched these magical animals as ingredients due to a joke... uh, or something like that.

He remembered that squeezing tumors from the backs of Motla rats could treat some degree of trauma and alleviate pain. And if used specially, it could offer resistance against curses and bad luck.

"Does resisting the evil curse count as Obscurus?" Aurelius couldn't help but wonder.

Maybe it's worth a try!

He didn't expect that consuming the tumors of the Motla rat would eliminate the Obscurus. If it were that simple, the Obscurus wouldn't be considered a wild beast.

Besides, the suffering he had endured over the past few days was merely for a powerful enough Obscurus. If it were eradicated, would his suffering be in vain?

Aurelius just hoped this could alleviate some of his symptoms or enhance his resistance, allowing Obscurus to develop for a longer duration.

And maybe it could also provide a small increase in resistance against curses, right?

"No!" Aurelius suddenly shouted and dashed out.

"Credence! Where are you going?" Chastity called after him.

"I'm going out!" Aurelius rushed to the door without any intention of stopping.

If only he had thought to mark Jacob. Aurelius was a little annoyed. Why hadn't he considered it sooner? The Magical Congress explicitly forbids the raising of magical animals. This means that the one Newt brought may be the only one in New York or even the entire United States! It is the only target that Aurelius can obtain as well.

The opportunity arose when Jacob took the suitcase away, which was the perfect chance for Aurelius.

Aurelius, who is still in the developmental stage, does not want to meet Newt or Tina.

Once the suitcase is back in Newt's possession, the opportunity is lost.

And now, Tina and Newt are searching for Jacob all over the world!

"Come back! Credence! Credence!" Chastity shouted anxiously. She couldn't prevent Aurelius, let alone shout out 'Mom is back'...

"Chastity, what's happening?" Mary peeked out of the kitchen wearing her apron.

Chastity felt embarrassed, but under Mary's scrutinizing gaze, he could only lower his head and speak softly: "Credence... Credence just ran out."

"Ran out? Where did he go?" Mary appeared displeased. What happened to Credence? There have been more mistakes in the past few days than in the previous ten years!

"I think he's feeling restless. Don't worry about him! Chastity, let the children know that dinner is ready." Mary said before returning to the kitchen.

Chastity held the bell, feeling a little concerned about Credence. His punishment tonight was inevitable.