So I just found out the main character of Hogwarts Mystery didn't know how to Apparate until Jacob showed them, but in my version the main character already knows how to Apparate because I find it hard to believe that they're able to get between St. Mungo's, the Ministry of Magic, and Hogwarts so quickly without Apparating. I know it's a minor change in the grand scheme of things, but I just thought I would let you know why I made the change.

Chapter 107: Safe House

"Did Mad-Eye tell you we're Apparating to the safe house?" Jacob said to Claire.

"No, he didn't," Claire said.

"Have you Apparated before?" Jacob asked.

"I got the license for it this summer," responded Claire.

Jacob didn't seem convinced. "Let's Apparate around the room together. I want to see how well you can handle it."

Then Jacob held Claire's hand and they warped to various places around the Hospital Ward in under a minute's time.

"You don't look sick," Jacob remarked as Claire was catching her breath.

"She's Apparated to the Ministry of Magic a few times, and she wasn't sick then," Mad-Eye Moody stated.

"Fantastic!" Jacob smiled. "I knew Apparating wouldn't be a problem for you, Pip."

"Um, thanks," Claire said. "I also Apparated while you were suffering from the laughing curse, but I guess you were too occupied to pay attention."

"Now that Jacob is satisfied, we should Apparate to the safe house together," Moody declared.

Claire was surprised. "But my assignment — "

"About that," Madam Strout interjected. "Your career assignment at St. Mungo's has come to an end, but you were a joy to have."

"Thank you, Madam Strout," Claire said. "I learned a lot here."

"Would you consider becoming a Healer as a career?" Strout asked.

"I'm…not sure," Claire said. "There's been so much going on that I haven't quite figured out what my career is going to be after I graduate Hogwarts."

Moody didn't seem pleased by Claire's answer, but Strout smiled kindly.

"You don't have to decide now," Strout said. "But if you decide to become a Healer, I would gladly make a recommendation for you."

Then as Madam Strout left, Claire, Jacob, and Moody Apparated out of the Hospital Ward. In a matter of seconds, they found themselves in a big cozy house with odd furniture and winter sunlight pouring in from the windows.

"Welcome to the Burrow, dears!"

Claire looked behind and saw Molly Weasley standing there with her husband Arthur.

"Mrs. Weasley," Claire realized. "I haven't seen you since Bill graduated from Hogwarts."

"Yes, it has been a long time," Molly admitted.

"Arthur Weasley and his wife have offered their home as a safe house for Jacob," Moody explained. "Until the trial, that is."

"That's very kind of you," Claire said, smiling at Arthur and Molly Weasley.

"Well, we have plenty of room," Arthur said sheepishly. "So it's no problem to add one more to our happy home, even temporarily."

"You should visit us for Christmas!" Molly suggested. "I'm sure Bill and his brothers would love that."

"I would be delighted," Claire said, glancing at Moody. "That is, if it's okay with Mad-Eye."

"Shouldn't be too much of an issue if it's one visit," Moody said. "Now, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, we need to discuss the arrangements to Jacob's stay."

Arthur and Molly nodded, following Mad-Eye into the kitchen where pots and pans were being cleaned by floating brushes and dishtowels. But Jacob seemed down.

"What's wrong?" Claire asked.

"Oh, I don't know," Jacob said. "While I'm grateful to you guys for being concerned about my well-being, I — "

"Don't like being sidelined from the action," Claire said.

"Guess you know me better than I thought, Pip, even though we've been separated for so long. My main concern is Corey. I'm worried 'R' might try to hurt him to get their hands on the second-half of the Dark Scroll."

"Corey said he'll find a place where no one will be able to find it," Claire assured.

"But if they get both halves of the Dark Scroll — "

"He'll be fine. I trust Corey's judgment."

Jacob sighed. "This is all my fault. I put my friends in danger because of my stupid curiosity of the Cursed Vaults, and now I'm putting your friends in danger for this Dark Scroll. Maybe I shouldn't have gotten you involved in my mess at all…."

"You don't need to apologize for anything." Claire squeezed Jacob's hands in comfort. "If you didn't get me involved, you would still be stuck in that portrait in the Buried Vault."

As Jacob was about to reply, a crashing noise came from the kitchen. Claire and Jacob went to look, finding a large great gray owl sprawled out on the floor of the kitchen with a letter in its mouth. The partially open window over the sink was partially smashed with shards of broken glass everywhere.

"Oh, Errol," Molly sighed, helping the owl to his feet. "He's always clumsy."

While Moody repaired the broken window with his wand, Molly took the letter from Errol's mouth. She gave it to Moody, who opened the letter and nodded.

"Professor Dumbledore wants to see you," Moody said to Claire. "You should return to Hogwarts immediately."

Claire gave Jacob a farewell hug and then Apparated into Dumbledore's office.

"You wanted to see me?" Claire asked Dumbledore.

"It seems your recent career assignment at St. Mungo's turned into quite the fiasco," Dumbledore remarked wearily. "After what happened at the Ministry of Magic, I had hoped this trip would definitely keep you out of sight from 'R.'"

"They seem to follow me wherever I go," Claire admitted.

"So it seems. How are feeling about all of this?"

"Overwhelmed."

"A perfectly reasonable response, given the circumstances."

"But I can't imagine you getting overwhelmed, sir."

"Sometimes, the decision of which socks to wear takes its toll on me. Perhaps it's time to bring a certain group back together and expand its members."

Realizing Dumbledore was talking about the Circle of Khanna, Claire nodded. "Yes, I think a proper reunion is long overdue."

To be continued…